Highway Handbook: How To Car Camp Legally In National Parks

Highway Handbook: How To Car Camp Legally In National Parks Description:You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers. That’s the gist of our new educational series, The Highway Handbook. One of our main goals at Luno is to make the outdoors more accessible, and we mainly do that by designing comfortable air mattresses and nifty accessories that help you turn your everyday vehicle into an extraordinary adventure mobile. But gear alone doesn’t remove barriers to the great outdoors, and sometimes, the simple act of sharing knowledge makes all the difference. In The Highway Handbook, our team of car camping experts will answer questions that regularly bombard our DMs. Whether you’re a car camping veteran or new to the game, we hope this series helps you get outside, explore, and enjoy time in nature with friends and family. In this month’s edition of The Highway Handbook, we’re tackling a simple question with a complex answer: How can you car camp legally in national parks? First off, let us start by saying that we love car camping in national parks, especially in parks that are home to noteworthy bear populations like Yosemite National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Teton National Park, so on and so forth. When you have a Luno mattress for your car, truck, van, or trailer, you can camp comfortably in your rig and lock your doors at night for invaluable peace of mind in bear country. Plus, there’s no better feeling than waking up in your comfy cabin on wheels just steps away from epic vistas and breathtaking trails. That said, you’ll find sign after sign that prohibits overnight parking and camping in national parks. So what gives? Is it possible to car camp legally in national parks? Is it worth it to risk a citation by camping illegally? In this helpful guide, we’ll answer all of these questions and more. Below, we share info on how we car camp in national parks without breaking the law–or getting the dreaded nocturnal knock from a peeved park ranger. We’ll also share info on how to make reservations at popular national parks campgrounds, why we often camp just outside of national parks, and other tricks of the trade. Paid Campgrounds: Your Best Bet For Car Camping In National Parks Fortunately, car camping is allowed in most national parks. Unfortunately, you have to pay for it. It makes sense. National parks are extremely popular adventure destinations. Unlike BLM land or national forests, where car campers have virtually free reign to camp where they please, car camping in national parks is typically limited to paid campgrounds. Take Grand Teton National Park, for instance. If you check out the National Park Service’s Teton Camping web page, the first notice explicitly states: “Car camping or sleeping overnight in vehicles is NOT allowed in park pullouts, parking areas, picnic grounds, or any place other than a designated campground. Overnight parking at trailheads is only permitted with a backcountry permit.” We wish this weren’t the case. Ideally, we could park overnight and camp where we please. However, just imagine how overrun national parks would be if camping weren’t limited to campgrounds… It wouldn’t be pretty. Unsurprisingly, the regulations are fairly strict and reinforced by rangers. That said, there are benefits to car camping in paid national park campgrounds. You often have access to amenities like potable water, trash receptacles, restrooms, and hot showers. If you’re getting your digital nomad on, you might even find Wi-Fi (although for many campers, this is actually a negative). Additionally, you don’t have to stress about finding a place to camp, since these sites are typically available through an online reservation system. Reservations: A Smart Move At National Park Campgrounds Free camping is one of the many benefits of car camping. Unlike tent campers, car campers can crash for free at highway rest stops or Walmart parking lots, as well as national forests and BLM land. As such, we typically recommend car campers avoid paying for campground reservations, instead using car camping apps and other tools to find free car camping. This advice goes out the window when you’re targeting popular national park campgrounds. We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again: these campsites can sell out quicker than Taylor Swift tickets. If you’re hoping to camp in a national park, paying for a reservation far in advance is a smart move. In fact, it’s often the only move. This holds especially true during busy summer months, and even more so on hectic holiday weekends. Our advice? Plan your trip months in advance if possible. The National Park Service will release reservations on Recreation.gov, often six months ahead of time. However, reservation schedules and releases vary from park to park, and they can even vary from campground to campground within a national park. It subsequently pays to research your destination of choice and plan your trip ahead of time. Once you find out when a park releases reservations for your preferred campground, set an alarm on your