ATV Camping

All-terrain vehicles are a great addition to a camping trip. You can spend all day exploring the trails (while getting powerful adrenaline rushes). Then return to your campsite to fall asleep under the stars – and repeat the next day. We rounded up the top tips for ATV camping below. For everything related to all-terrain vehicles, visit Cross Country Powersports. We proudly serve those in Metuchen, Newark, and New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Plan Your Trip

Any camping trip requires some careful planning and ATV camping is no exception. Start by figuring out where you want to go. Some people prefer finding the campsite first and then find things to do nearby. Other travelers prefer to start with a bucket list of experiences and then find a campsite that is nearby. Either approach works – just try to book your campsite as far in advance as you can. The best sites get booked quick and you’ll want to reserve your spot. Plus, reserving in advance can often get you a discount.

As you plan your trip, be sure to take into account the weather. All-terrain vehicles can’t handle all types of weather. You don’t want to travel in intense heat, heavy rains, or hail. Try to find a time of the year that the weather is consistently good.

Prepare Your ATV

When you plan your trip around your ATV, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is up for the vacation. It’d be a shame to get all the way out to your destination only to have it break down on you! You’ll want to conduct a pre-trip inspection. The idea is to catch mechanical issues at home where you can easily visit a mechanic (rather than in the backwoods when the nearest mechanic may be a few hours from your campsite).

All-terrain vehicles should be taken on a short test ride before travel day. As you ride, look out for anything out of the ordinary. Are your brakes working as normal? Is your ATV taking turns and accelerating fine? If anything isn’t working right, take it in for a service.

Packing

It is tempting to bring along anything and everything you might need, but try to resist that urge! You don’t need to lug a bunch of unnecessary items to your campsite (and then back home). Besides, you’ll be spending most of your time out in the backwoods tearing up the trails. Focus on the essentials and try not to add much more. You’ll need to bring shelter, clothing, any medications, toiletries, food, water, and materials to build a fire if there is no fire ban. Opt for travel-size versions of products such as soaps, contact lens solution, and more. After all, you only need a few squirts of those items – so why bring the whole bottle? Another strategy is to get backpacking equipment. These items are designed to be lightweight and take up little space.

Finding a Campsite

Here you are aiming for a sweet spot. Too far away from the site and you risk animal encounters. Too close and you risk getting woken up by all the traffic. Try to find a middle ground to set up shop – then go hit the trails in your ATV!

For all your ATV needs, visit Cross Country Powersports. We offer a range of new and used all-terrain vehicles for sale for all budgets and riding levels. We also offer parts replacement and service options. If your ATV is experiencing mechanical problems, we can fix them right up! We proudly serve those in Metuchen, Newark, New Brunswick, and Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.