Okay, so I"ve been camping like.. 3 times in my whole life.
However, me and several friends who always hang out are getting fairly bored with things around Raleigh to do, and I want us to get outside more. Camping has been proposed as a decent idea, that we're hoping after the initial gear cost - can be done fairly regularly for not $texas.

So, I'm looking for advice, what are some good campgrounds that might have nice things like trails, near the beach, a lake for fishing, and other such things.

Additionally, becuase I've never been in charge of organizing a camping trip and I am this time, help me out here on the what we need list- i''m roughly listing out what I think we need,i'm sure i have things i dont need or things aren't there or, y'know, whatever.

I'm thinking our trips would last generally a weekend (1 or 2 nights), with a big trip later in the year.

Group needs-
1 large tent (that 8 man coleman in classifieds or that's at walmar tfor $80 looks tempting but other suggestions are welcome- we're looking at between 3-7 people). and stakes. Long ones if we're near the beach and the ground is sandy. And a rubber mallet to put them in. (I admit, i'm not very strong, better than you're average girl but that's it)
1 camp stove + fuel for it.
Some camp appropriate cookware, I'm thinking 2 pans and a pot here are more than sufficient.
If we're going to be cooking a lot- a place to wash them and regular dish soap or if we dont have a place some of that biodegradable camp safe soap to clean up with. And a sponge.
trash bags and a roll of paper towels
Matches and lighters, charcoal and lighter fluid if we have a grill availible and not using the little stove? Actually come to think of it would we just build a fire? How do you cook over a fire?
2 coolers (maybe 3 if there's 7 people? i dont know here)
First aid kit!

Each person needs-
Pillow
Sleepin Blanket (and a sheet if it's hot out)
Appropriate clothes for activities
sunglasses, sunscreen, bugspray
a set of dishware (like a plate bowl spoon fork set)
a book (or other thing) if they want to be a wussy on an activity or get bored at some point
appropriate gear if needed for a planned activity (fishing pole would be an example)
water

and we'll work out together what food will be brought/bought nearby, whatever.

[Edited on August 28, 2006 at 11:52 AM. Reason : added]

8/28/2006 11:50:54 AM

dont share tents

expect to spend 200+ per person almost every time you go

bring lots of beer and liquor- more than you think you can drink

hard to get drunk in the woods for some reason

8/28/2006 12:00:08 PM

How far do you want to be driving? Do you want a place where you can just park your car and pitch a tent, or would you like to hike in a little bit?

8/28/2006 12:00:52 PM

Ocracoke Island State Park.

Its amazing. Cold showers, but TONS to do.

8/28/2006 12:03:00 PM

$200 per person per trip? No way. that would be $1400 if all 7 of us went and that's insane.

1985- anywhere from near Raleigh to I'd say perhaps a 3-4 hour drive. It's not unusual for our group to make those when we have somewhere to go and we all go in 1-2 cars so, works out nicely.

Parking the car and pitching the tent sounds like a better idea to begin with, overall the group is pretty out of shape and I doubt I can talk them into hauling gear for a mile. (anything say 1/3 of a mile woudl be fine but I'm thinking that's still "park the car and pitch the tent" type distance)

[Edited on August 28, 2006 at 12:10 PM. Reason : .]

8/28/2006 12:08:34 PM

carolina beach....right on the beach....its awesome

8/28/2006 12:09:09 PM

Those giant heavy duty black trash bags. Multi-use if you can McGyver some shit. Always bring some cash and extra water, too. Buy one or two big tarps, either to make a covered area over a table or bench if it rains or to lay underneath the tent(s) so water on the ground doesnt get under the tent. No idea how savvy you or your buddies are but obviously dont set up your tent in a low spot or area where water runoff goes through. You've covered most of it though.

8/28/2006 12:10:53 PM

well, since you mentioned coolers, i am going to assume that there will be no hiking in to camp

trash bags
sleeping pads make the ground much more comfortable
tarps for shelter to hang out under in case of rain
lots of twine/rope
flashlight/lantern
cell phone
a small shovel to bury poo (away from streams and such)
appropriate and emergency (unexpected weather) clothing is key
chairs
toilet paper
map and compass if you plan on leaving common areas

not sure if you are aware, but many items can be rented at the Outdoor Adventures place at the gym

and make sure you clean up EVERYTHING before you leave

[Edited on August 28, 2006 at 12:13 PM. Reason : i see some things have been mentioned by now]

8/28/2006 12:11:33 PM

Mucho gracias so far you guys, anyone else have a budget estimate per trip (after initial large item purchase like tent coolers etc, dont count that)

8/28/2006 12:13:02 PM

the price of food and gas is about it

so it would depend on trip length and distance or whatever

and unless you plan on really getting into it, renting a tent or two is probably the best idea

maybe somewhere at Uwharrie would be nice

Quote :

"Actually come to think of it would we just build a fire? How do you cook over a fire?"

A few ways. One of my favorites is to throw some meat and vegetables (usually beef, potatoes, carrot, peppers, and onion) in a pouch of aluminum foil, double wrapped for strength and in such a way that juices will not flow out. Of course some oil and spices would be good. Set it in some hot coals, away from the flames, for around 15 minutes or until done (may have to check it).

