28 Easy Tips To Keep You Dry While Camping in the Rain

When camping in the UK, there’s always one thing you can be sure of; you’ll experience rain at one point or another. You might be reading this because you’re currently on a rainy camping trip, or you’re planning your upcoming adventure and the weather forecasts looking suspect. With these easy tips and tricks, camping in the rain doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. With some preparation and quick thinking, a rainy camping trip can be just as much (or more!) fun than any other.

1. Keep an eye on the weather forecast

Knowing what weather to expect while you’re camping will help you prepare. If you’re already camping, don’t panic as soon as the bad weather hits. Check how long the rains set to last, it might only be short lived.

2. Check your camping gear

Before you leave home it’s a good idea to check your camping unit for any damage. Whether you’re staying in a tent, caravan, motorhome, campervan or unique converted vehicle, a quick scan can help you solve things before they become an issue. You might find you need to repair a damaged window, patch a hole or invest in a new tent with sewn-in groundsheet before your next trip.

3. Pack your repair kits

Whether it’s waterproof seam spray, tape or your whole toolkit, you know what you’re likely to need while camping in adverse weather to enable you to make quick fixes.

4. Maintain ventilation

While there might be times you need to close windows and vents to stop rain coming in, it’s still important to ensure you’ve got sufficient airflow to prevent condensation build-up. As soon as the rain eases off, open up your vents and windows to let the air circulate.

5. Prepare for cold weather

When you’re wet, you can get cold more quickly, so it’s important to ensure you’ve got a heat source packed and ready. Read our guide to camping heaters.

6. Protect your belongings

Plastic bags, plastic boxes and sturdier dry bags are ideal for keeping valuables and clothes from getting wet, especially if you’re tent camping. Even if you’re confident in your tent’s waterproof capabilities, it’s a good idea to waterproof anything you leave in your tent.

7. Pack your wellies

There’s no better shoe to wear on a muddy campsite than the trusty welly boot. Easy to slip off and leave at the entrance to your camping unit, everyone in your party should have a pair.

8. Waterproof jackets

Similarly to wellies, a waterproof jacket is a must. A lightweight waterproof jacket is ideal for putting in your backpack while you’re out, just in case you need it, and is essential for getting from your pitch to the facility blocks.

9. Designate your dry zone

Leaving wet shoes in your awning or in the tent vestibule is a must. Consider making your living space a dry zone by banning jackets and wet clothing too. Sometimes it’s impossible to keep the wet out completely, but this will help.

10. Pack spare clothing

Being wet is miserable, especially having wet feet. Take plenty of spare clothing items and try to keep a set of clothes dry to change into inside your living space.

11. Pack spare towels

Whether you opt for quick dry towels or lots of spare fluffy ones, it’s never a bad idea to have a spare towel or two for drying off yourself or the inside of your living area.

12. Don’t forget your umbrella

There’s no excuse not to explore the area local to your campsite if you have a waterproof jacket and umbrella.

13. Make sure you’ve packed your camping lights

There’s one thing worse than a dark trip to the loo in the night, a dark, wet one. Ensure to pack your head torches, lanterns, chargers, or spare batteries.

14. Spare tent pegs and rope

Tent campers should always pack a few spare tent pegs, and extra rope can be useful in windy weather.

15. Position your door away from the wind

If the rains pouring and winds gusting, facing the door of your tent or camping unit in the opposite direction to the wind is a good way to minimise the amount of rain getting in.

16. Stop to take it all in

Sometimes you must accept that you’re camping trips going to be a rainy one. Enjoy the rain on your face, jumping in muddy puddles and seeing the kids having a great time in their wellies.

17. Take lots of towels for pets

Make sure you clean off your pets’ muddy paws before they get into your living space. Leave some towels at the entrance to act as a doormat if you haven’t got one.

18. Ensure proper tent tension

Make sure you’ve got enough tension on your guy lines so water isn’t pooling on top of your tent.

19. Keep away from the sides of your tent

Make sure nothing touches the sides of your tent, including sleeping bags and gear, to prevent water from seeping through.

20. Avoid down

When feather jackets or sleeping bags get wet, they lose their insulating properties and take a long time to thoroughly dry.

21. Pack a tarp

No one ever regretted packing a spare tarp, and they come into their own in wet weather. Use as an extra ground sheet or even above a tent if the rain is really pouring.

22. Pack lightweight synthetic layers

Synthetic materials dry quickly, which means they’re ideal in wet weather. Pack plenty of layers and have a spare dry outfit you can change into if you do get wet.

23. Never be tempted to cook inside a tent

Cooking inside a tent isn’t safe. The risk of fire and carbon monoxide build-up isn’t worth the hot meal sometimes. Either pack meals you don’t have to cook, prep your meals in advance or head to the pub (here’s our top recommendations of dog-friendly pubs near campsites).

24. Take extra care

The flooring of facility blocks and receptions can get slick when wet, paths can become waterlogged, and everything just gets that little bit more difficult when the suns not shining.

25. Pack extra blankets

Whether you use them for extra ground insulation or for wiping up wet floors, you can never have too many blankets.

26. Help your neighbours if they’re in need

Camping can be an intimidating task if it’s your first time which is only amplified in poor weather. If you see someone that could do with a hand, offer it, you never know who you could meet.

27. Pack entertainment

If the weather means you need an evening under shelter, you’ll find yourself needing extra entertainment. Cards, books, board games and crafts are all great options.

28. Dry out before packing away

When you get home, it’s important to dry everything and air your equipment well otherwise you could find yourself with mould.

Now you're armed with the best tips, enjoy your rainy camping trip! If you've not already selected a location for your next break, you can search campsites here.