Primitive campers often choose rough ter-
rain to backpack through. Expect boul-
ders, steep cliffs, rocky hillsides, extreme
weather conditions, and being without
most of the comforts of home, such as toi-
let paper and clean socks. Primitive
campers take their hobby very seriously,
so they research the land extensively be-
fore just diving in. If you are a primitive
camper, then you know to always carry a
compass and a laminated hardcopy of a
map of the area. If you’re a beginner to
the camping realm, primitive camping
should not be the first style you try out. In-
stead, opt for an easier trip with much
more user-friendly terrain, such as our
next camping type: convenience camp-
ing.
Convenience camping, or campground
camping, is the most popular type, and it
is what we’re all used to. This is the type
of camping that is usually done in estab-
lished parks that offer amenities, such as
restrooms and shower facilities, electricity
and charging stations, firepits, grills, and
more. Rangers regularly monitor these
parks to ensure that the wildlife surround-
ing the campground is not disturbed, as
well as the campers themselves. Rules
apply to all campers who enter these
parks. There are usually fees and permits
that are required to camp in these places,
so be sure to plan for this.
Convenience camping means that you re-
ceive most of the comforts of home, so
you’re free to enjoy nature without having
to adapt to its sometimes-harsh condi-
tions. Being that this type of camping is
mostly done in established parks, the ter-
rain is easy, but can be difficult is some of
the more primitive sites. The added ben-
efit of having security makes convenience
camping ideal for families with young chil-
dren. Most of these parks will ask that you
reserve your camping space ahead of
time, as these campsites can reach their
capacity quickly. Certain parks may even
offer cabin rentals, which is a step above
the regular camping trip, bringing us to re-
sort camping.
“Convenience
camping, or
campground
camping,
is the most
popular
type.”
Resort camping is informally referred
to as “glamping.” While there are
many styles of resort camping in gen-
eral, most experienced campers will
argue that sleeping in anything other
than a sleeping bag inside of a tent
outside is “glamping.” Resort camping
is defined as doing away with the tent
and the mosquito nets, and opting for
a fully-functioning cabin or cottage in
the backcountry. Some resorts offer
all the comforts of a 5-star luxury re-
treat, such as gourmet meals, guided
excursions, plush towels, an outdoor
spa, and more.
Resort camping doesn’t have to be
luxurious. It can simply mean having
the comfort of a toilet and four walls.
However, most resorts offer addi-
tional amenities, such as day trips,
nightly events, and community gath-
erings, which makes this type of
camping seem far more advanced
than the traditional styles, like primi-
tive and convenience camping.
Whether you are reserving a luxury
cottage with a private chef, or just
booking a stay in a simple backcoun-
try cabin, resort camping is among
the more costly of styles. Because of
this, the terrain is usually as easy as it
gets, with most of the resort being on
paved, level ground. Guided horse-
back riding lessons through the
mountains will be as rough as it gets.