13 Reasons Why I Hate Camping

I had to ask myself, am I a wimp, or do I hate camping because it’s a lot of work, and is it simply not enjoyable? It takes a certain type of individual to love camping. Growing up in Portland, I remember many camping trips with my parents.

But we went everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, from one campground to another.

In the early 1960s, my dad and I built a boat. We spent many hours together fiberglassing and sanding the hull. It had a 30 horsepower Mercury outboard, just enough power to pull us water skiing. Water skiing was a lot of fun, and the camping chores were mostly handled by others. That’s when and why I would say it was more fun.

We spent many weekends at the North Fork Reservoir on the Clackamas River.

It wasn’t what you would call real camping. My dad and I did real camping while hunting in Central Oregon. I didn’t see all the behind-the-scenes work an adult has to do to get a trip ready and supply all the necessary stuff, like food and clothes, either.

When Lorrie and I were first married, we had a camper that I used because I traveled around Oregon, Washington, and Montana for work. We used the camper for weekend outings with friends.

But things changed, and with a new wife and kids, we eventually sold the truck and the camper. I quit my job because of the constant travel and began a new career in the HVAC industry. Do you think that all the living in a camper had anything to do with my attitude about how I hate camping?

But then Lorrie got the idea that she missed all her uncles and the memories and wanted to reunite them. For one reason or another, her uncles and relatives had become separated over time. That’s when she began the Jennings family reunions, which required several years of camping.

I need to mention this one point: I hate camping.

Hate Camping? That’s Why I Built Pete’s Cabin On The Prineville Reservoir

Our kids were all raised; most had left home except the two youngest in their late teens. The noisy neighbors are a perfect example of why I hate camping.

My wife and I are sort of private people and like to have a little distance between us and the neighbors. Camping with friends and relatives is one thing, but being right next to a bunch of strangers with unpredictable personalities is not my idea of making memories.

Below are two invitations in the most absolute red I could create for a button. If you visit Pete’s Cabin in sunny Central Oregon you will see some of the best views in Oregon and become familiar with Dark Sky Oregon.

By clicking on VRBO or Airbnb, you will find all the information needed to comprehend the beauty of this place. All except for one thing: being there.

Multiple Reasons Why I Hate Camping

1. Time-Consuming Packing And Unpacking

Packing the car to get ready to go, unpacking the car when you arrive at camp, packing to go home, unpacking, cleaning, and putting the camping gear away when you get home are all important reasons to hate camping.

That’s four or five reasons right there why I hate camping. All that, together with the two-hour drive, road construction, and gas and car maintenance costs. Have I said enough?

The effort involved in packing and unpacking can make camping feel more like real work than relaxation. That just is not a plan for a relaxing weekend.

2. The Hassel of Setting Up and Taking Down a Tent

Setting up and taking down a tent can be tedious and time-consuming. It often requires multiple people and can be particularly frustrating in bad weather or poor lighting conditions.

Improperly set up tents can lead to discomfort and exposure to the elements. Packing up a wet or dirty tent at the end of a trip is equally unpleasant, making the transition from camping to daily life a hassle.

3. Sleeping On Pads And Air Mattresses

I would say that sleeping is when I hate camping the most, but look at all these other reasons. We’ve tried many different air mattresses and seem to end up sleeping on the ground. Those of you who hate camping, as I do, can probably relate to sleeping poorly on an air mattress.

4. A Good Reason To Hate Camping Is Dealing with Mosquitoes And Poison Ivy

Insects and bugs are common while camping. Mosquitoes, ticks, and flies can be relentless, leaving campers with itchy bites and the potential for more serious issues like Lyme disease.

Even with repellents and netting, keeping bugs at bay entirely is challenging. They often find their way into tents and clothing, making it hard to relax and enjoy the outdoors without constantly swatting them away.

5. Sharing Stinky Outhouses

Many campgrounds offer only basic restroom facilities, which can be a significant drawback for campers. Pit toilets or porta-potties are common and can be unpleasant due to odors and cleanliness concerns.

