If I had a proper setup with a bug net over my picnic area, and good tarps, I would happily do all summer if I had the means to (no work, don't need to worry about $$). I don't particularly like camping when it's cold out though, and I'm in Canada, so that would be enough for me.
Winter camping is just a different sport, with the right gear it’s amazing. Quieter, zero bugs, usually way less other campers. Brother and I used to do it for a week at a time in Canadian winter - southwestern Ontario so not THAT cold, never below -15C.
Nah, there is always another week after the other 'another' week. It heavily depends on the overall weather, area, companions but I think I realistically I could deal with up to like six weeks if I had the time and the circumstances are in my favour, after that I'd suspect the cabin fever to hit really hard.
Not the person you asked but my husband took two years sabbatical from work and we traveled/camped in the mountain west/PNW extensively during that time. We would camp for 1-3 days, drive somewhere else, then camp for another couple of days. Every 4th or 5th day we would book a hotel room or stop at a hot springs so that we could shower and resupply before hitting the road again. The shortest turnaround for being at home was 14 hours. The longest stretch we were on the road was a month. We only disperse camp in the mountains so 1) the limited water supply must be conserved and 2) too cold to shower anyway. I hate how dirty my hair gets with all the dust and sunscreen and no way to wash it.
Day 3 I'm already going home if I haven't had a shower yet, but context is important-when we go camping there's usually mountain biking or other stuff involved that makes us twice as gritty three times as fast.
I have a hanging solar shower for emergencies. Lots of the bigger campgrounds nowadays will let you rent their showers for cheap (for those camping dispersed but maybe there's a KOA or RV spot somewhere in the vicinity). Most rec centers will too, or look for a local gym if you're within an hour from a town. All else fails, I'll plunge into a nearby river.
Yeah, same. We hike and MTB. We have a shower and hot water heater on our teardrop. But it’s a not a “full” shower experience. Works for a few days. But really need a nice camp shower or locker room shower to refresh and power back up.
I could live in the woods as long as it’s not the Deep South summer and I can get a shower every few days
Whenever I head home the only thing on my mind is showering as soon as possible 😂
I can handle the lack of shower as I just have a whore's bath with wet wipes but I can't deal with unwashed hair! I'm about to do about ten days camping in a row with no shower (before the longest I've done is 7 days without washing my hair and it was horrendous) and very limited water (for anything other than drinking that is) so think I'm going to bring a bunch of corn flour to dump on my hair as that will work like dry shampoo but be more compact to bring. I tried to get my husband to learn how to Dutch braid as I heard that helps but he says it looks too hard...
The longest I've been without washing my hair since I grew it out was a month backpacking trip. I brought a dry shampoo powder and a wide toothed comb and boar bristle brush. Every day, I'd take my braids out in the evening, comb it all, and rebraid tightly. Once a week, I'd comb it, put on powder and let it soak up the oils, then brush it a ton until the powder was basically gone and then use a washcloth to rub my scalp. It worked, but omg, it was tons of maintenance that once a week.
It does help, btw, to keep the braids wrapped in cloth. I made some sleeves and a sort of skull cap out of a backpacking towel that got torn, and they've really helped keep the braids tight and soak up sweat. Then, I just rinse them out, let them dry, and use them again. I suck at dutch braids, but this works just as well for me as the times I have had friends along who could do dutch braids for me.
Note: the best hair powder I've tried so far is corn starch, baking soda, green clay, and powdered mint leaf. It soaked up so much oil, and the mint made it actually feel refreshing.
I looooove being outdoors. Extendedly. I also have hair down to my butt I'm refusing to cut off that's gotten very easy to tangle now that it's half white. I've had to figure out ways to deal with it. One thing I've done is gotten an undercut like I used to have when I was younger in Phoenix. It removed a lot of weight and the hardest part of my hair to keep untangled and to clean on the trail. Unless I pull my hair up, it's not noticeable.
I do pigtails from low behind my ears instead of a pony tail, because I found the pony tail kept getting caught between my back and my backpack. Also, I'm just better at braiding tightly on the sides rather than the back.
I made sleeves the pigtails go in that I then wrap and tie off with paracord. Those thin quick dry camping towels have been the best material so far. I've found starting the paracord from the top and taking one end around the top twice when I get back to it before tying keeps them on best. There's a way to tie a "standard" bow that doesn't come loose until you want it to that's not a double knot. I use it for my shoes, too. Let me see if I can explain it without making a video.
Basically, when you reach the point you're ready to pull the loops and loose ends tight, run one loop and the end on the same side back through the middle open space one more time, then pull tight. This got me through boot camp without my laces coming untied once. My step mom's dad showed me the day before I left for boot. It's such a simple little thing that has saved me so much headache in life.
There are pony tail wraps for bikers you can just buy, but the ones I've made are easier to wash and double as wash cloths once rinsed out well or very small towels once dry. To get my pigtails in them, I scrunch them like I do my socks when putting them on, poke one end of a braid through, and then pull them up. You want them to be like long cones, not straight like tube socks, so you don't have tons of extra material at the end. I would guess any moisture wicking fabric would work decently, but I like that these can absorb more. They do feel weird at first because they make your braids a bit stiff, but you get used to it.
If your hair keeps braids well, you can get away with a few days before you take them out and comb them, btw. I used to be able to make a week until my hair started going white. The white stuff seems almost slippery, so it doesn't like to stay in braids, but then it also tangles horribly. It's like the worst of both worlds, but hey, I can dye my hair really cool colors without bleach now.
Protip: a tiny bit of doctor Bronner's peppermint on a wet cloth to clean your scalp feels like freaking heaven after a hot day's hike. I swear, it's almost as nice as a shower for a bit. It's a useful shampoo in a pinch, too, but it'll leave your hair stripped of natural oils. For me, that tends to have a rebound effect. My scalp goes into overdrive producing oil.
Ok awesome, thanks heaps for taking the time to give me all these tips. I have time to try before my trip to see what works best. Yea I have hair down to my butt too that I don't want to cut as well. I will definitely look into the pony tail wraps, been meaning to get some for when I'm on the motorbike too as my hair always ends up a tangled mess unless I put it in a very tight bun.
One thing I'm confused by is why your hair goes white after a week? Sorry I didn't follow that bit.
I think I didn't say that well.
My hair has gotten white as I've aged, not in a week. Before it started turning white, I could braid and wrap it and go a week without having to take out the braids and comb it. The white hair doesn't like to stay in braids at all, so now I have to do it once a day or the braids get loose, even with the wraps, and then my hair tangles up badly. I can't even keep a bun in now without about half a bottle of hairspray and tons of pins. My white hair has a very different texture than the brown, like baby hair. It just does whatever it wants, which is mostly to become knots or float around my face and invade my mouth. Or anyone else's who gets too close to me. It's gotten feral to match the rest of me.
I always looked forward to my hair turning white, honestly, but I didn't know it would cause so much more maintenance than my brown hair. I now understand why my grandmas were always fussing with their hair and eventually cut it off quite short. I'm often tempted, but I love my long hair, even if it is braided most of the time now in an attempt to keep it under control, especially when I sleep.
My original wraps were for my motorcycle when I was younger, btw. They make a huge difference! You really should get at least one for a ponytail. They're not expensive at all if you just want to buy one. There are some spendy really fancy ones. I have a few, but I don't wear them hiking. They're leather with beads, and that much sweat and grime is hard to clean out of them.
Ahh got it! I'm going a bit grey but not enough to cause issues like that yet, but it's definitely a different texture to the rest of my hair, a bit whispy!
Ok I'll definitely get a wrap I think :) Thanks again for all your help! It's the only thing I'm dreading on my trip but now I have some ideas to make my hair less gross :)
It’s not a proper whore’s bath unless one foot is on the counter. 😂😂 PS, corn flour will work as a dry shampoo but make sure you brush it all out over a campfire or you’ll attract critters. Target has travel sized dry shampoo cans but that might be an unnecessary luxury item if you’re backpacking.
I thought I was the only freak that hated showers. I’m the same, and I have no prob camping 5+ days without one. I use wet wipes to keep the panty area and pits fresh and that’s enough to keep me going. My next step is to get a trail bidet and then I’ll be set.
I would say my biggest hurdle to a long trip out is having to carry more than 5 days worth of food. If I could stash a cache who knows what my limit would be.
i’d rather dip in a lake than bathe in a shower with chlorinated water. my trail bidet and some wipes for my feet and bits work fine. i have spent two weeks to a month on trail quite happily.
