How to Plan an Eco‐Friendly Camping Trip

Getting out into the great outdoors is a fun, relaxing time for everyone. However, camping can create a lot of unnecessary waste, which isn’t ideal as you enjoy the beauty of nature. By doing a little extra planning and packing strategically, you can keep the environment in mind as you have fun outside with your family and friends.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Food and Drinks

  1. Don’t let your food go to waste! [1] Pack a few plastic containers or glass jars to store your leftover food in so you can eat it when you get home. [2]
    • If you don’t have any containers to bring, pack some plastic wrap or aluminum foil instead.
  2. Single-use water bottles use up a ton of plastic, and they aren’t necessary if you have a metal or plastic water bottle. [3] Grab a reusable water bottle to bring with you, then fill it up at your campsite when you need to. [4]
    • Most campsites have water spigots you can use to refill your water and wash your dishes.
    Advertisement
  3. Paper and plastic utensils all generate a lot of trash. [5] Bring along some dishware that you don’t mind getting a little dirty, then wash it off throughout your stay at the campsite. [6]
    • Plastic cups and plates work well in the great outdoors since they don’t break easily.
  4. Figure out how many days you’ll be camping, then sit down and make a meal plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When you head to the grocery store, only buy enough food to sustain you for those days to avoid wasting anything. [7]
    • Don’t forget to pack some snacks too! Granola, nuts, and trail mix are all great ones to bring along.
  5. If you’re washing your dishes, don’t dump the water into a river or a stream. Instead, pour it onto dry land so the dirt can soak it up instead of putting it into a waterway. [8]
    • Pouring soap and wastewater directly into a stream can harm living organisms.
    Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Gear and Toiletries

  1. New camping gear can be expensive, and you can find used gear in good shape for pretty cheap. If you’re on the hunt for camping gear, check out garage sales, thrift stores, or your online neighborhood marketplace before hitting a big box store. [9]
  2. That way, you won’t have to rely on your car battery the whole time. Make sure your extra battery is charged up so you can plug in your phone if you need to. [11]
    • Solar lights are super easy to use since they just harness energy from the sun. You can find them at most outdoor supply stores.
  3. Clothes, dishware, and gear are all important things to bring on your trip. Instead of throwing them into a plastic bag, use a gym bag or a backpack to avoid creating unnecessary waste. [12]
    • Try going for a plastic cooler instead of a styrofoam one so you can reuse it later.
  4. Many popular sunscreens and bug sprays use chemicals that can harm organisms in the waterway. If you can, try to find products that say “non-toxic,” “all natural,” or “chemical-free.” [13]
    • You can find non-toxic products at most outdoor supply stores.
    • You can also make your own bug spray out of essential oils.
  5. Many soaps have a lot of harsh chemicals that can damage the environment. Before you leave, look for biodegradable soap that you can wash your dishes with. [14]
    • You can find biodegradable soap at most outdoor supply stores.
    Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Location

  1. Traveling to your campsite by car isn’t very environmentally sustainable. If you have campsites near your home, stick around the area to avoid driving your car for too long. [15]
    • If you can bike to the camp site, even better!
    • It’s okay to travel a long ways every once in a while, but don’t do it every time you go camping.
  2. Grassy campsites might look nice, but your tent and gear can squash plants and insects. Try to find a spot that’s designated for camping with gravel or small rocks. [16]
    • If you rented a campsite, don’t head out of the area to set up your camp. Stay on the designated trails and campsites to avoid disturbing any ecosystems.
  3. Diseases and invasive species can live in firewood, and they can devastated a habitat if you bring them in from the outside. Try to get your firewood within a 50 mi (80 km) radius of your campsite to avoid bringing anything in that shouldn’t be there. [17]
    • In some areas, it’s actually illegal to bring firewood in from other areas, so you could get a hefty fine.
  4. Before you leave for your camp spot, check the local news to see if there’s a burn ban. If there is, don’t start a fire at your campsite since it could be dangerous. [18]
    • Areas institute burn bans when the wildfire risk is high. If you make a fire during a burn ban, there’s a high chance that the fire could spread and start a large fire in the area.
    Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Cleanup and Waste Disposal

