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Reading Time: 8 minutesLast Updated on July 6, 2025 by Paul Clayton
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10 Easy Tips on How to Stay Dry Camping
Camping in the rain can be enjoyable, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Two of the biggest ones are staying warm and keeping dry.
But is it possible to overcome these while sleeping under the stars?
Key Takeaways:
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- Strategic Campsite Selection is Crucial: Choose a campsite at a higher elevation to avoid flooding and keep a safe distance from rising water sources. While trees offer wind protection, avoid camping directly under them during rain due to the risk of lightning and falling branches.
- Prioritize Overhead and Ground Protection: Always pack tarps and paracord for added protection. Set up a quick, slanted tarp shelter before pitching your tent to create a dry working and living space and ensure water drains away. Use a groundsheet or tarp under your tent on wet ground for an additional moisture barrier.
- Manage Moisture and Temperature Inside Your Tent:
- Hot Water Bottles: Place hot water bottles in your sleeping bag to significantly increase the internal temperature of your tent and sleeping bag.
- Keep Wet Items Out: Store wet clothes and gear outside the tent, or wipe them thoroughly before bringing them in. Hang wet towels under your tarp.
- Layer Appropriately: Wear multiple layers of warm clothing, topped with a waterproof jacket, pants, and boots. Pack extra dry socks and keep a dry set of sleep clothes in your sleeping bag.
- Sleeping Setup: Consider a hammock to stay off the wet ground. If using a tent, consider combining a sleeping bag, an air mattress, and warm blankets for added insulation.
- Minimize Exposure and Stay Warm Internally:
- Pee in a Bottle: Use a bottle or sealable bag for urination at night to avoid leaving the tent and getting wet/cold.
- Camping Stove: Bring a reliable camping stove for preparing hot drinks and food, especially when building a campfire is difficult.
- Waterproof Backpack: Invest in a high-quality waterproof backpack or use dry sacks or trash bags to keep all your gear dry.
- Buddy System: Camping with a partner can provide extra warmth through body heat and mutual support.
- Post-Rain Health Measures: If you get wet, immediately change into dry clothes, thoroughly dry your hair, stretch to improve circulation, and consume warm food and drinks (such as hot water with lemon and honey) to prevent illness.
Read on to find out more. In this article, we’ll provide a few practical tips to help you stay warm and dry while camping in rainy weather:
How to Stay Warm and Dry When Camping in Rainy Weather
1. Choose an Ideal Campsite
The first step to keeping warm when camping in the rain is picking the right campsite. A campground with a higher elevation will protect you from floods that usually happen during a downpour.
You also want to ensure that the campsite is away from water sources, such as rivers or lakes, as the water may rise while you are asleep and put you in a life-threatening situation.
A location with several trees is an excellent option, as you won’t have to deal with strong winds. It also lets you quickly set up a tarp or cover for your campsite before everything gets wet.
You may think that camping under a tree is a great idea, but the truth is that it’s not. Camping under a tree when it’s raining is dangerous, as lightning may strike at any time. Moreover, dead tree branches may drop and damage your tent. The falling tree branches could also injure someone inside the tent.
2. Set Up a Quick Shelter with a Tarp
If you plan to camp during the wet season, pack several tarps and paracord since they are handy for survival in such weather.
The advantage of tarps is that they are compact and lightweight, allowing you to bring a few extras without overloading yourself. You can also get a clear plastic sheet to make a transparent shelter if you don’t have a tarp.
Your campsite will remain dry and free of distractive wind with a tarp set up. It will help you stay dry and carry out different activities within the campground, such as cooking and cleaning.
When tarping up, it’s crucial to be strategic with the set-up by considering the wind direction. Otherwise, your tarp will blow off in the wind, exposing you to outdoor elements.
It’s also essential to slant your tarp tactically to ensure water flows away from your campsite rather than pooling underneath it.
3. Put Hot Water Bottles in Your Tent
Having hot water bottles in your tent when it’s raining is an effective way to stay warm, as they will raise the temperature inside your shelter. You can put them inside your sleeping bag to keep your feet warm and cozy.
Besides warmth, hot water bottles will provide warm drinking water when the temperatures are freezing.
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to double-check the bottles before putting them inside to ensure they are well-capped lest you end up with wet items when you most need them dry.
4. Pee in a Bottle Instead of Going Outside
When camping in the rain, getting out of the tent to use the bathroom will only get you wet and cold. Therefore, the best course of action is to urinate into a bottle and discard the urine later.
If you don’t have space to pack an extra bottle, bring a compact cook-in bag that seals properly and use it to pee in when camping in cold weather.
For women, you might need a funnel for a pee bottle and a cook-in bag to avoid making a mess in the tent.
It may not be the most hygienic way to relieve yourself, but it’s practical for staying warm and dry when camping in rainy weather.
If you don’t want to do this more than once at night, you’ll want to limit your water intake in the evening.
5. Keep Wet and Cold Items Outside the Tent
In rainy weather, you are bound to have wet items, from rain jackets to waterproof bags. And if you’re not careful, you may bring wet items into the tent.
Having wet and cold items in the tent is a bad idea, as it lowers the temperature of your shelter.
If you must bring your belongings inside, consider wiping them down with a towel. Then, hang the wet towel under the tarp.