calendar so you’re online and ready to snap up a site as soon as they’re available. More Reservation Tips: Looking for a national park campground? Start your search on the NPS’s Find a Campground page. Set alarms to ensure you’re online and on it when campsites are released. Chronic procrastinator? Forgot to make reservations? Was your campsite of choice sold out? No worries. Check the National Park Service’s reservation website before you hit the road. It’s possible cancellations or newly opened campsites will be available, even if they weren’t when you checked before. Illegal Car Camping In National Parks We do not recommend illegal car camping in National Parks for several reasons. First and foremost, you risk unwelcome wake-ups from park rangers. Take it from us, no one wants to wake up to a flashlight tap-tap-tapping the window. Not to mention, those wake-up calls can be accompanied by a hefty ticket. It’s somewhat ironic that hunting for cheap camping can result in an exorbitant fine, isn’t it? Interrupted sleep and financial woes aside, you’re also potentially putting unwanted, unnecessary pressure on delicate, dynamic ecosystems that are already over-traveled. For this reason alone, we discourage you from such stealthy endeavors. Long story short? While you may be able to get away with stealth camping in less heavily visited corners of bigger parks, it’s not worth the risk or the impact. If you’re unable to afford or secure a campground reservation, your best bet is to camp outside of park boundaries. No matter where you park, always keep the 7 Leave No Trace principles in mind. Finding Car Camping Near National Parks Because car camping is limited and relatively pricey in national parks, we usually don’t camp inside park boundaries, even when exploring a national park is our road trip objective. Instead, we often camp just outside of park boundaries and then take day trips into the park for hikes, climbs, fishing missions, etcetera. You’ll often find wilderness areas, BLM land, or national forests just outside of national parks, and these land designations are much more friendly to dispersed camping and budget car camping. If you’re new to car camping and want to learn how to find a solid, free campsite for the night, check out our Comprehensive Guide to Finding Free Car Camping. In this detailed guide, we dive into the following: Our favorite apps to find free car camping The importance of land designations (E.g. free car camping in national parks is a no-go, but free car camping in national forests is definitely the move. See Drake meme above).  The art of “moochdocking” How to make the most of Walmart parking lots and rest stops  And so much more! When you use the tips and tricks above, you can easily camp for free within a quick drive from a national park. If you’re late to the party and campgrounds are all booked up, or you simply would rather use that campground fee to put gas in your tank, camping outside of park boundaries is the way to go. Four Accessories To Car Camp In National Parks Like A Pro We mentioned earlier how a Luno mattress can make camping in national parks a breeze, but we’ve also designed a ton of nifty car camping accessories that’ll help turn your everyday vehicle into an even more comfortable camp rig. Here are a few of our favorites: Craving some breeze at night? Our new, mesh, magnetic Sunroof Window Screen snaps to the top of your vehicle so you can open the sunroof. It’s a pro move if you want to let in all of the breeze and none of the bugs.  Our classic Car Window Screens are a similar trip-saver for hot sleepers. The mesh screens stretch over your passenger doors, allowing you to crack the windows without inviting unwanted insects.  Here’s another pro tip for still, muggy nights: pair the window screens with our compact, powerful Car Camping Fan for soothing airflow, anytime, anywhere! If you’re camping in a busy campground, our Privacy Curtains are a must. The easy-to-install curtains don’t just hinder the gaze of unwelcome looky-loos, either–they also block sunrays in case you’re hoping to sleep in. ________ Enjoy National Parks–No Matter Where You Park! To sum up our thoughts on car camping in national parks, free car camping is rad. Sadly, it’s virtually non-existent in park boundaries. However, if you’re down to plan your trip well in advance and pay for a reservation, national park car camping is a breeze. Or, if you’d prefer to wing it on a last-minute trip, or simply don’t want to pay for camping, it’s easy enough to find free car camping close to most national parks We wish you luck–and easy, breezy, fine-free car camping adventures–on your next national park mission. Thanks for reading, and, as always, we’ll see you on the road! -The Luno Crew

10 Car Camping Hacks for Beginners

