Writing About a Camping Trip: Top Essay Examples Plus Writing Prompts

Discover our guide to writing about a camping trip, where we pull the best examples and prompts to help you get started writing your essay!

If you’ve recently been camping and want to start writing about a camping trip in an essay, blog post, or just for fun, we’ve got tips to help you get started! Check out our essay writing topics for inspiration to get started. 

Camping is a cherished pastime that involves setting up temporary residences outdoors, typically using a tent. Whether in your backyard, the woods, or somewhere else, this activity has become popular for those seeking fresh air, peace, quiet, and simple life, if only for a few days.

Camping can do magical things for the soul: it can reinvigorate you and leave you with a new perspective on life and our world. Plus, if you decide you don’t like the view, after all, you can move on and find another! It’s something that everyone should try at least once in their lives. 

Tip: If writing a camping essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

How Do You Write About Camping?

Writing about camping is a fun exercise to get your creativity flowing and write an engaging essay, blog post, or article. Camping is a much-loved hobby for adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide, so writing about this topic speaks to a vast audience.

Begin writing your piece by reading some examples of essays. Using helpful prompts and guides can also be a great way to begin. We’ve gathered our top examples and prompts to help you get started, but if you need more guidance, check out our top essay writing tips!

10 Best Examples of Essays About Camping

1. Camping Reflection by Emily Bergman

“We chose an area on top of a hill. The creek was about 75 yards away down hill. We were a bit close to trees, but they did not appear to be dead and no storms seemed to be in the area. Our location was right in the sun which was nice on a chilly day. Our tent also was pitched on soft grass which would of made for a bit more comfortable of a sleep.”

This camping essay is short and straight to the point. Bergman describes the lessons she taught her class when they went on a camping trip. She talks about the location they camped out at, the equipment they brought with them, and most importantly, the lessons she was able to teach her students, both academic and formative. She notes that it is good that children learn these life skills from a young age to prepare them for the future better. 

Camping is a relaxing pastime but also necessitates a different mindset as you plan the practicalities of your venture, from pitching your tent to choosing a suitable area for cooking and washing. That is what many people find enjoyable about camping. It makes us engage with our environment differently.

2. Camping provides perspective and teaches resilience by Julie Anne Pattee

“Being in nature gives us a peaceful feeling and the much needed perspective that the world is bigger than our worries. Regardless, there’s something that seems foolish about choosing to shed all the hard-earned comforts of modern life. Most of the time, a good camping trip involves putting yourself in some sort of peril. This is not something normal people do on purpose. It’s just that no matter how much you plan, you can’t anticipate every possible scenario.”

In this opinion piece, author Julie Anne Pattee writes about a bad experience she had on a camping trip and why she continues to go camping with her family. 

Camping gives her peace, reminds her of the greater world around her, and helps her keep in mind that anything can happen. In her mind, it can make us more resilient, confident, and strong-willed. Despite that unfortunate incident on her family’s camping trip, she is attracted to camp again because of the lessons she learned out in the wilderness. 

3. What I Learned From My First Time Camping by Mike Henson

“A rock path, a dam, little fish in a pond – Izzy had never seen these things before. But being there with her, removed from my phone, my tablet, my email, my obligations, I realized that I was looking at these things with fresh eyes, too. Against my nature, I was having fun, and was starting to think this is why campers enjoy camping.” 

Henson provides an interesting perspective in this essay: just as his daughter experiences the wonders of nature during the camping trip for the first time, he is experiencing these for the first time as well. 

He talks about the ethereal world he encountered while camping, and while some aspects of the trip he disliked, it made for a great experience that he would like to repeat in the future. With his anecdotes about family and the warmth of nature, Henson does a great job of convincing readers to try camping out.

4. My First Time Solo Camping by Emily Luxton

“On a last-minute whim, I decided to go solo camping last week in search of a mini-adventure. I had to force myself into it. Months of nightly Playstation and binge-watching everything on Netflix have made me soft and comfortable and just a bit lazy. But, force myself I did because I needed to remind myself what adventure felt like. Or perhaps I should say, that adventure is what you make of it. Yes, climbing mountains and hiking in jungles are an adventure. But so is camping solo for the first time, so is sitting out alone at night under a sky full of stars. So is trying anything new.”

Similar to what Henson writes in his essay, Luxton reflects on her first experience on a camping adventure, in this case, her first time camping out by herself. She describes both the positive and negative aspects of her trip. 

Despite her discomfort, she is content with the peace and solitude she experiences. People may think you must go far to have a great adventure; however, Luxton proves that adventure can start the minute you step out of your door. Camping can be peaceful, but it can be exhilarating and adventurous too.

5. Growth and Reflection in Joshua Tree National Park by Ingrid Carrillo and Edgar Pedroza

“What had changed over the last few days to cause such a transformation? Where had this strength come from? It was there all along, just waiting to be discovered. Therein lies the importance of placing ourselves in environments that will not only challenge us but make us uncomfortable and reveal the strength within us.”

Carrillo and Pedroza talk about their love of nature, shown through their trip to Joshua Tree National Park. They narrate the events of their trip daily, describing their activities, the emotions they experienced, and their interactions with their fellow campers. 

Carrillo highlights how the trip made her realize her love for nature, conservation, and freedom, while Pedroza remembers overcoming his fears. This wild camping and hiking expedition ramps up the quality of the experience but also increases the personal challenge, testing both your physical and mental strength.