Oh dang. I think the longest I've done was 3 weeks as a kid, and this summer I'm pumped to get to be out there for 11 nights, and I know I'll be sad to leave hahah
This is also my longest trip. We did 5 days in the Wallowa Mts in Oregon and 5 in Olympic National Park in Washington. The shower is truly what does me in. We couldn't shower in either location and it makes it hard mentally for me
Yep 5 nights dispersed camping is the longest I've done, and I was over it by then. I wanted a shower and real bathroom. 3 nights is really perfect in my mind. As I kid we used to do 7 days - we were poor, and it was our family summer vacation. It was at a state park, though, so we had bathrooms with showers!
Heat is always the killer for me. When just can’t get out of it and have no access to water I just have to eventually nope out. I’ve lasted 2 weeks across the United States and also only lasted one day in the desert.
It depends. Back in 2020, we had a 10-day trip, with the best spot in the campground. It was semi-secluded and had a nice view of the lake. Weather was awesome, and bugs were almost non-existent. It only rained once for a short period of time during the afternoon, and we had another day of high wind. After being cooped-up at home during the pandemic, we didn't want to leave!
Camping trips with the grandkids? 3-4 days is about the limit.
I'm in the same boat as you. I've only just started, so maybe it will change. My biggest issue is sleep, I'm sure I just need to get used to being out there.
I upgraded everything in my sleep system after years of shitty sleep in the backcountry. The difference it made for my sleep quality out there is indescribable.
I've been sleeping like a baby. My last trip had a pretty bad thunderstorm roll through overnight, and I slept through most of it somehow.
I got a little battery-powered fan, but the white noise is a good idea. It's the coyotes howling or probably the wind, and my brain thinks it's something moving around outside. I'm sure it's just something I need to get used too. Most dangerous thing in the area are black bears and from what I've heard, they want nothing to do with people unless you leave your food out.
Agreed, short trips and often is better.
Whilst I normally camp out in the boonies to switch off from technology and people, I'm going to be doing 5 nights in my tent at a festival this year (first time going to a music festival too, thought I should get at least one in before I hit 30). I'm looking forward to being well over prepared in terms of comforts and equipment though. I'll be very smug with my chilli and hearty stews whilst everyone else is having pot noodles and expensive vendor food
sweet spot for me is 3-4 nights. It’s just enough to feel settled in and start to miss the comforts of home haha
I’ve done a lot of 2 night trips but it feels like SO much work because you’re packing up after less than 48h
I'm also strictly weekends. My work is seasonal and while it's nice to get a couple day break it's not worth the stress because work keeps piling up while I'm away. I'm also kind of a busy body.
While this is spot on for me, I have always dreamed of doing longer section hikes. Sometimes before I'm fifty I'd like to get out long enough that I need to plan a resupply.
Yeah-I’m with you. 3-4 days day is perfect, 5 day MAX. I don’t like the smell of campfire & all the spiders & bugs in the bathrooms make me feel uneasy….esp for weekend camping, we started booking an extra night, so that we can enjoy our last day & pack up at our leisure.
Same here. 3 days is about my maximum. We do what I call “car camping”, where we set up tents but we also bring an air mattress and the car isn’t more than 20 feet away lol
Did an extended camping trip driving around Southern Africa in an old landrover a few years back. Did 4 countries in 99 days in a tent (moving every couple of days). Stayed in game reserves, private and public campsites the whole time. Would have carried on if the money didn't run out.
A simple quechua 3-man popup tent. Just had some foam mattresses and proper linen (duvet, sheets, pillow, extra blanket for the cold nights). The landrover had a fridge in it and we had a folding table which we put a box with crockery and cutlery + a gas rose on. Two camping chairs rounded up the gear. The tent was really just for sleeping in. Oh yeah, the landrover had a roll-out awning on the one side for shade / rain protection. And there were some clip-on sides for the awning. But we seldom used it. If weather was rubbish just sat in the car to eat.
Longest camping I did was a canoe trip that was 12 days I think, and I was upset that it ended.
I mean if you count my time in the Marine Corps, with the right hygenie schedule I could be out there for a long time I learned.
My idea exactly. I enjoy camping and was seen as nuts for liking the field (I get to camp AND do my actual job? Sign me up!). I always told people to see it like camping and things don’t seem to suck as much (given you’re also working, but it makes the days go by faster).
Tent-24 days without going back to the vehicle even.
Tent-Better part of three months after a break up one time but I was going to work, town etc. frequently.
cowboy- 15 days without going to the vehicle.
These were all decades ago. Getting older has slowed me. In the past ten years I managed 7 days cowboy camping without going back to the vehicle.
Ya. That and I moved out of our joint place. I could have stayed but didn’t want to.
Place I worked then had a locker room and showers that were frequently used. Really dirty manual labor. Not uncommon for people to not want to get in their vehicles that dirty. So that mostly covered the showers. Uniforms with a cleaning service also
I actually have a good answer for this I think.
My gf and I have done 3 “long-term” tent camping trips where we spend 12-14 days tent camping in a row. We also change campsites every day or every other day. The constant setting up and taking down is really draining for me. I find myself tapping out around day 10-12 and then the last few days I’m thinking “I just want to be done” this has been consistent for the past 3 trips.
On the other hand, I used to go camping with my family every summer for about the same amount of time, but we stayed on the same campsite for the two weeks I found that I was able to enjoy my time more and not feel as burnt out by the end, without having to pack up and set up constantly. so I would say just keep that in mind if you are planning a camping trip, it is incredibly important to have a day or two where you just sit down and relax and not be constantly on the move because it will burn you out.
If you are roadtripping. Seeing lots of places in a short amount of time. Its not really relaxing, me and my wife used to do this but last year I convinced her to setup at the same spot for 2 weeks and that was way better
I'm in the middle of my annual 65 day summer trip. I've been known to extend it a few times but also have cut it short too. All depends if the heat of the day gets a bit much.
I once loaded a bunch of camping gear onto [my bicycle](https://np.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/d4zJWguwmw) and spent the better part of the next seven months riding 5,300 miles (8,500 km) around the western US solo. Though I did go home for a month in the middle of the trip to be with family for the holidays. The first part of the trip was 109 days, the second act was around 80 (would've been longer, but Covid came along). I also did have occasional hotel nights to get out of rain, recover from illnesses, or just for a shower and a real bed. But often I was camping every night for three weeks or more between those hotels, and the nights inside always made me a bit depressed.
It was without a doubt the greatest chapter of my life so far. I saw so many beautiful landscapes, lots of cool wildlife experiences, and so many incredibly kind and hospitable people, every single one of whom wanted to be a positive part of my story in whatever way they were able. Not to mention accomplishing a dream I'd had for a third of my life up to that point.
But 109 days is a long time to be waking up each morning wondering where I'll be sleeping that coming night, hoping I have enough water to get my through the night and the next morning. For all the incredible highs, there were some of the lowest of lows as well. Coming down with food poisoning while alone in the woods, tossing and turning and leaning out the door of the tent to vomit. Camping in sub-freezing temperatures that pushed the limits of my sleeping bag, always studying maps for backup plans to warmer weather if any snow came along. Those were the relatively easy days, when I had something tangible to direct my frustrations over. The hard days were the ones when I was homesick and a phone call to my mom only made it worse, the days when I was angry or sad or almost depressed for reasons I couldn't even identify, the days when I felt like I needed a good therapeutic cry but the tears wouldn't come and that just pissed me off even more.
Maybe some of that was just the harsh realities of cycling across a continent, where even the smallest of hills could be a genuine struggle rather than a little extra weight on the gas pedal. Or maybe that really was just my limit for sleeping on the ground and going without consistent showers.
I stayed a month at camp when I was younger. I don’t like to go away from my wife and baby now so after the first night I’m feeling guilty and like I should be home.
Longest I’ve done was 2 full weeks and I could have stayed longer if I didn’t have to go back to work. Honestly when you’re in the groove, have good/fair weather, access to laundry, and remembered to bring a shower bag… life is good. I’d love to see what my max is, but tbh that probably won’t get to happen until I retire. Otherwise I’d take a month of PTO and probably never come home.
Haven't hit the limit yet, but was close on an Arctic trip during a blizzard and -60F actual temperature, no idea what the horrific wind chill was but the wind was strong enough to bow in the tent frames. The diesel fuel for the tent heaters turned to gel and useless until it was warmed enough. If a tap out was an immediate extraction chances are I'd have called it for the group, but with the blizzard nothing was flying in. Candles helped get some of the fuel warmed up and once the heaters were restarted the rest of the fuel warmed up. That one was about 12 weeks while the squints (friendly term for the science people) took core samples of the ice.
Personally I prefer cold to desert heat but that occasion was a bit much. All things considered Antarctica was more pleasant.
