12 Winter Camping Tips That’ll Keep You Cozy

Camping isn’t just reserved for the spring and summer. Wintertime brings solace and solitude… You’ll have the entire campground to yourselves! But before you head out into the snowy wilderness, read up on these winter camping tips and irresistible campfire foods .

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Winter Camping Tips You Don’t Want to Leave Without

You can’t go camping in the winter without the right equipment. Here’s our list of must-have winter camping gear to keep you warm from head to toe!

Camping in the snow? Read these tips on how to pitch a tent in the snow. It’s important to pack down or clear some snow first. Not only will this make the tent floor more comfortable, but you can create a snow bank to cut out some of the wind, too.

Set up the perfect outdoor kitchen /dining area. Dig trenches to create a rectangle in the middle, and create “seats” on either side. Pitch a tent over the top, and you’ve got the perfect place to have meals. Just bundle up before you eat, and if you put a stove in there, heavily vent the tent.

Choose a tent that’s appropriate for the weather conditions. If you know you’re expecting a lot of snow, for example, choose a tent with steep walls that will prevent snow accumulation on the roof and at the tent door.

Dig a pit in front of your tent so you can sit down and take your snow-covered shoes off before entering.

Keep feet extra warm with a pair of sock liners. Bonus: this helps prevent blisters, too! Get the liners here (affiliate).

Stay extra toasty at night with this cheap trick: Put hot (not boiling) water in a water bottle or old 2-liter bottle. Place it between your feet in your sleeping bag to keep you warm all night long. You should wrap the bottle in a thin blanket if you don’t wear socks when you sleep, though.

If your socks get with with snow, pin them to your backpack or hang them up to let them dry out… but not if temperatures are freezing! If it’s freezing out, put them in your sleeping bag with you at night. It goes without saying, of course, that you should bring along a couple of extra pairs to slip into while your others dry.

Knowing how to make your own portable camp stove from soda cans will certainly come in handy. It never hurts to have a backup in case one stove fails.

Create tinder in a snap by bringing along your handy dandy pencil sharpener. Bring along a few of them so the other happy campers can help.

Nothing will warm you up inside like campfire hot chocolate. You can find a delicious campfire cocoa recipe here .

You just can’t camp in the winter without a few tarps. Use them to sit on snow, add extra shelter, extend your shelter and so much more.

Be prepared for any weather. You may have snow one day and mild weather a few days later. Dress in layers so you can adjust as needed.

Vent your tent even in winter… even if it’s freezing. If you don’t, you’ll wake up to condensation inside your tent. And who wants to be wet when it’s already freezing out?

Put foam floor tiles down in your tent to add an extra layer of insulation between you and the cold ground.

Have a hot sweet breakfast of oranges and cinnamon buns (the refrigerated kind). Just scoop out the oranges, and cook the cinnamon rolls over the stove or campfire in the orange peels .