Many new camping enthusiasts wonder how much water to bring for camping. The answer could differ depending on the situation, but here’s a ballpark estimate.
A normal adult requires around 1 gallon of drinking water each day, while they are camping outdoors during summer months. To be on the safe side, you should aim to take at least 2 gallons of water per person for every day of camping.
Taking this much water ensures that you will have enough not just for drinking but for cooking, cleaning, and personal hygiene as well.
Let’s look at the water requirement for a camping trip in more detail.
What You Will Need
Even if you have clean drinking water available at your camping destination, you will need some water containers and bottles at hand. This equipment will ensure that you do not have to go to the water source every time you need a little water to quench your thirst.
Here is a list of items that can be handy for keeping water with you at all times.
- Large Water Carrier
- Water Flask
- Water Purification Tablets
Factors that Affect Your Water Usage
The amount of water each person will consume on a camping trip varies based on multiple factors. Here are some of the major issues that affect water usage:
Season and Temperature
The season of the year and climate of the destination will have a major impact on how much water your body will need. If you are camping at a dry and hot location then you are obviously going to need more water on the camping trip, as you will be sweating a lot more moisture out during the day.
Many people go for camping at ranches or farmyards that are in hot plains or close to deserts. While these places are great to camp for dirt rallies, hiking and sports, be prepared for the unforgiving dryness that you will experience there.
On the other hand, camping during the cold season in a place that has lots of shade and moisture will lower your water requirement.
Level of Activity
If you do a lot of running or physical activity throughout the day, then your body will warm up more. You will do a lot more sweating to cool down and need more water on camping trip. It would be wise to bring more water to keep you hydrated throughout the day.
On the other hand, your will not need a lot of water if you are camping out just to relax and enjoy the scenery. If you will spend most of the time lying down, or watching the flora and fauna, then you will need less water for the camping trip.
Availability of Drinking Water
Another major factor to determine how much water to bring camping is the availability of drinking water at your camping destination.
If you are going to a popular tourist spot, frequently visited by other campers, then there is a good chance that they will have already arranged drinking water for visitors. You will be able to get by even with a single bottle of water that you can refill when you get low on water.
Availability of Water
In some cases, you will have access to water on camping trip, but may not get drinking water on your trip. For example, if you are camping close to a waterfall, stream or lake, you will be able to use the water for personal hygiene or cleaning dishes. This will lower your need for total water required for the trip.
However, you will still need clean water for drinking, which you should carry on your person before you go camping. You may also be able to boil and clean water with water purifying tablets that you can buy in the market.
Water for Pets
If you are taking pets like dogs on your trip, then make sure to carry enough water on camping trip for them as well. Dogs vary in size and breed, which can affect how much water they consume each day.
To calculate how much water you need for your pets, you should have an idea of how big and heavy they are. On average, your pet will drink about 0.03 liters of water for each pound of bodyweight that they have, per day.
That means a dog that weighs about 35 to 50 pounds will require around 1.5 liters of water each day. A dog that is twice the size and weighs 100 pounds will need around 3 liters of water each day.
Can You Ever Take Too Much Water For Your Camping Trip?
In most cases, taking extra drinking water on your trip is a good idea. However there are some exceptions.
The space inside your car is limited. Every container of water will take away some space and prevent you from carrying other useful items on your trip.
If you don’t have enough space in the trunk, you can put your water containers on an empty car seat. If your vehicle has a roof rack, you can put extra water containers at the top of your vehicle.
Our Final Thoughts
Water is one of most essential requirements and is a basic necessity for life. We may not realize the value of drinking water in the comfort of our home, but it becomes critical when we go for a camping trip.
The answer to the question of how much water to bring camping differs based on your circumstances. The time of the year, duration of the trip, camping destination and your needs can raise the water you will need.
At the bare minimum, you will need at least 1 gallon of water for each person, per day. If you want to have an enjoyable and comfortable experience, aim to carry at least 2 gallons of water on camping trip for each person, for each day of the trip.