10 Car Camping Hacks for Beginners Description:New to car camping? First and foremost, welcome to the party! You’re not alone. Outdoor enthusiasts of all creeds are embracing the car camping movement these days, enticed by the freedom, comfort, ease, and security that come from snoozing in your vehicle. And, if we may humbly add, you’re in the right place, too. Here at Luno, we’re a crew of adventure-loving car campers obsessed with crafting the best car camping mattresses and accessories on the market. Below, our car camping experts break down ten tips to help you make the most of your first car camping adventures.  1. How To Dial In Your Sleep Setup Sleepless nights can ruin even the most epic camping trips. That’s why we believe your sleep setup is the most critical piece of the car camping puzzle–and why we generally prefer car camping over tent camping in the first place. Forget sleeping on bumpy, uneven ground–when camping in your car, you have a flat sleeping platform as soon as you fold down the back seats. And compared to a flimsy, nylon-walled tent, a lockable, metal car offers better protection from the elements, camp crime, and critters, giving car campers sleep-enhancing peace of mind. If you decide to try car camping, we highly recommend checking out a durable, well-made, meticulously designed Luno mattress. We have several mattress styles and configurations, most of which are designed to fit flawlessly inside a specific vehicle type. Among them? Our flagship, award-winning AIR Mattress for SUVs and Hatchbacks, our AIR Truck Bed Mattress for off-road-ready rigs, and our revolutionary AIR Van Front Cab Mattress, which turns the front seats of popular van models into a guest room for pets, kids, and adults under 5’7”. We even offer an AIR Mattress specifically for 4Runners, and an ultra-rugged XRD 4Runner option that’s optimized for overlanding. If you want the flexibility to camp anywhere, our new ground-breaking AIR+FOAM Mattress has your name on it. First off, this mattress boasts our comfiest construction ever–a magical mix of supportive air channeling and ultra-cushy foam padding. But it’s also our most versatile mattress, designed for vehicle camping–and everything else, too. The rectangular shape is perfect for rooftop tents, trailer camping, your friend’s living room floor, or a traditional tent. Plus, if you’re hoping to chuck the mattress in your hatchback or SUV, it comes with a proprietary Head Support Bridge Attachment that turns your vehicle backseat into a bed in seconds. Once you have your mattress dialed, a few more elements will help you customize the sleep setup of your dreams. Soft, stretchy fitted sheets boost comfort and help protect your mattress from wear and tear. Our award-winning Packable Camp Pillow is another pro move–it’s slightly smaller and much more compressible than a standard pillow, with adjustable firmness and a two-sided pillow case that campers love. Finally, check the forecast and use sleeping bags or a combo of blankets and comforters to dial in your sleep setup for the temperatures at hand.   2. Pack Smart and Compartmentalize Your Gear Visual learner? Watch our Car Camping 101 episode on gear storage solutions The best packing advice we can give you is to compartmentalize your gear ahead of your trip. What does that mean? Simple. Separate your kitchen supplies, clothes, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etcetera–this will make it much easier to find what you’re looking for on the road. You likely have storage solutions that’ll help you do just that lying around the house. Car campers can use anything from milk crates to bins, cargo tubs to duffels. Clear plastic bins are always a smart play, as you’ll be able to easily find whatever you’re looking for. However, if you want purpose-built gear designed specifically for car camping, check out our adventure-ready accessories.  Our nifty Cargo Hammock turns unused ceiling space into invaluable storage real estate.  Our Gear & Shoe Storage Bags attach to the outside of your vehicle using microfiber-lined magnets, freeing up space inside your sleeping quarters. They also have mesh bottoms that allow stinky shoes and damp gear to drip dry and air out.  Our durable, open-topped, upcycled 50-Liter Gear Tote can stash everything from your favorite snacks to your climbing rack.  Our new Headrest Organizer and tried-and-true Seatback Organizer transform the back of your seats into compartmentalized storage, replete with pockets and pouches for smaller, easy-to-lose essentials like headlamps, bug spray, chargers, and more.  While smart storage solutions and an intentional pack job are a tremendous start, it’s important to continue compartmentalizing gear while you’re on the road. For instance, if you use your headlamp, make sure you put it back where it belongs. Otherwise, you’ll quickly lose track of it.  3. Free Up Space In Your Car One of our favorite aspects of car camping is that you have much more hauling capacity than you do while, say, backpacking. We’re not ultralight gram counters by any means, and we love to bring everything from fishing gear and camp chairs to coolers packed with fresh produce and cold beers. However, it doesn’t hurt to invest in gear that’s compact, space-efficient, or multi-purpose to help free up space in the car for road trip buddies or more toys. Here are a few examples to keep on your radar: Rumpl’s Puffy Blankets are the perfect way to pack a cozy punch. They’re durable enough for off-road adventures, warm enough for moderately cold nights, and pack down into an included stuff sack for noteworthy portability. Plus, they’re much better for cuddling couples than single sleeping bags.  