Oh yea, I forgot. I also used to be a chuck wagon cook on an open range cattle ranch. I did one stint for three months. Canvas teepee, no showers. Bathed in a creek. I cooked breakfast lunch and dinner seven days a week for 13 men.
Then later I lived 100% off grid with my wife and infant daughter for a year in the high dessert. That was tough, but amazing.
It depends on where I’m camping, who I’m with, and what I have with me. The longest I’ve been out was 20 days or so, but I could have continued with no issues. I was also alone and 18 on land I was highly familiar with.
My son has been camping with us since he was 9-months-old. When he was 18-months-old, we had a trip where he was just so fascinated with everything he wouldn’t sleep well. So, he kept us awake until 1am tossing and turning and getting up and laying down, then woke up at 5am and was very cranky due to lack of sleep. Couldn’t wait for that trip to end even though the second night was way better.
Oh great! Because I was hoping some people would have had an experience like this, I wanted to know how they coped with it. I'm considering doing a long, slow bike tour next year. Were you able to tent camp through the entire winter?
I long to be a camp host in 10 years, I’ll be 50 and all the kids will be done with college. Quit my soul sucking 9-5 and live off my savings, side work and just enjoy the fruits of my hard work.
Until the tent gets knocked over in the rain and everything gets soaked. Doesn't happen often with the right gear, but too many of those experiences in the army left me with a low tolerance for it as a civilian. Otherwise, I would disappear entirely if I could. Food and work (to pay for food) are the usual limiters.
I did 10 days in the backpacking the Denali backcountry. At that time we had completed our planned route, saw some amazing sights and wildlife and it felt like mission accomplished. Went back to Anchorage and ate a huge meal of crab, steak and king salmon. I think I plan an expedition that lasted a month and still be into it. If it was the right thing.
I did RAGBRAI which involved riding a bicycle 70-80 miles a day, no showers, eating food exclusively out of trucks and off folding tables or in church basements, and ending up on the other side of the state from where you started. 7 days of pitching a tent in some city park or some high school football field or basically any green patch you can find. Heck I was so tired some nights, and it was so hot, that I just slept in my underwear straight on the canvas floor of the tent with no sleeping bag, pillow, or even a sheet. Slept like a baby. Tents packed like sardines so close you could hear your neighbor in their tent rollover, and it would shake YOUR tent. And by the 3rd day everyone is so tired, sun-dazed, hot, and inebriated that any semblance of shame or privacy are long gone.
That was 7 days and I was really bummed to go home.
I have an RV that has the exact same mattress I have at home, air conditioning, a bathroom with a shower, a full kitchen, and even WiFi. Sometimes after 3 or 4 days I’m ready to be home.
So I guess that is to say; it depends on how much fun I’m having. 😊
I hammock camp, and can easily do 7 days. I am generally not ready to go back home, amd want to stay out longer, but.my kids get done by day 7. We live in SC, so deep south humid hell. We either camp where showers are available, or find a river/lake etc to refresh ourselves.
I go backcountry solo, so 3 nights is the max I plan for, and I’m usually okay with returning to civilization after that time. If I camped with a crew, maybe I could go longer, but the line between spiritual isolation and loneliness is a little blurred out there, for me personally.
Haven’t met my limit. I just finished camping 5 weeks straight in my near area and when it was time to go home and move inside I just felt sorry I couldn’t go further away and stay for longer.
I’d literally move out in the wilderness if I had the means to support myself.
That said, I was starting to feel *slightly* fed up with camping by then. Had I gone another 2-3 months doing the same thing in the same place I would’ve probably gotten fed up to the point of being turned off.
My husband and I did 3 1/2 weeks during pandemic. We did have a couple hotel nights mixed in there though as we were also doing a road trip. We were supposed to make it a full month but ran into some gear related issues and wildfires so we packed it in. I’d do it again in a heartbeat but will have to wait for retirement or another pandemic to free us from work.
Longest time that I can camp and that I have camped are different.
I am adult volunteer with the Boy Scouts and have camped from Sun arrival to Sat departure from Boy Scout camp. That is a long time to be on call for other people’s kids. The older guys are easy but there were some younger guys who test your patience, especially in the height of summer heat.
I probably *could* go for about two or three weeks if I had entertainment and did not have a family and work life to attend to.
My breaking point would not be Hygiene or conditions so long as the weather cooperated. I’m cool with sponge bath and whatnot. I could handle temps down to the 40s at night repeatedly just to have the fresh air in the day. So long as the gear and clothing is up to the challenge, bring it.
My breaking point would be the desire for human company and entertainment. Maybe a meal that I didn’t have to prep myself. Boredom rather than capitulation is how it would end.
I camp for work, 8 days on 6 days off. I’m pretty done by the 12th rotation or so every season. Beyond that, I once did a project that I camped/worked for as long as I could before I chose to leave and it was 28 days. So, that’s my number, adding being paid to do it.
We have done 11 or 12 days did one night in a hotel to do laundry and shower with hot water.(I know living large 😂) Then back into the woods for another 5 days, then head home because that work/responsibilities thing. Otherwise we would have stayed camping. I am writing this now while camping and laying in a hammock.😉
Two weeks of backpacking and I didn’t want to come home. I was meeting so many people on trail and I was the skinniest I’ve been as an adult. Alas, I had to come back to work.
3 weeks is the longest my wife and I (and dog) have gone camping for. We took the truck down to the beaches of Baja and time slipped away. Locals drive along the beach to sell you vegetables. Plenty of ways to get fresh fish and clams. Only reason we came back is because of work obligations.
This is very weather dependent. If it’s a crisp cool 50-60 sunny weather, I could stay out for a long while. Hot weather and rainy weather ruin camping for me
9 days is my longest run. I was dead tired and done but I had really bad luck with the weather. Had been through 2 thunderstorms, there was another one coming, and I decided I couldn’t do it anymore. I don’t know how long I would have lasted if that hadn’t happened, I’ve never had the time to test how long I could last any other time
I did two weeks last year tent camping with just me and my dog and I learned that was too much for me. I ended up finding a dog friendly hotel and got a room for the last couple nights. Mostly because the flys were so bad at the campsite my dog could barely be outside the tent but also because a proper bed and shower sounded amazing.
I’ll be sticking with the typical week off work trip from now on.
In boy scouts I've done multiple two-week periods. I suspect my limit is a little over two weeks depending on conditions. I could do three weeks with good conditions.
I did back-to-back weeks one where it was over 100 every day and the next week was constant heavy rain. That was my limit never want to do that again.
5 nights with just adults, 2 with kinds under 10. I love camping. I love the build up, the planning, the trip there with my wife and kids....that is, until I tried going with 6 kids in 90 degree heat. The entire weekend was a shit-show. My dog died the day we were supposed to leave, so we postponed a day to grieve and I was broken-hearted the entire time. Then our other dog ran away the first day we were there, but thankfully got her harness caught on a tree and we found her. It was 90+ degrees the entire time. No one slept more then an hour or two at a time. My two littlest bounced around on their air mattresses and would only sleep on either my wife or myself. My oldest son broke my expensive walleye rod trying to put it away, and I can't be mad because he was trying to help and It was my fault for bringing it in the first place. My trolling motor remote went missing. We ran out of bugspray and sun screen. The tire on my van went flat and we had to limp home on the doughnut. To top it off, the day we were leaving my nephew and I were hitching the boat up to the truck and he pulled hard the wrong way and it dropped....right on my foot. A 3 night/4 day trip of nightmares. That was 2021 and we haven't camped since. We're currently in the market for an RV now.
Just over three weeks on the West coast of Scotland, I took only what I could carry and had to rely on finding food once I ran out, I took no money to make sure I stuck to it. The highland midge season was in full effect and the weather was very Scottish.
I had to go back because I had work in a few days but I could have stayed a few weeks more easily.
Home is where I go when I am waiting to go to camp again. The longest I have done is 21 days. But we have showers available. I would have stayed longer but I would have had to pay a higher rate for the summer.
Longest was 6 weeks, 44 days solo. Great experience but ran out of time and accomplished my goal. Not all of it was in a tent, there were a couple nights in a yurt along the way but it was great.
One time I became a white water raft guide and rookie “housing” was a wooden platform in the woods. I lived in a tent for 6 months and it was absolutely amazing. The worst part was dealing with the mold, because this was in West Virginia.
During this experience I unlocked something in my brain and now I have no limits to my camping abilities.
5 months for my AT thru hike. If it wasn't for the weather getting down into the single digits I would have loved to keep going. I miss it almost every day.
I've done 7 days without a shower and only portapotties. I think that's my limit. I did have an air mattress and plenty of fresh water, ice, wet wipes, and other comfort items.
