Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Backyard Camping Ideas for Curing Cabin Fever

Best Backyard Camping Ideas
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Last year will go down as one of the strangest of our generation. Things are slowly returning to normal, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Businesses, local governments, and even entire countries are still encouraging caution. That’s left a lot of us feeling stir-crazy. Camping and RV’ing are two great options for the adventure-starved. But, for the most cautious among us, even those may be a little too adventurous. The solution? Backyard camping.

You’ve seen the photos on social media: Families picking up roasting sticks to toast marshmallows, couples kicking back while a movie plays on a sheet hung from the eaves and, of course, tents set up in backyards, walk-out basements, even on high-rise roofs. Sure, we might have scoffed at it in the past. Now, backyard camping is getting us through. For hardcore outdoor adventurers, backyard camping may seem like a poor substitute for the freedom and excitement of “real” camping in the wild. But don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for camping out in your own backyard.

Backyard Camping Ideas

Each of these ideas is enough to take your backyard to the next level. Combined, however, they can create a backyard camping oasis that rivals even the best front-country camping experience.

Build a Fire

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Few ills can’t be cured by just slowing down and relaxing around a fire. That’s why building a fire is an essential part of every camping experience, whether in the backyard or the backcountry. If you don’t already have a fire pit, check out the portable options from Solo Stove, like the Yukon. At 27 inches across, it’s large enough for backyard camping but compact enough to take car camping.

Light It Up

Biolite SiteLight Lantern
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lighting can make or break a campsite. Under bad lighting, it can feel like you’re eking out a post-apocalyptic wilderness survival drill, while great lighting can create a soft, dreamy atmosphere worthy of an engagement proposal. The key is to get creative. Biolite’s line of outdoor and camp-centric lighting is designed to illuminate your campsite beautifully. Start with a few packable fabric SiteLight Lanterns, then line the edges of your camp with fairy lights for the perfect ambiance.

Enjoy a Night at the Movies

XGIMI Halo Projector
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For a unique twist on the classic drive-in date or a movie night with the kids, turn your backyard into a legit outdoor theater. XGIMI’s Halo is an ultra-portable projector that’s not much larger than a toaster. It’s powerful enough to project a massive display of up to 300 inches at 1080p on outdoor screens, sheets, or even the side of your house. Plus, built-in Harmon Kardon audio helps bring even the biggest, most cinematic flicks to life. Just add popcorn, snacks, and a few outdoor blankets.

Arrange an Outdoor Concert

Marshall Kilburn II Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Marshall

One great thing about backyard camping at home is that nobody can complain about your loud music spoiling their outdoor experience. Grab a compact speaker like Marshall’s Kilburn II Portable Bluetooth Speaker and plan an open-air concert with a perfectly curated playlist. If you’re musically inclined, swap out Spotify for easy guitar songs, a harmonica, pots and pans, or a howling pup, and make your own music under the stars.

Share Your Outdoor Skills

Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival Book
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sharing your knowledge of the outdoors — whether it’s how to read a map, pitch a tent, or identify odd plants, bugs, or other things — is one of the best ways to reconnect with nature and with your friends, family, and kids. It’s also a great opportunity to pull up YouTube tutorials or crack a copy of the timeless Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival and learn a few new skills yourself.

Plan Your Next Adventure

Planning Next Hiking Adventure
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If backyard camping makes you wistful for the real thing, embrace the wanderlust. Start planning your next wilderness adventure. We love Fjallraven’s Nature Is Waiting microsite that provides stories, virtual tours, videos, and even a guided meditation, that all help you connect with nature from your own home. The National Parks website offers similar inspiration with virtual tours, soundscapes, baby animal videos, binge-worthy stories from our park system’s history, and even a quiz to find the perfect National Park match for your personality and interests. To continue designing your dream camping trip, browse platforms like PitchUp and The Dyrt for user-reviewed sites and outdoor activities around the country.

Why Backyard Camping?

There are three main reasons why backyard camping is almost as good as the real thing.

