My Favorite Camping Prep TipsWe’ve got a big camping trip coming up… and let’s be real: getting ready for camping often takes more energy than the trip itself! 😅 Cleaning up the camper after it’s been sitting in the yard all winter, meal prepping, digging out gear from every corner of the house, and packing all the things for everyone — it’s no small task. It takes a lot of energy and planning!
But despite all that, I love camping. My family has been camping for many, many years. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my grandparents loading up all the grandkids and taking us camping — and that was no small feat! These days, I look forward to our annual trip all year long.
That said, I won’t sugarcoat it… camping is a lot of work!
There’s gear to find and check, meals to plan, a camper to get ready, food to keep cold, firewood to collect — and if you're going for an extended stay like we do (usually 10 days or more!), the logistics add up fast. Our favorite campground doesn’t have electric hookups, so my dad and I each bring a small generator to keep the camper batteries charged and the refrigerators running.
The thing that makes camping easier — and more fun — is preparing ahead.
Here are some of the ways I simplify the process (links are included for some of the recipes):
✅ Prep food in advance – I cook before we leave, I'll cut up some of the veggies, make dairy free ranch dressing, bake grain free biscuits (great for egg sandwiches) and gluten free cookies. I’ll make smoothies and freeze them too (perfect for a quick breakfast), and I prep water jugs and freeze them solid for both keeping the cooler cold and drinking.
✅ Freeze meals – Meals like taco meat, ground beef, pulled pork (recipe below), marinated chicken tenders, sloppy joe meat, and Mexican chicken are easy to freeze and reheat at the campsite. I pack the meals we’ll eat first into coolers and keep the rest (as much as will fit) in the camper freezer.
✅ Pack with purpose – I make a detailed packing list and gather gear from all over the house in the weeks before the trip. It’s not always quick, but having everything ready makes leaving the morning of our trip and setup at the campground much smoother.
Camping doesn’t have to feel overwhelming — with a little preparation, it becomes something you can look forward to. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re relaxing by the fire with everything already done.
In my next post, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite must-haves for our camping trips.
Happy camping! 🏕️✨
Slow Roasted Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3-5 pound pork roast
- Salt
- Pepper
- Smoked Paprika
Instructions
1. Combine 3 parts salt, 2 parts pepper and 1 part smoked paprika in a small dish. I usually use 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon pepper and 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika.
2. Rub the spice combination all over the pork roast and brown in coconut oil in a dutch oven on the stove.
3. Slow roast in the covered dutch oven for 4 hours at 300 degrees.
4. Uncover the roast, put the temperature up to 450 degrees for 20 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and shred. Serve on buns, over coleslaw or on the side with baked beans and salad.
This recipe freezes VERY well and will keep for quite a while!
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