10 Car Camping Tips I Swear By As A (Sometimes) Solo Female Camper

That Make Me Feel Safer

Getting into camping can be intimidating, especially as someone who has been made to feel unsafe in the outdoors. The reality of the situation is: more densely-populated areas are inherently less safe for women and other marginalized communities than outdoor spaces. However, it can feel really scary to expose yourself to a new activity where there are more perceived threats in a more isolated setting, especially if you are alone. I don't always camp by myself, but I do fairly frequently, and here are 10 tips that help keep me safe.

Communication

1: Do not keep your whereabouts a secret from people back home.

Give at least one person in your circle an idea of where you plan on camping and when they can expect to hear from you. That way, even if you're alone, someone else is aware of your location and timeline.

If the campsite is out of cell range, having a satellite communicator is super helpful for sending messages with your GPS coordinates. I use an older model of this one, which I often see floating around on Facebook Marketplace, but if you can't find one there, I do truly recommend buying one. It's expensive, but really worthwhile -- partially to have the ability to message people and feel less alone, but also to let trusted people have access to your exact location. These satellite communicators also have an SOS button that, when pushed, send signals to local emergency services if you need immediate help. I always feel a lot safer when I have this on me, and I know my loved ones feel the same.

2: DO keep your plans and personal information a secret from strangers around you.

I'm a big believer in making friends with people who participate in similar activities, and for the most part, strangers have the capacity to be overwhelmingly trustworthy and supportive. I actually do think it's a good idea to say hi to people around you. However, just like you wouldn't give personal details to a stranger at a bar, you should definitely keep some aspects of yourself hidden from people you don't know.

Get good at lying. There is a time and a place for honesty, and being alone in the woods is not it.

Choosing a Spot

3: Select a campsite you've been to before. If you can't do that, ask a friend for a site that they would recommend.

Familiarity breeds comfort. Going to a space that you or that someone you trust has previously been and has felt safe in will help your brain feel more calm.

Even if it's a place you or a friend has been before, I always check reviews on the camping apps I use for free camping to make sure nobody recently has felt unsafe. For example, I've avoided campsites that people have said had a lot of trash and needles in favor of other nearby sites. That said, having a couple of backup plans is always helpful. Some apps I use are Campendium, iOverlander, and The Dyrt.

4: Find a spot that is concealed from the road and possibly from other sites.

The fewer people can see that you're alone, the better. If you can, find a spot that is surrounded by trees, isn't fully exposed, and isn't visible from the road (unless it's literally an open field off the road, which is always possible).

5: Try to find a spot with multiple exit points.

Obviously, this isn't always possible, but I like to know my exit strategy just in case. Either way, I always have my car facing outward, partially because I sleep in the back and don't want to be as exposed to the road leading to the site, and partially so I can quickly and easily leave if I have to.

At Camp

6: Make your important stuff easy to find.

I don't bring any weapon that I don't already know how to comfortably use, as it could more easily be turned against me, but I always bring pepper spray (or bear spray) and know exactly where it is. Overnight, I keep that, my keys, and a headlamp in an easily-accessible spot so I don't have to look around for them if I need them. Depending on the vehicle, I've kept them in a small basket, or sometimes I put them in the cupholder in the door of the back seat. Either way, I know where to find everything I may need without having to think.

7: Don't make it obvious that you're alone.

Even if you're relatively concealed from the road or campsites, it is always a possibility that someone else will perceive your site. If you want to sit, put out two chairs. If you want to drink coffee, put out two mugs. If someone stops to talk, casually work into the conversation that your male partner is off finding a private spot to use the bathroom.

8: Try to sleep inside your vehicle, and have everything packed up in advance.

Being concealed overnight and easily ready to drive away without worrying about packing up or leaving anything behind always makes me feel safer. Again, knowing that I could quickly exit the scene helps me feel less trapped and vulnerable.

9: Figure out your overnight bathroom situation before you need it.

In addition to my keys, pepper spray, and headlamp, I have my pee cloth at the ready. I love not having to exit my vehicle overnight if I can avoid it, and I recently got this portable urinal so I can stay in my car if I have to go. I generally try to hold the other one until a bathroom is accessible; digging a hole is so unappealing unless I'm backpacking. But I do keep a shovel and wet wipes available in my car just in case.

10: Make yourself oblivious.

Get a sleep mask. Put music on. The more you let yourself freak out that a branch snapping is a bear and not a rabbit, the headlamp in the distance is a serial killer and not another camper getting out to pee, the less safe you will feel. On the other hand, the more times you go camping and don't experience anything sketchy, the safer you will feel over time.

Bonus Tip 11: Trust your gut, always!!!

If something feels off, it is off. If someone is giving you weird vibes, get away from them. If you suddenly don't feel great at a site, move somewhere else. I've done this several times, and even though it's always annoying, it's always worth it for peace of mind.

In a perfect world, I wouldn't have to write this article, and its contents would be irrelevant. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. But we owe ourselves fun and adventure, even if we're scared!

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