Why a camping emergency plan matters

A camping emergency plan is a simple set of decisions you make before you leave home. It covers who knows where you are, what you will do if weather turns dangerous, how your group stays together, and when you will turn back. The National Park Service explains that proper planning for your trip is essential for a safe visit, and that even careful planners should prepare for the unexpected.

Short version: Leave a trip itinerary with an emergency contact, carry a communication device, agree on a group plan, know where to shelter from storms, and be ready to change plans.

This guide focuses on national park and campground guidance from the National Park Service, the National Weather Service, and Smokey Bear. Rules vary by park and campground, so check the specific park or campground website and ask rangers or hosts before you go.

Leave a trip itinerary and emergency contact

According to the National Park Service, you should ask a friend or family member who is not going on the trip to be your emergency contact. Leave your travel itinerary with that person before you set out. The itinerary should include the names and contact information of people in your group, a description of your vehicle or boat including make, model, and license plate number, your starting time and location, details of your route and planned activities, the types of equipment and supplies you have, your expected finish time and location, and the park emergency phone number to call if you do not return on schedule.

The National Park Service also recommends leaving a copy of your plan with family and friends traveling with you so they know emergency numbers for the park. This way, they can make contact in an emergency situation.

What to include in a trip plan

  • Names and contact information for everyone in the group
  • Vehicle, vessel, or bicycle details such as year, make, model, color, and license plate
  • Starting time and location
  • Route details and planned activities
  • Equipment and supplies you are carrying
  • Expected finish time and location
  • Park emergency phone number

For backcountry trips, the National Park Service says you should share a detailed itinerary with someone at home in the event of an emergency. It is also a good idea to leave a copy in your vehicle for rangers to find in case of emergency.

Check in after the trip

The National Park Service advises campers to let their emergency contact know they ended their trip safe and sound. If you signed into a log book at the beginning of your activity, sign out of it. For backcountry trips, the National Park Service says to let your emergency contacts know you have finished and that you are safe. If the park has a check out policy, let rangers know your trip has ended.

After the trip, the National Park Service recommends reviewing with your family and friends what went right and what went wrong. The information you share can help you create a more enjoyable experience for your next trip. You can also share your experience so others can learn from your lessons.

Create a group plan for staying together

The National Park Service says to emphasize staying together and to carry whistles. Implement a buddy system. Tell children to “Hug a Tree” and adults to stay put, with the exception of imminent danger, if they get separated from the group. Make sure everybody is familiar with the route, stay on the trail, and do not take shortcuts.

Before setting out, the National Park Service says to be sure everyone is physically capable of participating. Match the interests and physical fitness of your group with the activities you choose. You do not want to push yourself or your group members to hike, climb, or explore beyond their physical abilities, because that is when injuries are more likely to occur.

If someone is lost

The National Park Service says to take these steps immediately if group members are lost. Call 911 and tell the operator when and where they were last seen, what they were wearing and carrying, and any medical conditions they may have. If you cannot call 911, flag down hikers and ask them to alert park rangers. If hikers are not nearby, split up using a buddy system and send some people back to the ranger station for help.

If someone is injured

For injuries, the National Park Service recommends providing a safe and comfortable place for the injured person to sit or lie down. Assess the nature of the injury and the level of medical care needed, then decide if you should call 911. When calling 911, have your current location, the type and extent of the injury, and any medical conditions the injured person may have ready. Follow all directions provided by the 911 operator.

For minor scrapes and abrasions, the National Park Service says to use your first aid kit and treat the wound immediately to avoid infection. If someone twisted an ankle, try to stabilize the foot, elevate it, and allow the person to rest. If the person is unable to walk, enlist help from other participants or wait for 911 or park ranger assistance. If their range of motion is limited but functional, assist the injured person back to camp. Seek medical help when needed.

Plan for weather emergencies

Weather conditions can change quickly, especially in the mountains, according to the National Park Service. Be prepared for a variety of conditions including extreme temperatures and lightning, as well as wet or windy conditions. The National Weather Service recommends a NOAA Weather Radio as a source of up-to-date weather information, and portable weather radios are handy for outdoor activities.

Lightning and thunderstorms

The National Weather Service states that the only safe action in a thunderstorm is to get inside a safe building or vehicle. A tent and a picnic shelter are not safe places during lightning activity. If you are camping and hear distant thunder, go to your vehicle. Wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going back to the campsite.

If you absolutely cannot get to safety, the National Weather Service says you can slightly lessen the threat of being struck, but you are not safe outside. Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top. Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. If you are in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees. If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members. If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low area. Stay away from water, wet items such as ropes, and metal objects such as fences and poles.

The National Weather Service also advises knowing the weather patterns of the area you plan to visit. In mountainous areas, thunderstorms typically develop in the early afternoon, so plan to hike early in the day and be down the mountain by noon. Listen to the weather forecast for the outdoor area you plan to visit, because it may be very different from the one near your home.

