In honor of October being National Book Month, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite books for adults to take camping (stay tuned for our recommendations for children’s books soon!). There’s nothing quite like relaxing in a hammock and reading a good book while surrounded by nature. Or maybe you’re more of a “reading a classic by headlamp while the kiddos snore” person, or an “I need to revamp our menu” camp chef. Regardless, there is something on this list for everyone!
Tips and Tricks
This is a great place to start, especially if you’re new to camping with kids or want to brush up on some campsite skills. These books offer great tips for choosing a campsite, keeping the kids occupied and happy, or reading the stars on a clear night.
The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids By: Helen Olsson
This recently updated book is jam-packed with tips, tricks, recipes, activities, art projects, etc. for camping with kids. It includes checklists throughout the book for packing and prep and tons of Smart Tips sprinkled into every section. If you only have room for one book on your next camping trip, this is the one I would choose!
Family Camping By: Charlie Ess
Here’s another great option that is loaded with tips specific to camping with families. Each chapter starts with a first-person story from the author about his experiences camping in his native Alaska lands, making this both an informational and inspirational read.
Where Should We Camp Next? By: Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi
With over 300 incredible places to visit in all 50 states, you’ll want to turn this book into your adventure bucket list! You’ll read about both popular tourist spots and hidden gems to consider along the way. It also includes practical camping tips to make the most of your next camping adventure.
Sleeping Bags to S’mores By: Heather and William Rochfort
Just getting started with camping? This delightful book will point you in the right direction, from picking a location to camp cooking on a budget. You’ll find tips for car camping, tent camping, and backpacking. The full-color illustrations throughout the book will give you a chuckle while you plan your next trip.
Backyard Guide to the Night Sky By: Andrew Fazekas
One of the things I love most about camping is the stargazing. With lower light pollution, you can see an incredible array of constellations and planets! This guide is filled with charts, photographs, graphics, and tips for viewing the night sky and discovering its many features.
Camp Recipes
Not sure what to put on the menu for your next camping trip? Or maybe you want to try something a little fancier than hot dogs and s’mores. These camping cookbooks offer loads of recipes along with tips and tricks for enhancing your camp kitchen.
Easy Camp Cookbook By: Amelia Mayer
Don’t let the compact size of this book fool you, it’s packed with easy car camping and backpacking meals the whole family will enjoy. There are 100 recipes included, many of which can be prepped at home to reduce stress and clean up at camp. You’ll also find camping advice, safety tips, checklists, an at-home prepping guide, and more in this packable little book.
Feast By Firelight By: Emma Frisch
This book is filled with recipes to please everyone, from the picky kiddo to the foodie at heart. It’s loaded with tips for putting together your camp kitchen, recipes to prep at home, shopping lists, and 70 recipes to make delicious meals at the campground or the cabin. It also has some killer photography showing the meals created by the included recipes.
Weekend Camping Cookbook By: Fox Chapel Publishing
If you’re looking for simple camp food that you can make or prep at home, this is your book. There are over 100 recipes that you can plan and prep at home and toss on the grill or campfire. There are helpful campsite cooking tips included, along with recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers, snacks, and dessert.
Dutch Oven and Cast Iron Cooking By: Anne Schaeffer
If you love camp cooking using cast iron or a Dutch oven (like our founder, Tavis), this is the cookbook for you. It’s loaded with 125 recipes to serve up everything from breakfast to dessert at your next camping adventure. It also includes camping hacks, packing checklists, and insights on seasoning, cleaning, drying, and storing your cast iron to help it last for many years to come.
Dirty Gourmet By: Emily Nielson et. al.
This cookbook takes things a bit further with over 120 recipes organized into three outdoor adventure groups: car camping, day hiking, and backpacking. Each recipe includes insights from the authors, step-by-step instructions, portions that can be made at home, creative variations on the recipe, and gorgeous photos of the finished meal.
Inspiration
One of my favorite parts of camping is reading aloud to my kids from inspiring books about nature. Here are a few options we have enjoyed, both together as a family and while relaxing around the campsite.
Wilderness Essays By: John Muir
This compilation of 10 classic essays from the “Father of the National Parks”, John Muir, is sure to inspire you to find beauty and awe in the natural world. Essays, such as “Discovery of Glacier Bay” and “Among the Animals of Yosemite” helped instill a spirit of preservation that continues today.
A Walk in the Woods By: Bill Bryson
Follow Bill Bryson on his hilarious re-telling of his experience through-hiking the Appalachian Trail. He introduces the storied history and incredible ecology of the trail along with some interesting characters he encounters along the way (both human and animal). This is also a great audiobook if you prefer to enjoy your books that way.
Campfire Stories: Tales from America’s National Parks By: Dave and Ilyssa Kyu
Another wonderful collection of tales, Campfire Stories centers around 6 iconic national parks with stories from famous explorers, pioneer diaries, and Indigenous peoples. These are wonderful stories to read aloud to the family while enjoying a campfire, snuggling in a hammock, or anytime you need some nature-rich inspiration.
World of Wonders By: Aimee Nezhukumatathil
This gorgeously illustrated book inspires readers to rekindle a child-like curiosity and appreciation for the natural world. Each essay dives into a personal story from the author and is named after a creature or plant and the lessons they teach pertaining to each story. You’ll learn interesting facts throughout that make you want to take a closer look at the natural world.
The Camping Life By: Brendan Leonard and Forest Woodward
This book is part how-to manual for different types of camping adventures and part inspiration that will make you want to start planning your next trip right away. It’s written in a way that will put even the most beginner campers at ease with tips and how-to instructions for everything from setting up a tent to packing a touring kayak with stories and quotes sprinkled throughout. It also happens to have absolutely gorgeous photography.
Classics
I couldn’t forget the classics! These are great to read leading up to a camping trip or while relaxing in the tent after the littles have passed into dreamland (or anytime really!).
A River Runs Through It and Other Stories By: Norman Maclean
This semi-autobiographical collection of three stories details experiences in the life of the author in the small towns and mountains of western Montana during the early 20th century. It is known for its detailed descriptions of the gorgeous Montana landscape and wildlife. After reading this classic, check out the movie adaptation directed by Robert Redford.
A Sand County Almanac By: Aldo Leopold
This extremely impactful book is credited by many for starting a land management revolution. It compiles informal pieces written by Leopold over a 40-year period as he traveled through the woodlands of places such as Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon, and other states. This book remains a foundational text for the natural sciences with incredible sketches that bring to life the animals and landscapes of these areas.
Into the Wild By: Jon Krakauer
This book tells the heartbreaking true story of how Christopher Johnson McCandless set out for adventure in the wilderness but didn't live to tell the tale. It can serve as a cautionary tale of the dangers of being ill-prepared for wild exploration. If you enjoy the book, check out the highly-rated film adaptation as well.
The River Why? By: David James Duncan
Witty and unique, this coming-of-age novel about a young fly-fisherman navigating life is sure to put a smile on your face. Setting out on a journey of self-discovery, the main character finds more than he bargained for while searching for the elusive Pacific Northwest steelhead. You’ll laugh, smile, and maybe even learn a little something about flyfishing.
The Hidden Life of Trees By: Peter Wohlleben
This may not be a classic yet (it was published less than 10 years ago), but it’s sure to be in the future. You will journey into the inner networks of forests, diving into the incredible system of communication and nutrient sharing between trees. The author's love and wonder for the forest are infectious, making this a perfect read for those camping excursions into the woods.
What are your favorite nature-filled books to take camping? Let us know by sending us a message or commenting on our social media!