Leave your pillow at home and bring our Packable Camp Pillow. It’s smaller and more compressible than a standard pillow, and you can add or remove the shredded memory foam filler to fine-tune firmness to your liking.  Try out the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair for a durable, comfortable seat wherever you go. It’s lightweight, reliable, and collapses to minimize packed volume. Collapsible Water Jugs are another way to save space on the road. That said, unless you’re certain that you’re camping near a potable water source, we always like to bring a water filter, too.   A multi-tool, like a Leatherman, can help you tackle a ton of camp tasks, ranging from fixing gear to chopping veggies.  4. Stay Cool And Beat The Heat Worried about extreme temps? Don’t sweat it–just watch our Car Camping 101 episode for more hot- and cold-weather camping tips.  Staying cool while car camping can be a challenge, especially in the summer. But if you prepare accordingly, it’s a breeze–pun intended.  There are two main strategies we like to deploy to stay cool while car camping. The first is smart trip planning. Research your destination of choice before your trip. Is it outrageously hot in summer? Maybe save it for a spring or fall expedition. Also, check the weather forecast leading up to your trip to ensure you’re not barrelling headlong into a heat wave. An added benefit of car camping is that you’re usually not tied to an itinerary, so if the weather seems uncomfortably warm or dangerously hot, pivot your trip and pick a more amenable destination. During the warmer months, we like to car camp on the cooler coast or high in the alpine to beat the heat. The second strategy is generating airflow, which helps us stay cool and sleep much better while camping in the heat. Here are three key pieces of gear to maximize airflow: Our mesh Car Window Screens stretch over your car doors, allowing you to roll down the windows and enjoy the breeze without letting in pesky mosquitos.  Our new mesh Sunroof Window Screen snaps over the sunroof thanks to integrated magnets along the perimeter. Like the original Window Screens, it lets in a welcome breeze but stops gnats at the door.  Our Car Camping Fan is a powerful, compact, USB-powered fan replete with an articulating ball mount and versatile suction cup. We love to use this fan whenever it’s warm out, but it’s nothing short of a trip-saver on still, muggy summer nights.  Separately, the Car Window Screens, Sunroof Window Screen, and Fan are immensely useful, but together, they’re game-changing, producing sleep-improving airflow campers will appreciate. Looking for more summer car camping tips? Check out our guide to staying cool while car camping here.  5. Smart Meal Planning And Prep Overwhelmed by camp cuisine? Watch our Car Camping 101 episode on camp cooking–it’s like the Cooking Channel, but for road trippers and car campers.  Some outdoor enthusiasts love cooking elaborate meals at camp. Others, not so much. Either way, it’s a smart play to plan and prep meals before you head out.  On the planning front, figure out what recipe or dish you’re going to make ahead of time. Read the recipe carefully, and make sure you don’t skimp on protein–if you’re hiking, biking, or enjoying another high-output outdoor activity, chances are you’ll need all the calories you can get.  As far as prep goes, don’t stress trying to pack individual spices or dry ingredients. You can pre-mix and pre-portion ingredients for easy packing and quick cooking. Making pancakes? Bring a pre-mixed package with all of your dry ingredients. Making tacos? Put your taco seasoning in a reusable container pre-portioned. Sizzling up a stir-fry? Chop veggies at home and pack them in your cooler.  If you want to minimize your camp kitchen time even more, you can whip up entire meals at home so all you need to do is reheat them at camp.  6. Get Foldable Furniture For Comfortable Chilling And Easy Camp Cooking You’ll often find picnic tables at designated campgrounds, but a major benefit of car camping is that you can find free camping almost anywhere. If you are camping in the middle of nowhere, a portable table and chairs (and maybe even a hammock) improve your camp life tremendously.  Our advice? Invest in an easy-to-clean collapsible camp table for a cooking workspace on the go. Don’t forget foldable chairs so you have a comfy seat to enjoy your morning coffee, tuck into a well-earned dinner, or just hang out around the campfire. If you love to read, nap, or just chill and cuddle with your significant other, a hammock is the move. 7. Portable Camping Stoves Are Your New Best Friend Cooking over an open fire is a blast, but chances are that many car camping destinations have fire bans as the weather gets warmer. The right stove will help you cook efficiently regardless of fire bans.  A Jetboil integrated canister stove is ideal for quick boiling, but they aren’t much help if you want to simmer and sauté an elaborate camp meal. If you plan to do more camp cooking, we highly recommend a two-burner stove. Some campers will choose to bring both, using the Jetboil for cranking out coffee and tea and the two-burner for bacon and eggs. No matter what type of stove you bring, make sure you have the right fuel and a spare lighter or box of matches. 8. Light Up Your Campsite A headlamp is an absolute essential and one we won’t camp without. However, it’s not the only way to light up your site. Battery-powered lanterns, like these ones from BioLite, are the perfect way to brighten up your campsite and keep yourself from stubbing your toe at night. Some campers will even deploy camping string lights to set the vibe.  Pro Tip: If you’re using solar-powered lights, like these ones from Luminaid, or charging electronics via a solar panel, position them first thing in the morning and let them charge until the sun goes down. Adjust the positioning throughout the day to maximize sun exposure.  9. Always Carry Cash Carrying cash isn’t super common these days, but most of our state and federal campground systems are still old school. You don’t want to pull up to a remote campground and not be able to pay for a campsite. Chances are there’s probably not an ATM around the block, so be sure to have cash on hand. Also, you might find yourself at a roadside restaurant that doesn’t accept credit cards, so it can’t hurt to have cash stashed.  10. Stay Connected  The best car camping can often be found in BLM land, National Forests, or other wilderness areas. What do these zones all have in common? They’re often remote, beautiful, and far from the realm of cell service.  For safety’s sake, we highly suggest downloading offline maps on an app like OnX or Gaia to help track your positioning. Furthermore, invest in a satellite communication device, like this one from Garmin, to stay in touch with friends and family or call emergency services. ______  Remember To Enjoy The Journey We’re stoked you’re joining the car camping community, and we hope these tips, tricks, and gear recommendations help you get out and get after it. That said, no car camping trip is without bumps in the road–those are to be expected. Just remember: the more you explore, the easier car camping will get. And if you’re looking to learn more, stay tuned to the Luno Journal, where we regularly post articles on all things car camping. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you on the road, The Luno Crew

Roadmap to Responsibility - June 2024

Roadmap to Responsibility - June 2024 Description:Welcome to Luno’s Roadmap to Responsibility newsletter, where we’ll share highlights of our journey towards a business dedicated to helping people and the planet. In this second edition, we’ll focus on the importance of giving back to your local trails, learn more about our new AIR+FOAM Pro mattress, and checkout how the Luno team has been enjoying Summer! Luno Gear Keeping Access Fund Conservation Teams Comfy on The Road Luno is a proud supporter of Access Fund’s Conservation Teams. Access Fund is a climbing advocacy non-profit that strives to lead and inspire the climbing community toward sustainable access and conservation of the climbing environment. Each year, their Conservation Teams hit the road in their Ram Promaster vans as they travel the country building and restoring trail systems. With Luno being a company dedicated to making life on the road more comfortable, we were excited for the opportunity to outfit the Conservation Teams with some Luno gear.  These gear donations were made possible by our Car[e] Camping Program, Luno’s commitment to donate 3% of profits annually towards initiatives that promote access to the outdoors and/or environmental stewardship. Learn more about how we use 3% of our profits to give back HERE.  Kudos to the Access Fund’s Conservation Teams for all their hard work protecting and building the trails we all love to enjoy!   Volunteering at Smith Rock Group’s Spring Thing  Aligning with our core value of “Act Responsibly & Thoughtfully,” Luno values giving back to our local community and taking care of the natural areas we love to recreate in. This is why a few weekends ago, the Luno team got their hands dirty and joined the Smith Rock Group for a day of trail maintenance. The Smith Rock Group is a local Bend nonprofit committed to preserving the natural beauty of Smith Rock State Park. In 1993 they started the Spring Thing, an annual park clean up event, which has now grown to be the largest single day climber-led park clean-up event in the United States! Check out Luno’s Product Development Associate’s, Lillian Simon, recap of the day:  “So happy I got the chance to participate in this year’s Spring Thing at Smith Rock! Being able to give back to one of my favorite parks and communities through trail work was so rewarding… I even had to go back the next day to admire everyone's hard work! Looking forward to more community volunteer events this Summer!” Join Luno and the Deschutes Upper Watershed Council at the 2024 Deschutes River Clean Up  Local to the Bend area and want to join the Luno Team for a day of environmental stewardship? We have some great news for you! On July 27th, Luno will be hosting a river cleanup site as a part of the 28th annual Deschutes River Cleanup, hosted by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council.  