It can be tricky to figure out the best set-up to go camping in. There are so many options, how can you possibly decide? Two of the most common options are car camping, when your bed and shelter are inside your vehicle (like in the back of a van or RV), and tent camping, where you set up your bed in a tent separate to your vehicle.
There are all sorts of versions of both these styles of camping, and while both are fantastic, well-loved options, they have unique upsides and downsides. So let’s check them out side by side and see which you should choose!
Comfort
Tent camping
There are a few key things to consider for comfort in a tent. Firstly, you’ll need to make sure you have a nicely insulated mattress to keep the bumpy, cold ground from keeping you awake. In dry sunny weather, tents are awesome but if it’s very windy or rainy, you’re a little more exposed.
Condensation can come through your tent and get your stuff wet on the inside and the wind can be noisy if you have loose tent fabric anywhere. It’s also important to consider that to get into a tent, you usually have to get down onto the ground to get into it and/or your bed. There are ways around this of course, such as investing in something tall like an Oztent or using stretchers to raise up your bed. Overall, tents are susceptible to discomfort if you have one that is poorly made or you don’t have the right sleeping equipment to go inside it.
Car camping
Chances are, it’s going to be a bit more comfortable camping in your car. The walls around you are solid so you’re less likely to get damp or be kept awake by flapping material in the wind. For some people, there is some mental comfort in having solid walls between you and the outside world too, instead of just fabric.
If you have a large vehicle like a van, you may be able to set up a bed much the same way as you would in a bedroom, with a foam mattress and regular bedding. However, if you have a smaller car without much space, you may have laying down room only which can get pretty cramped after a while.
Space
Tent camping
Tents are great because they typically pack up quite small and can be stored in the boot or on your roof racks. This is perfect for if you have a smaller car, need to fit lots of people in your car or if you’ve got lots of other adventure gear that you also need to pack. Just throw the tent in the back and off you go.
Car camping
When your bed is always set up inside your car, it takes up a lot of room so you have to be smart about how you use your space. If you’ve got plenty of room inside an RV, you can probably leave it set up all the time, but if you have a smaller vehicle like a van or a troopy, you might want to investigate ways the bed can fold away or be converted into seating during the day. This totally depends on how much else you need to fit in your car and what size vehicle you’re planning on travelling in.
Convenience
Tent camping
The biggest downside to a tent, is the time and effort it takes to set up every time you need a bed. Not to mention the fact that you have to go through the whole pack-down and set-up process every time you move camp. It can be particularly tricky if you arrive in the dark and you have to fiddle around with pegs and poles.
The bonus though, with having your tent set up separate from your car is that it’s really easy to have a well-set-up ‘base camp’ and then use your car to go out and explore during the day without all your bedding taking up room in the car. You also have the option to stay in campgrounds that are tent-only or where you aren’t able to drive all the way into the site. On the flip side though, many roadside free camps have hard ground that is difficult to put tent pegs in or are only suitable for RVs.
Car camping
The best part about car camping, is you’ve got your bed with you all the time. You’re always set up and ready to go so you can get into sites later or in the dark and it’s not a drama. You can go out for a day exploring without having to decide where you sleep until it’s time to go to bed which offers a lot of freedom when on the road.
The negative side is that you have to stay at sites you can drive into that have enough room for your rig. Depending on your car, you may also be limited to 2WD accessible places if you have a car that’s not suitable for offroading like a van.
Cost
Tent camping
Regardless of your budget, there’s a tent for you. I’ve seen tents cost anywhere from $50 to $5000. Now, expensive doesn’t always mean better, but if you plan on camping often and keeping your tent for a long time, do some research and don’t skimp on this piece of gear. You’ll always be grateful to have somewhere secure and dry to sleep.
Car camping
If you already have a car that you can fit in, it can be a really cost-effective way to get a camping set-up quickly. Just pop a mattress in the back and away you go, perfect for a weekend away. I’ve even witnessed someone who set up their tiny Suzuki Swift as a camping car. If you’re going for longer camping trips, on the other hand, you’ll probably want to invest in a more space-efficient set-up or possibly a whole new car just for camping which is going to set you back much further financially.
The verdict?
If you’re just going for trips every now and then and you usually go camping in a single spot and stay put, then a tent is a perfect option. It’s affordable, easy to carry, quick to pack and you can set it up almost anywhere.
If you’re going to be moving around most days or you’re going on a longer road trip, you’ll probably want something more sturdy and weatherproof, that doesn’t require you to set up and pack down every single day. In this case, a van or pop-top car or RV would be the perfect camping set-up.
When it comes down to it, I really believe that ANY setup that allows you to get outdoors and into nature is worth having. Whether that’s a mattress in the back of the car, a five-person tent for the family, a tiny hiking tent, a 2WD van, a caravan or a kitted-out 4WD pop-top troopy, the main thing is that you’re out there enjoying it!
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