Spring Break Camping

Camping season is close enough to here for rock and roll -- if you're a late breaker off this week and haven't made spring break plans, consider a foray to the forest. Easy to do: pack the car, or just the backpack if you're riding your thumb, and go. What to pack? Where to go? Let's look at spring break camping prep.

You can take an easy spring break with car camping -- at minimum, you'll need food and, possibly, a camp stove -- in spring, forest fire danger is low and you can probably cook ala campfire. You should also take a sleeping bag, but you can get by with a blanket if car camping in a warm spot (see a list of best US beaches).

• Read about American road tripping -- car prep, calculating gas prices, road food and more
• Finding Campgrounds
• Camping Site Reservations Online

If you're hiking in to the great beyond for a week of camping, you'll need to prep thoroughly -- be ready with several days worth of food, a tent or tarp and a good sleeping bag. Sign in at trailheads and, most importantly, tell someone where you're going before you leave, and go there. You'll be glad you did if you get lost or hurt.

Camping resources

• Backpacker cooking
• Camping and hiking equipment essentials
• Camping and hiking topo maps (what's a topo map?)

See also:

• All About Spring Break | Camping in Mexico | How to volunteer in national forests