  1. Try and get at least 100 feet (30 m) away from any trails and bodies of water before you go. Aim for a hard surface, like a rock or large tree, to avoid killing plants and flowers with your salty urine. [19]
    • If you are male, you are actually encouraged to stay out of campground restrooms and port-a-potties when you just need to pee.
    • You should never pee in a body of water if you can help it. Although it gets diluted, it still isn’t great for the organisms in the waterway.
  2. If duty calls while you’re out in nature, head at least 100 feet (30 m) off the trail, if not 200 feet (61 m). Dig a hole that’s about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) deep, then relieve yourself in it. When you're done, cover your waste with dirt, but don’t bury your toilet paper. [20]
    • If your campsite has bathrooms or port-a-potties, use those instead.
    • If no facilities are available, make sure you’re at least 100 feet (30 m) away from a water source as well.
  3. It sounds gross, but toilet paper doesn’t degrade in nature very well. Put your used toilet paper into a plastic bag, then throw it in the trash as soon as you can. [21]
    • If you feel weird about touching your used toilet paper, bring along a pair of gloves.
  4. Instead of throwing your food scraps into the wilderness, bag them up and carry them out. Feeding wild animals things they aren’t supposed to eat can be dangerous, and it isn’t good practice to leave your food scraps lying around your campsite. [22]
    • If you’re camping for multiple days, bring a few trash bags along just in case. You never know when you might need them!
  5. While it’s easy to throw all of your garbage into one bag, really try to separate your trash and your recyclable items so you can dispose of them properly. [23] Put your garbage into a dumpster and your recycling into a recycling bin to cut down on unnecessary waste. [24]
    • Try bringing a few paper bags to put your recycling in for convenience.
  6. You’ve packed up all your gear, put everything in the car, and gathered up all your garbage. Do one last quick walkthrough to grab any small items you might have missed, including trash. [25]
    • Ideally, your campsite should look like no one has ever been there before.
    Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

      Advertisement

      Tips

      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Starting a fire while there’s a burn ban in the area can lead to a hefty fine and dangerous situations.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Work Out Naked
      How to
      Put on an Athletic Cup
      The Best Activities and Games to Get Kids to Exercise at Home
      How to
      Treat a Torn Muscle
      How to
      Treat a Groin Injury
      How to
      Tell if You Strained Your Knee
      How to
      Use a Treadmill For Beginners
      How to
      Perform the Bridge Exercise
      How to
      Do Russian Twists
      How to
      Stretch Your Back While Sitting
      How to
      Do Dumbbell Hammer Curls
      How to
      Do an Abs Workout in a Chair
      How to
      Get Abs at Home
      How to
      Reduce Chin Fat
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      2. ↑ https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/113784.html
      3. ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      4. ↑ https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/113784.html
      5. ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      6. ↑ https://sustainability.temple.edu/resources/green-tips/eco-friendly-camping
      7. ↑ https://carleton.ca/communityfirst/2016/take-nothing-pictures-leave-nothing-behind-tips-camping-environmentally-friendly/
      8. ↑ https://sustainability.temple.edu/resources/green-tips/eco-friendly-camping
      9. ↑ https://greenabilitymagazine.com/blog/2015/07/5-ways-to-make-camping-eco-friendly/
      1. ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      2. ↑ https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/2018/09/eco-friendly-camping/
      3. ↑ https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/2018/09/eco-friendly-camping/
      4. ↑ https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/113784.html
      5. ↑ https://greenabilitymagazine.com/blog/2015/07/5-ways-to-make-camping-eco-friendly/
      6. ↑ https://sustainability.temple.edu/resources/green-tips/eco-friendly-camping
      7. ↑ https://sustainability.temple.edu/resources/green-tips/eco-friendly-camping
      8. ↑ https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/113784.html
      9. ↑ https://sustainability.temple.edu/resources/green-tips/eco-friendly-camping
      10. ↑ https://www.nps.gov/glac/blogs/poop-out-side.htm
      11. ↑ https://www.nps.gov/glac/blogs/poop-out-side.htm
      12. ↑ https://www.nps.gov/glac/blogs/poop-out-side.htm
      13. ↑ https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/113784.html
      14. ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      15. ↑ https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/113784.html
      16. ↑ https://biofriendlyplanet.com/green-ideas/eco-friendly/7-eco-friendly-camping-tips/

      About this article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,932 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement