How cold is too cold for camping?

Camping is a great activity to do when it’s hot out. But when you start getting into much colder weather, how cold is too cold for camping?

70°F (21°C) is just about perfect for most people, but depending on the time of year, location, and weather conditions of your camping destination, you can expect to be camping in much colder temperatures than that.

With the right gear and preparation, you can camp in almost any temperature. Ross and I frequently camp in extreme cold winter temperatures of -22°F (-30°C) and below, but we do it with a hot tent.

Chances are you’re not itching to go camping in the extreme cold, so here are some tips for camping in temperatures that are colder than average.

Camping in 60°F (15°C): Comfortable but cool

You can enjoy some of the nicest camping trips in 60-degree weather. If there’s little wind and a decent amount of snow, you’ve got yourself a cool and comfortable situation that’s perfect for all sorts of activities—hiking, fishing, climbing, and so on.

You can expect these kinds of temperatures often in mid- to late spring, sometimes in summer, and early to mid-fall. Although the times of year that you see these temperatures typically overlap with bug season, you probably won’t see as many mosquitoes and other insects at these lower temperatures.

Camping in 60-degree is perfectly safe as long as you beef up the warmth factor of your sleep system. Ideally, you should have a good three-season tent and a three-season sleeping bag rated for temperatures at least 10°F (6°C) lower than the coldest temperature you expect to camp in.

For example, since I know I’ll be camping in 60-degree weather, my tent should be able to withstand temps as low as 50°F (10°C), and my sleeping bag should keep me warm down to 40°F (4°C).

If you don’t have a three-season tent or sleeping bag, you can still camp in 60-degree weather, but you’ll need to take extra measures to stay warm. In this case, I would recommend bringing along a warmer sleeping bag and extra blankets. You can also wear more layers to bed and make sure to ventilate your tent so condensation doesn’t make things wet and cold.

Most likely seasons: Mid- to late spring, summer, and early to mid-fall.

Biggest risks: Chilly nights and mornings, hypothermia is possible within two hours if you get wet from sweat, rain, or falling in water

What you’ll need to stay dry and warm:

• Three-season tent
• At least 1 tarp for shelter from rain and wind
• Three-season sleeping bag with a comfort rating of 40°F (4°C)
• Air mattress with an R-value of 2 to 3
• Optional sleeping bag liner
• 2 pairs of mid-weight base layer
• 1 to 2 pairs of an insulated mid layer (fleece or wool)
• 1 outer shell layer that’s waterproof and breathable (rain jacket and pants)
• Warm clothes to sleep in (such as merino wool long underwear)
• Light hat, gloves, scarf/buff
• 2+ pairs of merino wool socks
• Waterproof footwear (hiking shoes or boots)
• Comfortable camp footwear (Crocs, slip-ons, rubber boots)

Camping in 50°F (10°C): On the chilly side

In 50-degree weather, you’re starting to get into the range where you need to take extra precautions to make sure you stay warm and dry. Since these temperatures are common in the shoulder seasons—spring and fall—you can expect a fair amount of rain and wind to go along with them.

On clear and dry days, however, it’s an absolute pleasure to be out enjoying nature. The bugs and crowds are almost certainly gone if it’s not the middle of summer, and you can go for a brisk hike without breaking a sweat too easily. A campfire is also extra nice in this kind of crisp, cool air!

Overall, camping in 50-degree weather isn’t that much different from camping in 60-degree weather—other than the fact that you’ll have to check that your sleeping bag is rated for these temperatures. You’ll need all the same gear as before, but you might want to consider bringing an extra blanket or two just in case.

Most likely seasons: Spring, potentially summer, and fall.

Biggest risks: Chilly nights and mornings, hypothermia is possible within one hour if you get wet from sweat, rain, or falling in water.

What you’ll need to stay dry and warm:

• Three-season tent
• At least 1 tarp for shelter from rain and wind
• Three-season sleeping bag with a comfort rating of 32°F (0°C)
• Air mattress with an R-value of 3 to 4
• Optional sleeping bag liner
• 2 pairs of mid-weight base layer
• 1 to 2 pairs of an insulated mid layer (fleece, wool, or down)
• 1 outer shell layer that’s waterproof and breathable (rain jacket and pants)
• Warm clothes to sleep in (such as merino wool long underwear)
• Warm hat, gloves, scarf/buff
• 2+ pairs each of merino wool/liner socks and heavier wool sock
• Waterproof footwear (hiking shoes or boots)
• Comfortable camp footwear (Crocs, slip-ons, rubber boots)

Camping in 40°F (5°C): Pretty darn cold

When the mercury drops into the 40s, then you’re really starting to feel that chill! The outdoor temperature is now around the same temperature as your refrigerator, which means that all your gear clothing needs to be able to withstand some serious cold.