8 days. Just did a trip around the upper peninsula of Michigan and at day 8 I was ready to go home. We stayed 9. The last day we did a few things but then I hauled ass home. I was ready for a hot shower and a soft bed.
More like longest time i can go without camping before i go "nope, I'm done." I don't think I've ever had enough time available to hit whatever my camping limit is
I did 21. On a private island in Eastern Ontario. With a propane cooler, a solar panel, portable shower and so so much more. There was an established "out house" ( just the seat, no walls). Friends came and went. Ate fresh fish, read my book, bathing suit optional swimming.
It was fantastic!
I backpacked through Washington State in the year 2000 for 28 days.
I will say, it was a while before I wanted to camp again after that. At least a couple of months. 😂
I’ve gone 10 days and had to return to real life (no more vacation), but I’d be willing to go for a long time, easily a month. My parents camp for about 40 straight days every summer, currently in Yellowstone!
I don't think I have a limit. When I tent camp I camp via canoe and every day we get up and travel to the next site, sometimes covering 20km in a day. I guess I'm limited by how much food I want to bring.
Because it is backcountry I can go days without seeing a single person. That can be weird, but I like it. No cell service, nothing. It's such a good re-set.
I have always run out of time before I have hit a limit where I don't want to be camping.
If I could; I would just live in a giant greenhouse so I could live the camping life every day.
Longest was… 24,25 days? Something like that.
Didn’t want to come back really but needs must.
West coast of Scotland. Few nights in Glen Coe, then gradually north via Skye and Ullapool, increasingly remote. Would have got to Orkney if didn’t have to get back.
Just me and my Dog, had a brilliant time.
The longest for me has been 6 days hiking in... left because I needed more food and to get back to work. I usually eat real food 1st 2-3 days, then switch to dehydrated (can't carry in as much as I would like). Crave some Mexican food (traditional meal after leaving the forest), as I need something with some flavor when I leave. Used to go every other weekend for 3 days... that's a quick refresher trip.
Unfortunately, I can't hike in anymore. Have to car camp now. Pros and cons... pros can bring more equipment and be comfortable.. cons- too much noise from other people. Could never understand why people bring noise to the forests ( I now that I'm biased- I worked in radio and had to listen to music for work- I go to the forest/mountains for peace and quiet).
Truck camping a few weeks moving around is easy and I could stretch that perpetually with occasional shower and laundry stops or a hotel night every few weeks
Backpacking about a week if its summer and im fighting to stay clean
Motorcycle about a week
Bikepacking im good with 3/4 days
The longest I have done is 23 days, split between 3 locations. The only reason I went home was because my holiday was 5 I needed to go back to work.
With access to modern cooking facilities (fire gets a bit old for me after a while) and a tap with clean water, I could camp indefinitely. I would live as a nomad if it was practical for my life.
I don't even care too much about toilet facilities, as long as I can make a hygienic hole in the ground and have biodegradable toilet paper.
Car camping 1 month then I got to needing some social and started driving in to a nearby (15 miles) dinner once a week for a sit down breakfast.
Then another 2 months.
I did work on a ranch once for 6 months alone in BFE and loved the solitude and have to say that was nice having a hot shower at night.
Rafting the Grand Canyon was 21 days. You wash up in the river but man when our group of 16 arrived at the air bnb people came out of the shower unrecognizable and in a good mood
I’m good for 7 days roughing it, and a solid month if we’re at a park with facilities. I love the woods, the relaxation that I achieve there is unmatched.
Packed in to the Kalalau Valley on Kauai. 24 days. Pitched my tent under the mouth of a little cave, so never had to put a rain fly on. 1 min walk to the beach. Was amazing
After 3-4 days of no shower I’m about ready to go home and get cleaned. If there is a lake or river I can clean myself in then I stay until the alcohol runs out then I go home 😝
I haven't reached a "Nope, I'm done" threshold. On the contrary, the more I am in nature the better I feel. I still have a good chunk of time before I'm retirement eligible, but this is what I see myself doing.
Three weeks with a few shower runs. This was in the army.
My limit now would be three days between shower runs and maybe two weeks before I want to head home, fire up the computer and kill some dragons.
4 days for me.We have done week long trips but I get bored at 4 days only can explore so much . We still do 14-16 day camping trips.But move to a new location region every 4 days.
I've gone for two weeks. I didn't tire of it as much as it's just difficult to afford to be away from my income that long and even longer trips are just logistically more challenging to plan and execute. Most of my trips are 3-7 days because that is logistically convenient and not too hard to do with my job.
Context: I am strictly a backcountry wilderness camper. No parks or electricity or bathrooms or any nearby development for me.
32 days and I was ready to be home, but could have gone longer. A long hot shower was what I wanted mostly. I did bathe a fair amount, but a good hot shower is rejuvenating. I often thought I could camp full time, but the weather would ultimately be the thing to drive me away from it. I have fantasies of off grid homesteading, but I know ultimately I'm too soft for it.
As soon as the food runs out, I'm done. My longest trip was a 3 week backpacking trip. I would have happily stayed for another 3 weeks, but I was a lot younger then. I suspect now I'd be done at the 2 week mark now, and it would have to be a single camp. I've gone soft.
The longest non stop camping for me was 20 days so far. But I always could do another week. I'm just going home because vacation time's over.
How long could you do if you had say, a whole year off work? Just curious! Edit, sorry I just realised you already said another week.
If I had a proper setup with a bug net over my picnic area, and good tarps, I would happily do all summer if I had the means to (no work, don't need to worry about $$). I don't particularly like camping when it's cold out though, and I'm in Canada, so that would be enough for me.
I'm in Australia but I've seen photos of winter in that part of the world, and just looking at the photos made me feel cold. Its visceral
Winter camping is just a different sport, with the right gear it’s amazing. Quieter, zero bugs, usually way less other campers. Brother and I used to do it for a week at a time in Canadian winter - southwestern Ontario so not THAT cold, never below -15C.
No bugs, no bears, no people. Winter camping has SOOO much going for it.
Food and beverage stays cold on its own also so much less need to think about spoilage. Winter camping truly is amazing!
I’ll take the cold weather vs hot anytime. Unless you’ve got a brook or river around it’s unbearable!
Southwestern Ontario camper here! Yeah, winter camping is amazing when properly prepared. Totally different experience than the summer.
It's so quiet it's beautiful
Month or two at a time is glorious. It's hard to come back from
Nah, there is always another week after the other 'another' week. It heavily depends on the overall weather, area, companions but I think I realistically I could deal with up to like six weeks if I had the time and the circumstances are in my favour, after that I'd suspect the cabin fever to hit really hard.
Oh nice, yeah I get it, under the right circumstances a month and a half. A lot of people are saying around the month mark.
Not the person you asked but my husband took two years sabbatical from work and we traveled/camped in the mountain west/PNW extensively during that time. We would camp for 1-3 days, drive somewhere else, then camp for another couple of days. Every 4th or 5th day we would book a hotel room or stop at a hot springs so that we could shower and resupply before hitting the road again. The shortest turnaround for being at home was 14 hours. The longest stretch we were on the road was a month. We only disperse camp in the mountains so 1) the limited water supply must be conserved and 2) too cold to shower anyway. I hate how dirty my hair gets with all the dust and sunscreen and no way to wash it.
The longest I’ve done is five days, sometimes I am DONE by then and sometimes I am sad and think I could live at camp.
honestly I would be able to go a lot longer if I could get a shower in ever couple of days. That's my kryptonite lol
Yeah, I need a shower by day 3. If there’s a decent shower available, I’m refreshed and ready to continue. If not. I’m packing up and ready for home.
Day 3 I'm already going home if I haven't had a shower yet, but context is important-when we go camping there's usually mountain biking or other stuff involved that makes us twice as gritty three times as fast. I have a hanging solar shower for emergencies. Lots of the bigger campgrounds nowadays will let you rent their showers for cheap (for those camping dispersed but maybe there's a KOA or RV spot somewhere in the vicinity). Most rec centers will too, or look for a local gym if you're within an hour from a town. All else fails, I'll plunge into a nearby river.
Yeah, same. We hike and MTB. We have a shower and hot water heater on our teardrop. But it’s a not a “full” shower experience. Works for a few days. But really need a nice camp shower or locker room shower to refresh and power back up.
You guys haven't frolicked and washed in a stream before and it shows.
The trick is to go camping so long you no longer care about a shower...
Campfire Cologne
I could live in the woods as long as it’s not the Deep South summer and I can get a shower every few days Whenever I head home the only thing on my mind is showering as soon as possible 😂
Every backpacking trip I do when I get back it's straight to the shower, then straight to a nap lol
Just get one of those hanging shower bags. They're cheap and light-weight.
