How Safe Is Solo Camping? | Best Tips For Staying Safe When Camping Alone

Do you want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life even for a few days? Do you want to enjoy Australia’s breathtaking shorelines and abundant rainforests in solitude? If yes, then solo camping is the best adventure for you.

It is perfectly safe to go camping alone, as long as you are prepared and careful. With the right equipment and sufficient preparation, camping alone in the great outdoors is safe. Safety while solo camping is also a matter of knowing the best places to stay and keeping in contact with loved ones while you’re gone.

To help you get started on your exciting journey, we’ve rounded up some tips and essential hacks for solo camping for beginners. You’ll gain valuable insights on things to prepare and the safest locations to visit.

Why Go Solo Camping?

Gathering around the campfire and drinking morning coffee overlooking a lake with family and friends can be fun, but there’s something special about doing it by yourself. Camping with loved ones may have its excellent benefits, but camping solo also has its share of advantages. Here are some reasons camping can do wonders.

1. You’ll Learn New Camping Skills

When you’re camping with a group, there will usually be a division of labour. Someone will start a fire while another one could pitch the tent. On the other hand, you will need to do all these things when you’re camping alone.

While it may be challenging at first, learning survival skills can help broaden your knowledge about camping. It will also boost character-building traits such as more patience, resourcefulness, and tenacity.

2. You Can Follow Your Own Pace

When camping with other people, you need to adjust to everyone’s varying speeds. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep up with the camping hours and hiking speed that makes everyone is comfortable.

Camping alone will allow you to follow your own timeline. If you feel like drinking in all the sights and sounds at a slower pace, you can, without feeling like you’re taking away from someone else’s experience. You can even stay up as late as you can or wake up early enough to see the sunrise without inconveniencing anybody.

3. You’ll Get a Boost of Confidence

Camping solo means you have to rely on yourself for everything, which can be very empowering. Knowing that you are responsible for your journey, including its highs and lows, will give you the chance to look deeper into your strengths and weaknesses.

These insightful experiences can help boost the confidence that prepares you for challenges in other aspects of your life.

4. You Will Have a Deeper Connection With Nature

One of the most extraordinary things about camping is the opportunity to experience nature’s beauty and bounty. However, when you’re camping with a group, you might get too preoccupied with connecting with other people rather than with nature.

On the other hand, when you camp alone, you’ll get the chance to connect with nature on a deeper level. You will realise that, without distractions, your senses are more attuned to the breathtaking details of your surroundings. Sunrises become more awe-inspiring, trees become more majestic, and wildlife more interesting.

5. You’ll Have a Stress-Free Time

While camping with family and friends has its joyful perks, it often goes hand-in-hand with stress. The thought of trying to keep up with everyone’s preferences, and ensuring that everyone’s on the same page can be exhausting.

However, when you’re out exploring on your own, you’ll face less stress since you only answer to yourself. You can leave all your worries behind and allow yourself to revel in a one-of-a-kind experience.

Is It Weird To Go Solo Camping?

It is possible to raise a few eyebrows when you tell family and friends that you’re going camping by yourself. Heading out to the great outdoors by yourself may be unusual for some, but trust us when we say it’s not weird at all.

If you still have some doubts, here’s some proof of why it’s terrific to rough it out in nature by yourself:

It can give you a sense of peace unlike any other – Camping alone is an experience that can give you unexplainable bliss that stems from knowing yourself amidst the powerful energies of nature. You can absorb valuable insights that will make you forget what others might think about your decision.

Many people are doing it not only in the country but also in other parts of the world – Solo camping is quickly gaining popularity, and more people embrace its benefits to the body and soul. More people are craving to be with nature and want more time alone; camping solo can bring the best of both worlds.

The one-of-a-kind experience is priceless – Don’t be afraid to do an activity traditionally done in groups by yourself. A unique experience, such as camping alone, is priceless. Don’t let the thought of “being weird” prevent you from having one of the best times of your life.

Is It Safe To Go Solo Camping?

Yes, it’s safe to go camping alone if you prepare very well and follow safety precautions. The safety of solo camping is always an important consideration, especially when you’re camping alone as a woman.

One of the most dangerous parts about camping is poor preparation. Not having enough food for the length of your stay and not having the right gear for the landscape and the weather are real safety concerns for even seasoned campers.

Inexperience can also create a safety concern for solo campers. Camping sounds like a fun and easy way to spend your weekend, but in reality you are leaving civilisation for a remote area with less access to emergency services. If you intend to go solo camping, make sure you go camping with experienced campers first to learn the basics.

Is It Safe for a Woman to Go Camping Alone?

Solo camping is completely safe for women, with the correct preparation and planning. Women may have reservations about going on a trip alone, away from loved ones- and that is entirely understandable. With all the scary stories we hear every day, venturing off alone outdoors might not sound like a great idea.

But solo camping is no more dangerous for women than it is for anyone else. The biggest causes of danger and injury while camping all stem from inexperience and poor planning. More people are hurt or affected by getting lost or accidentally hurting themselves with their camping knives than the amount of unsavory interactions that occur with other campers. Making sure you know your own gear and your surroundings will allow you to stay completely safe while camping as a woman.

Thanks to the internet, there are countless women sharing their stories and experiences with solo camping. If you’re a woman and still have some concerns about solo camping, checking out one of the many women’s solo camping video diaries can help calm your nerves about your first solo trip.

Should I Bring A Dog Solo Camping?

