16 Backyard Camping Essentials For When You Don't Want To Leave Home
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When sweet summertime rolls around and vacation mode turns on, everyone begins scoping out destinations and seeking outdoor adventures. If you are looking for somewhere unexpected, unique, and full of potential, we have your next bucket list destination: your very own backyard!
Camping in the backyard is a fantastic summertime activity to spend quality time with loved ones, enjoy the great outdoors, and make memories.
For a number of reasons, camping away from home can be complicated, time-consuming, or intimidating. Make life easy by pitching tents in the backyard, where you can enjoy all the perks of camping from the comfort of home!
What are the Perks of Backyard Camping?
Little prior preparation and hassle-free set-up: No packing up the car, no booking the campsite, no crowds, no traffic, no planning!
Indoor plumbing: No spider-filled outhouses this time around.
Intro to camping: An easy way to get beginners comfortable with the concept of camping and sleeping outside.
Cute date night, friend’s sleepover, celebrating an occasion or holiday.
Free!
Low-risk commitment: If something goes wrong–like bad weather or someone gets a little too *chicken* to sleep outside–your bed is still only 10 yards away.
How To Set Up an Epic Backyard Camping Experience
We have a backyard camping checklist here to get you started on your outdoor adventure.
Set up a campfire
Get the full camping experience with a roaring campfire if your space allows! As soon as that campfire flickers on, you can just as easily pretend that you are in the wilderness. Commence the heart-to-heart chats, ghost stories, music (if anyone has a guitar), and yummy food.
Prepare your favorite camping foods
Prepare all of your favorite picnic and camping foods, just as if you are camping away from home. Roast hot dogs over the fire, grill burgers, and don’t you dare forget s'mores. Other fun camping foods could be watermelon, pickles, corn on the cob, chips and salsa, and a cooler full of ice-cold beverages. Happy tummies, happy times.
Set the mood
Grab a speaker to blast your favorite summer bops, prop up camping chairs around the fire pit to get everyone together, and leave those phones in the house. Make it a no-technology evening! If you’re feelin’ extra, consider stringing up lights and running them out to the tent using an extension cord from the house.
Play backyard games
Lawn games are a super fun addition to your backyard camping experience! Corn hole, horseshoes, badminton, frisbee, kickball, baseball, volleyball, or croquet are just a few ideas. Anything that keeps you moving and laughing with your loved ones outside on the grass will be sure to make the night that much better!
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Spikeball Standard 3 Ball Kit
Spikeball
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Wooden Giant Tumble Tower
Aivalas
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Outdoor Ring Toss Games
Elite Sportz
PItch the tent
Be sure to pick the flattest patch of grass for your backyard tent, and use as many blankets, yoga mats, or air mattresses as your heart desires under your sleeping bag in order to have a comfy night outside. Setting yourselves up for success will ensure that none of your fellow campers are intimidated by sleeping outside!
Enjoy the summer night
When the sun sets and dusk settles, enjoy the beautiful summer night instead of retiring to your tent right away! Rekindle the campfire, tell stories, have a friend bring their guitar and serenade everyone, catch fireflies, star-gaze, or have an outdoor movie night projected onto a white bed sheet or blank wall. Ghost in the Graveyard is another super exciting game to include when camping with kids that will have everyone screaming, laughing, and chasing each other in the dark.
Best Backyard Camping Essentials
These camping supplies that will make your backyard camping experience all the more comfortable and successful.
Price Reference (average price):
$ | Under $50
$$ | Between $50-$100
$$$ | More than $100
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Montana Camping Tent
Coleman
Price: $$$
Why We Love It: Fit a whole crew of 6 to 8 people in this high-quality and all-purpose tent.
Image: Amazon
Big Basin Cold-Weather Sleeping Bag
Coleman
Price: $$
Why We Love It: Stay cozy and warm overnight with this comfortable and quality sleeping bag.
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Ultra-Lightweight Sleeping Cot
Extremus
Price: $$
Why We Love It: Have second thoughts about sleeping on the ground? A sleeping cot will get you a little space from the bumps and potential discomfort of sleeping in the outdoors. Solid night’s sleep, coming your way.
Image: Amazon
Air Mattress with Built in Pump
Olarhike
Price: $$
Why We Love It: Boasting durability and high-speed, built-in inflation, this air mattress will ensure deep sleep under the stars.
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Portable Camping Hammock
Wise Owl Outfitters
Price: $
Why We Love It: Whether it’s for sleeping or hanging out in the backyard, a hammock is a fantastic addition to your backyard camping experience.
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Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
MalloMe
Price: $
Why We Love It: Is it really camping if you’re not roasting something over the fire?
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Outdoor String Lights
Bosceos
Price: $$
Why We Love It: String lights will elevate your camping experience and spice up the atmosphere! This two-pack of 100-feet strings will make sure your entire area is covered.
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Outdoor Fire Pit
Endless Summer
Price: $$$
Why We Love It: Keep the fire blazing and contained with this stylish fire pit.
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Portable Movie Projector
NISOO
Price: $$
Why We Love It: Create your very own theater in your backyard with just a sheet! Portable, lightweight, and Bluetooth-friendly, this projector also comes with a 100” projector screen.
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LED Flashlights
Gearlight
Price: $
Why We Love It: This rechargeable, powerful flashlight can be kept around for safety and scary stories!
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Collapsible LED Camping Lantern
Kizen
Price: $
Why We Love It: A hands-free alternative to a flashlight for a softer nighttime glow in your tent.
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Compact Backpacking Chairs
Moon Lence
Price: $$
Why We Love It: Lightweight and portable, these camping chairs will serve you well around the campfire!
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Mosquito Repellent Candles
Murphy’s Naturals
Price: $
Why We Love It: No bugs, please! These natural insect repellent candles are long-lasting.
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80-Quart Patio Cooler
Permasteel
Price: $$$
Why We Love It: Keep the drinks fresh and cool all summer long with this top-quality and eye-catching patio cooler.
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3 Burner BBQ Propane Gas Grill
Master Cook
Price: $$$
Why We Love It: This affordable grill has three burners and is stainless-steel, sure to boost your backyard grilling and camping game for years to come.
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Classic Cornhole Set
GoSports
Price: $$
Why We Love It: Kick off the backyard games with this cornhole setup!
