Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

Top 5 backyard camping ideas to cure cabin fever

Take your backyard camping to the next level

By and
Back yard camping
Valiant Made / Unsplash

Even if you’re not snowed in, cabin fever is a real thing, if you’re too entrenched in your routine. I, for one, am always up for a little backyard camping, especially if it’s been a while since I’ve visited my favorite national park. Camping in the backyard can be a great alternative, whether I’m looking for some low-commitment fun for the family or testing out some new camping gear. No matter what I do, I always make it an experience. Here are some of my best backyard camping ideas.

Best backyard camping ideas to keep life interesting

Backyard camping
Jeffrey Hamilton / Unsplash

Build a fire

Few ills can’t be cured by just slowing down and relaxing around a fire. That’s why building a fire is an essential part of every camping experience, whether in the backyard or the backcountry. I recommend building a teepee fire, which directs heat upward. This is perfect for social settings because you’ll all be able to feel the warmth. If you’re unsure how to make one, DJ from The Bear Essentials shows just how to do it.

Recommended Videos

If you don’t already have one of the best fire pits, there are plenty of portable options. These are lightweight and collapsible, and can be just the thing to put a smile on your face. Alternatively, you can go for an alcohol-fueled marshmallow roaster.

Related

Bring out your favorite snacks

If you’re unable to build a fire or just want some more delicious options on the table, there are plenty of selections to make your backyard camping adventure special. Bring on the fun kitchen gadgets! Fondue pots with all the fixings, popcorn with M&Ms, even your waffle maker can get some tender-loving use. If you don’t have an outdoor outlet, grab an extension cord and make it work. It’ll be worth it!

Bring in the ambiance lighting

One of my favorite backyard camping ideas is to bring in some pretty lighting. Under bad lighting, it can feel like you’re staking out a post-apocalyptic wilderness survival scenario. Great lighting can create a soft, dreamy atmosphere worthy of an engagement proposal. The key is to get creative. Fairy lights and lanterns will do a great job, and if you choose to burn citronella candles, you’ll keep the bugs away, too. Just make sure your lighting is all in the same color temperature range. I recommend choosing a warm light, which will fall in the 2700k to 3000k color temperature range.

Make your backyard campsite extra comfy

Since you’re so close to home, you have the freedom to bring in extra throw pillows, blankets, and furniture to make your backyard extra comfy. To help keep everything clean, I always like to bring out a good-sized rug or a picnic blanket that I don’t mind getting a bit dirty, and then arrange everything overtop. You can also bring any and all of your favorite board and yard games to add to the fun. Set up your favorite Bluetooth speaker with your go-to playlist, and you could even set up a projector for an outdoor movie night.

Backyard camping ideas for the kids

Your camping experience will look very different if you’ve got kids in tow, so here are a few ideas to keep them engaged.

  • Scavenger hunt: Depending on the size of your backyard and how old your crew is, try putting together a scavenger hunt. For younger kiddos, do a daytime or evening hunt. Older kids might love the challenge of scavenging with flashlights in the dark.
  • Survival skills: If you know your way around the outdoors, teaching your kids some valuable survival skills could just light that spark for adventure. Teach them how to tie knots, safely build a fire, or how to set up your equipment.
  •  Stargazing: Light pollution or clouds can rain on anyone’s parade, but if you happen to live in an area where you can see the stars, do some stargazing. Constellation apps can take the experience to a new level for kids who aren’t familiar with the night sky.
  • Build something fun: Building activities are a great place to start. Try building a birdhouse, kite building, or STEM-related activities like building rocket launchers. If you’re not that creative, there are plenty of kits online that can get you started.
  • Storytelling: Campfire stories or tales of all your amazing adventures are sure to keep the kiddos engaged. You could even use shadow puppets on the tent wall.
  • Glow-in-the-dark games: Try glow stick ring toss, flashlight tag, or glow bowling.
  • Nature collecting: Lots of kids love collecting leaves, sticks, rocks, or pine cones. If your yard has lots of interesting things to find, this could keep your kiddos entertained for a while.
  • Nature crafts: Once the kids are done collecting, bring on the nature crafts. Creating mosaics, bark boats, painted rocks, or leaf rubbings will give them a fantastic memento to hang on to.

Plan your next adventure

Camping around a fire
Mike Erskine / Unsplash

Camping in your backyard can be a great way to start planning for your next adventure. This is especially true for winter camping, but it’s great to do any time of year. Camping in your backyard is relatively low stakes, so it’s a great way to see if you like a new tent or sleep system setup. If things turn south and you want to call it quits, there’s no shame in that! Just pack up (or don’t) and head inside.

