Autumn camping: how to stay warm and dry in your tent

Autumn camping is a great idea if you love peace and quiet, colourful forests and misty mornings. The summer crowds are gone, the air is fresh and in the evening you crawl into your tent with a warm cup of tea. At the same time, autumn calls for different preparation than a summer festival trip: the days are shorter, the nights colder and the chance of rain and wind is higher. With these tips, autumn camping won't be an endurance test but a lovely adventure.

Why autumn camping is worth it

• Quiet campsites. After the high season, many campsites are a lot quieter, so you often have more choice of pitches.
• Beautiful nature. Forests turn red and gold, and a morning with mist over the water is one you won't forget.
• No heat in the tent. No tent that heats up like a sauna in the morning, just fresh air to sleep in.

Do keep in mind: not every campsite is open all year round. Check the opening dates of your destination in advance.

Autumn camping: how to choose the right tent

The most important choice is made before you leave. In autumn you want a tent that keeps the rain out, stands firm in the wind and offers enough space to sit inside when it's wet outside.

Pay attention to the hydrostatic head

The hydrostatic head indicates how much water pressure the tent fabric can withstand before water gets through. The higher the hydrostatic head, the better the tent can cope with prolonged rain. The Lyve Family Tent has a hydrostatic head of 8000 mm, the Lyve Pop-Up Pro XL 5000 mm. Besides the fabric, also look at the seams: that's where a tent tends to leak first. The Pop-Up Pro XL has taped seams.

Choose living space

In summer you mostly live outside, in autumn more often inside. A tent with standing height and separate sleeping cabins makes a rainy afternoon much more pleasant: you can stand upright, get changed and play a game together. Depending on the size, the Lyve Family Tent has a standing height of 190 to 225 cm and one to three sleeping cabins. See all options in our family tents collection.

Don't forget ventilation

Cold nights and warm breath cause condensation on the inside of the tent fabric. That's not a leak, but moisture from the air settling on the cold fabric. Good ventilation helps to limit it. The Lyve Family Tent has a 3-mode system: you choose between ventilation, sun or storm mode, and the ventilation openings have mosquito mesh.

Pitching your tent in wind and rain

• Choose a sheltered spot, for example behind a hedge or a row of trees, but not directly under trees where branches might fall.
• Avoid dips and hollows where rainwater collects.
• Point the narrow side or the back of the tent into the wind.
• Use all the pegs and guy lines and tension them well. Is the ground soft and wet? Then drive the pegs in at an angle and extra deep.
• Practise pitching at home, so you don't have to figure it out in bad weather.

Is it getting really stormy? Then switch the Lyve Family Tent to storm mode, in which the tent is fully closed.

Sleeping warm on a cold night

A common mistake is thinking a good sleeping bag is enough. The cold mainly comes from below, from the ground.

• Insulate the floor. Use an insulated sleeping mat or mattress and consider putting a blanket or extra mat underneath. An air bed without insulation quickly feels cold at night.
• Choose a suitable sleeping bag. Look at the comfort temperature on the label, not just the extreme rating.
• Sleep in dry clothes. Put on dry socks and a hat before going to sleep. Clothes you've been active in during the day hold moisture.
• Go to bed warm. A short walk or a hot drink just before bed helps you warm up.
• Bring a hot water bottle. Popping it in your sleeping bag before you crawl in works wonders.

Staying dry: how to keep moisture out

• Leave wet jackets and shoes in the canopy or by the entrance, not in the sleeping cabin.
• Put a groundsheet under your tent, but make sure it doesn't stick out beyond the tent. Otherwise it catches rainwater that then runs under your tent.
• Bring extra towels and a few bin bags for wet items.
• Open the ventilation briefly every morning, even when it's cold. That lets the moisture from the night escape.

Light and atmosphere in the dark hours

In autumn it gets dark early. Bring a head torch for each person and a lantern or string lights for inside the tent. That way you can sit cosily inside in the evening with a book, a card game or a board game. Plan your outings during the day and make sure your tent is up before dark.

Packing list for autumn camping

• Warm layers: thermal top, fleece jumper and a warm jacket
• Rain jacket, rain trousers and waterproof shoes
• Hat, gloves and extra wool socks
• Insulated sleeping mat and a warm sleeping bag
• Head torches and a lantern for the tent
• Extra pegs for soft ground
• Thermos flask for tea, coffee or soup
• Towels and bin bags for wet items

Afterwards: let your tent dry properly

An autumn trip often ends with a wet tent. That's no problem, as long as you pitch it again or hang it up to dry at home as soon as possible, including the inside and the groundsheet. Only store it once everything is completely dry. In our blog about tent maintenance you can read how to keep your tent in good condition for years.

Where will you go?

For an autumn weekend you don't need to travel far. Forests and heathlands are at their most beautiful in autumn. Looking for inspiration? Read our blog about the most beautiful campsites in the Netherlands for large tents, and check whether your favourite is open in autumn.

Ready for your autumn trip?

Heading into autumn with the family? The Lyve Family Tent combines an 8000 mm hydrostatic head with a 3-layer system, a storm mode and blackout sleeping cabins. Choose from a 4, 6 or 8-person version, from €229.99. Prefer something compact for a weekend for two or three? Then the Lyve Pop-Up Pro XL with a 5000 mm hydrostatic head is a good choice, from €99.99. Order in the Netherlands before 23:00 for next-day delivery; to Belgium it takes 1–2 working days and to Germany, Austria and France 1–3 working days. You can also return your order within 30 days.

View all family tents

Frequently asked questions

Isn't autumn camping too cold?

With good insulation under your sleeping spot, a sleeping bag with a suitable comfort temperature and warm layers, autumn camping is very doable. Most of the cold comes from the ground, so start there.

How do I prevent condensation in my tent?

You can't prevent it completely, but you can reduce it considerably. Open the ventilation, don't leave wet clothes in the sleeping area and air the tent briefly every morning.

What hydrostatic head is useful for autumn camping?

The higher the hydrostatic head, the better a tent can cope with prolonged rain. Lyve tents have a hydrostatic head of 5000 mm (Pop-Up Pro XL) or 8000 mm (Family Tent). You'll find more answers on our frequently asked questions page.

Can I use a pop-up tent in autumn?

For a weekend away, definitely. A pop-up tent with a high hydrostatic head and taped seams, like the Pop-Up Pro XL, keeps you dry. If you're going for longer or with the whole family, the extra living space and standing height of a family tent are more comfortable.