Last year, an insane number of 48 millions of US households went camping.
With so many people doing it, you’re probably wondering is camping really that good?
And the answer is of course! Camping can be quite beneficial to both our physical and mental health. And not just that, but it allows us to learn new skills and gain new experiences.
Still skeptical? Let me show you why I personally love camping and its various benefits.
Why Do People Like Camping? 18 Benefits of Camping
If you’re not sure you’d like camping, read on. There are tons of reasons why I find it so enjoyable, including:
1. Getting Outside
Whether we’re sleeping or working, we’re bound to spend lots of time between the four walls. And you can achieve great airflow with open windows and proper air conditioning, but nothing beats fresh air you get to breathe in while outdoors.
Plus, you’re not just outside, you’re out in the wilderness. Far away from city air and noise. The only sounds you can hear are birds singing or foliage motion in the wind.
2. Exploring New Places
With 113,000 federally managed campsites, 166,000 state park campsites, and countless private facilities in the US alone, you can never run out of new places to explore.
There are surely many camping locations even in a close vicinity to your home.
What’s even better is that you don’t even need to leave the borders of the country to experience different scenery.
From the McKinley mountain peaks in Alaska to the sandy beaches of Hawaii, from sandstone deserts in Arizona to Niagara waterfalls in New York – there’s something for everyone’s preference.
All of these locations offer a million dollar view, but nothing beats enjoying them during sunrise or sunset. It’s a scenery worth a wallpaper picture, and that’s something you can rarely experience in the city.
3. Real Quality Family Time (Creating memories)
Camping has got to be one of the best ways to spend time with your family.
Not only are you gathered at the same place, but you actually get to enjoy each other’s company without the distractions of electronic devices.
So instead of watching a movie in silence, you get to chat while doing all kinds of camping activities. And hey, chores are way less tedious when you’re doing them together!
4. No Devices!
Not going to lie, staying disconnected can be quite tough. Using electronic devices has become kind of like second nature, so you’ll surely feel a bit weird without checking your phone every once in a while.
But guess what?
That email from your boss can wait. You’re not at work right now, so leave the chores at the office.
In fact, why not turn off your phone altogether? You can get a paper map to navigate your way around, and use a real camera to take photos.
And once you get back to the campsite, you can play board games with your kids, or read a book by the campfire.
5. Silence/Quiet
The city life gets used the murmur of people and car noise.
So it’s not until we hit the wilderness that we realize what silence really is.
Of course, that’s not to say nature is quiet. You might hear birds singing or waves hitting the shore.
6. Campfire Food
What’s the best way to end a fun day of nature exploration? With good ol’ barbecue, of course!
Don’t feel guilty about eating everything there is on the plate – outdoor activities are exhausting, and you’ll need energy for tomorrow.
Naturally, the best way to end a great day is by creating your own campfire recipes and of course roasting marshmallows! Nothing says camping more than a marshmallow on a stick that melts in your mouth.
7. Feeling Of Accomplishment After Camp Setup
You should feel proud for pitching up a tent without trouble. Even if it’s an instant tent or a pop-up tent.
Hey, you’ve just set up a roof over your head out in the wilderness!
8. Change Of Pace
Can you remember the last time you’ve woken up without an alarm clock?
Even when we’re not working, we tend to wake up early just to be able to finish all the chores.
But when you’re out in the wild camping, the only thing that can wake you up is the sound of nature.
Not to mention, there are so many different types of camping, that you can have a different experience every time.
9. Mental Health Benefits
Think about it – how often do you have time to clear your mind and just focus on one thing?
During a workday, our minds are occupied with so much at the same time – challenges at work, what to eat for lunch, what’s the weather going to be like…in a 2020 study, it was found that the average person has more than 6,000 thoughts per day.
But things are different when you’re camping. There’s nothing you need to think about when pitching the tent than where to nail in the stake.
10. Bring out your Inner Child
When you’re a kid, every trip into the wilderness is a new adventure.
The forest is magical while the desert is actually a planet in a galaxy far, far away… The ideas are endless.
Pretending to be in a mythical place might seem too childish as an adult, but reminiscing surely brings out some good memories and good feelings.
11. Hanging Around The Campfire
As the night sets in, there’s not much sightseeing you can do. But what you can do is set up a campfire and gather around it.
Grab the blankets and enjoy the company of your camping buddies.
You can roast marshmallows, tell spooky campfire stories to your kids, sing campfire songs, or stargaze together.
12. Getting Away From It All
Whether it’s work overload, a feud with a roommate, bills to be paid, or loud neighbors who doesn’t let you sleep at night, we all need to get away from it all once in a while.
It’s not that those issues go away when we’re out in the wild, but they’re left at home and we can deal with them after we get that much needed mental break.
13. Teamwork
Everything is easier and more fun when done in company.
Whether it’s pitching the tent, collecting kindling, or cooking meals, teamwork is not just a good way to connect, but also to distribute the burden of doing chores.
Still, that doesn’t mean you should turn an enjoyable outdoor trip into an army camp. Forget about soldier-like training and focus on cooperation.
14. Hiking, Biking, Kayaking And Other Camping Activities
There are so many things you can do while out camping.
Even the biggest couch potatoes find it hard to resist enjoying all kinds of physical activities you can enjoy outdoors.
Whether it’s hiking, birdwatching with a nice pair of binoculars, or wildlife photography, there are tons of things anyone can enjoy, regardless of their physical condition.
But if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can bike, swim or kayak your way around. And for those adrenaline junkies out there, there are fun activities like rock climbing, zip lining or mountain biking.
The possibilities are endless! Do what makes your blood pump.
15. Laughing More!
I can’t put my finger on why, but camping makes me laugh more. I guess it’s just the thought of being carefree and enjoying every little thing out there.
While I might stress out about failing for the fifth time at setting up an Ikea table, I won’t feel the same for pitching up a tent from the tenth try.
In fact, every mistake is a potential cause for belly pain from too much laughing.
16. De-stressing
As I already said, camping is the time you should turn off your electronic devices and get away from the troubles of your daily life.
You don’t need a GPS to get where you must be, or a clock to know when you must arrive. You’re not limited by time or place – so just do what you feel like doing.
Camping is de-stressing, and science can back that claim up.
According to a study, spending time in a wooded area is good for your mind, body and spirit.
The participants who walked around the forest had lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels afterwards than those who strolled through the city. Knowing that being in nature can have such a positive effect on us, we’d be foolish to not make the best use of it.
17. Saving Money
Out of all kinds of trips, and other camping alternatives, camping is the one that’s most affordable.
No matter how big your budget might be, you can experience the outdoors.
Camping gear can be bought secondhand or borrowed, and the location can be only a few miles from your home.
Or even better yet, take up eco camping to really take saving money AND saving the environment to the next level.
18. Getting closer to nature & wildlife
Last, but not least camping brings you closer to nature.
Each time you camp, you learn more about yourself and your surroundings.
I always come back knowing a bit more about the plants and animals that live so close to us every day.
You can’t not get a bit closer to nature and our nomadic human past when you camp!
To Sum Things Up
There are tons of reasons why camping is such an amazing activity.
It brings us closer to nature and allows us to relax our minds and bodies.
But above all, it creates beautiful memories that we can look back on.
Plus, I’ve never gone camping without wanting to go again.
Why do you love camping?