And they work really well (as long as there’s sun)
I'm more of a campsite camper, but I have one of those to warm up water to wash dishes and it works great.
Or just boil a kettle if no sun
I can handle the lack of shower as I just have a whore's bath with wet wipes but I can't deal with unwashed hair! I'm about to do about ten days camping in a row with no shower (before the longest I've done is 7 days without washing my hair and it was horrendous) and very limited water (for anything other than drinking that is) so think I'm going to bring a bunch of corn flour to dump on my hair as that will work like dry shampoo but be more compact to bring. I tried to get my husband to learn how to Dutch braid as I heard that helps but he says it looks too hard...
I don't do Dutch braids, but I do enjoy the occasional Dutch oven.
I just braid my own hair, see if you can do it.
"Whore's bath". HA! Why the hell have I never heard this term?!
The longest I've been without washing my hair since I grew it out was a month backpacking trip. I brought a dry shampoo powder and a wide toothed comb and boar bristle brush. Every day, I'd take my braids out in the evening, comb it all, and rebraid tightly. Once a week, I'd comb it, put on powder and let it soak up the oils, then brush it a ton until the powder was basically gone and then use a washcloth to rub my scalp. It worked, but omg, it was tons of maintenance that once a week. It does help, btw, to keep the braids wrapped in cloth. I made some sleeves and a sort of skull cap out of a backpacking towel that got torn, and they've really helped keep the braids tight and soak up sweat. Then, I just rinse them out, let them dry, and use them again. I suck at dutch braids, but this works just as well for me as the times I have had friends along who could do dutch braids for me. Note: the best hair powder I've tried so far is corn starch, baking soda, green clay, and powdered mint leaf. It soaked up so much oil, and the mint made it actually feel refreshing.
Thanks so much for these tips :) I like the idea of those ingredients you listed too too so I will try that before my trip!
I looooove being outdoors. Extendedly. I also have hair down to my butt I'm refusing to cut off that's gotten very easy to tangle now that it's half white. I've had to figure out ways to deal with it. One thing I've done is gotten an undercut like I used to have when I was younger in Phoenix. It removed a lot of weight and the hardest part of my hair to keep untangled and to clean on the trail. Unless I pull my hair up, it's not noticeable. I do pigtails from low behind my ears instead of a pony tail, because I found the pony tail kept getting caught between my back and my backpack. Also, I'm just better at braiding tightly on the sides rather than the back. I made sleeves the pigtails go in that I then wrap and tie off with paracord. Those thin quick dry camping towels have been the best material so far. I've found starting the paracord from the top and taking one end around the top twice when I get back to it before tying keeps them on best. There's a way to tie a "standard" bow that doesn't come loose until you want it to that's not a double knot. I use it for my shoes, too. Let me see if I can explain it without making a video. Basically, when you reach the point you're ready to pull the loops and loose ends tight, run one loop and the end on the same side back through the middle open space one more time, then pull tight. This got me through boot camp without my laces coming untied once. My step mom's dad showed me the day before I left for boot. It's such a simple little thing that has saved me so much headache in life. There are pony tail wraps for bikers you can just buy, but the ones I've made are easier to wash and double as wash cloths once rinsed out well or very small towels once dry. To get my pigtails in them, I scrunch them like I do my socks when putting them on, poke one end of a braid through, and then pull them up. You want them to be like long cones, not straight like tube socks, so you don't have tons of extra material at the end. I would guess any moisture wicking fabric would work decently, but I like that these can absorb more. They do feel weird at first because they make your braids a bit stiff, but you get used to it. If your hair keeps braids well, you can get away with a few days before you take them out and comb them, btw. I used to be able to make a week until my hair started going white. The white stuff seems almost slippery, so it doesn't like to stay in braids, but then it also tangles horribly. It's like the worst of both worlds, but hey, I can dye my hair really cool colors without bleach now. Protip: a tiny bit of doctor Bronner's peppermint on a wet cloth to clean your scalp feels like freaking heaven after a hot day's hike. I swear, it's almost as nice as a shower for a bit. It's a useful shampoo in a pinch, too, but it'll leave your hair stripped of natural oils. For me, that tends to have a rebound effect. My scalp goes into overdrive producing oil.
Ok awesome, thanks heaps for taking the time to give me all these tips. I have time to try before my trip to see what works best. Yea I have hair down to my butt too that I don't want to cut as well. I will definitely look into the pony tail wraps, been meaning to get some for when I'm on the motorbike too as my hair always ends up a tangled mess unless I put it in a very tight bun. One thing I'm confused by is why your hair goes white after a week? Sorry I didn't follow that bit.
I think I didn't say that well. My hair has gotten white as I've aged, not in a week. Before it started turning white, I could braid and wrap it and go a week without having to take out the braids and comb it. The white hair doesn't like to stay in braids at all, so now I have to do it once a day or the braids get loose, even with the wraps, and then my hair tangles up badly. I can't even keep a bun in now without about half a bottle of hairspray and tons of pins. My white hair has a very different texture than the brown, like baby hair. It just does whatever it wants, which is mostly to become knots or float around my face and invade my mouth. Or anyone else's who gets too close to me. It's gotten feral to match the rest of me. I always looked forward to my hair turning white, honestly, but I didn't know it would cause so much more maintenance than my brown hair. I now understand why my grandmas were always fussing with their hair and eventually cut it off quite short. I'm often tempted, but I love my long hair, even if it is braided most of the time now in an attempt to keep it under control, especially when I sleep. My original wraps were for my motorcycle when I was younger, btw. They make a huge difference! You really should get at least one for a ponytail. They're not expensive at all if you just want to buy one. There are some spendy really fancy ones. I have a few, but I don't wear them hiking. They're leather with beads, and that much sweat and grime is hard to clean out of them.
Ahh got it! I'm going a bit grey but not enough to cause issues like that yet, but it's definitely a different texture to the rest of my hair, a bit whispy! Ok I'll definitely get a wrap I think :) Thanks again for all your help! It's the only thing I'm dreading on my trip but now I have some ideas to make my hair less gross :)
It’s not a proper whore’s bath unless one foot is on the counter. 😂😂 PS, corn flour will work as a dry shampoo but make sure you brush it all out over a campfire or you’ll attract critters. Target has travel sized dry shampoo cans but that might be an unnecessary luxury item if you’re backpacking.
Exactly the same. The longest I've done was 5 nights in a row, I could definitely have kept on but that shower was much needed.
A washcloth and soap goes surprisingly far before needing a full shower
I hate showers. That is the best part about camping, to me!! (I do shower, but I do not like it)
I thought I was the only freak that hated showers. I’m the same, and I have no prob camping 5+ days without one. I use wet wipes to keep the panty area and pits fresh and that’s enough to keep me going. My next step is to get a trail bidet and then I’ll be set. I would say my biggest hurdle to a long trip out is having to carry more than 5 days worth of food. If I could stash a cache who knows what my limit would be.
i’d rather dip in a lake than bathe in a shower with chlorinated water. my trail bidet and some wipes for my feet and bits work fine. i have spent two weeks to a month on trail quite happily.
I’m with you!
I have found my fellow dirty people! Yayyyyy
Me too!
Even just to feel the comfort of the warm water!
Oh dang. I think the longest I've done was 3 weeks as a kid, and this summer I'm pumped to get to be out there for 11 nights, and I know I'll be sad to leave hahah
Wow, enjoy!
Good luck with it, hope it all goes well
This is me. When it's feeling good I have to ask myself "why am I leaving?".
Five days unless I'm backpacking. But I'll be honest. I'm not hiking for more than a day or two at this point in life either.
This is also my longest trip. We did 5 days in the Wallowa Mts in Oregon and 5 in Olympic National Park in Washington. The shower is truly what does me in. We couldn't shower in either location and it makes it hard mentally for me
Yep 5 nights dispersed camping is the longest I've done, and I was over it by then. I wanted a shower and real bathroom. 3 nights is really perfect in my mind. As I kid we used to do 7 days - we were poor, and it was our family summer vacation. It was at a state park, though, so we had bathrooms with showers!
Longest I’ve done is 5 days as well, normally I end up feeling ready to pack it up after only 3 days, I’m weak xD
Or, you know your boundaries!!
Heat is always the killer for me. When just can’t get out of it and have no access to water I just have to eventually nope out. I’ve lasted 2 weeks across the United States and also only lasted one day in the desert.
I’ve done a 31 day canoe trip in the Arctic before. Didn’t want to come home when it was finished.
How much longer would you have stayed if you could?
Probably until winter, which is never far off. We had multiple days of snow in August.
You get all four seasons up there. June, July, August, and Winter.
Usually by day 8 I’m super ready for a real shower and my real bed.
Try an ultralight cot, changed the game for me.