In snowy weather, shaking your tent or tarp before sleeping is vital to remove excess snow, which could tear or collapse your shelter.
6. Sleep in a Hammock
When camping on land with poor drainage during the rainy season, sleeping in a hammock is one of the best ways to stay off the ground and dry.
You can set up a tarp and hang a hammock beneath it to make a comfortable sleeping area.
You’ll need adequate insulation if you don’t have a hammock and have to sleep on the ground. You can spread the groundsheet before setting the tent on a wet campsite.
In this case, a combination of a sleeping bag, air mattress, and warm blankets will provide the needed warmth.
7. Layer Your Clothing Appropriately
If you want to stay warm during the rainy season, your camping clothes should be suitable for the weather. A cozy outfit topped with a waterproof jacket, pants, and boots will keep you warm and dry when it rains.
Instead of being trapped in your campsite on a rainy day, wearing a raincoat will help you engage in various outdoor activities without getting wet. You can wear it when collecting firewood or even on a mushroom hunt.
Along with a warm outfit and waterproofs, extra socks are a must-have when camping in rainy weather. If you have only one pair and it gets wet, your feet will freeze, making you uncomfortable.
Keep dry clothes, including warm socks, in your sleeping bag. This outfit will come in handy when it’s time to sleep, as it’ll keep you fresh and warm on rainy days.
8. Bring a Camping Stove
Lighting a campfire in the rain can be challenging, especially if you don’t have the right gear. And since you’ll need warm water or even cooked food during your camping trip, a camping stove can be a lifesaver.
You can effortlessly prepare hot cocoa, coffee, tea, or warm drinking water in your shelter with a camping stove.
However, if you don’t have a camping stove and still need to light a fire, look for dry firewood and tinder under the shelters of rocks, caves, bushes, or large trees. Remember, you’ll need a reliable igniter, such as waterproof matches or a lighter, for each method.
9. Get a Quality Waterproof Backpack
Staying warm in rainy weather is hard if you lack any dry gear. Therefore, it’s beneficial to invest in a high-quality waterproof backpack to keep all your gear in optimal condition, regardless of the weather.
If you have a non-water-resistant backpack, layering it with a plastic trash bag or dry sack is an excellent way to keep your items dry.
10. Camp With Your Partner
Camping with your partner will help you stay warm and comfortable. You can cuddle in the tent to generate more heat and relieve stress.
This way, you’ll enjoy your camping trip together, improve your bond, and quickly solve the challenges you face during your excursion.
What to Do to Avoid Being Sick After Being Caught in the Rain When Camping
If you get caught in the rain, it’s easy to get sick, especially when camping in the wild where you have limited resources.
Rainwater will not necessarily make you sick, but being wet attracts many viruses that can cause a cold.
Fortunately, you can do a few things to reduce the risk of getting sick:
Take off the Wet Clothes Immediately –
If you don’t have a raincoat, chances are that your clothes will get wet if you get caught in the rain. So, it helps to remove them immediately after you find or make a shelter and wear dry ones. If you can access a bathroom, you’ll want to shower with warm water to regulate your body temperature before wearing your dry outfit.
Dry Your Hair –
Wet hair can make you feel dizzy and increase your risk of catching a cold, so it’s essential to dry it thoroughly and promptly. When camping in the wilderness, you can light a fire to warm yourself up when the rain stops.
Stretch Your Body a Bit –
Doing some stretches can warm your body and improve blood circulation, making you feel much better after being outdoors in the rain.
Consume Warm Drinks and Food –
Once you’ve cleaned and dried yourself, you can consume warm foods and drinks to warm your body. Hot water or tea mixed with lemon and honey is one of the most practical options as it will warm you and provide vitamin C, which is vital for preventing flu and the common cold.
FAQs
Q: How Do You Stay Warm When Camping in the Rain?
A: You can stay warm when camping in the rain by wearing warm clothes and waterproof gear, having a reliable tent, layering your sleeping bag, placing bottles of warm water in the sleeping area, and consuming hot drinks and foods.
If you want to go outside the tent and it’s raining, consider wearing a raincoat on your warm outfit and waterproof boots to stay dry.
Q: How Do You Keep Camp Dry in the Rain?
A: The best way to keep your camp dry in the rain is to make a shelter before setting up your tent. You can create a temporary shelter with tarps or a transparent plastic sheet.
If you don’t have a dry spot to camp on, you can lay a plastic sheet or tarp on the ground and pitch your tent on it.
Q: How Do I Keep My Tent Dry When It’s Raining?
A: To keep your tent dry in rainy weather, you’ll need to rig a tarp on the ground and above you. The sheet will serve as a barrier between the wet environment and your tent, ensuring that water won’t seep into your shelter from below.
The tarp above the tent will keep your tent dry and provide extra protection from wind. If you have a large one, you’ll have ample working space to engage in various activities outside the tent.
Final Thoughts
Rainy weather can quickly ruin your trip, especially without the right gear and technique. However, with adequate preparation, you can still have a fantastic trip.
For most survival enthusiasts, there’s no such thing as bad weather. You only need to bring the right gear and equip yourself with the right skills to overcome outdoor challenges, such as rainy weather, while out there.
These tips will help you stay warm and dry when camping in rainy weather. Enjoy your adventure!