There will be six different cleanup sites along the Deschutes River, where volunteers will help pull invasive weeds and remove litter from the stream banks. The cleanup sites include La Pine State Park, Farewell Bend Park, Riverbend Park, First Street Trail, Tumalo State Park, and Sunriver. You can learn more about the event here. Introducing Our All-New AIR+FOAM Pro Mattress Earlier this month, we proudly introduced our latest addition to the mattress family: the AIR+FOAM Pro. Not only are we stoked about adding this new type of mattress to our lineup, we’re excited that it’s our first TPU-based mattress – TPU is a material known for its non-toxic, biodegradable, and recyclable properties. At Luno, our commitment to innovation extends beyond comfort; it's about making responsible choices in our designs. Some may even say that we always look to go the extra mile (pun very much intended). Summer Fridays As a company made up of passionate adventurers, Luno recognizes the importance of work-life balance. This is why during the summer months, the Luno team takes part in Summer Fridays – AKA, 4-day work weeks where we take some extra time to enjoy the outdoors, family, and disconnect as much as possible.  Check out some ways the Luno crew has used Summer Fridays to get out here and get after it below! What We’re Reading This Summer  During the holidays, all Luno employees were gifted The Future of The Responsible Company by Yvon Chouinard & Vincent Stanley. Written by Patagonia’s Founder and Director of Philosophy, this book provides guidance on harnessing businesses to promote positive impacts on both people and the planet. It's no surprise that this book has found its way onto the summer reading lists of Luno employees! Thanks for joining us on this pit stop on our Roadmap to Responsibility! If you have any questions or ideas for things you’d like to see from Luno’s journey towards being a business dedicated to improving people and the planet, send us a message.

Highway Handbook: How To Stay Cool While Camping

Highway Handbook: How To Stay Cool While Camping Description:You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers. That’s the gist of our new educational series, The Highway Handbook. One of our main goals at Luno is to make the outdoors more accessible, and we mainly do that by designing comfortable air mattresses and nifty accessories that help you turn your everyday vehicle into an extraordinary adventure mobile. But gear alone doesn’t remove barriers to the great outdoors, and sometimes, the simple act of sharing knowledge makes all the difference. In The Highway Handbook, our team of car camping experts will answer questions that regularly bombard our DMs. Whether you’re a car camping veteran or new to the game, we hope this series helps you get outside, explore, and enjoy time in nature with friends and family. Wondering how to stay cool while camping? You’re not alone. It’s a question we get asked all the time (thanks for recognizing our expertise on the subject), and it’s also the theme of this month’s Highway Handbook.  How do we stay cool here at Luno? Sunglasses, primarily. The right haircut helps, too–mullets are cool right now. But haircuts can backfire, and the wrong haircut can tank your cool score. Lingo is also key, especially when camping with young, hip people. You might say something like, “This campsite is lit.” This doesn’t mean that wildfire is raging through camp, but rather, the campsite is cool. [Editor’s Note: Ladies and gentlemen, two important errors have come to our attention after the initial publication of this blog post. First of all, people want to learn how to stay cool, temperature-wise, while camping in the summer heat. They aren’t asking us for grooming and fashion advice. We’ve rewritten the article below to help interested campers avoid overheating this summer. Secondly, “lit” is also no longer cool. According to our accountant’s teenageer, the youth don’t use the word anymore. We steered you wrong. If you have since used the word “lit” while camping and faced derision from cool Gen-Z campers due to the errors in this article, we are sorry. Thank you for your understanding. –Luno Journal Upper Management] How To Stay Cool While Camping Staying cool while camping is equal parts art and science. Below, we’ll school you on pre-trip prep work that can help you minimize your exposure to heat, mid-trip tips for airflow and temperature management, as well as gear and apparel we won’t camp in the summer without. If you’re ready to get schooled on cool–for real this time–read up and cool off. Set Up Camp In The Shade This first tip is pretty straightforward: park in the shade to keep your camp setup as cool as possible. If you arrive at camp in the dark, think about where the sun will rise in the morning and park accordingly. Of course, many campsites don’t have shade at all. So what