Winter Car Camping - How to Get Started

Devil's Lake in Wisconsin has great winter hiking 

Do you miss camping and getting outside during the winter? This may be the year you need to try winter camping! There are a few extra things you will have to prepare for, like how to stay warm and deal with early darkness. However, winter camping can come with many rewards, such as reducing cabin fever and cheaper camping sites. Plus, you wouldn't want to miss out on great winter vistas like the one above, taken at Devils Lake in Wisconsin. 

Finding Campgrounds for Winter Camping

If you don't want to camp at a dispersed camping site, you will need to research which campgrounds you can stay at in the winter. In my state of Iowa, state-run campgrounds are ideal for winter camping, because they stay open all year and have a reduced winter cost. (Some Iowa state parks have winter prices as low as $6!) 

Also, research what amenities are available in the winter. If you live in an area that freezes in the winter, your campground might winterize the bathrooms or turn off water pumps. Ensure that you are prepared, with enough water, a way to stay clean, and an appropriate way to use the bathroom. If you can't find information about winter camping amenities on the campground's website, try calling or checking for reviews on iOverlander. 

Winter Camping Activites

During the summer, I spend my camping days swimming, hiking and kayaking. Some of these are easier to do in the summer than in the winter!

What activities are available will depend on where you are camping. If you camp in snowy, mountainous places, try learning downhill skiing or snowboarding or bring a sled for sledding. (As a bonus, some ski resorts allow camping in their parking lots.) If you have frozen water, you might want to take up ice fishing or skating. Here in Iowa, where we sometimes have snow but no mountains, people enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. 

Winter Camping and Reduced Daylight 

One of the most frustrating things about winter camping is the reduced daylight, which really puts a damper on evening activities. I recommend bringing extra activities for sitting around the campfire or in your tent/car/camper. Books and card games are great, as well as handheld video games, listening to music, or learning to play a cold-weather-friendly musical instrument. 

Alternatively, if you feel antsy in the evenings, try using a headlamp and going for a hike on a safe route you know well. Or, head into town to check out a bookstore, antiques, or artisan shop. (This last one is also great for when temperatures or rain ruin your daylight plans.) 

Cooking and Eating While Winter Camping

I don't recommend eating cold meals while winter camping. Hot meals help keep you warm.  Plus, I find hot meals more appetizing when I am cold. This is important because your body needs those calories to stay warm! Trust me, if you forget a meal or snack, you will notice changes in how well you tolerate the weather. You might even have difficulty with your winter sports activities. 

Water for Winter Camping

As I mentioned above, lots of campgrounds turn off running water after October or November. Or, they might have one frost-free tap to service the entire park. Keep this in mind, and bring lots of water. I like to use store-bought gallon jugs, and refill them as needed from frost-free taps. You can also buy 5-gallon tanks online or at camping stores. 

Whatever you do, don't let your water freeze! If temperatures go below freezing in your area, you will need a plan to insulate your water. You can make a cozy out of Reflectix material, wrap it in towels, or keep your water in a cooler without ice. If you use a personal heater while you sleep, consider keeping your water near it. 

Staying Warm While Winter Camping

Clothing

The first step to staying warm is to dress in layers. Invest in a few good base layers, or at least pack several pairs of leggings and undershirts that you can wear under your thicker layers. I don't mean "wear a few at a time," I mean, "have a few on hand." This is for two reasons. One, because taking a shower while winter camping is basically impossible, you will want to stay aware of how much you are sweating and swap out layers touching your skin as needed. Two, excess moisture will make you feel much colder. 

Also be sure to bring your best, warmest, most wicking socks. Wool is ideal since it also helps wick away sweat. 

Staying Warm at Night

Insulation, Insulation, Insulation! This is the key to getting a good winter night's sleep, and don't wake up to cold, painfully tight muscles. Start with a good sleeping bag. Make sure you check the temperature rating on your sleeping bag and compare it to the forecasted night temperatures. If there is a discrepancy, bring extra blankets. 

If you are car camping, invest in some Reflectix window covers, which help insulate your windows and reflect body heat back into the vehicle. You might also need to keep one window open just a tad to let out moisture, especially if you cook in your vehicle or have two people sleeping inside. Condensation from cooking and breathing will frost over the windows. It will also leave campers feeling slightly wetter and colder. 

If you are tent camping, make sure you are bringing a tent and sleeping pad rated for winter weather, and never sleep directly on the ground! Most general tents are 3 season tents, and you might need to specifically seek out a 4 season or winter tent. That isn't my area of expertise, so I recommend tent campers go here for more information on that. 

Do You Need a Heater to Camp in the Winter? 

Possibly. Possibly not. I have had great winter trips without a heat source. But, I also have a limit. When nighttime temperatures go below freezing, my sleep is poor and my muscles cramp. For this reason, I like having an electric blanket and a small power bank that I can cycle at night on low. I then charge the battery at my campsite while I am out hiking. Van and tent campers with more space and ventilation might prefer diesel heaters. I also like to bring hot hands, which are little packets that chemically react and create heat. These are great for warming your hands and are easy to find in stores in the Midwest. 

It's hard to predict how much heat you will need. Different winter camping rigs will have completely different strengths. Furthermore, people have different tolerances for the cold. You might have to try a few different nighttime setups to learn what works for you.