There is no more important of a factor in a successful camping trip then getting a good night’s sleep while camping. No matter if your outdoor excursion is a rigorous adventure or a family vacation the ability to sleep while camping will affect every other facet of the trip. There are simple steps that can increase the likelihood of you and your family getting a good night of sleep while camping, including (1) knowing the weather forecast, (2) bringing the right clothes, food, and equipment, and (3) bringing the right companions

(1) Knowing the weather forecast.

Knowing the weather will moderate all other factors when looking at the ability to sleep while camping. The forecast will inform you of the possible high and low temperatures and what weather may impede the various excursions on your trip. If it is going to be very cold then the main barrier to sleep will be staying warm. If it is very hot then staying cool will be the priority. If the forecast looks like cold then the key will be appropriate clothing, footwear, and lots of layers! Appropriate layering while camping can be the difference between insomnia and getting a good night’s sleep. If the weather will be warm then the key is to be able to remove layers but still remain protected from the elements--like bugs, sun, or potentially dangerous plant life.

Other than hot and cold, rain and snow must be a consideration. It is miserable to get wet in the middle of the night and have no way to dry off. Bringing along the appropriate temperature and in climate weather clothing will assure you can get a good night’s sleep while camping in any weather forecast.

(2) Bringing the right gear.

You do not have to spend thousands of dollars to make sure you get a good night sleep while camping, but you do need to have appropriate items; of particular importance are your tent and sleeping bag. These items will be the principle location of sleep while on your trip and they should accordingly be appropriate for the trip. Your tent should be easy to set up and carry if you will be pitching multiple camps. Your tent should be the ideal size for the number planning on occupying. For example, if you choose to take a 2 person alpine tent for 3 people, your sleep will be seriously affected by close proximity, heat, and noise. Additionally, if your tent is difficult to construct you may spend precious time that could be used for cooking, leisure, or sleep trying to figure out how to put your tent together.

Like your tent, your sleeping bag should be optimized for comfort, temperature, portability, and size. Make sure that you understand the temperature rating of your sleeping bag and the climate of the camping environment. Taking a -20 degree sleeping bag on a 75 degree trip can lead to some sweaty and sleepless nights; additionally, having a bag that is to big can lead to difficulty in transportation and too small can lead to uncomfortable nights. Finally, a bag with no padding can make sleeping on the ground tough. Look into the comparative padding of bags or consider a pad for the ground is space and portability is not significant issue. All of these things can help assure a good night’s sleep while camping.

(3) Bringing the right companions.

There are all kinds of camping trips, including adventurous, family oriented, weekend trips, and high skill level camping trips. No matter what kind of trip you are planning make sure you take into account who will be with you and the specific issues they may bring that will affect your ability to sleep. For example, planning a high skill and 7-day camping trip can be exciting, but only if all members on the trip are able to keep up with the requirements. If skill level and required skill are too divergent then it can lead to delays, injury, and bad sleep. Likewise, taking young people on a camping trip when it is very cold or very hot can also affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep while camping.