How to Choose a Campsite: A Beginner’s Guide

Before You Choose Your Campsite?

Don’t put your tent up as soon as you arrive.

Stop. Look. Think.

Before choosing your campsite, consider:

• The ground
• Weather
• Wind
• Water
• Trees
• Access
• Facilities
• Other hazards

Take a few minutes to walk around and compare the available locations.

The first place you see isn’t necessarily the best place to camp.

1. Check the Ground

The ground underneath your tent affects your comfort, safety and how well your campsite handles bad weather.

Look for ground that is:

Look for Clues

Before pitching your tent, look for:

• Standing water
• Mud
• Channels where water has flowed
• Very soft ground
• Signs of previous flooding
• Eroded ground

Ask Yourself:

If it rained heavily tonight, where would the water go?

If the answer is through your tent, find somewhere else.

2. Think About the Weather

A campsite that is suitable in calm weather may become unsuitable when conditions change.

Before choosing your site, check the forecast.

Think about:

• Rain
• Wind
• Temperature
• Sun
• Visibility
• Changing conditions

Always think about the weather for the entire time you’ll be camping, not just the moment you arrive.

3. Look Above You

One of the easiest hazards to overlook is directly above your head.

Before pitching your tent, look at nearby trees.

Check for:

• Dead branches
• Broken branches
• Hanging branches
• Damaged trees
• Signs of instability

Strong winds can make tree hazards considerably more serious.

Remember:

Look up before you look down.

A perfectly flat piece of grass isn’t a good campsite if there is a dangerous tree above it.

4. Stay Away From Water Hazards

Camping near water can look fantastic.

But water needs to be treated with respect.

Avoid pitching directly beside:

• Rivers
• Streams
• Lakes
• Ponds
• Drainage channels
• Steep water banks

Water levels can change quickly following rainfall.

A small stream can become much more powerful after heavy rain.

Ask Yourself:

What happens if the water level rises?

If there is a possibility that your campsite could be affected, move further away.

5. Think About Access

Your campsite needs to be accessible.

Think about:

• How you’ll get there
• How you’ll leave
• Emergency access
• Vehicle access
• Equipment transport
• Paths and gates
• Accessibility requirements

For group camping, you also need to consider whether everyone attending can safely move around the site.

A campsite that’s difficult to reach may not be appropriate even if the actual camping area is excellent.

6. Find Out Where the Facilities Are

Before pitching, make sure you know where important facilities are.

Depending on the campsite, this could include:

Knowing these things before you need them makes camping much easier.

7. Think About Fire

If your camping activity includes a fire, consider it before choosing your tent location.

Ask yourself:

1. Is a fire permitted?
2. Where is the designated fire area?
3. How far is it from tents?
4. How will it be supervised?
5. How will it be extinguished?

Never create a fire simply because you’ve found a suitable-looking patch of ground.

Follow the site’s rules and current safety guidance.

If fires aren’t permitted, consider alternatives such as an appropriate camping stove where its use is allowed.

8. The Campsite Decision

You’ve now looked at the major factors.

But how do you actually choose?

Imagine you’ve found three possible locations.

Which one would you choose?

The answer isn’t always obvious.

That’s the point.

Good outdoor skills involve making decisions based on the conditions.

Choosing Your Campsite

Before pitching, use this simple checklist.

The campsite should ideally have:

You don’t need a perfect campsite.

You need the safest suitable campsite available.

The Campsite Scan

Here’s a simple technique to remember when you arrive.

STOP

• LOOK – Look around the entire area.
• WEATHER – What is the weather doing? What could it do later?
• WATER – Where is the water? Could it rise or flow towards you?
• ABOVE – Look at trees, branches and anything else overhead.
• ACCESS – How will people and emergency services get in and out?
• SPACE – Is there enough safe space for your tent and activities?
• FIRE – If relevant, where is the permitted fire area?
• FACILITIES – Where are toilets, water and other facilities?

STOP before you PITCH.

Your First Campsite Challenge

Can You Choose the Best Site?

This challenge is designed to test whether you can apply what you’ve learned.

Find three possible campsite locations in an appropriate, permitted area.

Don’t pitch your tent yet.

Instead, inspect each location.

Score each site:

Now make your decision.

Which campsite would you choose?

More importantly:

Can you explain why?

Don’t just say:

“Because it looks better.”

Explain your decision using what you’ve learned:

“I chose Site 2 because it has better drainage, fewer hazards and safer access.”

That’s the skill we’re trying to develop.

Bonus Challenge

Think about this scenario:

You’ve chosen a campsite, but the weather forecast changes and heavy rain is expected overnight.

Would you still use the same site?

What would you look at again?

Could you improve your choice?

Challenge Level: Explorer

Try making your campsite decision twice:

• Once for good weather.
• Once for heavy rain and strong wind.

Did your chosen campsite change?

Leave the Site Safely

Choosing a good campsite is only part of being a good camper.

When you leave:

A good camper should leave as little impact as possible.

The aim isn’t just to enjoy the outdoors. It’s to leave it ready for the next person.

Scout Connection

Choosing a campsite develops several useful Scout skills:

Camping requirements and badge requirements can change, so always check the current official Scouts programme and your leader’s instructions when working towards an award.

SurvivalGuidesUK is an independent educational resource and isn’t an official Scouts website.