Once you experience backyard camping, it could start to make you wistful for the real thing. Embrace the wanderlust and start planning your next wilderness adventure. There are so many places to choose, from our stunning national parks to Mount Everest.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Chelsea Batten
Chelsea Batten
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chelsea Batten is a writer, photographer, and Kerouac groupie. One of the original digital nomads, she was seduced from life…
Embrace the cold: The best places to camp in the winter
For the best winter camping adventure, try one of these national parks
Yosemite National Park in winter

Winter camping isn't for the faint of heart, but there's no better way to test your adventuring skills. Really, I've found that the only thing you need to do to have an awesome trip is to stay warm. If you can manage that, then winter camping is actually an enjoyable experience. There's nothing better than being a short walk away from some of the best winter sports around. If you're looking for the best places to camp in the winter, there's nowhere better than our beloved national parks.
Yosemite National Park

In my opinion, Yosemite National park is one of the best places for winter camping. If visiting Yosemite during the crowded summer season is not your cup of coffee, you might just enjoy winter camping here instead. There are four campground options that remain open during the winter season. Upper Pines and Camp 4 are both in the Yosemite Valley, so if you're a beginner, these might be decent options due to the slightly milder temperatures. Hodgdon Meadow and Wawona are just forty-five minutes away from the Yosemite Valley, so they are also excellent options.

Read more
3 duct tape camping hacks: Why it should always be in your hiking or camping kit
Stick to duct tape while camping — here's how
Closeup of two friends setting up a tent in the woods.

One of the most useful scenarios for duct tape is out in the wilderness, but it can be tricky to figure out how to store it. One of my go-to ways is to simply wrap several feet of duct tape around an old credit card or a sturdy piece of cardboard. I've also seen people wrap duct tape around their water bottles, but that's never appealed to me since it can be a bit of a mess to clean. Regardless of how you do it, taking some duct tape with you might just make or break your next camping or hiking trip. Here's how.
3 uses for duct tape while out in the wilderness

Patch repairs with duct tape
Sleeping pads pop and nylon tears. We've all been there, and duct tape can save the day! It's great to have duct tape on hand to patch a hole or close a gap in my tent. If you happen to accidentally tear your sleeping bag, a patch of duct tape will get you through it. Reinforce broken straps, seams, zippers, or even sole separation in your shoes and you'll make it home all right.
Duct tape in first aid
When thinking about duct tape, first aid might not always come to mind. However, duct tape is great in a jiffy for splint support if you or someone in your party ends up breaking or spraining something. With a piece of clean cloth or gauze, you can create a makeshift bandage in an emergency. You can also use a small square as blister protection if your shoes start rubbing your feet raw.
Using duct tape as an organization tool
While masking tape might work a bit better in this case, duct tape can still be used to label and tag gear or mark items. That said, nothing is better than duct tape if you want to seal an open liquid container. Duct tape can also be used to keep loose cords, tent poles, or stakes bundled together in a pinch.

Read more
Try these lunch ideas the next time you go backpacking
Got a rumbling tummy on the hiking trail? Try one of these backpacking lunch ideas
Hiker with a backpack in front of a mountain lake background

Trail mix has to be one of my personal favorite snacks while backpacking. That said, you can't live on it, especially when you're hiking for miles every day. I'll be honest — dinner is my favorite meal while out on the trail, mostly because there's a higher chance that I can start a safe fire and simmer something delicious. Lunch, however, has been a challenge. Not only do backpacking lunches have to be delicious and satisfying, but they also need to be easy to prepare. Hopefully these backpacking lunch ideas will help.
Things to consider for backpacking lunch ideas

When planning backpacking lunch ideas, it's more important than ever to choose foods that are nutritious, lightweight, nonperishable, high in energy, and most importantly, easy to prepare. You might not have access to a campfire while you're out backpacking, so here are a few considerations to keep in mind.
Easy preparation
I love preparing a hearty meal while backpacking or camping, but not during prime daylight hours when I could be making better time. That's why I always reach for easy-to-prepare meals. Sometimes, I even do a lot of the prep work while I'm still at home. That way, all I need to do is find a nice view.
Weight and packability
I've made the mistake of packing a huge cooler with sandwiches. Not only do you have to lug the entire thing up the mountain, but you've got to bring it down, too. Plus, on a multiday backpacking trip, no ice pack is going to last that long. Be careful that the food you take is lightweight, and avoid foods that require excess packaging or bulk.
Caloric density
Since backpacking is a high-energy sport, you'll want to select foods based on nutrients. High calories are one thing, but to get the most energy from your food, aim for a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Make sure you're incorporating proteins so your muscles can repair after a long day of hiking.
Shelf stability
A lot of backpackers plan their trips for the summer, which means having to deal with the heat. This can definitely play a part in what kinds of foods you bring. Backpackers aim to bring as light as possible, so foods that don't spoil and don't need excessive cooking are going to be your best friend.
Our favorite backpacking lunch ideas

Read more