What To Do If Your Wife Hates Camping: A Guide For Husbands

If you love camping but your wife seems to hate it, you’re in the right place!

If your wife hates camping, your best solution is to have a conversation with her. Find out what she likes and dislikes about the activity, and work together to find ways to make it a better experience for her.

That said, the situation can get a little more complicated. Read on to find out why women may tend to dislike camping, and what you can do to improve the experience.

Top Reasons Women Hate Camping

I love camping. It’s a great way to get in touch with nature, spend some time away from the stressors of daily life, and just relax. That said, I’m not going to claim that it’s the most comfortable experience.

When you think about it, there are actually a number of reasons why someone might not find camping to be the most exciting idea. Often, it involves coming into contact with the dirtier aspects of nature, bugs, and climates that may be too hot or cold.

Some of the reasons your wife might not be interested in camping may involve the following:

• Lack of comfort while sleeping.
• Dealing with bugs, and uncomfortable bites.
• Lack of access to a bathroom or hygiene facilities.
• Weather that may be too hot, cold or humid.
• Lack of entertainment, phone and internet access.
• The added stress of camping with children.
• Potentially dangerous animals and environments.

These issues can definitely be problematic, and they can really make camping more of a trial than a vacation. However, there are plenty of ways you can help to make the experience more pleasant for your wife.

In turn, you’ll have a better time as well!

How Can I Make Camping More Comfortable For My Wife?

While you may love camping, there are perfectly valid reasons why your wife may find it to be an unpleasant experience.

One of your first steps should be to have a conversation and find out how she really feels about camping. Are there aspects she enjoys? What are the aspects she doesn’t enjoy?

You might find that she does like camping for the most part, but certain struggles like bugs or uncomfortable sleeping arrangements are enough to dampen that enjoyment for her. From that point, you can ask her what you can do to fix the situation and work together to make camping fun for both of you.

There’s a good chance you might discover that you end up making camping even more fun for you as well. Even something small like planning a more comfortable sleeping setup can make a world of difference on both sides.

Camping Solutions For The Top Reasons Women Hate Camping

Whether it’s bears, bugs or beds, there are solutions to just about anything your wife might dislike about camping. Remember, that this is a subject to work together on. Make sure to get her input as you talk about the subject, then use these tips to create a camping experience that is fun for everyone.

When She Can’t Sleep Comfortably

Sleeping can be tricky while you’re camping, especially if you’re staying in a tent. It can be hard to get comfortable!

Climate can be a large issue when it comes to sleep. For cold weather, you can opt to get warmer sleeping bags or use a portable heater to warm the tent up. On the other hand, heat can be dissipated with a fan, or you can opt for lighter bedding to sleep more comfortably. Take a look at our article on using fans while camping!

For general discomfort, you can look into quality sleeping pads, or a better air mattress. Comfortable pillows can also be helpful!

One tip I can offer from my own experience is to actually take the time to make your air mattress up like a bed, with comfortable sheets and blankets. It can really add a lot to the overall comfort level!

For more details on camping comfort, check out our article here!

What To Do If Bugs Are Everywhere

Bugs can make anyone uncomfortable, so it’s always worthwhile to find ways to keep them out of the campsite and off your skin.

Insect repellents are often a first choice. This might include sprays, creams or bracelets. You can also opt to either purchase a repellent or make one yourself.

Scents are a great way to keep insects away. You can use natural scents like citrus or garlic, diffusers that release metofluthrin, or citronella candles. Additionally, the smoke from tiki torches or campfires can steer bugs out of the area.

Placing a screen around the campsite, tent or other places you hang out can also be useful. You can find pop-up tents that include screens or nets that you can hang as needed.

Access To Bathrooms And Showers

Typically, most campgrounds that allow you to camp within sight of your vehicle will have bathrooms, but they may not always have the best shower setup. In some cases they may not have showers at all. It’s really going to depend on the campground you go to.

One of the easiest ways to solve this issue is to just make sure that you stay in campgrounds that do have reliable shower setups. The ability to enjoy a hot shower and get clean can make a huge difference while camping, especially if you plan to be out for longer periods.

On top of that, make sure to take all the hygiene items you’re going to need. The cleaner you are, the more comfortable everyone will be!

Solutions For Handling Difficult Weather

You can’t control the weather while you’re camping, but you can plan for it and ensure that everyone is comfortable in any temperature.

Things like fans and heaters can be useful when the temperatures drop too high or low. Both tools can also be found in portable varieties that allow you to avoid dealing with a cord.

You’ll also want to have a variety of clothing types to help with warming up or cooling down as needed. Handy tools like sunscreen, moisturizer and plenty of water are also great ideas!

What To Do When Camping Gets Boring

The vast majority of us are used to having entertainment available at the touch of a button. Games, apps, music and internet are all typically available to us with minimal effort. However, that’s not the case when you’re out camping and may not have access to video games, internet or even cell phone service in some cases.

Personally, I love the slowdown. It’s a great time to relax, let go of daily stressors and engage in calming activities. That said, it’s definitely possible that some may not be sure what to do without access to screens.

Luckily, there are plenty of options. Here are just a few activities you can enjoy while camping:

• Board games
• Reading
• Crafts and coloring
• Hiking
• Boating or canoeing
• Casual sports like volleyball or badminton
• Storytelling
• Wildlife viewing

These are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to camping activities. If you want something a little more guided, you can also check out what programs the rangers may be putting on at the campground you plan to stay in.

Making Camping With The Kids Fun

Children can absolutely make camping more difficult, but they can also really add to the fun overall. It’s just a matter of working together and developing a plan to keep the kids happy and clean.

To begin with, you’ll need to make sure that you plan ahead. Children are likely going to need more changes of clothes than you will, as they tend to like to get messy. They’ll also need things like toys, their own favorite foods, child-friendly sunblock, diapers and anything else that may be helpful.

You may also get smaller children used to the idea of camping by practicing. Try setting up a tent in the yard and spending the night together in it. Teach them how to help with setting up or packing in ways that are appropriate for their age.

When you practice with them, you’re teaching them how to behave while camping and that time spent in nature is a whole lot of fun.

Dealing With Dangerous Animals

Depending on where you decide to camp, there can be a number of animals in the area that might be dangerous. For the most part, these animals tend to stay away from people, especially in campgrounds that are more populated. Just choosing a campground over wilderness camping can help greatly in keeping predators away.

Additionally, when dealing with predators like bears and mountain lions, the following tips can be helpful:

• When hiking, stay on main trails
• Stay out of the space of any animal you see
• Keep pets leashed and children within reach
• Secure anything with a strong smell

When it comes to bears in particular, you may find that there are different pieces of advice out there for staying safe. If you’re concerned about bears in the area, it may be a good idea to just avoid them as best you can. For a deeper look into bear habits and how to stay safe, take a look at our article on bears here!

In some areas, you may also need to be on the lookout for snakes. When you’re in these spots, make sure to listen for sounds like rattling and avoid digging around in rocky areas.