This is especially true if there’s wind, which could make the temperatures feel closer to freezing (or below). Rain is also a big risk, which could soak through your clothing and put you at serious risk of hypothermia.

In 40-degree weather, staying dry is as important as staying warm. You’re probably not camping in summer in these temperatures, so you need to be prepared for harsher, more unpredictable weather.

It’s not a bad idea to have winter-specific gear and clothing for these temperatures. You’re getting close to the freezing mark, and with the windchill factor, you’d be wise to bring along a four-season tent and a winter sleeping bag rated for temperatures of at least 14°F (-10°C)

Most likely seasons: Fall, winter, and spring.

Biggest risks: Chilly nights and mornings, hypothermia is possible within 30 minutes if you get wet from sweat, rain, or falling in water.

What you’ll need to stay dry and warm:

• Three-season or four-season tent
• At least 1 tarp for shelter from rain and wind
• Three-season or four-season/winter sleeping bag with a comfort rating of 14°F (-10°C)
• Air mattress with an R-value of 4+
• Optional sleeping bag liner
• Optional portable propane-powered heater
• 2 pairs of mid-weight base layer
• 1 to 2 pairs of an insulated mid layer (fleece, wool, or down)
• 1 outer shell layer that’s waterproof and breathable (rain jacket and pants)
• Warm clothes to sleep in (such as merino wool long underwear plus sweatshirt/sweatpants)
• Warm hat, gloves/mittens, scarf/buff
• 2+ pairs each of merino wool/liner socks and heavier wool sock
• Waterproof footwear (hiking shoes or boots)
• Comfortable and warm camp footwear (Booties, sneakers, rubber boots)

Camping in 30°F (-1°C): Let the freezing begin

The weather is now freezing—literally! If there’s precipitation in the forecast, chances are you could see snow or sleet. And if the temperatures hover close to the freezing mark, that’s bad news, because any snow or ice pellets could easily melt as soon as they come into contact with you or the warm ground.

You’d think camping in 30 degrees would be kind of miserable given that it’s probably late fall, winter, or early spring with little signs of plant life or wildlife, but in reality, camping during these times can be incredibly peaceful. Your biggest threat is the unpredictable weather.

You can get by with a three-season tent, but a four-season tent is better. When we expect freezing temperatures, we actually break out the hot tent, which is a big canvas tent that we use with a wood stove inside for heat.

You better have a winter sleeping bag, and if you’re cold camping, a portable propane-powered heater can mean the difference between a fun camping trip and a miserable one. In addition to hypothermia, frostbite now becomes a potential risk.

Most likely seasons: Fall, winter, and spring.

Biggest risks: Frost and snow especially at night and in the morning, food and fluids freezing, hypothermia is possible within 15 to 30 minutes if you get wet, frostbite is possible within two hours of exposure.

What you’ll need to stay dry and warm:

• Three-season, four-season, or hot tent
• At least 1 tarp for shelter from rain and wind
• Winter sleeping bag with a comfort rating of 0°F (-18°C)
• Air mattress with an R-value of 4 to 5+
• Optional sleeping bag liner
• Optional portable propane-powered heater
• 2 pairs of mid-weight base layer
• 1 to 2 pairs of an insulated mid layer (fleece, wool, or down)
• 1 outer shell layer that’s waterproof and breathable (rainwear, parka, ski/snowboard pants)
• Warm clothes to sleep in (such as merino wool long underwear plus fleece or wool)
• Warm hat, gloves/mittens, scarf/buff
• 2+ pairs each of merino wool/liner socks and heavier wool sock
• Waterproof footwear (winter boots)
• Comfortable camp footwear (booties, moccasins, mukluks)

Camping in 20°F (-7°C): Living the frozen life

At 20 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re into some serious freezing weather. It’s most likely winter where you could face blizzard-like conditions, blowing snow, ice, and deep snow drifts.

We love camping in the winter. As long as you know what to expect and plan accordingly, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Sometimes we’ll add one or two extra clothing layers (for a total of four or five layers) to stay warm.

