How to Stay Warm While Camping: Simple Tips for Cold Nights

• Use an insulated sleeping pad. The ground steals heat faster than the air. Look for an R-value of 3 or more for cool nights and 5 or more near freezing. See best sleeping pads.
• Insulate under air mattresses. Plain air beds are cold — put a foam pad or a thick blanket under you (between you and the mattress works too). See camping mattresses.
• Stack pads on very cold nights. A closed-cell foam pad under an inflatable pad adds both R-values together.

• Choose a bag rated colder than the forecast. Use the comfort rating, about 10°F below the expected low. Read sleeping bag ratings explained.
• Cinch the hood and draft collar so warm air doesn't escape around your shoulders.
• Add a liner or blanket inside or over the bag for a few extra degrees. See camping blankets.
• Fluff your bag when you set up camp so the insulation lofts before bed.

Need a warmer bag? See cold-weather sleeping bags.

• Change into dry clothes — the clothes you wore all day hold sweat. Keep a set just for sleeping.
• Wear a warm hat and dry socks.
• Eat a snack with fat and protein before bed, like nuts or cheese. Digestion makes body heat.
• Drink water during the day, and have a warm, non-caffeinated drink at night.
• Do a few minutes of light exercise — squats or a short walk — so you get into bed warm, not cold.
• Use the bathroom before bed. Your body uses energy keeping that liquid warm, and you won't have to leave the bag later.

• Avoid the lowest spot. Cold air sinks and collects in valley bottoms and hollows.
• Use natural wind breaks like trees, boulders, or a hill.
• Face the tent door away from the wind.
• Look for morning sun so the tent warms up early.

• Use the rainfly — it traps a layer of warmer air and blocks wind.
• Keep a little ventilation open. Your breath adds moisture, and condensation makes everything damp and cold. A small vent stops it.
• Don't breathe inside your sleeping bag — it adds moisture to the insulation.
• A smaller tent stays warmer than a huge one. See what size tent do I need.

Never run a camp stove, charcoal grill, or any fuel appliance not made for indoor use inside a tent. They can produce carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell and which can kill.

• Only use heaters specifically rated for indoor or tent use, with low-oxygen and tip-over shutoff.
• Keep ventilation open and follow the maker's clearance rules.
• Bring a battery carbon monoxide alarm.
• Turn the heater off before you sleep — warm up the tent, then switch it off.
• At campsites with power, an electric heater is the safest choice.

See our picks in best tent heaters.