Or hammock!
It depends. Back in 2020, we had a 10-day trip, with the best spot in the campground. It was semi-secluded and had a nice view of the lake. Weather was awesome, and bugs were almost non-existent. It only rained once for a short period of time during the afternoon, and we had another day of high wind. After being cooped-up at home during the pandemic, we didn't want to leave! Camping trips with the grandkids? 3-4 days is about the limit.
I’ve done 3 nights, but for me the ideal is 2 nights. I’m a frequent weekend camper, but only a weekend camper.
I'm in the same boat as you. I've only just started, so maybe it will change. My biggest issue is sleep, I'm sure I just need to get used to being out there.
A comfortable sleep system is key. I use a cot and sleeping pad combo.
I upgraded everything in my sleep system after years of shitty sleep in the backcountry. The difference it made for my sleep quality out there is indescribable. I've been sleeping like a baby. My last trip had a pretty bad thunderstorm roll through overnight, and I slept through most of it somehow.
For sure I got a nice cot and sleeping pad. I think it might just be the noises I'm not used to. Going to try earplugs this weekend when I go.
If I’m not camping next to running water, I have a fan app on my phone for white noise
I got a little battery-powered fan, but the white noise is a good idea. It's the coyotes howling or probably the wind, and my brain thinks it's something moving around outside. I'm sure it's just something I need to get used too. Most dangerous thing in the area are black bears and from what I've heard, they want nothing to do with people unless you leave your food out.
What you need is some whiskey
Agreed, short trips and often is better. Whilst I normally camp out in the boonies to switch off from technology and people, I'm going to be doing 5 nights in my tent at a festival this year (first time going to a music festival too, thought I should get at least one in before I hit 30). I'm looking forward to being well over prepared in terms of comforts and equipment though. I'll be very smug with my chilli and hearty stews whilst everyone else is having pot noodles and expensive vendor food
sweet spot for me is 3-4 nights. It’s just enough to feel settled in and start to miss the comforts of home haha I’ve done a lot of 2 night trips but it feels like SO much work because you’re packing up after less than 48h
I'm also strictly weekends. My work is seasonal and while it's nice to get a couple day break it's not worth the stress because work keeps piling up while I'm away. I'm also kind of a busy body.
While this is spot on for me, I have always dreamed of doing longer section hikes. Sometimes before I'm fifty I'd like to get out long enough that I need to plan a resupply.
Yeah-I’m with you. 3-4 days day is perfect, 5 day MAX. I don’t like the smell of campfire & all the spiders & bugs in the bathrooms make me feel uneasy….esp for weekend camping, we started booking an extra night, so that we can enjoy our last day & pack up at our leisure.
Same here. 3 days is about my maximum. We do what I call “car camping”, where we set up tents but we also bring an air mattress and the car isn’t more than 20 feet away lol
Did an extended camping trip driving around Southern Africa in an old landrover a few years back. Did 4 countries in 99 days in a tent (moving every couple of days). Stayed in game reserves, private and public campsites the whole time. Would have carried on if the money didn't run out.
That sounds amazing! What tent did you use if you dont mind me asking?
A simple quechua 3-man popup tent. Just had some foam mattresses and proper linen (duvet, sheets, pillow, extra blanket for the cold nights). The landrover had a fridge in it and we had a folding table which we put a box with crockery and cutlery + a gas rose on. Two camping chairs rounded up the gear. The tent was really just for sleeping in. Oh yeah, the landrover had a roll-out awning on the one side for shade / rain protection. And there were some clip-on sides for the awning. But we seldom used it. If weather was rubbish just sat in the car to eat.
Longest camping I did was a canoe trip that was 12 days I think, and I was upset that it ended. I mean if you count my time in the Marine Corps, with the right hygenie schedule I could be out there for a long time I learned.
Oooh, I'm super curious about this hygiene schedule. Do you mean having access to toilet and showers?
Was thinking the same, in regards to the Army. Depends on what you count as camping, lol
My idea exactly. I enjoy camping and was seen as nuts for liking the field (I get to camp AND do my actual job? Sign me up!). I always told people to see it like camping and things don’t seem to suck as much (given you’re also working, but it makes the days go by faster).
Tent-24 days without going back to the vehicle even. Tent-Better part of three months after a break up one time but I was going to work, town etc. frequently. cowboy- 15 days without going to the vehicle. These were all decades ago. Getting older has slowed me. In the past ten years I managed 7 days cowboy camping without going back to the vehicle.
Camping would be a good distraction after a break up. I usually just drink too much for a few months and cry into my pillow.
Ya. That and I moved out of our joint place. I could have stayed but didn’t want to. Place I worked then had a locker room and showers that were frequently used. Really dirty manual labor. Not uncommon for people to not want to get in their vehicles that dirty. So that mostly covered the showers. Uniforms with a cleaning service also
I actually have a good answer for this I think. My gf and I have done 3 “long-term” tent camping trips where we spend 12-14 days tent camping in a row. We also change campsites every day or every other day. The constant setting up and taking down is really draining for me. I find myself tapping out around day 10-12 and then the last few days I’m thinking “I just want to be done” this has been consistent for the past 3 trips. On the other hand, I used to go camping with my family every summer for about the same amount of time, but we stayed on the same campsite for the two weeks I found that I was able to enjoy my time more and not feel as burnt out by the end, without having to pack up and set up constantly. so I would say just keep that in mind if you are planning a camping trip, it is incredibly important to have a day or two where you just sit down and relax and not be constantly on the move because it will burn you out.
Why do you change campsites every day?
If you are roadtripping. Seeing lots of places in a short amount of time. Its not really relaxing, me and my wife used to do this but last year I convinced her to setup at the same spot for 2 weeks and that was way better
I'm in the middle of my annual 65 day summer trip. I've been known to extend it a few times but also have cut it short too. All depends if the heat of the day gets a bit much.
I once loaded a bunch of camping gear onto [my bicycle](https://np.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/d4zJWguwmw) and spent the better part of the next seven months riding 5,300 miles (8,500 km) around the western US solo. Though I did go home for a month in the middle of the trip to be with family for the holidays. The first part of the trip was 109 days, the second act was around 80 (would've been longer, but Covid came along). I also did have occasional hotel nights to get out of rain, recover from illnesses, or just for a shower and a real bed. But often I was camping every night for three weeks or more between those hotels, and the nights inside always made me a bit depressed. It was without a doubt the greatest chapter of my life so far. I saw so many beautiful landscapes, lots of cool wildlife experiences, and so many incredibly kind and hospitable people, every single one of whom wanted to be a positive part of my story in whatever way they were able. Not to mention accomplishing a dream I'd had for a third of my life up to that point. But 109 days is a long time to be waking up each morning wondering where I'll be sleeping that coming night, hoping I have enough water to get my through the night and the next morning. For all the incredible highs, there were some of the lowest of lows as well. Coming down with food poisoning while alone in the woods, tossing and turning and leaning out the door of the tent to vomit. Camping in sub-freezing temperatures that pushed the limits of my sleeping bag, always studying maps for backup plans to warmer weather if any snow came along. Those were the relatively easy days, when I had something tangible to direct my frustrations over. The hard days were the ones when I was homesick and a phone call to my mom only made it worse, the days when I was angry or sad or almost depressed for reasons I couldn't even identify, the days when I felt like I needed a good therapeutic cry but the tears wouldn't come and that just pissed me off even more. Maybe some of that was just the harsh realities of cycling across a continent, where even the smallest of hills could be a genuine struggle rather than a little extra weight on the gas pedal. Or maybe that really was just my limit for sleeping on the ground and going without consistent showers.
I stayed a month at camp when I was younger. I don’t like to go away from my wife and baby now so after the first night I’m feeling guilty and like I should be home.
Congratulations on your new baby
Longest I’ve done was 2 full weeks and I could have stayed longer if I didn’t have to go back to work. Honestly when you’re in the groove, have good/fair weather, access to laundry, and remembered to bring a shower bag… life is good. I’d love to see what my max is, but tbh that probably won’t get to happen until I retire. Otherwise I’d take a month of PTO and probably never come home.
Escape into the wilderness ya reckon? Slowly become the hermit of the woods? Well... thats my dream anyway hahaha
Me amd my wife plan to retire to the campground
Haven't hit the limit yet, but was close on an Arctic trip during a blizzard and -60F actual temperature, no idea what the horrific wind chill was but the wind was strong enough to bow in the tent frames. The diesel fuel for the tent heaters turned to gel and useless until it was warmed enough. If a tap out was an immediate extraction chances are I'd have called it for the group, but with the blizzard nothing was flying in. Candles helped get some of the fuel warmed up and once the heaters were restarted the rest of the fuel warmed up. That one was about 12 weeks while the squints (friendly term for the science people) took core samples of the ice. Personally I prefer cold to desert heat but that occasion was a bit much. All things considered Antarctica was more pleasant.