The lack of running water and proper sanitation can make it difficult to maintain personal hygiene, adding to the discomfort of the camping experience. For those used to modern conveniences, this can be a major deterrent.

6. Unconditioned Weather

Now I know I’m a wimp. For over 45 years, I’ve worked in the heat and cold, repairing HVAC systems. I just want to be the guy who calls the repairman. Let the young guys suffer in the extreme weather. So I can hate camping for a good reason. Give me Pete’s Cabin with climate control and a warm fireplace any day.

Weather is unpredictable when camping, sometimes making what you hoped would be a relaxing weekend a miserable experience. Two of my boys were Eagle Scouts, and camping in the pouring rain added to my reasons to hate camping.

7. Safety Concerns While Camping

I remember, as a young teenager, camping and splitting wood. Something flew up and hit me in the face, causing a need for seven stitches in the side of my nose. Finding a place to get stitches on a weekend back in those days while out camping was a challenge.

Another time, while hooking up the in-floor heat at Pete’s Cabin, I was sitting on a bucket and stood up into the door of the electric panel. It put a nice cut on the top of my head. Those kinds of cuts bleed like crazy.

And, of course, I was up there alone. It seemed that I would bleed to death before I could get to town. I climbed into my van and headed to the emergency room in Prineville with paper towels held tightly to my head.

By the time the doctor pulled my tightly compressed paper towels from my head, it had quit bleeding. I’m just saying to be careful when you’re in remote areas.

8. Keeping Your Food Fresh

Summertime brings hot weather and the constant need for ice to keep food from spoiling. Finding the store and buying more ice is just another constant aggravation—another petty reason for me to hate camping.

9. Cooking Over a Firepit

You have to hate camping to appreciate my constant blithering. But my Lorrie and I are getting older every day, and she is even beginning to complain about cooking at home. This morning, she had to prepare some food for a funeral, and I knew she wouldn’t want me in the kitchen (fixing my own breakfast), so I drove down to Taco Time for a sausage and egg burrito.

10. Weak Phone Service Or No Internet

Is it a blessing or a curse? I admit it’s become normal to check out this and that on my phone. Many camping areas have limited or no cell phone service. While sometimes I intentionally leave my phone behind for an hour or two, I find myself getting needy for it after more than a day. That’s sort of a sick reason to hate camping.

11. What About The Wildlife?

Encounters with wildlife are a common part of camping, but since we built Pete’s Cabin, we have had no significant encounters. We have many harmless lizards that are fun to watch, and the kids love to catch them. And, of course, rattlesnakes (some people hate camping because of snakes). Always be alert and aware.

Deer come and go, and they are fascinating to watch. The main thing about wildlife is that it is wild. You shouldn’t feed it. Feeding the deer makes them dependent upon you and others who feed them. Your phone is handy, so I’d encourage you to read up on that.

12. Bathroom Issues And Outhouses

I don’t know about you, but the bathroom has become one of my dear friends as I age. Maintaining personal hygiene while camping can be difficult due to the lack of facilities and running water. Simple tasks like washing hands, brushing teeth, and showering become more complicated and less frequent.

This can lead to a general feeling of discomfort and uncleanliness, which can detract from the enjoyment of the camping experience. For many, the inability to maintain their usual hygiene routines is a significant downside of camping.

13. Finding The Perfect Campsite

Like anything else, when the time is right for you to go camping, it’s the time for everyone else and their kid to go camping. You get the family already and hit the road with all the other campers doing the same thing simultaneously.

By the time you reached the campsite, everyone else had, too. All you wanted to do was set up camp and build a fire, but oh no, you had to find the perfect spot, with a flat spot for the tent, a comfortable bed, and bushes between your camp and the neighbors.

Then everyone has to agree that this is the place for all your outdoor activities where you will spend time doing all those things you really hate about camping.