For lovers of the great outdoors, camping is a fantastic way to way to escape the daily 9-5 grind and find a well-needed respite in the tranquility of nature.
Likewise, while camping is a wonderful experience to share with the company of others, it’s also frequently enjoyed as a solo venture!
Each year, thousands of men and women pack up their camping gear and leave behind their modern comforts, venturing outside to spend a peaceful night alone beneath the stars.
Is It safe to camp alone as a single woman?
For some however – particularly amongst women – the thought of camping on your lonesome can sound a little unnerving.
If you’re contemplating a wild camping venture, the prospect can feel even more terrifying!
Nevertheless, while these reservations are completely understandable, with all the modern technology, gadgets and facilities at our disposal, wild camping is arguably the easiest and safest it’s ever been.
If you prepare accordingly, use your common sense and follow some important safety guidelines during your camp, woman can most definitely feel comfortable & secure heading out on their own solo adventure.
For this blog post, I thought it best to seek out the help of my camping-obsessed partner, who’s kindly written up some top tips to aid all you ladies in prepping for your solo trip.
Interested? Then let’s get to it 👇👇
Safety tips for solo female camping
Choose the right location
The first thing you need to consider is where you’re going to camp. Whether you’d like to head out into the wild or simply pitch on an official site, there are a few key things you need to bear in mind.
If it’s your first time camping alone, opting for an established campsite is probably your best bet. This will give you a nice introduction to solo camping, providing solitude while still enjoying the comfort of fellow campers and site officials in the near vicinity.
Head online and peruse all the campsites round the area you’d like to camp, checking for reviews and facilities on offer to ensure it’ll be a good fit for you.
For those of you camping out in the wild, great! Just remember that a little more prep is required. I like to find a spot which is well-tucked away yet not too far from the beaten path so I can keep my bearings and have a quick exit strategy if needed.
Top tip – It’s certainly worth scouting out the area beforehand to get familiar with the surroundings and to gauge whether its suitable for camping.
For the first couple of wild camping trips, it’s perhaps a sensible option to pitch camp somewhere not too far from a family member or close friend – just to give you that feeling of nearby security. Overtime you can venture out further afield as you get more comfortable.
Confide in your plans to family & friends
Speaking of family and friends, be sure to let someone you trust know exactly where, what & when your plans are.
Set pre-arranged times where you can check-in via a call or text (if you’re going to have phone signal). Plus, if you’re staying on a campsite, share the address and contact details of the campsite owners with your trusted confidant.
To be super safe – in the unlikely scenario of any uncomfortable interactions arising – you could also create a code word which can be used over phone/text whenever necessary.
Don’t advertise your location
While I am of the belief that the vast majority of people are good-natured, I’m still careful with whom I share my camping details with.
Only those you truly trust should know the details of your camping trip. Restrain from social media posts until after your trip and don’t share too much information when chatting with folks. It’s always better to err on the side of safety.
Check the weather
A no-brainer really, but still worth mentioning! Weather conditions will drastically change your camp and what kind of gear you’ll need to bring along.
Rain or shine, pack accordingly for the specific weather you’ll be camping in. If you’re camping in climates which can quickly change at the drop of a hat, it’s always best to prepare for all scenarios.
Ensure you’ve plenty of daylight
Setting off early for your camp and leaving early in the morning will ensure you maximise daylight hours during your trip.
Setting up/taking down your tent is both safer and much more convenient during the day, especially if your wild camping.
Daylight hours also gives you time to more easily check the perimeter and get accustomed to your surroundings before nightfall. You’d be surprised how disorientating the darkness of night can get when there’s no artificial lights in sight.
Listen to your intuition
Don’t get me wrong, chances are you’ll have an amazing camping experience without any kind of uncomfortable scenario popping up.
Nevertheless, there’s definitely something to be said about that ‘gut feeling’ you get in certain situations. Sometimes, things can just seem a little off.
Whatever circumstance you find yourself in, listening to your instincts and putting safety first is paramount. Don’t afraid to come across as awkward or even rude if your intuition is telling you the situation doesn’t feel quite right.
Over the years through my travels, I’ve never regretted even once bailing on a situation I wasn’t comfortable with.
Looking back, it doesn’t even matter whether my alarm bells ringing in those scenarios were mistaken or not – it made me feel safe which is top priority when traveling alone.
Whether that involves calling a friend, changing camping spots, contacting the campsite owners or even sleeping in the car – do whatever gives you peace of mind.
Protect yourself with the right equipment
Staying prepared and protecting yourself with all the correct equipment can also give you some peace of mind. In the unlikely event you need to protect yourself from a stranger or animal, deterrents such as an airhorn, a rape alarm or a blinding head torch/flashlight are great investments.
Build confidence with self defence
Likewise, I’m a firm believer that learning an effective self defence system can be extremely empowering for women from all walks of life.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is without doubt one of the most effective systems for women – particularly the Gracie self defence system. You can find BJJ gyms all around the globe these days, so chances are you have one pretty close to home!
Even taking just a handful of classes can have such a profound effect one your psyche. A real confidence booster when out camping alone, that’s for sure.
Have a women’s solo camping checklist
For a comprehensive checklist of what to bring camping, you should really check out Rebecca Campbell’s recent ‘Ultimate Camping List’ post which details all the essentials you’ll need!
Alternatively, I’ll link to a great video below which runs through pretty much everything you need when packing for a camping trip:
Is it weird to go camping alone?
Camping alone may feel strange at first, but it soon becomes quite comfortable after several ventures!
During your first night camping it’s totally normal to feel a little out-of-place. You may not even get much sleep, but both your body and mind will quite quickly get accustomed to it after a couple nights.
Some outsiders may think you’re a bit odd for camping solo, but who cares what others think? Do what makes you happy!
How can I stop being scared of camping alone?
The best way to overcome a fear of camping alone is by taking baby steps and not rushing things.
Slowly expose yourself to what you feel you can manage, gradually upping the tempo each time in manageable chunks.
For instance – start with a camp on a trusted campsite with a pal, followed by a solo camp at the same site. Perhaps then move onto a wild camp close to home and each trip move your camping spot a little further afield.
Before you know it, you’ll be solo camping with no issues at all!
More camping resources
For more camping information, be sure to head on over to the camping section of our blog here.
In one of our most recent camping posts, we also look at all the best steps to take to avoid that pesky condensation hindering your camping trip!
Happy camping ⛺🚶