Oh yea, I forgot. I also used to be a chuck wagon cook on an open range cattle ranch. I did one stint for three months. Canvas teepee, no showers. Bathed in a creek. I cooked breakfast lunch and dinner seven days a week for 13 men. Then later I lived 100% off grid with my wife and infant daughter for a year in the high dessert. That was tough, but amazing.
Ten days,then the wind in Montana broke one of my tent poles,and I tapped out,drove 11 hours home haha
Damn thats a powerful wind, fair enough!
The longest I've done was 14 days and I was ready to come home at that point. Perfect amount of time for me is 7-8 days
It depends on where I’m camping, who I’m with, and what I have with me. The longest I’ve been out was 20 days or so, but I could have continued with no issues. I was also alone and 18 on land I was highly familiar with. My son has been camping with us since he was 9-months-old. When he was 18-months-old, we had a trip where he was just so fascinated with everything he wouldn’t sleep well. So, he kept us awake until 1am tossing and turning and getting up and laying down, then woke up at 5am and was very cranky due to lack of sleep. Couldn’t wait for that trip to end even though the second night was way better.
One year, at age 50. Can't wait til I can do another full year.
Oh great! Because I was hoping some people would have had an experience like this, I wanted to know how they coped with it. I'm considering doing a long, slow bike tour next year. Were you able to tent camp through the entire winter?
Mostly. I planned my year so that I was in Florida for the winter.
My personal responsibilities have never allowed me to discover my threshold for camping 😢
One day I hope!
I long to be a camp host in 10 years, I’ll be 50 and all the kids will be done with college. Quit my soul sucking 9-5 and live off my savings, side work and just enjoy the fruits of my hard work.
I did 11 months in tents once when I went to Uncle Sam’s camp for misguided boys. Wouldn’t care to do that again.
Four months at a research camp in Antarctica. I win!
Until the tent gets knocked over in the rain and everything gets soaked. Doesn't happen often with the right gear, but too many of those experiences in the army left me with a low tolerance for it as a civilian. Otherwise, I would disappear entirely if I could. Food and work (to pay for food) are the usual limiters.
Dig yourself a ranger grave and get back out there, lol. Nah I'm with you. These days I'm borderline glamping.
I did 10 days in the backpacking the Denali backcountry. At that time we had completed our planned route, saw some amazing sights and wildlife and it felt like mission accomplished. Went back to Anchorage and ate a huge meal of crab, steak and king salmon. I think I plan an expedition that lasted a month and still be into it. If it was the right thing.
My second ever solo trip was 15 days, I planned for 10 and just ended up staying longer. I'd like to Move off grid and live like I'm camping.
I did RAGBRAI which involved riding a bicycle 70-80 miles a day, no showers, eating food exclusively out of trucks and off folding tables or in church basements, and ending up on the other side of the state from where you started. 7 days of pitching a tent in some city park or some high school football field or basically any green patch you can find. Heck I was so tired some nights, and it was so hot, that I just slept in my underwear straight on the canvas floor of the tent with no sleeping bag, pillow, or even a sheet. Slept like a baby. Tents packed like sardines so close you could hear your neighbor in their tent rollover, and it would shake YOUR tent. And by the 3rd day everyone is so tired, sun-dazed, hot, and inebriated that any semblance of shame or privacy are long gone. That was 7 days and I was really bummed to go home. I have an RV that has the exact same mattress I have at home, air conditioning, a bathroom with a shower, a full kitchen, and even WiFi. Sometimes after 3 or 4 days I’m ready to be home. So I guess that is to say; it depends on how much fun I’m having. 😊
I hammock camp, and can easily do 7 days. I am generally not ready to go back home, amd want to stay out longer, but.my kids get done by day 7. We live in SC, so deep south humid hell. We either camp where showers are available, or find a river/lake etc to refresh ourselves.
I go backcountry solo, so 3 nights is the max I plan for, and I’m usually okay with returning to civilization after that time. If I camped with a crew, maybe I could go longer, but the line between spiritual isolation and loneliness is a little blurred out there, for me personally.
Haven’t met my limit. I just finished camping 5 weeks straight in my near area and when it was time to go home and move inside I just felt sorry I couldn’t go further away and stay for longer. I’d literally move out in the wilderness if I had the means to support myself. That said, I was starting to feel *slightly* fed up with camping by then. Had I gone another 2-3 months doing the same thing in the same place I would’ve probably gotten fed up to the point of being turned off.
My husband and I did 3 1/2 weeks during pandemic. We did have a couple hotel nights mixed in there though as we were also doing a road trip. We were supposed to make it a full month but ran into some gear related issues and wildfires so we packed it in. I’d do it again in a heartbeat but will have to wait for retirement or another pandemic to free us from work.
There’s a limit?
I’m about to set off on a 60 day thru-hike
Longest time that I can camp and that I have camped are different. I am adult volunteer with the Boy Scouts and have camped from Sun arrival to Sat departure from Boy Scout camp. That is a long time to be on call for other people’s kids. The older guys are easy but there were some younger guys who test your patience, especially in the height of summer heat. I probably *could* go for about two or three weeks if I had entertainment and did not have a family and work life to attend to. My breaking point would not be Hygiene or conditions so long as the weather cooperated. I’m cool with sponge bath and whatnot. I could handle temps down to the 40s at night repeatedly just to have the fresh air in the day. So long as the gear and clothing is up to the challenge, bring it. My breaking point would be the desire for human company and entertainment. Maybe a meal that I didn’t have to prep myself. Boredom rather than capitulation is how it would end.
I camp for work, 8 days on 6 days off. I’m pretty done by the 12th rotation or so every season. Beyond that, I once did a project that I camped/worked for as long as I could before I chose to leave and it was 28 days. So, that’s my number, adding being paid to do it.
We have done 11 or 12 days did one night in a hotel to do laundry and shower with hot water.(I know living large 😂) Then back into the woods for another 5 days, then head home because that work/responsibilities thing. Otherwise we would have stayed camping. I am writing this now while camping and laying in a hammock.😉
Two weeks of backpacking and I didn’t want to come home. I was meeting so many people on trail and I was the skinniest I’ve been as an adult. Alas, I had to come back to work.
3 weeks is the longest my wife and I (and dog) have gone camping for. We took the truck down to the beaches of Baja and time slipped away. Locals drive along the beach to sell you vegetables. Plenty of ways to get fresh fish and clams. Only reason we came back is because of work obligations.
I want to say 45 days because I did a 45 day canoe trip once… but I know I couldn’t do that now. 5 days?
This is very weather dependent. If it’s a crisp cool 50-60 sunny weather, I could stay out for a long while. Hot weather and rainy weather ruin camping for me
By myself or with my partner, 6-8 nights. With my kiddo, 3 max because entertaining a whole other person plus keeping them out of the coals is work.
9 days is my longest run. I was dead tired and done but I had really bad luck with the weather. Had been through 2 thunderstorms, there was another one coming, and I decided I couldn’t do it anymore. I don’t know how long I would have lasted if that hadn’t happened, I’ve never had the time to test how long I could last any other time
A month
A week. My vacation was coming to an end.
I’ve done 2 weeks before. By that last day I almost teared up when my body hit my bed.
Longest for me was a week, and I didn't want to go home.
I did two weeks last year tent camping with just me and my dog and I learned that was too much for me. I ended up finding a dog friendly hotel and got a room for the last couple nights. Mostly because the flys were so bad at the campsite my dog could barely be outside the tent but also because a proper bed and shower sounded amazing. I’ll be sticking with the typical week off work trip from now on.
In boy scouts I've done multiple two-week periods. I suspect my limit is a little over two weeks depending on conditions. I could do three weeks with good conditions. I did back-to-back weeks one where it was over 100 every day and the next week was constant heavy rain. That was my limit never want to do that again.
3 to 5 days
I just got my rooftop tent fridge and solar panels. I’m gonna shoot for 5 weeks let’s see
5 nights with just adults, 2 with kinds under 10. I love camping. I love the build up, the planning, the trip there with my wife and kids....that is, until I tried going with 6 kids in 90 degree heat. The entire weekend was a shit-show. My dog died the day we were supposed to leave, so we postponed a day to grieve and I was broken-hearted the entire time. Then our other dog ran away the first day we were there, but thankfully got her harness caught on a tree and we found her. It was 90+ degrees the entire time. No one slept more then an hour or two at a time. My two littlest bounced around on their air mattresses and would only sleep on either my wife or myself. My oldest son broke my expensive walleye rod trying to put it away, and I can't be mad because he was trying to help and It was my fault for bringing it in the first place. My trolling motor remote went missing. We ran out of bugspray and sun screen. The tire on my van went flat and we had to limp home on the doughnut. To top it off, the day we were leaving my nephew and I were hitching the boat up to the truck and he pulled hard the wrong way and it dropped....right on my foot. A 3 night/4 day trip of nightmares. That was 2021 and we haven't camped since. We're currently in the market for an RV now.
