Summer is a great time to make your camping debut because of the high temperatures. However, in recent years, global warming has led to dangerously hot days in mid-summer; temperatures can reach nearly 40°C (104°F), so you must be cautious when venturing outdoors. Therefore, choosing the right summer campsite is important to alleviate the summer heat as much as possible. Here are 7 tips for choosing the best campsites for summer camping.
- What are the problems with summer camps?
- Tips for choosing a summer campsite (1) “Lots of shade
- Tips for choosing a summer campsite (2) “High elevation
- Tips for choosing a summer campsite (3) “Close to the beach
- Tips for choosing a summer campsite (4) “Close to a river or lakeside
- Tips for choosing a summer campsite (5) “Grass site
- Tips for choosing a summer campsite (6) “Campsites with a sense of distance
- Tips for choosing a summer campsite (7) “Have indoor space to cool off
What are the problems with summer camps?
Summer, when it is easy to spend time outdoors even at night, is the perfect time to camp, but it can be quite harsh when the weather is extremely hot. If it is too hot, daytime activities become difficult, and heat stroke prevention is essential.
To alleviate the heat, which is one of the problems of summer camping, you should choose a campground that is as cool as possible. You may question whether such a place exists when it is so hot nationwide, but it depends a lot on the location of the campground and the environment of the site.
Tips for choosing a summer campsite (1) “Lots of shade
Campsites that are mainly grassland sites with no shade at all are not suitable for summer camping because of the danger of direct sunlight. The road surface temperature differs by about 20°C between the shade and the sun. If you stay in the sun for a long time, the temperature from the road surface will raise your body temperature and you may get heat stroke, so it is better to choose a campground with many forest sites with plenty of shade in summer.
You might think that if your site is mostly in the sun, you could make use of a tarp. However, if the entire site is in the shade and the only shade is under the tent and tarp, the temperature you experience will be quite different. The heat bouncing off the ground will have a small effect, and you will feel hotter.
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Forest sites are surrounded by greenery, which will also provide a relaxing natural setting. The deep green forest will offer a fantastic and mysterious view. For this reason, please choose a campground with many forest sites and plenty of shade.
Tips for choosing a summer campsite (2) “High elevation
There is a relationship between elevation and temperature. At an elevation of 1,000 meters, the temperature is about 6.5 degrees Celsius lower than at ground level. At 500m, half of that elevation, the temperature drops by about 3°C, so the heat will be considerably reduced. This means that if you are camping in extreme heat, you should choose a campsite at a higher elevation.
Campsites at higher elevations offer many other advantages in addition to cooler temperatures. First, there are fewer unpleasant insects. Summer campers are plagued by annoying mosquitoes, but at higher elevations, the number of insects is much fewer, making it much more comfortable.
Otherwise, you can enjoy a rich natural environment. Enjoy observing nature, including vegetation unique to the highlands. Try stargazing at night. Because the air is clean and there is little light, you can see a star-filled sky at night, something you can never see in the city!
You can also enjoy the scenery of the plateau spread out before you and the fantastic and majestic mountains. If you are lucky, you can even see a sea of clouds at some campsites.
Tips for choosing a summer campsite (3) “Close to the beach
Towns and cities near the seashore are said to be cooler in summer due to the wind from the sea. For example, Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture, and Shiomisaki, Kushimoto Town, Wakayama Prefecture, have many days below 30°C even in summer. This suggests that it is likely to be cooler near the seashore than inland or in a basin.
For this reason, when choosing a summer campsite, choose one near the beach for a cool and comfortable stay. The pleasant ocean breezes and the smell of the sea will relax you. Enjoy the soothing sound of the waves as background music, and take in the sunset and scenery to your heart’s content.
The proximity to the ocean makes swimming and water sports enjoyable. Snorkeling, beach volleyball for large groups, and a variety of other activities can be enjoyed.
Another feature of campgrounds near the seaside is the gourmet food. Buying fresh seafood at a local market and barbecuing is also recommended.
Tips for choosing a summer campsite (4) “Close to a river or lakeside
The temperature drops a bit when you are near a river or lakeside, and the waterside view is refreshing just by looking at it. For this reason, it is recommended to choose a campsite near a river/lakeside in midsummer.
Compared to the ocean, river water is much colder, even in mid-summer. Therefore, after playing with all your might, it is pleasant to take a dip in the water to lower your body temperature or just to dip your feet in the river.
The beauty of the scenery is another characteristic of river and lakeside campgrounds. The waterside scenery is beautiful and the sound of the flowing river is soothing and relaxing. If the water in the river or lake is crystal clear, you will be excited.
Also, it is only at waterside campgrounds that you can enjoy playing in the water to your heart’s content. Try swimming, kayaking, fishing, and many other activities.
Tips for choosing a summer campsite (5) “Grass site
Campground sites have a variety of ground types, but most can be distinguished between dirt or gravel and grass sites. And the temperature you feel differs depending on the ground of the site. The type of ground the site is on is an important factor in choosing a campsite in summer.
There are efforts to convert school yards to turf as a heat island countermeasure. This is often implemented especially in large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. Most schoolyards are made of soil, but turfing can reduce ground surface temperatures by 10°C or more.
For this reason, when choosing a summer campsite, pay attention to the ground of the site. Grass sites will be cooler and more comfortable than dirt. Grass sites are also easier to set up and take down because dirt and sand do not cling to the ground.
The atmosphere is unstable in summer, and rain often falls suddenly. If you have a dirt site, your tent and all your camping gear will be covered in mud, and it will be really hard to take them down. With grass, however, you don’t have to worry about that. You can camp cleanly without getting dirty even if it rains.
Tips for choosing a summer campsite (6) “Campsites with a sense of distance
It is strange, but you may feel hotter in a crowd. You will feel it even more when you are indoors or in a car. Popular campgrounds that mainly offer free sites are very crowded during the summer vacation period, so you will not be able to spend a relaxing time there.
Also, if there are too many people, the sounds around you can cause stress. When this happens, a camp that is meant to be relaxing becomes less so. It is better to choose a campsite that allows you to keep as much distance as possible and has a limited number of compartments or people, so that you can stay cool and comfortable.
Tips for choosing a summer campsite (7) “Have indoor space to cool off
More and more campgrounds have recently been equipped with indoor spaces such as cafes. Such spaces allow campers to cool off during the day if they feel sick from the heat.
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Also, campgrounds that have an administration building or reception desk are more likely to be able to help you or respond to you in case of an emergency. Many facilities without a reception desk and unmanned are for advanced campers, so beginners should avoid such campgrounds if at all possible. If you are a debutant or inexperienced camper, it is better to choose a summer campground with good facilities and equipment.
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