Camping is always fun, but camping with friends and family can take your camping trip to a whole new level. When you start to go camping with groups, getting sites together can be tough and expensive.
Usually, people will congregate to one site to hang out and have fun, especially with campfires and cooking. What ends up happening, especially when tent camping is that people will share their campsite with other friends or family members so that they can just be closer, and of course, it’s cheaper!
While it is great to stay together, it is important to know whether your site can accommodate all the people in your group.
So, How Many Tents Can Fit in a Campsite?
Depending on your tent size, and typical campsite size, you can plan on having space for at least two, 4-6 person tents, three 2-3 person tents, and up to five single person tents, and still have room to move around with extra gear. The two things that you will want to look for is how much parking you have per site, and if you can buy more space for parking.
The terrain will greatly affect how many tents can comfortably fit at the site as well. If you are camping on a mountain and there is on a couple of flat spots, you will have to place your tents closer together to get them to fit. Or it may be extremely uncomfortable for whoever gets to put their tent on uneven ground.
Too Many People for a Single Site? Get A Double Site.
Campgrounds know that people love to go camping with friends and family, so there are a lot of campgrounds that have double sites just for this. If you know you are going to have a group of 10 people or more going, and do not want to deal with possibly having to walk to the other campsites, ask the campground if they have double sites.
These sites will almost always be flatter, and will have room for multiple family size tents with room to park up to four cars. Double sites are great for families and friends to stay together because most campgrounds are first come first served, and it could make the difference between staying close and having to walk a hundred yards to be together.
What Is The Difference Between a Campsite and a Tent Campsite?
At some campgrounds, when you got to make reservations, they will offer a normal campsite, or a tent campsite. Typically when you get a tent campsite, it will be a little cheaper because there are no hookups for a camper or RV. Tent campsites might be a little smaller, and have less room for parking.
Normal campsites for campers and RVs have to be long enough to park a camper and a vehicle pulling it, and will usually be more expensive. If you are in need of electricity and extra parking, A normal campsite might be your best bet, but if all you need is your tent and car, go for the cheaper tent site if it’s available to you. These sites are often quieter as well.
Parking Might Be Tough
Campsites are not parking lots, and most campgrounds hate when visitors try to cram three or four cars in one camp site. Generally, there will be parking allowed for two cars in each spot, but you may have to pay extra for the second spot. Almost all the campsites I have been camping at have an overflow parking where you can pay just to park your cars during your stay.
Parking typically runs between $10 – $20 dollars a day depending on how popular the place you are staying is. If you try to get a group of people together and they all try to park in the same campsite, you might be asked to move your cars by the camp host, or rangers that patrol the park. You have to keep in mind that large campers and RVs are trying to drive through, and if your vehicles are sticking out in the road, it could be impossible to pass your site.
Amenities to Consider When Choosing a Site
There are plenty of other things to consider when choosing a campsite outside of just the size of it. Understanding what the rules are and what amenities are offered can be equally as important as choosing the right size site. Two common questions people have regarding tent sites include whether you can have campfires and if sites have running water. We dive into these topics below.
Can Tent Sites Have Campfires?
Most campsites, whether they are for campers or tents, will have a fire ring for having campfires. They might be made out of rock or it might be a metal ring, but all sites will have them in the campground. The only time you might have problems with campfires are when you live in states like California where I live, and they are worried about forest fires and have banned them, so it is extremely important that you read ALL posted notices for campers so you you don’t break any rules.
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Just because there is a fire pit, does not mean that you can use it, so check the boards, and talk to the camp host before you light a fire, and just because you might see other campers lighting fires does not mean that they have asked about the rules, so double check!
Do Tent Sites Have Running Water?
Almost all campsites that are in a park or privately owned will have some type of hookups. Even if you are in a tent campsite, you should still have a hose spicket for washing dishes and yourself. The only things a tent campsite might not have are electrical hookups, and sewer hookups. There might be more desolate camp sites that do not have water, so be sure to check because you might have to carry in your own water which will add to your packing, especially if you are going for more than just a few days.
Related Questions
Still, looking for answers not provided above? Check out some common-related camping questions below!
What Is Full Hookup Camping?
Camping on a full hookup site means that you will have access to water, sewer, and electricity. These sites are generally for campers and RVs so that they can park, and not move and have full amenities without ever having to dump tanks, fill water, or run their generator. Typically full hookup sites will run between $25 and $35 more dollars a night and are usually bigger to accommodate a bigger camper or RV.
What Is Dry Camping?
Dry camping is camping without having access to water, sewer, or electricity, so you will have to survive off what you bring in yourself. If you have a camper or RV, you will need to make sure your water tank is full, and will need to watch the sewer tank levels. If you are dry camping in a tent site, you will have to pack in your own water which can take up a lot more room in your vehicle so be prepared to have extra room.
Final Thoughts
I love camping, and it is my goal to make sure that everyone tries it at least once. I have camped in tents, campers, and RVs and love the different aspects of each style of camping. Tent camping is extremely fun, and only gets better when you can share your campsite with your friends or family.