Florida Tent Camping: Choosing the Right Site

Florida Camping:
Choosing the
Right Tent Site

Tent Camping:
Select the Right Site

The right camp site for a tent is eady to determine if you consider all aspects of the terrain.

Look for a Level Area: This includes checking the ground tb be sure sure you're not setting up on any tree roots, pieces of rotted wood or over small bushes.

Avoid trhe Slope: It's not normally a problem in Florida, but if you decide to camp on a slope, be careful. Campers have sometimes traveled as far as a dozen feet during a night's sleep on a slope--occasionally taking the tent with them if they didn't slide completely out the door.

Sleeping sideways of a slope is even more uncomfortable since all you do is keep sliding into the side of the tent or, if you happen to be uphill, slide into the camper next to you. This does not make for happy camping.

Rocky terrain requires a different kind of tent stake than you'd use in regular soil. Because the stakes have to be anchored between the stones with the least resistance, you'll need to use a long, narrow metal stake between 9 and 15 inches long. The larger the tent, the longer the stake required to anchor it securely.

It's not likely you'll do this kind of camping around salt water, but if you do, soak the steel stakes in hot, soapy water after each outing.

Sandy soil: Camping beside the ocean or a lake, you'll need to take into consideration that sandy soil doesn't offer as much resistance as normal ground soil.

Typical tent stakes are between 5-6 inches. In sandy soil, you need a fatter and longer stake to hold your tent securely, in 9- and 15-inch sizes.

The ideal tent site will have these features.

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Florida Camping: Choosing the Right Tent Site

Florida Camping:
Choosing the
Right Tent Site