You can also pull some coals away from the fire and use it to cook in pots and pans, but you'd want something heavy duty like cast iron to do that.

Whenever I go camping, I usually use a mix of stove and fire cooking.

[Edited on August 28, 2006 at 12:26 PM. Reason : ;]

8/28/2006 12:13:44 PM

Quote :

"expect to spend 200+ per person almost every time you go"

Wow. I guess it depends on how long you stay and where you are staying. The last campout I wnt on was about $30 for three people ($10/each) - and that included the camping fee and food.

8/28/2006 12:16:19 PM

ok about 125-150.

you'll see. its amazing how fast it adds up and how expensive it is to sleep in the woods. i just spent over 200 on a canoe camping trip for two days this past weekend. i already owned all the gear.
you have to get food,batteries, toilet paper, bug spray, fishing licenses, flash lights, stoves, ice, lighters, sleeping bags, coolers, first aid kits, fishing equipment(bait, different test line, etc.) cigarettes, snacks, gas, fast food along the way, wet naps, sunscreen, knives, sleeping pads, tooth brushes/paste, deodorant, soap, bags to hold things, plastic plates, salt/ pepper shakers, proopane for stoves, lanterns, radios, etc.

then theres other things that make camping fun that some people do and some people dont that cost money as well

8/28/2006 12:23:26 PM

^ Mr. Grace- things like sleeping bags, pads, lanterns, stoves, knives, radios, etc are things that you shouldn't have to buy for each trip, just starting up and replacing as they wear out which should be several trips at least for some of the items you've listed. I wouldnt count that in the "per trip" cost but as the startup cost. I'm also assuming that people already own deodorant and a few other things like that. Because that would be if our entire group didnt.

Oh, let me throw an additional question out-

One of our group is a type 1 diabetic with an insulin pump, i have NO idea if he's interested in coming with or not, and I definately want to invite him. As long as we have readily-availible emergency insulin, a working cell phone, and like- regular soda with sugar or other thing of his recommendation (i say soda as that's what we keep in the house for him) - is there any thing else camp wise I should be aware of for short trips? I'm going to ask him of couse, but he's not much of a camper so, asking here as well.



[Edited on August 28, 2006 at 12:27 PM. Reason : .]

8/28/2006 12:24:06 PM

based on your profile im guessing you and your friends dont plan on camping like we do

Art, Music, Electronics, Environmental Preservation
prolly doesnt mean getting drunk all day while grilling steaks and lbs of roast beef without leaving the campsite for a good time


go to the linville gorge.

hike the trials, pay 7 bucks to see linville caverns.

about 3-3.5 hours away. awesome place

if you want to go fishing, you have to have a license now even with live bait.

paddling is something i tried for the first time this weekend.

get to fish, camp, and exercise at the same time. just make sure the river level isnt low

8/28/2006 12:32:50 PM

If you want some camping that's not roughing it too badly, you should try around Kerr Lake. It takes a little over an hour to get there, and some of the grounds I've had experience with are Kimball Point, County Line, and Bullocksville. All 3 are right near each other, and just off of I-85 (but take US 1 to get there... I can give you better directions if you PM me). At these sites there is water hookup, so you can bring a hose, and bathhouses that are kept in great condition. Non-electrical sites run about $15 - $20 a night, and electrical (great for hooking up a fan on nights when the air doesn't move) are around $30 a night. It is a state park however, so technically there's no alcohol. But if you hide it well, (ie no bottles, cans) and don't get too loud, you should be fine.

Let's see... someone mention tarps - DEFINITELY put one under the tent. Even if it doesn't rain, they can get wet underneath from the dew. You don't need biodegradeable camp friendly soap, regular dishwashing detergent works just fine. If you really want to get into it, I recommend the Coleman's RoadTrip grill. It has removable plates (can't remember if they are separate or not) and its a griddle, grill, and stove all in one. It's expensive, but worth it if you're going to be camping alot. It runs off of propane, like your normal camping stove. If anyone is insisting on coffee, you'll need a percolator (sp?). They can be found pretty cheap... usually around $10. We use largish plastic buckets to wash dishes in, and a large pot to heat up the water. I also suggest paper plates/cups/etc to avoid having to wash so much.

Hope that helps!

8/28/2006 12:37:04 PM

i bet he knows some places to avoid. him, or ned beatty.

8/28/2006 12:43:07 PM

Quote :

"You don't need biodegradeable camp friendly soap, regular dishwashing detergent works just fine."

Of course it works just fine, but if you're concerned with minimizing your impact, a more benign soap would help. In all my years of camping, I haven't touched a paper plate...just more stuff to have to carry out and/or throw away.

If you do park and camp at Linville, you'll have to deal with the ass ton of people driving up to Wiseman's View every day, right beside your campsite. Linville is really pretty abused, many people go there and park for the night, get wasted, and leave all their trash and shit at the campsite...pisses me off. It keeps getting more and more crowded, so I usually avoid pointing people in that direction (I know, I'm a little selfish). I stopped camping by the road after I found a gorgeous campsite somewhere down in the valley that I now frequent, but when I did there was always plenty of shit for me to clean up when I got to my preferred site. That's why I mentioned Uwharrie, which seems to have less road traffic in most parts and is a little closer. There are also some campsites at Brown Mountain, near Linville, which are pretty nice, though I've only spent one night there.