6. Let’s Go Camping by Sophia Stephens

“He asked, ” Did you have fun?”. With a sorrowful look on my face, I replied, “Yeah. I broke a window.” I should have listened to my dad…”

The essay is about three 16-year-olds who went camping. Stephens shares an experience where they broke a window and tried to make it look like an accident. This piece reminds its readers that although camping trips are fun, it doesn’t mean one can be careless and irresponsible.

7. My Life Camping Experience by Raymond Burns

“While we enjoyed the sound of the rain’s very soft light droplets dripping on our tent, mom prepared some snacks and drinks for us while we played games and chatted about our daily life stories. Even with the rain, I had never been happier.”

In this essay, Burns recalls their family’s camping experience and is grateful for the memory. Aside from relishing the beauty of nature, he also learned that even if the weather may not turn out to be best for camping, they can adapt and make unforgettable memories as a family.

8. My Experience in Camping by Edmund Perry

“When I eventually got back into my sleeping bag, I laid there thinking about the day and enjoying it, from waking up really early to relaxing around and listening to the sound of nature.”

Perry remembers his camping experience at a site where campers can be acquainted and share their experiences. He notes that time flies fast when one is genuinely enjoying themselves. 

9. Camping Trip by Anonymous

“We had arrived at our destination. The jungle. It looked way bigger than I expected. As we walked through the woods, the trees stood tall, ready to greet us, and the grass looked like a person with a bad hair day.”

The author shares an experience he had when camping in the jungle, specifically the memory of when a snake bit one member of the group. Although they continued to go camping, they now avoid the jungle and wilderness. 

10. Camping: Campfire and Best Friend Essay by Admin 

“In these Americal times, we value hard work; we are always pushing ourselves to work harder and get ahead in life. At times, we need to take a moment for ourselves to rejuvenate from the stressful lifestyles we live. Camping enables us to relax and enjoy a slower pace of life.”

The author talks about her camping vacation with her best friend. She remembers rowing a canoe and a kayak and how overcoming those challenges gave her a sense of accomplishment. She believes camping is a great way to spend time with family and friends, relax, experience new adventures, and enjoy nature.

Essay Prompts on Writing About a Camping Trip

1. How Was Your Camping Experience?

For those who’ve already gone camping, this should be straightforward. Reflect on your experiences, just like many of the authors in the sample essays do. How did you plan your trip, and what events unfolded from when you arrived at the camp? What did you like or dislike about your trip? How did camping make you feel? Did you realize anything about yourself or your surroundings? And would you recommend the experience?

2. Should You Go Camping? 

In this instance, pick a side and argue in favor of it. Based on the pros and cons of camping. Decide whether it would be good for someone to try it or not, and explain your reasoning. Inform your reader of the numerous options for camping in terms of location and facilities. Be sure to mention specific points against your side and refute them. Remind your audience that this is based on your own opinions. 

3. Where Are the Best Places To Camp?

Compile a list of attractive places for a camping trip in your area or, at least, your country or state. You can base your answers on reviews, photos, and internet searches even if you haven’t been to these places. Make sure to add detailed descriptions but, at the same time, not too lengthy. Include the pros and cons for each location you select.

4. What Makes Camping Appealing?

Camping has become a beloved pastime for weekends and extended vacations for many. In your essay, you can explore the reasoning behind its popularity. Research the history of camping and read people’s reflections like the ones listed above. If you are fond of camping, you can include your thoughts and opinions about camping and what makes it enjoyable.

For help picking your next essay topic, check out our 20 engaging essay topics about family.

5. Finding Peace When Camping

Different thoughts come and go when you’re camping. In your essay, discuss the benefits of camping and being outdoors and how people can find peace in immersing themselves in nature. Discuss the pros and cons of the outdoors, and decide whether peace and quiet benefit a person’s mental well-being.

6. Your Favorite Camping Experience

Most people go on camping trips for adventure and new experiences. Recall what happened during your favorite camping trip and why you consider it the best. Doing so can excite your readers to look forward to camping themselves. Write your essay based on your favorite experience and describe what made it special.

7. What’s Your Least Favorite Camping Experience?

On the flip side, there can also be adventures we’d rather forget about. You can share these with your readers by describing your experience in-depth and the events leading up to it. While writing, you can also add tips on how they can avoid experiencing the same things you did.

8. Best Weather For a Camping Trip

Writing about the best weather to go on a camping trip can be informative for readers planning to go on a vacation. Different locations may have different weather in the same months. Weather can also be affected by various factors, such as thunderstorms, low-pressure areas, typhoons, etc. Campers must be well informed about these multiple factors to make their camping trip fun and memorable.

9. The Weather During Your Last Camping Trip

While rain can ruin your camping trip, you can enjoy it. While rain can ruin your camping trip, you can enjoy it. This will help your readers know how to act when they are in the same position as you. 

10. Best Games to Play While Camping

This prompt will give your readers an idea of what games they can play when they are out camping. You can also include which location and weather those games are best to play. For instance, when camping on a mountain summer camp, you can play an obstacle course, etc.

11. Camping Place You Would Rather Be

Do you want to go on a camping trip at the beach, hike, and tent camp in the mountains, or go to a popular camping site? Write about which camping trip you would rather be and explain why.

12. Scary Experiences During A Camping Trip

While this may sound absurd for some, it can be thrilling for others. Adventurous people love to try ghost hunting and other unusual excursions while camping. Then, relay what you did during the scary experience.

13. Things You Always Pack When Camping

Writing about the essential things you always put on your camping backpack gives your readers more information to prevent unnecessary things. Explain why you get the items you do. Also, if your bag can’t hold everything you want to have, what stuff or gears would you leave behind and why?
Check out this guide on descriptive essays to help you describe your experience and show off your writing skills.