You’re Reconnecting With Your Gear

backyard camping tent toys
Warchi/Getty Images

The idea of “connecting” with a pair of hiking boots or trekking poles might seem odd to some. But, for outdoor lovers, the excitement of Christmas morning has nothing on the thrill of opening up your camp box at the start of the season. Doing inventory, reorganizing, performing maintenance, and finding excuses to buy some sweet new gear — it’s all part of the fun, even if your trip is still weeks away.

You don’t need a tangible plan or even a destination to enjoy that experience. Just airing out your gear and setting it up will get your heart pounding and your brain buzzing as your sense memory fires up your imagination. Bury your face in your favorite fireside blanket and inhale the smoke of a hundred summer nights. Rediscover the unparalleled comfort of your faithful old camp chair. And you already know how good canned provisions taste when they’re cooked over an outdoor stove.

In the words of one of our favorite outdoor brands, Fjallraven, “Emotional longevity is the best form of sustainability.” Spending time with your trusty gear — even in your backyard — is a powerful way to set your outdoor adventure priorities where they belong: On the experience, not on nifty new gadgets.

You’re Sharing the Fun

backyard camping tent setup teaching family
Louise Beaumont/Getty Images

After more than a year in quarantine, most of us exhausted our creative ideas for socializing. Backyard camping, if nothing else, is a novel way to entertain yourself and others. For couples, it’s a way to rekindle the magic by getting cozy in a new and unique environment. For families, it’s an opportunity to teach your kids basic outdoor skills, like safely lighting a fire or setting up a tent. Even solo campers can share their experience by posting on social media with the many hashtags circulating around backyard camping.

You don’t even need a backyard to get in on the fun. If you’re a city dweller or your apartment is short on space, you can always set up your backyard “campsite” in whatever outdoor space your home offers. A deck, a patio, a rooftop, or even a balcony will all work just fine. Hell, you can even set up in the living room and open your windows to flood your improvised camp with fresh air. No matter how you’re living these days or who you’re living with, backyard camping is a surprisingly powerful way to relive wonderful memories and to plan out new ones.

You’re Resetting Your Priorities

camping indoors tent couple
BraunS/Getty Images

“You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” More than 12 months of indoor isolation has made this aphorism sink in as nothing else could. It’s a sad-but-true fact that even the most dedicated outdoor lovers spend far less time outside than we’d like to. We get busy. We get lazy. We don’t make the plan. As a result, we only get out there once or twice before the season is over and the weather is prohibitive.

Setting up camp in your backyard or home has a curious effect. Something about seeing your gear where it doesn’t truly belong — within the confines of your backyard fence or wedged between your TV and your recliner — galvanizes your resolve to get out there more. Lying in your tent and staring up at the stars from your backyard is a great way to indulge your wanderlust for now and an even better way to recommit to the outdoor life you love.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Chelsea Batten
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chelsea Batten is a writer, photographer, and Kerouac groupie. One of the original digital nomads, she was seduced from life…
Swing yourself to sleep under the stars with the best camping hammocks
If sleeping in a tent isn't "roughing it" enough, ditch the traditional shelter and swing between the trees
A man relaxing on a red camping hammock by a body of water.

There is a subculture found in every group of adventurers, from minimalist thru-hikers to expedition-loving backpackers, who swear by their trusty camping hammock. While others are pitching tents out in the open, these woodsmen suspend themselves from the trees and rock the night away. If you've never tried hammock camping (or "hammocking"), it might look impractical and alien. In truth, there's nothing quite like gently swinging in a warm breeze, reading a great adventure book, and sipping a refreshing camp cocktail.

By adding mosquito netting, underquilts, and a rain fly or a good camping tarp, these hammocks can work as all-season outdoor shelters in almost any climate or terrain. Trust us; there really is no better way to relax in the wilderness. These are our picks for the best camping hammocks of 2023.

Read more
The best one-person tents for your camping home away from home
The best one-person tents for your next backpacking and thru-hiking adventure
The best cold-weather camping gear can make your winter adventures warmer and more fun

One-person tents have historically had a tainted reputation in the outdoor world. For many years, these tents were like crawling into a tube and you would barely have enough space to get changed — and don't even think about drinking a coffee or reading a book. The good news is that one-person tents have come a long way in recent years and you no longer have to haul a two-person tent just to get the space and comfort on a long thru-hike.