Hell, you can "rent" a campsite at Jordan Lake if you want to do a test run for a night before you head out.

[Edited on August 28, 2006 at 12:53 PM. Reason : ']

8/28/2006 12:45:12 PM

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this...there's too much to peruse through, but you can rent good equipment for free from the gym's outdoor rec department if you're a student.

8/28/2006 1:25:33 PM

<-- Eagle Scout
so im pretty much an expert on camping

8/28/2006 1:34:18 PM

ok?

8/28/2006 2:14:51 PM

im an eagle scout also and i love to camp
i only go a few times a year now but we always ruff it when we go
roughing it means taking only the bear minimum of supplies.

we pretty much cook by campfire / i have a stand up grill rack that stands above your fire

feel free to pm any questions that have not been answered in this thread

that said / im looking forward to our fall camping trip in the mountains

8/28/2006 2:23:21 PM

I always go to Pisgah National Forest. It's about 45min outside of Asheville. They have car camping and if you are looking for something more remote you can drive forever down several dirt roads and hike in. You also pass Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock which are both really cool. I think several people have probably already mentioned this, but you can find pretty much everything you are looking for through the outdoor rental place at the gym (Tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc).

8/28/2006 2:59:34 PM

if any of you has a four wheel drive go to Portsmouth Island

8/28/2006 3:15:31 PM

Best camp fire food.

Make a meat loaf. Divide said meatloaf and stuff it into some hollowed out onions. Then wrap it in foil and toss into the fire. I like it with baked potatoes.

8/28/2006 4:30:16 PM

^^we're going at the end of october for my sis-in-law's birthday...VERRRRRRRRY excited.

i'll have a full report of frisco woods campground on hatteras after this weekend if i don't get blown away first

[Edited on August 28, 2006 at 4:32 PM. Reason : ]

8/28/2006 4:31:34 PM

200$ a person Mr Grace? I did 4 nights in the great smokies on 7 bucks plus gas. But then, that was after ive invested in tents and gear.

I know there is a place near hatteras to camp, i think it's about 20$ a night. But the beach there is great, it's a little bit more rural then places you'll find around raleigh, and if you are into surfing, You can't beat it on the east coast.

You wont need a rubber mallet, just step on the stakes.
You probably can't build a fire if you go anywhere near the beach unless you bring in your own wood.

have fun

8/29/2006 3:51:40 PM

portsmouth is free, except for the ferry ride across


you will love it though, it's beautiful and secluded

23 miles of beach with no pavement, houses (other than a few rental cabins), congestion

just pristine beach

bring bug spray and make sure you visit portsmouth village

8/29/2006 3:53:30 PM

zip-ties come in very handy

(and not just for camping)

8/29/2006 4:32:14 PM

http://www.lnt.org/programs/lnt7/index.html please read that before you go

8/29/2006 4:36:04 PM

I like Lake Powatan outside of Asheville. If you're a student, you can rent everything real cheap at the gym.

8/29/2006 6:01:09 PM

We went to Morrow Mtn. near Albemarle a few weeks ago.. Kinda overrun by the locals, but the camping sites are good, there's spigots and bathrooms. Also plenty to do, canoeing, fishing, hiking, swimming in the lake...etc.

It's about 2-2.5 hours southeast of here out 1 and 24/27.


Went early spring camping at Powhatan near Asheville and Abrams Creek in the Great Smokies...both are amaaazing places.

8/29/2006 8:25:10 PM

Has anyone been to Graveyard fields to camp? I've heard it's nice...any opinions?

8/29/2006 9:36:19 PM

Hanging Rock state park. http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/haro/home.html
it's around 2-2.5 hours from raleigh, but feels like the mountains. hiking and a lake. hot showers and toilets. hospital less than 20 mins away. firewood for sale on site. drive up camping. it was great, even though it rained the whole time we were there.

Quote :

" * Camping in non-electric sites: $15 per day, per site; $10 a day for senior citizens age 62 or older. A tent pad, picnic table and grill are at each campsite. Water, restrooms and shower facilities nearby. * December 1 to March 15 while washhouses are closed camping fee is $9.00 per day. * Firewood for family campsites: $4 a bundle. * Group camping: $1 per person with a $9 minimum per day. Picnic tables and a fire circle are at each site. Pit toilets and water nearby. Reservations required."

of course there's always Umstead state park, right there in raleigh.

8/29/2006 10:05:05 PM

I tried camping at Umpstead park and found the airplanes very distracting.

8/30/2006 1:14:59 PM

This was mentioned earlier, but I just thought I'd emphasize it....

If you are a student, or someone in you group is a student, you can rent camping gear like tents, tarps, sleeping bags, lanterns and all from the campus rec storehouse for really cheap prices - $2-$4 each piece for a weekend. It's definately something you could look into if you're not wanting to buy an entire camping set.

8/30/2006 9:27:22 PM