🌅 Explore My Campsite Ambiance
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One of the reasons we love camping isn’t just the places we visit—it’s the atmosphere we create when we get there.
As the sun sets, the campsite takes on a completely different personality. Soft lighting, a comfortable place to sit, good company, and a relaxing campfire can turn an ordinary campsite into your favorite place to be.
Here are a few simple things we’ve added over the years to make our campsite more inviting, more relaxing, and a place we never want to leave.
🍽️ Checkered Picnic Tablecloth
Want one of the least expensive ways to make your campsite feel a little more inviting?
Throw a checkered tablecloth over the campground picnic table.
It’s amazing how something so simple can instantly dress up the campsite and make breakfast, lunch, and dinner feel a little more special. It only takes a minute or two to put on, and it gives the whole campsite a warmer, more welcoming feel.
đź’ˇ Road Ready Tip: Look for a waterproof, stain-resistant tablecloth. Campground picnic tables aren’t always the cleanest, and being able to wipe the tablecloth clean before rolling it up makes packing up quick and easy.
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🎵 JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth Speaker
We never leave home without our JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker.
For us, camping is about relaxing, not blasting music across the campground. We keep the volume low, and that’s where this speaker really shines. Even at lower volumes, the sound is rich and balanced, with impressive bass and crystal-clear vocals that are easy to enjoy without disturbing nearby campers.
It’s also waterproof, compact, and rechargeable, making it perfect for everything from relaxing in camp chairs to cooking dinner outside.
đź’ˇ Road Ready Tip: Be a good campground neighbor. We always keep our music at a level where we can enjoy it, but our neighbors don’t have to. Good campground etiquette goes a long way toward making everyone’s camping experience more enjoyable.
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đź’ˇ LED Awning Lights
Want to add a little atmosphere to your campsite after the sun goes down? These LED awning lights are one of our favorite upgrades. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and really transform the campsite in the evening.
I did customize mine, so before you order them, here’s how I installed them:
- I removed the factory 120-volt plug and wired the lights into a 12-volt circuit inside my Casita.
- I mounted the controller just behind and to the right of the awning above the entry door using clear silicone adhesive.
- To route the wiring inside the trailer, I drilled a small 1/16-inch hole near the controller location and sealed it after the wire was installed. Drilling the small hole gave me a clean, permanent installation with no wires hanging outside the trailer.
- Before mounting the light strip, I lightly marked a straight reference line with a pencil along the awning so the lights would install evenly.
- I peeled the adhesive backing off a little at a time while working toward the rear of the trailer.
- Once I reached the desired length, I trimmed the strip only at one of the manufacturer’s marked cut locations (look for the small scissors symbol).
đź’ˇ Road Ready Tip: Measure twice—cut once! Test-fit the light strip before making any cuts. Once you’ve shortened it, you can’t make it longer again. If you’re converting the lights to 12 volts like I did, make all measurements and trimming before making the electrical connections.
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🔥 Portable Propane Fire Pit
What would camping be without sitting around a campfire?
Whether we’re roasting marshmallows, cooking hot dogs, or simply relaxing under the stars, a campfire is one of our favorite parts of every trip.
Unfortunately, more and more campgrounds are restricting or completely banning traditional wood fires. The good news is that many of those same campgrounds still allow portable propane fire pits, letting you enjoy the campfire experience without the smoke, ashes, or hauling firewood.
We love ours. It puts out an impressive amount of heat—even on the lowest setting—and it’s ready to enjoy in just a few minutes.
For our setup, we connect it directly to one of our Casita’s 20-pound propane tanks using the same 12-foot propane extension hose I mentioned earlier.
đź’ˇ Road Ready Tip: When you add up the cost of buying firewood at campgrounds, this setup is surprisingly economical. We no longer have to buy bundles of wood at every stop, and we always have a clean, reliable campfire ready to go. It’s one of those purchases that has paid for itself over time.
I also highly recommend picking up the carry bag made specifically for this fire pit. It makes transporting and storing the fire pit much easier and keeps the rest of your camping gear clean.
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🟢 Portable Fire Pit Carry Bag →
🏮 USB Rechargeable Camping Lantern
We purchased this USB rechargeable camping lantern back in early 2021, and it’s still going strong. That’s a pretty good testament to its quality.
For such a small lantern, it puts out an impressive amount of light. We use it in several different ways around camp. Hang it from your awning or a nearby tree for soft evening lighting, or bring it inside the Casita when you need a little extra light.
One of my favorite features is the built-in magnet. We often attach it to the metal range hood over the stove, where it does an excellent job of lighting up the cooking surface. Even while traveling, the magnet is strong enough that it stays securely in place.
đź’ˇ Road Ready Tip: Because it’s USB rechargeable, there’s no need to keep buying batteries. We simply recharge it before each trip, and it’s ready whenever we need it. It also doubles as an excellent emergency work light. If you ever have to check under the hood of your tow vehicle after dark, just stick it to the underside of the hood with the built-in magnet and you’ll have both hands free to work.
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