When you go camping, you have likely done so in the summertime. After all, summer is the most popular time to head out on a camping adventure.

That said, this doesn’t necessarily mean summer is the best time to go camping. While there definitely is something to be said for spending time in nature during the warmer parts of the year, there are also plenty of positives offered by autumn camping trips. In fact, we’d even go so far to say that fall camping is just as wonderful as summer camping.

Here are ten of the key differences between the two:

1. Temperature — Perhaps the most obvious difference between summer and fall camping is the temperature. While summer is hot all day every day, fall brings brisk days and chilly nights that give the outdoors a completely different and almost magical vibe.
2. Bugs — Many people believe that bugs and camping go hand in hand. However, this doesn’t have to be true. You see, although bugs are pretty unavoidable while camping during the hot months, fall camping includes far fewer of these tiny, pesky creatures.
3. Food — Summer is a time for burgers, hot dogs, and corn on the cob. All of these things can be enjoyed during the fall, but it is much more likely that you’ll want to prepare hearty comfort foods such as chili and stew. After all, who doesn’t like a bowl full of something hot to eat on a cool fall evening?
4. Activities — Swimming is a key camping activity during the hot summer season. However, this activity isn’t usually on the agenda during autumn camping trips. Instead, campers can enjoy such things as hiking, hayrides, apple picking, and team sports, all without becoming overly hot.
5. Crowds — As we mentioned earlier, summer is the most popular time to go camping. For this reason, the campground crowds during the summer can get a little out of hand. On the other hand, those who choose to camp during the cooler fall months will see fewer people and thus more peace and quiet.
6. Prices — In addition to being less crowded, fall camping is also more affordable. Because the demand for sites goes way down after Labor Day, the prices also tend to drop drastically. This means you can get more bang for your buck when camping during autumn.
7. Daylight — You probably already know that sunset happens earlier during the fall season. This means you have less daylight, but it also means more opportunities for campfires, stargazing, and all the other amazing nighttime activities we all love to take part in while camping.
8. Landscapes — The changing leaves found on almost every tree during fall make for a colorful landscape you can’t help but admire. These are completely different from the landscapes of summer and are often even more beautiful and interesting.
9. Beverages — When the weather changes, so does the average person’s beverage of choice. After all, ice cold sodas and beers are ideal for hot days, but hot coffee and cocoa tastes delightful on a chilly fall day. This is especially true when the beverages are enjoyed early in the morning or late in the evening when the weather is coolest.
10. Clothing — As the cooler weather takes the place of hot sunny days, we must change our wardrobes. This means that fall camping comes with some super snuggly outfits you wouldn’t dream of wearing during a summer trip into nature. This makes dressing for a hike much cozier, as hats and gloves are pulled from the bottom of storage boxes.

These are 10 of the major differences between summer camping and fall camping. If you’ve never been fall camping, it might be time to try it for yourself, experience these incredible differences, and see just how amazing the fall season can be.

About the Author:

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

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