Another form of “protection” is bringing a dog with you since they could warn you of any impending danger. Your furry friend can also make for good company as you explore your campsite. And on chilly nights, they can keep you warm and toasty. These are why many people are taking their dogs with them to the great outdoors. Some campers even prefer the company of their dogs to people.

What Solo Camping Supplies Do I Need?

The success of your camping trip greatly depends on your level of preparation. One way to ensure that you’re ready to take on the adventures and challenges of camping is to bring the right equipment.

To help you get started, here’s a list of the camping supplies that every solo camper needs:

Proper thermal wear and sleeping gear

Wear thermal underwear to preserve body heat during chilly nights.
During the cold months, bring warm and comfortable clothes and socks and a hat for sleepwear.
For sleepwear during the summer months, pack a t-shirt and shorts.

Tent, stakes, and poles
Bring the right tent that suits your camping environment. Ensure that the kind of tent that you will use can withstand the elements.
Enough food to last during the whole trip

Bring easy-to-prepare food with a long shelf life, including cereals, rice, pasta, canned meat, and eggs.
Enough water
A general rule of thumb is two gallons of water per day. This amount includes water for cooking and simple washing. If there’s a water source nearby, you can bring purifiers instead.

A mini “kitchen” setup
Invest in a portable stove, some reliable pots, utensils, and perhaps a tiny kettle for your morning brew to make cooking fun and easy. Remember to bring camping bowls, mugs, and plates as well.
Emergency kit

Your kit may include first aid essentials, a flashlight, a pocket mirror, a whistle, and a personal alarm device.

Satellite communication device, a mobile phone, and a power bank.
A headlamp or flashlight

Personal hygiene kit, toilet paper, and towels
A multi-tool or a knife
Bear canister if applicable

Personal identity documents

Your name
Your emergency contacts and their phone numbers

Your trip start and end dates.
Medical information such as blood type, allergies, medications, or medical conditions like diabetes or asthma.
A map of the area, a compass, and contact details of the park ranger station

How to Stay Safe When Camping Alone

Here are some tips to help you have a safe yet enjoyable time camping alone.

Get Some Camping Experience First

Before heading out to camp alone, try to get some experience first by camping with a group. It would be great to go with someone who has already experienced camping solo. You can volunteer to help pitch a tent or start a fire. Having hands-on experience will help you learn the skills you need to survive independently.

Plan Where You Are Going

Research the campsites that strike your fancy. Read reviews and join social media communities to get a feel of the camping environment. Remember, take these reviews with a grain of salt and trust your instincts.

Check the campsite’s reservation schedule beforehand and ensure to reserve your slot. Once you have made your reservation, study the campsite’s layout. Pitch your tent in an area where there will be a fair number of other campers.

It is also a great idea to include fuel stations, supermarkets, and police stations when you plan your driving route.

Choose a Safe Location

Choosing a national park or a developed camping site for your solo journey would be best. You will be more comfortable knowing that there are other campers around.

Tell Someone Where You’re Going

Inform a close family member or a reliable friend about your camping trip. Letting them know of your plans can help save you when you get into trouble.

Here’s the information you need to disclose:

✔ Whether you will have mobile phone reception at the campsite
✔ The duration of your whole camping trip and your exact location (include days and time)
✔ A code word in case something goes wrong, and you’re in a dangerous situation.
✔ Your campsite’s contact details
✔ A set time when you can call or send a message just to let them know you’re okay.

Ensure You Have The Supplies You Need

Solo camping is about being self-sufficient, so do your best to have everything you’ll need. It would be such a bummer scouting for utensils, for example, around the campsite. Asking strangers for something may reveal that you are alone and unprepared- not a good combination.

We’ve come up with a list in this article to help you prepare your camping gear. Make sure that your equipment is in excellent condition and that your consumables, such as food and water, will last during the duration of your trip.

Trust Your Instincts & Stay Careful

It’s fun to make new friends on the camping grounds, especially with people who share the same interests as you. However, it would help if you still held off revealing too much information about yourself and your camping plans. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, don’t hesitate to excuse yourself and tell them a friend is waiting for you.

If your instincts tell you something is not right with your location or the people around you, immediately leave the campsite for a safer place.

In case you drop by a service station or a store on your way to the campsite, never tell anyone that you’re traveling alone. Avoid asking too many questions or making small talk that can reveal that you don’t have a companion.

Keep Updated With the Weather

Part of camping safety is ensuring that you won’t be met with terrible weather while outdoors. If you aren’t prepared for rain, for example, you might end up cold, wet, and miserable. Checking weather conditions will also prevent you from dangerous situations such as heat waves, storms or bushfires.

Another tip would be to check one week’s worth of weather patterns. You can check the Bureau of Meteorology where you can get a ten day weather forecast.

Let Your Trip Go Under the Radar

We know you’re excited to go on an unforgettable adventure, but it’s best not to publicly broadcast where and when you will be camping alone. There’s plenty of time to share your photos and thoughts when you get back home.

Carry Protection if You Must

Protection doesn’t always mean a weapon. Whistles and motion sensors are a great way to help yourself feel safe in the bush alone at night. In some parts of Australia, it’s even legal to purchase pepper spray to keep yourself safe from wildlife while camping.

Another way to protect yourself is to learn self-defense before your trip. It can give you an air of confidence that could turn off possible wrongdoers, while also being great for fitness which will come in handy while carrying your gear between campsites.