If anything’s for sure, you’ll want to favour wool and down. These are hands down two of the best materials for extreme cold weather due to their warmth-to-weight ratio, durability, and how well they insulate even when wet.

You definitely want a four-season tent, and if you have the budget for it, a hot tent would be ideal so you can stay warm inside your tent. If you plant to tough it out with a four-season tent, a portable propane-powered heater could be a lifesaver.

You’re going to need a winter sleeping bag that’s ideally rated for -22°F (-30°C). You never know just how low those freezing temperatures can dip overnight—especially with the wind howling.

Most likely seasons: Late fall, winter, and early spring.

Biggest risks: Frost and snow especially at night and in the morning, food and fluids freezing, hypothermia is possible within 15 minutes if you get wet, frostbite is possible within two hours of exposure.

What you’ll need to stay dry and warm:

• Four-season tent or hot tent
• At least 1 tarp for shelter from rain and wind
• Winter sleeping bag with a comfort rating of -22°F (-30°C)
• Air mattress with an R-value of 5+
• Optional sleeping bag liner
• Optional portable propane-powered heater
• 2 to 4 pairs of mid-weight or heavy-weight base layer
• 3 to 4 pairs of an insulated mid layer (fleece, wool, or down)
• 1 outer shell layer that’s waterproof and breathable (rainwear, parka, ski/snowboard pants)
• Warm clothes to sleep in (such as merino wool long underwear plus fleece or wool)
• Extra warm hat, gloves/mittens, scarf/buff
• 2+ pairs each of merino wool/liner socks and heavier wool sock
• Waterproof footwear (winter boots)
• Comfortable camp footwear (booties, moccasins, mukluks)

Camping in 10°F (-12°C): In a serious deep freeze

We gotta tell you, you’re pretty brave for venturing out for a camping trip in 10-degree weather. The temperatures aren’t just freezing—they’re well below it, which means that anything and everything that could freeze probably will.

The good news is that with temperatures this low, you’re less likely to experience rain or snow melt, making for much drier conditions. That means you need more layers and a potential heat source to stay warm, but at least you may be less likely to get hypothermia from getting wet.

Still, you do have to manage your sweat levels. Don’t think that just because it’s super cold out, you won’t sweat. You will if you’re working hard and wearing a lot of layers, so you have to be careful.

These kinds of temperatures, however, provide some of the best opportunities for a true winter wonderland trip. The beauty of winter really reveals itself when it’s this cold out, which makes for a truly unique experience if you’re willing to try it!

Most likely seasons: Winter.

Biggest risks: Snow (including snowstorms and whiteout conditions) especially at night and in the morning, food and fluids freezing, hypothermia is possible within a few minutes minutes if you get wet, frostbite is possible within two hours of exposure.

What you’ll need to stay dry and warm:

• Four-season tent or hot tent
• At least 1 tarp for shelter from rain and wind
• Winter sleeping bag with a comfort rating of at least -22°F (-30°C)
• Air mattress with an R-value of 5+
• Optional sleeping bag liner
• Optional portable propane-powered heater
• 2 to 4 pairs of mid-weight or heavy-weight base layer
• 3 to 4 pairs of an insulated mid layer (fleece, wool, or down)
• 1 outer shell layer that’s waterproof and breathable (rainwear, parka, ski/snowboard pants)
• Warm clothes to sleep in (such as merino wool long underwear plus fleece or wool)
• Extra warm hat, gloves/mittens, scarf/buff
• 2+ pairs each of merino wool/liner socks and heavier wool sock
• Waterproof footwear (winter boots)
• Comfortable camp footwear (booties, moccasins, mukluks)

So, how cold is too cold for camping?

As cold as your gear and clothing allows! We recommend working up (or, err, down) to camping in colder temperatures on a gradual basis if you’re interested in camping in the cold.

For instance, if you typically camp in the summer, try camping in late spring or early fall before committing to a late fall, winter, or early spring trip. This way, you’ll get a feel for how to layer your clothing and how much more gear you need to pack.

If you can, go with someone who has some experience camping in the shoulder seasons. They’ll be able to offer guidance on how to best prepare for the conditions, set up camp, and stay warm and dry throughout the entire trip.

In the meantime, check out our guide on how to stay warm in your tent and what the difference is between three-season and four-season tents. And lastly, be sure to download our cold weather camping checklist. It’s free!

You can never be too prepared when cold weather camping. Have fun and stay warm!