Camping season begins Memorial Day weekend. If you are an avid camper, you may have already been out this year. Many of the campgrounds in Colorado are open year round. Most campgrounds do not accept reservations during the off season, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go camping in them. Just be aware that they often do not have all the available services that they normally would during the normal camping season. Campsites ordinarily may offer electricity, water, outhouses or other facilities.

Memorial Day weekend is often the first weekend many campers head out to their favorite campgrounds. You may be packing and planning yourself for the upcoming weekend! There are a few things to keep in mind while you are packing and preparing for your trip.

Camping Season Begins Memorial Day – Preparation

It’s a good idea to keep a pen and some paper handy so you can write down things you need to remember. Write down things like the items you want to bring, or things you need to do before you go. Camping lists are super helpful to make sure you remember everything for your camping trip.

Keep items you want to take camping separated from everyday things and in plain sight. You are more likely to remember them when it is time to go. It helps to designate an area where you can pile everything as you remember it, but before it’s time to load it in your vehicle. This will also help you when it’s time to pack. It’s a good way to do one last visual check of all your camping gear. Plus you can decide before you start loading if you need to trim down your camping gear and leave some things behind!

Pack a tool set for unexpected car issues.

One thing that many campers overlook is the state of their vehicle for camping. Make sure to give your vehicle a once over to avoid any simple issues you might run into that will put a damper on your fun camping weekend. Below is a list of things you should check. If you are not familiar with doing these, take your vehicle to a local shop to have the oil changed and to have the car inspected. Most shops will do this free of charge along with an oil change.

• Check the oil, anti-freeze, power steering and brake fluid level.
• Fill up your windshield wiper fluid.
• Fill up on gasoline.
• Check the pressure of your tires, including trailers, bikes, ATVs or other vehicles.
• Check for obvious or recent oil, antifreeze, or other leaks.
• Check the windshield wipers.
• Make sure you have an emergency roadside kit of automotive fluids and tools.

You are going to be putting a lot more stress on your vehicle for a camping trip. It will work harder than it normally is used. These are the times that cause these minor problems with a vehicle to become major problem. This can definitely ruin a camping trip! Take this extra step to insure smooth traveling to and from your campground.
This year the weather looks to be colder and wetter than usual. Make sure you go prepared for rain and cool temperatures for this year’s camping trip. Be sure to keep track of the weather forecast for the area in which you plan to camp. Colorado has a wide range of environments and camping conditions. Remember to always plan for the worst weather possible and be prepared to handle it.

As the weekend approaches, make sure that a friend or family member that isn’t going on the trip knows when and where you plan to be. Should something happen it is very important that someone knows where you went, when you left, and when you plan to be back. This step is very important and often overlooked. If something unexpected happens, someone needs to know how to contact you or where to look for you.

Camping season begins Memorial Day Weekend, so many people use this opportunity to go. Most people have an extended weekend that allows them the time to travel and enjoy time in their favorite campground. When campgrounds are be crowded and full, it’s good to remember we are all out to enjoy the great outdoors. This first weekend of the official camping season is a great opportunity to enjoy ourselves and the beautiful wilderness that is Colorado. Be mindful of your neighbor, keep your camping etiquette in mind, and do what you can to make this a great Memorial Day camping weekend for everyone.