High winds and tornadoes

For downbursts and high winds, the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids says to get away from trees, leave tents, cars, and campers, and get inside a sturdy shelter. If none is available, seek a sheltered area away from trees. Cars are better than nothing, but avoid parking near trees.

For tornadoes, the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids says to get to a sturdy structure and get below ground in a storm shelter or basement. If no basement is available, find a small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Leave cars, because they can go airborne in strong tornadoes. If caught in the open, find a ditch or culvert and protect your head and torso. Highway overpasses should be avoided.

Flash floods

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg says to avoid camping on banks of high and fast running streams, creeks, or rivers, as well as in narrow valleys. If you notice even a slight rise in water levels, seek higher ground immediately. Flash flooding can occur any time of year, and thunderstorms upstream can cause a flood downstream. Distant rain may be channeled into gullies, narrow canyons, ravines, and burn scars from recent wildfires.

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids says never attempt to cross a flooded road. Avoid low ground and areas subject to flooding, and be especially cautious at night. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet, according to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg.

Fire emergencies

Smokey Bear, the USDA Forest Service wildfire prevention program, says to call 911 immediately if your fire jumps from the pit to surrounding vegetation or if embers fly outside of the fire. Before building a fire, check for fire restrictions online or by phone, and do not build a campfire in hazardous, dry, or windy conditions.

Smokey Bear also describes the drown, stir, drown, and feel method for putting out a campfire. Pour lots of water on the fire until the hissing sound stops, drowning all the embers. Stir the water into the embers, dirt, and sand with a shovel, and scrape any sticks and logs until no embers are exposed or smoldering. Continue adding water, dirt, and sand until all material is cool. Hover the back of your hand over the ashes to feel that the embers are cool. If your campfire is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.

Carry communication devices

The National Park Service includes a communication device in its 10 Essentials list. While carrying a cell phone is a good idea, you may often find yourself without signal or a dead battery. The National Park Service suggests considering a personal locator beacon or satellite phone for optimal safety.

The National Park Service 10 Essentials article also lists navigation items such as a map, compass, and GPS system, plus illumination items such as a flashlight and headlamp. Headlamps are recommended because they are hands-free. Pack extra batteries for your phone and lights.

Have a backup plan and know when to turn back

The National Park Service says to have a backup plan. Sometimes health issues, weather concerns, environmental hazards, or site conditions change your trip plans. Do not push through with your original plans if they are no longer a safe course of action. You can always reschedule or plan an alternative activity at the park.

For backcountry trips, the National Park Service says to stick to your travel itinerary and not change plans midway through your trip. If something bad happens, your emergency contacts will be able to share your travel plan with park rangers, who will have more knowledge on where to look for you. If you encounter conditions that may require a change in your itinerary, consider heading back and trying again another time when conditions improve.

What-if planning at a glance

What if Plan Source
Someone gets separated from the group Children hug a tree, adults stay put unless in imminent danger; call 911 with last seen location, clothing, and medical conditions National Park Service
You hear thunder while at camp Go to a vehicle or sturdy building; wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before returning National Weather Service
Water levels rise near a stream Seek higher ground immediately; never cross a flooded road National Weather Service Blacksburg and Grand Rapids
Your campfire escapes the pit Call 911 immediately Smokey Bear
Conditions become unsafe mid-trip Turn back and try again another time; do not push through unsafe plans National Park Service

Build your plan before you go

A camping emergency plan is most useful when it is written down and shared. Start with the trip itinerary, add your group rules for staying together, and note the nearest sturdy shelter or vehicle. Review the plan with everyone in your group before you leave.

For more on staying safe at camp, see our camping safety section. The broader guide to camping safety basics covers fire, wildlife, first aid, and emergencies in more detail. If you are new to camping, start with camping checklists and camping preparation. For weather-specific planning, see wind and storms and rainy weather camping.

Frequently asked questions

What should a camping trip itinerary include?

According to the National Park Service, a travel itinerary should include names and contact information of people in your group, a description of your vehicle or boat including make, model, and license plate number, your starting time and location, route details and planned activities, equipment and supplies you have, your expected finish time and location, and the park emergency phone number to call if you do not return on schedule.

Where should I shelter during a thunderstorm while camping?

The National Weather Service says the only safe action is to get inside a safe building or vehicle. A tent and a picnic shelter are not safe places during lightning activity. Wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going back to the campsite.

What should I do if someone is lost on a camping trip?

The National Park Service says to call 911 immediately and tell the operator when and where the person was last seen, what they were wearing and carrying, and any medical conditions they may have. If you cannot call 911, flag down hikers and ask them to alert park rangers, or split up using a buddy system and send some people back to the ranger station for help.

For more planning guidance, return to emergency planning.

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