How to Choose & Set Up Your Campsite

Learn how to pick a safe, comfortable campsite, orient and stake your tent correctly, and organize camp zones for food, cooking, and waste. Includes regional wildlife precautions and a field-ready checklist.

Quick Take

A good campsite means safety, sleep, and sanity. This guide teaches you how to pick the right spot, set your tent properly, and keep your food and gear safe from weather, critters, and mistakes.

Introduction

The difference between a good campsite and a bad one is the difference between rest and regret. Set up on a slope and you’ll slide all night. Camp near water and you’ll be swarmed by bugs. Store food wrong and you might lose it to raccoons — or worse.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to choose wisely, pitch confidently, and organize your camp so it feels like a base, not a burden.

Step 1: Choose the Right Campsite

This step is about looking at the landscape as a whole and deciding where your camp should go. You have less control over this in the case of National Parks, State Parks, Provincial Parks and other parks. However, these sites are already chosen for good camping conditions.

Flat, level area: Choose a tent pad that isn’t sloped, dipped, or uneven.
200 ft from water: Protects streams, reduces bugs, keeps your camp cleaner.
Overhead & surrounding hazards: Avoid dead branches, avalanche paths, drainages, or loose rock areas.
Comfort conditions:
- Morning sun dries condensation.
- Afternoon shade helps in hot zones.
- Slight breeze keeps bugs down.

Regional Notes:

Rockies (fall): Pick morning sun for frosty starts.
Pacific Northwest: Drainage matters more than shade.
Desert: Shade is gold — use a tarp if none exists.

You’ll thank yourself in the morning when rain runs off downhill instead of pooling under your tent because you picked higher ground.

Step 2: Set Up Your Tent

Now that you’ve chosen a safe, flat campsite, zoom in to your tent’s exact footprint. This step is about how to pitch it correctly and use your gear well.

Door Orientation:

Best all-around: door angled 30–45° away from the wind.
- Door into wind = gusts funnel inside.
- Door back-to-wind = stable but stuffy.
- Slight offset = stable and ventilated.

Ground Prep Under Tent:

Sweep away rocks, sticks, pinecones, or anything sharp.
Use a footprint (groundsheet) for floor protection if you don’t mind the weight.

Staking & Guy Lines:

Drive stakes at a 45° angle into the ground, pointing away from the tent.
- Outward lean = strongest hold.
- Vertical = weak.
- Too flat = pulls loose.
Use guy lines (cords running from tent/rainfly to stakes or rocks) for stability in wind.

Sleeping Pads:

Inflatable: comfortable, but heavier and puncture-prone.
Foam: lighter, indestructible, but firm.
R-value:
- Summer = 2–3.
- Shoulder season = 4+.

Rainfly & Venting:

Always vent your rainfly slightly to prevent condensation.
In storms, tension fly and guy lines before bed.

When the storm rolls through at 2 a.m., you’ll know the difference between a tent pitched carelessly and one secured with proper stake angles and thoughtful orientation.

Step 3: Keep the Campsite Safe & Organized

Camp Zones (100–200 ft rule):

Tent Zone (sleep only).
Kitchen Zone (100 ft downwind).
Food Storage Zone (200 ft away; canister, hang, or locker).
Bathroom Zone (200 ft from camp and water).

Wildlife Notes

Eastern U.S. & Canada (Black Bears, Raccoons, Rodents):

Raccoons unzip tents and chew packs.
Black bears are curious but less aggressive than grizzlies.
Hang food (12 ft up, 6 ft out) or use a bear canister. Double-bag snacks to reduce odor.

Western U.S. & Canada (Grizzlies, Black Bears):

Grizzly country = bear canisters often required by law.
Don’t cook or store scented gear near your tent.
Cook 100+ ft downwind, store food 200 ft away in a canister.

Desert & Arid Regions (Ravens, Coyotes, Rodents):

Ravens unzip zippers. Mice chew holes for crumbs.
Keep food sealed in hard-sided containers or canisters. Never leave unattended.

Alpine Zones (Marmots, Pikas, Goats):

Marmots chew on salty straps and poles.
Goats are attracted to urine.
Hang salty gear, urinate away from camp.

Universal Rules:

Never keep food or scented items in your tent.
Clean cookware thoroughly and store it with food, not near your tent.
Pack out all trash — critters will find the smallest scraps.

Pro Tips

✅ Always sweep ground for rocks before pitching.
✅ In rain, choose a slight rise for drainage.
✅ Use small rocks under rainfly tie-outs to lift vents.
✅ Stamp out snow platforms before pitching.
✅ Keep your headlamp in the same pocket nightly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Camping in low spots — puddles guaranteed.
❌ Ignoring overhead hazards — branches fall silently.
❌ Door into wind — turns tent into a sail.
❌ Food in tent — attracts critters and worse.

Checklist — Campsite Setup

Item	Notes
Flat, level ground	Avoid dips and slopes
200 ft from water	Less bugs, protects source
Overhead check	Avoid dead branches
Door angled	30–45° away from wind
Stakes set	45° outward, away from tent
Rainfly setup	Vent for airflow
Camp zones	Tent, Kitchen, Food, Bathroom
Food storage	Canister, hang, or locker

Outcome / Success Check

You know you’ve nailed it when:

Tent is taut and quiet, not flapping.
Door isn’t funnelling wind.
You sleep dry, level, and warm.
Food untouched, trash packed out.
Camp breakdown takes under 15 minutes.
Morning feels calm: coffee at the kitchen zone, tent drying in the sun.

Conclusion

A great campsite is built, not found. With proper site choice, thoughtful tent orientation, secure staking, and disciplined food storage, you’ll rest safe, dry, and organized.

Next step: practice at home. Pitch your tent, practice stake angles, and run through camp zones until it feels automatic.

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Disclaimer

This guide is a general starting point. Conditions vary by region, weather, and personal needs.
Always follow local regulations on fire bans, camping zones, and wildlife food storage.
Improper storage in bear country can result in fines or closures.
Respect Leave No Trace: camp 200 ft from water, pack out trash, leave camp as you found it.