Chances are if you love camping, you've camped in a few different styles. Tent camping and car camping are common, but there are many other ways to camp, from the brave to the bold. What styles of camping are there to choose from? We've put together a list of more than a dozen, depending on how you want to experience the outdoors.
Whether you're going to go stealth camping or mooch docking this weekend, there's no judgment here! At one point or another, we might even find ourselves wally docking for a night or two.
See the full list of camping styles to choose from, and let us know in the comments which ones you've done.
Boondocking Camping Style
People refer to camping in an RV without any hookups or access to water as 'boondocking' or 'dry camping.' You still have your RV for shelter and comfort, but you go without using utilities or hooking up the RV to an electrical outlet. You might choose this camping style when camping on public land.
Overland Camping Style
This is a favorite type of camping for outdoor enthusiasts who have kitted-out vehicles like Jeeps, 4Runners or a Lexus GX. But you don't need an extreme rock crawling vehicle to experience overlanding, just a desire to explore the great outdoors! Overland camping means driving out into natural scenery for the simple pleasure of experiencing it, calling it a night and setting up camp away from the typical campsite.
Tent Camping Style
Tent camping is your traditional style of camping in a tent, typically at a campsite. Tent campers bring sleeping pads, inflatable mattresses or cots to outfit their tent for comfortable sleeping.
Stealth Camping Style
When you're out in the wilderness, leaving no trace behind, and being completely self sustainable, you're stealth camping. People who stealth camp maintain secrecy, not doing anything that would give away their location. That means no campfires and definitely no music or other loud human-like noises.
Farm Camping Style
Depending on where you live, you might find farm owners who allow people to camp on their land for a fee. Farm camping describes camping on private property with permission. Oftentimes when people allow and charge others to camp on their land, they also offer amenities, such as access to their garden and bathing areas.
Rooftop Tent Camping Style
There are some pretty incredible rooftop tent designs for cars and trucks these days! RoofNest, TentBox, Thule, and other companies make tents that install onto the roof of your truck or car in a hard case, and pop-up within minutes. This camping style provides a tent to sleep in that's safely off the ground, and oftentimes with a great view!
Car Camping Style
Car camping is when you go camping with the intention of sleeping in your car. When folks camp in this style, they typically set up their car with a sleeping pad and keep their food and supplies well-organized. You can car camp at a campsite, ski resort parking lot or deep in the wilderness -- the possibilities are endless.
Survival Camping Style
For those who want a camping experience like the television series Alone, survival camping might be for you! 'Survival camping' means going into the wilderness with minimal supplies like a pot and knife, and relying on what nature provides around you for the rest. Some people enjoy this style of camping, as they get to test their survival skills. If something goes wrong, you experience the discomfort for a few days, and get a taste of what it would be like if one day you would need to rely on your survival skills for real!
Mooch Docking
The term 'mooch docking' is used to describe the style of camping when you park your RV or car in someone's driveway to stay for free. Mooch docking is also what people call camping on someone's private property for free.
Wally Docking
So many people have taken advantage of Walmart's common policy of allowing people to stay in their parking lots overnight, a term has been coined around it, calling it 'wally docking.' This describes people who stay in their cars or RVs overnight in Walmart parking lots without hookups or setting up a tent. Some Walmarts don't allow it, though!
Slider Camping Style
Many RV models have sliders that expand the square footage to include more room for sleeping. Some people who go RVing refer to this style of camping as 'slider camping.' Take your fifth wheel or camper out to the wilderness and enjoy a few nights out in nature!
Glamping
Platform tents and yurts with electrical hook-ups and standard beds put the 'glam' in 'glamping.' This style of camping is more attractive than tent camping to those who can't bear to sleep on a blow-up mattress or pad. Glamping is the ideal camping style for people who still want to be able to flip a light switch while enjoying the outdoors.
Guerrilla Camping Style
Guerrilla camping is when someone camps where they're not supposed to, and tries to hide it. Guerrilla campers lay low and typically try to leave no evidence of their stay. One example would be if you're camping on public land.
Minimalist Camping Style
Minimalist camping goes along with the concept that less is more, and campers only bring the bare minimum with them to enjoy their time in nature. This style of camping means creature comforts and extras are intentionally left behind.
Solo Camping
Some prefer to do it alone! Solo camping is exactly how it sounds, when one person decides to take some time to themselves to enjoy the outdoors alone.
RV Camping
With RV camping, you have all of the comforts of your own home, including running water, toilet, shower and electricity. It's not a bad idea to have a hard wall between you and the bears. RV camping also means you can experience camping in environments that you wouldn't want to be sleeping in a tent, like the hot desert climate or harsh wind.
Cowboy Camping Style
The term 'cowboy camping' is used to describe camping without shelter, sans tent! You might enjoy cowboy camping if you want to stargaze from your sleeping sack and enjoy the great outdoors. Other times you might cowboy camp as a last resort.
Faux Camping Style
This is one for parents and those getting kids ready for their first camping experience. 'Faux camping' is a term to describe sleeping in a tent, cooking food outside, and taking other normal steps of camping, except you're located in the safety of your own backyard, or something similar. This idea for family camping is a great way to do a practice run, getting kids comfortable with the idea of camping before taking them into the wilderness.
Bubble Camping
Have you seen those inflatable bubble tents on Instagram in places where you can see the Northern Lights? That's bubble camping! Bubble tents are dome-shaped tents that are inflated for people to stay in overnight. The transparent ceiling allows for stargazing at night and maybe even a glimpse of the aurora borealis.
Ghost Camping Style
The term 'ghost camping' is used to describe when someone sets up their camp but doesn't stay there. The purpose of ghost camping is to save the camping spot for when they have time to come back.
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