Solo Camping: How To Keep Yourself Entertained when Camping Alone

Camping alone can be deeply gratifying way to spend a weekend. Taking a step back from our immersion in the details of our lives and our constant contact with others -- not to mention compulsive use of the technology at our fingertips -- can have a huge positive impact on one's state of mind.

But if you've never camped alone before, the prospect of spending 48 hours (or more) with no one but yourself to keep you company can be pretty daunting. While the solitude of camping alone can be immensely rewarding, the initial boredom and loneliness that may occur when you're acclimating is difficult for some people to deal with. While solo camping may not be right for some, most people grow to enjoy the experience once they get past the compulsion to check Facebook at every spare moment.

That initial boredom is exactly why we've compiled a few ways to keep yourself entertained when camping alone. Before we get started, though, it's worth mentioning that camping alone does present its own unique set of risks.

Once you've taken all the necessary precautions, it's time head out. Here are 4 ways to keep yourself entertained when camping alone:

1. GET FAMILIAR WITH THE LIFE AROUND YOU AS YOU CAMP ALONE

One of the best ways to enjoy a solo camping trip is to pay attention to the life surrounding you, both flora and fauna. Take a short walk around your campsite and pay attention to all of the different types of plants and animals you see.

Maybe even do a little research before you go, and learn about what types of plant and animal life you can expect to encounter where you're camping. The USDA's PLANTS Database and the National Audubon Society are all great places to read up on the plants and animals native to the area where you'll be camping. An awareness of the rich and varied life around you can turn what may initially seem like an empty, lonely forest into a place bursting at the seams with beauty and conflict.

2. JUST LISTEN TO THE OUTDOORS

One of the aspects of solitary camping most difficult for many to get used to at first is the inability to share your experience with others. There's a good chance that your first impulse when you see something you think is cool is to pick up your phone and text a friend, or maybe make a post on Facebook. Camping solo is a great opportunity to learn to enjoy your experience in the moment, without needing to share it with others.

Once you've conquered the impulse to immediately share what you've just experienced, you'll probably notice that you're much more aware of what's around you. When you're not talking or listening to someone else talk, the sounds of the forest begin to take on a life of their own. With a little practice, you may even begin to identify animal life by the sounds they make.

3. COOK SOME TASTY FOOD FOR YOURSELF

One of the advantages of camping alone is that you get to do everything your way. You don't have to compromise about where you set up camp, when you wake up, what you spend your day doing, and perhaps most importantly -- what you eat.

So take full advantage of the situation, and use your free time to cook some of your favorite campfire food and experiment with new combinations. Dinners with friends and family are great, but many solo campers find that without the usual distractions, their awareness of the flavors in the food they eat is enhanced.

4. DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO WHILE CAMPING ALONE!

As we mentioned above, one of the greatest things about camping alone is that you don't have to accommodate anyone else. It's your time. Have a book you've been meaning to read? Bring it along. This is the perfect chance to sit down and get absorbed in it. Like to write? Bring a pad and paper. Play music? Bring along your instrument (provided it's small enough).

You may be surprised by what you can get done when you remove the distractions of daily life.

5. READY FOR A SOLO CAMPING TRIP?

More than anything, solo camping is a great way to get to know yourself a little better. Part of the reason for the initial boredom many first-time solo campers encounter is that they simply don't know what they like to do alone. Spending time by yourself, and not reverting to habitual or compulsive behaviors (e.g. checking email, turning on the TV) is the perfect way to discover what you like to do.

So take a solo camping trip. We think you'll be glad you did.

Before going out on your own, check out our ultimate camping checklist to make sure you have everything you need, including a one-person tent. Eureka! Midori or Solitaire solo backpacking tents are the perfect backcountry shelter for those of us who prefer to go it alone.