Camping in autumn in Germany: the best tips for good days and wet shoes

In the morning, the sun shines on the camping table. It rains in the afternoon. In the evening you look for the second shoe in the dark.

This is not a failed camping holiday. This is autumn. It requires a little more preparation than a warm summer weekend, but gives you plenty of space for walks, quiet evenings and plans that may even get smaller. Here are the things that actually help.

1. Choose the place after your autumn day

In summer, the question is sometimes: “How far is it to the water?” In autumn, others come to it: How far is it to the sanitary building? Where can wet jackets dry? Is there a lounge? What is open on my travel day?

For a walk on the Baltic Sea Camping in Neuhaus near Dierhagen near the beach and coastal forest. If you prefer to stay by the lake, look at this Forest and Lake View Camp Zislow on Lake Plau an. Intact Nature Camp Lenkgrund in the Thuringian Forest you can choose between tent, camper and tiny house.

Which place suits you does not decide the most beautiful photo. What matters is where you feel comfortable even after a rainy day.

2. Arrive as long as you can see your pitch

Setting up a tent in the dark is possible. It is rarely the part of the journey that you will enthusiastically talk about later.

Plan the journey so that there is time to arrive and set up. Check the arrival times and save your booking confirmation even without Internet access. Pack lamp, rain jacket and dry shoes all the way up. Those who travel with children put sleeping things and the essentials for the first evening in their own pocket. The rest can stay in the car until everyone has arrived.

3. Pack for two temperatures – and a rain shower

During the day, a light jacket can be enough. At dinner outside, things look different. Take clothes to pull on top of each other: a warm layer, a wind- and rain-resistant jacket and dry change clothes. Especially a second pair of socks takes up surprisingly little space and can save amazingly much.

In the tent, the underlay under the sleeping bag is just as important as what you put over it. Cold also comes from the ground. Before driving, test whether tent, mat and sleeping gear are suitable for the expected nights. In the rental camper you will be shown before departure how the heating works.

4. Give wet things their own place

Rain is usually no problem, as long as everything is not wet at some point. Put a bag or box ready for shoes and jackets. Keep sleeping things separate and completely dry the tent after the trip before it disappears again in the closet.

In the camper, regular ventilation helps against moisture, especially in the morning and after cooking. If there is a strong wind or rain, check it official weather warnings for your region and adjust your day. A trip can be postponed. A wet sleeping place is less fun.

5. Plan a small rainy day, not a replacement vacation

With children, a rainy day does not have to be played from morning to evening. A short round in rubber boots, then dry clothes and something warm to eat are often enough. For later, a book, cards or a game will fit in any pocket.

Ask in advance what options there are on your seat in autumn. Kiosk, restaurant or leisure offers may have different times than in summer. For the first dinner, do not rely on a store whose opening hours you do not know.

The five-minute exam before departure

• Is the place open on my travel days and the arrival cleared?
• What does the forecast say for day and night – are there weather warnings?
• Does sleeping space and changing clothes stay dry even in the rain?
• Are heating and power supply, if needed, clarified?
• What do we eat on the first evening and the next morning?

If you can answer these questions, you don’t need a meticulous travel plan. Pick a place for a weekend and start small. Maybe it will be sunny. Maybe you learn how good warm tea tastes after a wet walk. You have the dry socks with you.