September has started, and with Labor Day right around the corner, summer is quickly coming to a close. While many kids are already back in school by mid-August, Labor Day still serves as the unofficial end date of summer for most Americans. Once this holiday passes, people around the country start settling into their autumn routines, with memories of summer falling into the periphery.
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This year, Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7th, just over a week away. If you’re looking to soak up this last bit of summer, it’s now or never! Camping is a classic way to spend Labor Day weekend, and with the right planning, it can make the perfect last-minute getaway to close out the summer season.
If you’re looking to embark on one last summer trip, read on! Today we’ll cover how to plan a last-minute Labor Day Weekend camping trip, from choosing a destination to packing and itinerary planning. Without further ado, let’s get right into it.
The Benefits of a Basecamp Game Plan
When planning a quick-turnaround trip or a short weekend getaway, it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Overplanning every detail of your trip, whether it’s a must-have campsite or a strict hour-by-hour itinerary, will only set you up for disappointment. Last-minute, holiday weekend camping requires flexibility for a positive experience.
To lean into a flexible mindset, treat your campsite as a basecamp. To do so, pick just one location that’s within a reasonable driving distance from home, and make that your basecamp for the weekend. This allows you to fully settle into the outdoors, without the stress of traveling far or hitting multiple hotspots on an ambitious itinerary.
With a loose plan instead of a rigid schedule, you’ll be able to fully soak in the holiday weekend, enjoy the beautiful nature around you, and give yourself enough time to explore the single destination you picked.
How to Choose a Last-Minute Destination
So how do you choose a Labor Day weekend camping trip destination at the last minute? When you only have a few short days to explore a place, the most practical thing to do is pick a location within driving distance. That way, you’re only spending a few hours traveling and thus maximizing your time at camp.
Realistically, campsites at popular national and state parks will likely already be sold out this close to a holiday weekend like Labor Day. Even if a last-minute cancellation pops up at one of these locations, these will typically be the priciest campsites available. If you’re hoping to keep it affordable, it’s best to look elsewhere and bookmark these spots for another trip.
Thankfully, there are plenty of campsites at locations that are just as beautiful! Look for small, privately run campgrounds on sites like Hipcamp and The Dyrt. Or, opt for a free campsite in national forests or on BLM land as a reliable backup plan. Whether you’re camping during a busy time of year or not, this is a must-know hack for saving money while camping!
Packing for a Quick-Turnaround Trip
When it comes to packing for your trip, focus on efficiency and functionality over anything else. Since you’ll only have a few days in the outdoors, opt for camping gear that’s quick and easy to set up, like a reliable scout tent. If you prefer a more luxurious glamping-style tent, bell tents are another great option for quick pitching on a weekend getaway.
For the rest of your packing list, minimalism will be your best friend! Prioritize the necessities to keep your setup simple, without compromising comfort. Aside from your quick-pitch tent, don’t forget these campsite basics:
- Sleeping bags and pillows
- Camp chairs
- A multi-use tarp
- Lanterns or flashlights
- Camp kitchen essentials
- Enough meals, snacks, and drinks for the length of your trip
- Firewood and firestarter
- Campsite tools for setup
- Environmentally friendly cleaning supplies
- Weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
- Toiletries
- Any must-have recreational gear
Adopting a minimalist mindset will reduce the amount of gear you need to pack and unpack, shorten your setup and takedown time, and overall reduce your stress over the weekend. While bringing along the latest gadgets and gizmos can always enhance a trip, it’s the memories you make with your fellow campers that matter the most – just pack what you need to be comfortable in the wilderness!
How to Spend a Realistic Weekend Outdoors
While a long weekend doesn’t sound like all that much time to enjoy a camping trip, it can be the perfect amount of time to get your outdoor fix. Here are a few Labor Day weekend camping ideas, broken down day by day.
Friday: Most campgrounds typically allow campers to check in between 1 pm and 4 pm on their arrival day. To maximize your time outdoors, plan to arrive right at check-in and immediately start setting up camp! Once your campsite is to your liking, spend the afternoon settling in and enjoying the campground amenities.
Saturday: Plan to spend Saturday soaking up everything your destination has to offer! Whether you’re there to hike, bike, swim, kayak, or see wildlife, spend your full day Saturday participating in the outdoor activities you came for.
Sunday: If Sunday comes and there are still recreational activities you want to check off, you still have an entire day to explore! Otherwise, enjoy a slow, relaxing day soaking up the beauty and benefits of nature. Read a book, journal, craft with kids, or play games around the campfire.
Monday: Check-out at camp usually falls between 10 am and 12 pm. After enjoying an early morning coffee, breakfast, and one last campfire, spend your last few hours packing up your campsite and getting ready for your departure!
Planning a Labor Day Camping Trip: FAQs
Is Labor Day weekend a good time to go camping?
Labor Day weekend can be a great time to go camping! For many families with kids, Labor Day is the last chance to go camping before fall obligations kick into high gear. Plus, depending on your destination, campers often enjoy milder temperatures and fewer bugs during this holiday weekend. On the flip side, since so many people enjoy the benefits of camping this time of year, it’s likely to be more crowded than usual.
How far in advance should you book a Labor Day campsite?
Since Labor Day can be a busy time of year for campgrounds, the sooner you can book a campsite, the better! To get the best spots at the most popular parks, you should ideally plan to book 6 to 9 months ahead of time. That being said, last-minute bookings are still possible at many private campgrounds or through cancellations at more popular destinations.
What should you do if popular campsites are already booked?
If the campground you were hoping to stay at is already booked, call the campground managers and ask to be put on a waitlist for last-minute cancellations. To guarantee a campsite, look for private campgrounds around your destination on websites like The Dyrt or Hipcamp. These booking sites offer hundreds of alternative campsites in your area that are privately run and less likely to be fully booked than public park campgrounds.
The Bottom Line
As the weather cools and Labor Day weekend peaks around the corner, it’s now or never to plan an end-of-summer camping trip! If you’ve waited until August to book your trip, your last-minute adventure will require some creative planning and a flexible attitude.
To work within this limited timeframe, lean into the idea of creating a basecamp in the outdoors, focus on one nearby destination, pack only the essentials, and have a loose idea of how you’d like to spend your weekend getaway at camp – without creating a rigid schedule.
So what are you waiting for? Book a campsite within driving distance, gather up your essential camping gear, and hit the road to enjoy one last hurrah in nature before autumn officially rolls in!
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