do smart car campers do? They B.Y.O.S. (bring your own shade) from home. How so? Easy. Our Car Window Screens are made from a black mesh material that helps block out UV rays (more on the benefits of these bad boys below). And our Privacy Curtain is even thicker and heavier, keeping the sun out and the sleep in on summer mornings. Pair theses two together for a camp-anywhere summer setup. Bring a Fan And Window Screens The heat isn’t always avoidable. Lucky for you, there is a secret to sleeping well while camping in warmer temperatures: airflow. If you’re camping in the back of your vehicle on an ultra-comfy Luno mattress, you need to check out our Cool Down Bundle. This includes two summer camping essentials: our Car Window Screens, which we already mentioned above for their shade-supplying properties, and our Car Camping Fan. Our Car Window Screens are crafted from a stretchy mesh fabric, and they pop conveniently over the passenger doors. The mesh allows you to roll down the windows, letting in all of the breeze and none of the bugs. Our Car Camping Fan is a compact yet powerful three-speed fan that generates impressive airflow. It plugs into portable power banks and batteries (sold separately) and improves your sleep during muggy summer nights. We bundled this gear together because the sum is greater than the parts. Individually, the screens and fan are kick-ass–together, they’re revolutionary. Plus, you get $10 off when you buy the bundle. That’s a win-win. Or, should we say, a win-wind. Pick Your Destination Of Choice Wisely One of the best ways to stay cool while camping is to camp in cool places. Simple as that. In the summer, here are a few tricks we use to target less-than-sizzling locales: We favor high-alpine zones that are naturally cooler. Higher elevations, lower temps–that’s a recipe for a wonderful summer camping trip.  Go coastal! We venture toward the coast where there’s often mellower weather. If fog rolls in at night, we’re stoked. We head north–not south. There’s a time for exploring Baja and below but it ain’t Agosto (August in Spanish), bebe. The PNW and Montana, Canada and Alaska–these are better summer destinations in our opinion.  Don’t even look at the desert. Don’t you dare. Bring A Weather-Appropriate Wardrobe And Sun Protection If heat is in the forecast, packing a lightweight, breathable wardrobe will help you stay cool and comfortable while camping. Our advice? Ditch the cotton. Instead, embrace lightweight synthetics and merino wool, the latter of which actually has natural wicking and anti-odor properties.  Sunshirts with hoods, buffs, and sun hats are also smart moves. Don’t forget the sunscreen, either. Avoiding sunburns is a great way to stay cool and comfy on an adventure. Adjust Your Itinerary As Needed One of many things we love about car camping is that you don’t have an itinerary you’re forced to adhere to. Unlike air travel, there are no cancellation fees or penalties for changing your itinerary. Weather can and should dictate where and when you camp, so use weather apps like AccuWeather or Weather.gov to your advantage. Let’s say you’re plan a camping trip to the Uinta Mountains in the middle of July, but a week out from your trip you realize Utah’s in the middle of a catastrophic heat wave and temperatures won’t dip below triple digits. Pivot your trip to an equally rad destination with less hellish weather. Easy peasy. Let The Temperature And Sun Direction Dictate Your Schedule Don’t force activities regardless of the weather. If you let temperature and sun direction dictate your schedule, you’ll be much better off. For instance, if there’s a hike you want to do, wake up before dawn and get after it early before the peak heat of the day. If you’re on a climbing trip, try to time your climbs so they’re in the shade when you’re on the rock. Stay Hydrated Staying hydrated is super important anytime you’re camping, but especially in the summer heat. And we hate to be the bearers of bad news, but beer doesn’t count. Sorry, but we already proved how uncool we are. Bring plenty of water, ideally in large, reusable jugs. Also, be sure to map out water sources and bring a water filtration system as needed. Embrace The Cold Plunge When we say embrace the cold plunge, we’re not saying you should jump into your cooler–although the occasional dunk of the head into a melted-out beer chest isn’t out of the question. When we camp in the summer, we always like to post up near bodies of water. That might be the mighty Pacific Ocean, or a teeny, tiny snowmelt-fed creek. Dunking in water, especially if it’s chilly, is a fantastic way to cool off and reset your body temperature. Sometimes, we’ll go to bed still wet just to fall asleep before we start sweating! Beat The Heat And Stay Cool While we’re clearly unqualified to keep you looking fresh and feeling lit hip, we’re hopeful this article will help you beat the heat and camp comfortably this summer. After all, a little planning–and a little fan–are really all it takes to stay cool while camping.  As always, thanks for reading, and we’ll see you on the road, –The Not-So-Hip-But-Very-Comfortable Luno Crew