A Helpful Guide to Start Thinking About Camping in the Great Outdoors
If you’re a camping enthusiast, you’ll argue that there is nothing better than waking up to the sounds of nature far, far away from the hustle and bustle of cities or the routines of suburbia. It’s considered a reset from life, a way to just sit and enjoy the world we find ourselves a part of.
Unfortunately, camping also has a persistent perception that you must be a fit, able-bodied person in order to partake in the adventures. I’m here to tell you that notion is entirely false. Sure, a person with limited mobility might not be able to take that eight-mile hike through treacherous and narrow terrain, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t camp at all.
As your guide, I’ve taken it upon myself to read the many blog posts and articles that dot the internet to bring you two important tips I saw over and over throughout my research.
Remember that camping and exploring the great outdoors is for everyone -- regardless of mobility, skill level, or previous camping experience.
Tip #1: Picking the Right Spot is Key
While this tip is rather self-explanatory, it’s key to unlocking the best camping experience -- the one you’ll be recalling stories from forever.
Picking the right spot starts with understanding the level of previous camping experience you possess. For newbies who want to ease into camping with the highest level of accessibility possible, the United States has gone to great lengths to ensure that many of the national and state parks have accessible camping grounds for visitors.
Accessibility features include paved camp sites, paved walking trails, accessible toilets and showers, and picnic tables that allow wheelchairs to roll right up.
A bonus feature is that many of these national and state parks have accessible visitor centers that give you a good dose of the history and culture of the surrounding areas. See the end of this blog post for a short list of accessible campgrounds across the United States!
For those with a wealth of previous camping experience, it might be time to consider going off-road (so to speak) and branching out to less accessible spots. With the proper equipment, many of nature’s less accessible spots can be yours to view. While finding the perfect spot might take more research, planning, and patience, it’s well worth it in the end!
Tip #2: The Right Sleeping Accommodation Will Make or Break Your Experience
This tip is the subject of much debate amongst camping enthusiasts with limited mobility. In every blog post I read, bloggers had slightly different means of sleeping while camping that they swore by. The three that came up the most are as follows:
For those with limited usage of legs, an RV can provide comfort and style while exploring the scenic nature that the US has to offer. Things to consider before starting to search for a RV is whether the stairs to get up into the RV will pose an insurmountable problem, whether any potential assistive devices will be able to easily fit in the RV, and if you’re willing to limit your camping to places that have RV hookups. Additionally, financial ability is an important consideration with a RV because it is by far the most expensive of all the sleeping accommodations.
While not for everyone, a RV can be a source of comfort and style for many, leading to a great many adventures.
The second type of sleeping accommodation comes in the form of a classic tent. For people with wheelchairs, there is a great many suggestions for types of tents that work the best; whether they be regular large tents, ones specifically made for wheelchair access, or ones with two entrances.
In the blog posts I read, many of those with lots of experience suggest buying a cot as well that can fit within the dimensions of the tent. This makes the act of transferring in and out of the tent and sleeping much easier than it otherwise would be.
The third type of sleeping accommodation attempts to address the difficulty of finding the right tent by taking typical tents completely out of the picture. Instead, a few bloggers suggest using tarps to create a sleeping space that is comfortable and accessible yet still is a shelter from the elements. The caveat to this type of sleeping accommodation is that creating a tarp space will take a fair amount of patience and practice before perfecting the process.
Camping is a great way to get away and see parts of the country that you never dreamed of seeing! With the two tips above, camping can be accessible for everybody, regardless of accessibility.
Happy camping!
Written by Ryan Trombly
Ryan Trombly was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was eighteen months old. The disability causes right-side hemiparesis that affects the entire right side of her body, weakening her muscles and limiting her mobility in everyday activities. Despite this, Ryan has strived to live an independent life without any barriers and hopes to use her voice to advocate for the disability community.
Resources:
Blog Posts on Camping in a Wheelchair:
Accessible Campgrounds in the US:
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