How to Camp in a Tent When It's Raining

Rain can put a real 'damper' on a tent camping trip. But if you follow these tips, it is survivable and can be fun.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large tarp
• Small camping shovel
• Twine
• Heavy duty foil

1. 
   From www.twinoaks.org

   Choose your campsite carefully. Pick the highest ground on your site as the place for your tent. In the midst of trees is best.

2. Set up your tent. Put your tent up as you normally would.

3. 
   From www.techienation.com

   Tie your tarp over your tent. Tie twine onto each corner of your tarp and on two sides across from each other in the middle. It must be long enough to tie around the nearby trees. Make sure it is tied higher in the center, from the sides, than on the corners, but it must be taut and not touch the material of your tent.

4. Dig a 'moat'. Eyeball where the water would fall from the tarp and dig a trench around the tent, so the water doesn't run under your tent. Then dig a drain-off canal to drain the water away from the tent as it fills up. If you are camping with kids, they will probably love this activity. If not, it usually doesn't take very long for an adult to dig it.

5. 
   Campfire from www.bwexperience.com

   Save your embers. You can keep the coals of your campfire going by putting a makeshift tent of foil over it, until the downpour subsides.

6. If you should forget the tarp. The main thing to remember is: NEVER TOUCH THE FABRIC OF YOUR TENT WHILE IT IS RAINING. Tents are designed to keep rain out. But once you touch the material, all bets are off. You attract the water to run through the fabric where you touch it. My son learned that the hard way. It started raining while he was sleeping and he rolled to the side of the tent and rested against the wall. In the morning, he and his sleeping bag were soaked, and he was not a 'happy camper'.

7. 
   From www.zmescience.com

   Dry your tent before taking it down. This will extend the life of your tent, and keep it from getting moldy. If you have to take it down, at least open it in your garage or outside when you get home and let it dry. Follow these steps and your camping trip will survive the rainstorm.

Tips & Warnings

• Put tarp above tent, so that it cannot blow downward and touch it.
• Dig trench around tent.
• Dig drain-off canal from trench.
• Cover coals of your fire to keep them from extinguishing.
• Don't stay in a tent during an electrical storm, move to shelter, if only your car.
• Don't touch the fabric of your tent, while it is raining or while it is wet.
• Don't store a wet tent.

[Gardengates]

on 5/16/2009 Living in a parched environment, this article actually sounds absolutely delightful. I'd adore being in a tent, camping, during rain! Good tips! Thanks.

[shellcrafter]

on 4/8/2009 Good basic info on where and how to set up a tent while camping. Well written. 5 stars.