When we're picking our one-person tent to add to the top of a packing list, there are three factors to consider: price tag, weight, internal space. In order to get the best one-person tents, we have balanced these three factors against one another so that whichever you prioritize, there is a tent on this list for you.

Read more
A new study says these are the 10 best states for a family camping trip
Take your family camping to one of these 10 states this summer.
Family camping

There are always problems you can run into when you go camping, but when you're bringing kids along (especially for their first trip), you want the experience to be memorable. Camping with kids takes a ton of preparation, but the Family Vacation Guide took out all the guesswork by analyzing eight crucial traits that could affect your camping experience. They considered everything, from activities to family-friendly camp spots and crime rates, and tallied the score to a final number out of 10. Other factors considered include social media data, hiking trails, safety scores, and annual temperatures. These are the best states for camping, according to the analysis.
Top 10 states for family camping
We're all for camping pretty much anywhere and everywhere, but Family Vacation Guide's report says these 10 states practically guarantee an extraordinary camping experience for your entire clan in 2023.
Florida
Florida, the sunshine state, takes the lead with a score of 7.93 out of 10 for safe camping spots. With its year-round sunshine and an average temperature of 70.7 degrees, this state offers a playground of diverse campsites, many of which receive four-star ratings.
New Jersey
Scoring neck-and-neck with Florida, New Jersey beckons with its beautiful inland camping spots in proximity to the sea. Immerse yourself in the state's white-sand beaches while partaking in many activities. With numerous family-friendly walking trails, New Jersey offers an outdoor wonderland for both young and old.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire earns a score of 7.68 out of 10, impressing families with its abundance of family-friendly camping grounds and activities. With an average temperature of 43.8 degrees, this state provides a refreshing retreat from the ordinary (especially in summer). Notably, New Hampshire boasts the lowest crime rate among the top contenders, ensuring peace of mind for a safe vacation.
Massachusetts
The third Northeast state on the list is Massachusetts, where families can revel in a camping experience that seamlessly blends seaside charm with dense forests. With a score of 7.65 out of 10, this coastal state offers an array of thrilling activities, from captivating boat tours to exhilarating jet skiing and parasailing. Explore the highest number of family-friendly hiking trails for this state’s size and discover hidden treasures with your little ones.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it packs a punch with a score of 7.53 out of 10. History buffs will definitely appreciate everything this state has to offer. Rhode Island boasts the highest number of activities per 10,000 km2, with an astonishing 1,178 options to keep the fun going.
Virginia
Scoring equally as high as Rhode Island, Virginia emerges as a dream camping destination for families seeking a harmonious blend of natural wonders and engaging activities. Don’t forget Virginia has some of the best colonial destinations in the United States, so don’t miss the chance to bring your kids to places like Williamsburg.
Maine
Scoring 7.4 out of 10, Maine secures the second-highest number of Instagram posts in the top 10 after Florida, a testament to the breathtaking beauty found within its borders. With an average yearly temperature of 41 degrees and the third-lowest crime rate, Maine guarantees a safe and enchanting haven for your family camping vacation.
Vermont
Vermont, with its score of 6.84 out of 10, offers stunning scenery, from rolling hills to majestic mountains, as you partake in almost 300 activities per 10,000 km2. (And, if you need a break from the kids, it actually has a pretty cool wine scene.)
Delaware
Delaware has over 500 activities per 10,000 km2, so your family will never run out of things to do. With an average temperature of 55 degrees, this state offers comfortable weather for outdoor adventures.
Hawaii
While Hawaii holds the highest crime rate among the top 10 states, at 5,077 per 100,000 people, it compensates with its unparalleled array of activities per 10,000 km2. Second only to Rhode Island, Hawaii is a tropical paradise teeming with opportunities for adventure and relaxation.

From the sun-soaked beaches of Florida to the historical allure of Rhode Island, each state offers a distinctive blend of safety, adventure, and natural wonders.

Read more