As the price of fuel continues to head for the moon, driving the car, SUV, or RV to a faraway campground becomes less appealing. So don’t leave home—just get out of the house.
Camping has always been a traditional pastime in the United States, but according to a recent study commissioned by the state of Wisconsin, it’s now more popular than ever. A whopping 48 million households went camping in 2020—an increase of 6 million from 2019. Camping takes many forms, from backpacking to staying in million-dollar RVs, but the one thing they all have in common is spending time someplace away from home, enjoying the views and new experiences. However, with fuel prices currently significantly higher than those of a year ago, driving a car, much less a gas- or diesel-guzzling RV, almost any distance dampens the appeal of discovering distant and exotic campgrounds. We offer a possible solution: Stay home.
Most people rush inside when they get home from work or school, making the front or backyard a semi-unfamiliar area that is fair game for a campground. It’s also a safe bet that few have spent the night in their yard on purpose. A day and night spent in your own yard will provide a new appreciation of what goes on outdoors, especially after the lights go out. Even in heavily populated neighborhoods, it’s not uncommon to see nocturnal wildlife going about their normal routine. If you have access to night vision binoculars, break them out after the campfire. Bring regular binoculars, too, in order to do some daytime birdwatching, but avoid the temptation to spy on neighbors—it rarely ends well if you get caught!
With that in mind, a stay-at-home camping trip begins to make sense. To do it right, you need to set ground rules, such as that once you’re out of the house, you stay out—no trips inside to raid the refrigerator, check social media, or watch TV allowed. There can be exceptions, of course, but the idea is to treat the yard as the campground; once you’ve arrived, you are there for the duration of the vacation.
The call of nature can sometimes be drowned out by the call of the restroom; this is one example where the “don’t go into the house while camping” rule can be bent. There are portable restroom systems available, but once again, it’s best not to test the patience and understanding of the neighbors by using one in the front yard. Another worthwhile rule is to limit or outright prohibit cell phone use and electronic games. This is supposed to be a vacation, so you need to find ways to remain happily occupied.
Since many campgrounds have pools, barbecue grills, and games like horseshoes, if your yard is so equipped, the driveway glamping rules allow their use; if not, consider investing in a few outdoor games. Several other notable gear suggestions include a battery-powered fan to ease the heat of summer days and nights, a battery-powered lantern, bug repellant, compact flashlights with fresh batteries for all campers, and a ukulele.