People go camping for many different reasons and some of them might not be what you expect!
I have camped all my life. It’s something I greatly enjoy, but one thing I have learned over the years is that people camp for different reasons.
Not only that, people also camp in different ways! There are those who say that if you’re not in a tent, you aren’t camping and others who say that sleeping in a giant motor home with satellite TV is considered camping.
Recently, we shared with a friend that we pack all of our clothes in plastic drawers so that they are organized in our tent. He said that was “bougie camping.”
Or maybe he meant “boujee camping” which would have been a compliment. I’m not even going to pretend to know the difference!
Basically, he was accusing us of being fancy.
According to Urban Dictionary, bougie means people who are pretending to be rich or high class when they really aren’t or don’t realize they aren’t. On the other hand, boujee means the actual high class and elite, the ones with swag. source
So, if having plastic drawers makes us bougie, what should we call that guy in the Class A motor home with the golf cart in tow?
Maybe we should have left our toothbrushes at home too!
Anyway…
Reasons Why People Go Camping
No matter HOW people camp, here is a big list of WHY people camp.
11. Get out in nature
Camping is a great way to get closer to nature. It gets you out of the city or the suburbs and into the trees.
Whether you camp in a tent or a nice RV, one thing remains the same…
if you step out of your “dwelling,” you’ll be stepping directly outside.
There’s nothing like waking up to the sounds of the crows talking to each other in the trees or the smell of sausage cooking over a campfire.
10. Get away from people
If you’re a city-slicker or you own a slice of suburbia, camping gives you the option to get away from the crowd… depending on where you go.
Here in Arkansas, camping is very popular so you’ll find campgrounds full almost year-round. So, if you want to get away from everyone and their dogs, you’ll want to head to the Ozark National Forest or do some primitive camping in many other locations.
Even still, if you head to a popular campground, it will at least get you away from the people you see on a regular basis. (I’m looking at you, nosy neighbor. And no, my dog doesn’t want to be friends with your dog.)
9. Disconnect from technology
Camping provides the opportunity for you to disconnect from technology if you want to.
You’ll have to make an effort though.
Many campgrounds these days have excellent cell phone coverage so you can still post all of your campfire photos on Instagram.
However, camping gets you away from your TV, computer and any other digital noise. Plus, it just might convince you to turn that cell phone off for a weekend.
You’ll survive. I promise.
8. Eat s’mores
Confession: I have made s’mores in my oven at home many times. My kids love them but they just don’t taste the same as the s’mores made with marshmallows roasted over a campfire.
Since we’re on the subject of roasting marshmallows, we also like to roast marshmallows over our firepit here at home. But, once again, they aren’t the same.
A s’more just tastes better when you don’t have a sink to wash the sticky off!
7. See something new
Many people go camping because they like to learn new things. Like…
- Setting up a tent
- Trying to get the tent back in the original bag
- Building a campfire
- Cooking outside
- How to level an RV
- How to use the shower in the bathhouse
- Fishing skills
- The art of good campfire stories
The possibilities are endless if you just look around!
6. Get crumby
I’ll admit that one of my favorite parts of camping is that I don’t have to be neat.
I can drop cookie crumbs all over myself and just brush them off onto the ground.
I don’t have to worry about the kids spilling their water or dropping chili down the front of their shirts.
You’re supposed to be dirty when you’re camping!
On our last trip, my son woke up one morning with s’mores smeared across his cheek. Somehow I missed it and he slept with it all night!
Oh well.
It was just proof that we had an awesome night!
5. Simplify life
If you haven’t noticed, you don’t need a lot of “stuff” when you go camping. It’s amazing how you feel like you need to own so much at home but, when you camp, you can live comfortably with just a few things.
This is my favorite part of camping.
I love to get away from all the housework, yard chores and endless possessions that need organized.
4. It’s affordable
After you buy your gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc.), camping has a very affordable “per night” cost.
Camping in Arkansas will usually run you between $25-45 a night depending on amenities.
There is also a lot of free camping in Arkansas where you won’t have to pay a dime!
But, even if you aren’t in Arkansas, camping is still cheaper than a hotel stay.
3. it’s Tradition
Many people go camping because it’s tradition. They have great memories of camping when they were a child and they want to pass those memories on to their children.
Camping holds a special place in my heart. Some of my best memories are from campgrounds when I was younger. We rode bikes, I learned how to kneeboard, we cooked over the campfire and we played a lot of Uno.
You’ll love this too: TOP 12 Kid Friendly Camping Ideas
2. Be in a community
There are those who camp to get away from the crowd and then there are people like us who camp to be IN the crowd.
See, we live on 5 wooded acres in Arkansas. We have plenty of space and solitude. We don’t need to camp to get away from the traffic and the noise.
There is no traffic or noise out here.
We camp because we like to be apart of the community. People are just different when they are camping.
They will guide you while you back up your RV. They will loan you an extension cord. They’ll wave at your kids as they walk their dog. They’ll even stop to ask you if you caught anything while fishing.
Camping tends to bring people closer together. You can meet some of the nicest people while camping in Arkansas.
1. eat more “camping food”
Camping is when you eat chili dogs, s’mores, bean dip, fried biscuits, and all those other foods that you normally don’t eat at home.
When you home, it’s considered junk food.
But, when your camping, it’s perfectly acceptable!
So, why do people go camping?
Camaraderie, solitude, good food, beautiful scenery, endless days on the lake…
There are so many reasons to go camping.
If you’re looking for a great place to start your camping adventure, check this out: The Best State Parks in Arkansas for Camping
and this:
Best Arkansas Campgrounds for First-Time Campers
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