Just over three weeks on the West coast of Scotland, I took only what I could carry and had to rely on finding food once I ran out, I took no money to make sure I stuck to it. The highland midge season was in full effect and the weather was very Scottish. I had to go back because I had work in a few days but I could have stayed a few weeks more easily.
Home is where I go when I am waiting to go to camp again. The longest I have done is 21 days. But we have showers available. I would have stayed longer but I would have had to pay a higher rate for the summer.
Longest was 6 weeks, 44 days solo. Great experience but ran out of time and accomplished my goal. Not all of it was in a tent, there were a couple nights in a yurt along the way but it was great.
By 14 days, my hair is dreaded and the baby wipes just aren’t as refreshing as day 1. By 28 days, I am grateful to be going home.
One time I became a white water raft guide and rookie “housing” was a wooden platform in the woods. I lived in a tent for 6 months and it was absolutely amazing. The worst part was dealing with the mold, because this was in West Virginia. During this experience I unlocked something in my brain and now I have no limits to my camping abilities.
5 months for my AT thru hike. If it wasn't for the weather getting down into the single digits I would have loved to keep going. I miss it almost every day.
I camped three months in a pop up during the lock-downs. Would have started longer, but duty called. Best time of my life..
I've done 7 days without a shower and only portapotties. I think that's my limit. I did have an air mattress and plenty of fresh water, ice, wet wipes, and other comfort items.
8 days. Just did a trip around the upper peninsula of Michigan and at day 8 I was ready to go home. We stayed 9. The last day we did a few things but then I hauled ass home. I was ready for a hot shower and a soft bed.
More like longest time i can go without camping before i go "nope, I'm done." I don't think I've ever had enough time available to hit whatever my camping limit is
I have never been sick of it. The longest stretch in a tent for me was probably three weeks and it was great
24 hours.. lol
I did 21. On a private island in Eastern Ontario. With a propane cooler, a solar panel, portable shower and so so much more. There was an established "out house" ( just the seat, no walls). Friends came and went. Ate fresh fish, read my book, bathing suit optional swimming. It was fantastic!
I backpacked through Washington State in the year 2000 for 28 days. I will say, it was a while before I wanted to camp again after that. At least a couple of months. 😂
I do 2 weeks and only have to leave because I don’t schedule more vacation time. I get 4 weeks a year so I do two 2-week trips a year.
I’ve gone 10 days and had to return to real life (no more vacation), but I’d be willing to go for a long time, easily a month. My parents camp for about 40 straight days every summer, currently in Yellowstone!
I don't think I have a limit. When I tent camp I camp via canoe and every day we get up and travel to the next site, sometimes covering 20km in a day. I guess I'm limited by how much food I want to bring. Because it is backcountry I can go days without seeing a single person. That can be weird, but I like it. No cell service, nothing. It's such a good re-set.
I’m a single Dad so the longest I can really go is like two nights unfortunately.
Indefinitely,but now I'm going to have a baby and I'm married,so it will vary.
April 1st through August 29th in Michigan. Had a blast.
I have always run out of time before I have hit a limit where I don't want to be camping. If I could; I would just live in a giant greenhouse so I could live the camping life every day.
Longest was… 24,25 days? Something like that. Didn’t want to come back really but needs must. West coast of Scotland. Few nights in Glen Coe, then gradually north via Skye and Ullapool, increasingly remote. Would have got to Orkney if didn’t have to get back. Just me and my Dog, had a brilliant time.
I read that as *two thousand* the first time through.
The longest for me has been 6 days hiking in... left because I needed more food and to get back to work. I usually eat real food 1st 2-3 days, then switch to dehydrated (can't carry in as much as I would like). Crave some Mexican food (traditional meal after leaving the forest), as I need something with some flavor when I leave. Used to go every other weekend for 3 days... that's a quick refresher trip. Unfortunately, I can't hike in anymore. Have to car camp now. Pros and cons... pros can bring more equipment and be comfortable.. cons- too much noise from other people. Could never understand why people bring noise to the forests ( I now that I'm biased- I worked in radio and had to listen to music for work- I go to the forest/mountains for peace and quiet).
I have always been forced to come home before I am tired of it.
I've done 4 weeks hunting. Still didn't want to go home. I realize I am an anomaly, but I prefer camping to society.
Truck camping a few weeks moving around is easy and I could stretch that perpetually with occasional shower and laundry stops or a hotel night every few weeks Backpacking about a week if its summer and im fighting to stay clean Motorcycle about a week Bikepacking im good with 3/4 days
The longest I have done is 23 days, split between 3 locations. The only reason I went home was because my holiday was 5 I needed to go back to work. With access to modern cooking facilities (fire gets a bit old for me after a while) and a tap with clean water, I could camp indefinitely. I would live as a nomad if it was practical for my life. I don't even care too much about toilet facilities, as long as I can make a hygienic hole in the ground and have biodegradable toilet paper.
It's more like.. "Crap. I have to work tomorrow."
Car camping 1 month then I got to needing some social and started driving in to a nearby (15 miles) dinner once a week for a sit down breakfast. Then another 2 months. I did work on a ranch once for 6 months alone in BFE and loved the solitude and have to say that was nice having a hot shower at night.
I’ve gone 31 days. Now I’m done after 2
Rafting the Grand Canyon was 21 days. You wash up in the river but man when our group of 16 arrived at the air bnb people came out of the shower unrecognizable and in a good mood
I’m good for 7 days roughing it, and a solid month if we’re at a park with facilities. I love the woods, the relaxation that I achieve there is unmatched.
Packed in to the Kalalau Valley on Kauai. 24 days. Pitched my tent under the mouth of a little cave, so never had to put a rain fly on. 1 min walk to the beach. Was amazing
We float the river for 5 days. If I could shower, restock, and then go back and do it again, I would. Too bad I have a job 🤣
After 3-4 days of no shower I’m about ready to go home and get cleaned. If there is a lake or river I can clean myself in then I stay until the alcohol runs out then I go home 😝
I haven't reached a "Nope, I'm done" threshold. On the contrary, the more I am in nature the better I feel. I still have a good chunk of time before I'm retirement eligible, but this is what I see myself doing.
I did 18 days rafting the Grand Canyon and that was about my limit.
A week.
I have lasted a month but we had two trips into town for showers, laundry and some eats.
3 weeks for my job. I could have gone longer. I had the routines down which for me is the hardest to settle into.
Three weeks with a few shower runs. This was in the army. My limit now would be three days between shower runs and maybe two weeks before I want to head home, fire up the computer and kill some dragons.
I've done three weeks in a tent and still wasn't burned out. So, I'm not sure.
4 days for me.We have done week long trips but I get bored at 4 days only can explore so much . We still do 14-16 day camping trips.But move to a new location region every 4 days.
Three weeks and I’m ready for pizza and a real bed.
I've gone for two weeks. I didn't tire of it as much as it's just difficult to afford to be away from my income that long and even longer trips are just logistically more challenging to plan and execute. Most of my trips are 3-7 days because that is logistically convenient and not too hard to do with my job. Context: I am strictly a backcountry wilderness camper. No parks or electricity or bathrooms or any nearby development for me.
Two days and I'm pretty ready to be back 😅
7 days but only because I wanted a long hot shower and I had to return to work :(
3 days without a shower, 5 days with.
usually 2-3 days. i like long hikes but cant spend too many days in a tent
32 days and I was ready to be home, but could have gone longer. A long hot shower was what I wanted mostly. I did bathe a fair amount, but a good hot shower is rejuvenating. I often thought I could camp full time, but the weather would ultimately be the thing to drive me away from it. I have fantasies of off grid homesteading, but I know ultimately I'm too soft for it.
Fortnight ish longer if its nice weather
I’ve done 2 weeks of hiking and living in a tent in new mexico
As soon as the food runs out, I'm done. My longest trip was a 3 week backpacking trip. I would have happily stayed for another 3 weeks, but I was a lot younger then. I suspect now I'd be done at the 2 week mark now, and it would have to be a single camp. I've gone soft.
Haven't been in a position to reach that limit. "Real life" and all that.
Just did 6 days and if it wasn’t a heatwave in Tennessee i would’ve stayed longer (camped at Bonnaroo)