Group camping trip itineraries
Trip ideas · Camping trips
Group camping goes best with one campsite, early starts for the big hike, and easy afternoons so everyone has energy for the campfire. These national park weekends are planned that way, with tips on permits, water and campsites.
Itineraries
- Springdale, UT · 3 days · 11 stopsA Zion National Park weekendA 3-day Zion National Park plan for friends: the Riverside Walk and The Narrows, Emerald Pools, Canyon Overlook at sunset, and where to eat in Springdale.Spring and fall weekends, mixed-fitness groups, first visits to Zion
- Joshua Tree, CA · 3 days · 13 stopsA Joshua Tree camping weekendA 3-day Joshua Tree National Park plan for friends: camp at Jumbo Rocks, hike Hidden Valley and Ryan Mountain, see Skull Rock and the Cholla Cactus Garden, catch sunset at Keys View, and end in Pioneertown.Camping weekends, stargazing, first visits to Joshua Tree
- Yosemite National Park, CA · 3 days · 11 stopsA Yosemite camping weekendA 3-day Yosemite camping plan for a group: camp in Yosemite Valley, see Lower Yosemite Fall and Tunnel View, hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall, then Glacier Point and the Mariposa Grove sequoias.Camping weekends, first visits to Yosemite, mixed-fitness groups
Planning tips
Reserve early
Popular campgrounds open months ahead and fill in minutes. Have a few people try at once, and put the confirmation on the plan.
Share the gear
Tents, stoves and coolers only need one or two people to bring them. In Freya's checklist, people claim them, and everyone can see what's still missing.
Split by fitness
Mark the big hike as optional and set who's going. The rest of the group can take an easy trail and meet up for lunch.
Plan for no signal
Cell service is patchy in most parks. Freya works offline, so the plan, directions and checklist are still there.
Group camping packing list
Shared gear one person brings, gear a few people bring, and what everyone packs for themselves. Add it to Freya and friends claim what they’re bringing.
Questions
What do you need for a group camping trip?
Shared gear (tents, a stove, a cooler, lanterns, a first aid kit) and personal gear (sleeping bag, pad, headlamp, layers, water bottle). The group camping packing list splits them, so shared gear gets claimed once and everyone packs their own.
How far ahead should we book a campsite?
For popular national parks, as soon as reservations open, often five or six months ahead on recreation.gov. Weekday and shoulder-season trips are easier to book.
What's a good first national park trip with friends?
Joshua Tree and Zion are easy weekends from Los Angeles and Las Vegas, with short hikes for everyone and bigger ones for those who want them. Yosemite is worth a longer drive.
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- Build your own itinerary, or import one from Google Sheets or Docs