Camping Tarp Guide with Practical Tips

Home is where your camping tarp is!
Alright, my apologies for distorting the well-loved adage, but that statement was true the first time my Midwestern-raised husband went on a camping adventure during our summer in Wyoming.

After loading the jeep with food, canteens, sleeping bags, etc., the two adventurers—one newbie and one native—drove off into a wilderness area until they reached a trailhead. From there they backpacked until they reached a little stream beside which the Wyoming young man wanted to set up camp.

A rope was stretched between two trees. A tarp for camping was slung over the rope. Rocks were placed around the bottom of the tarp to secure the backside. The open skies were the front door, but with their heads toward the inside, the tarp kept the moisture away. Voila! Home was where their camping tarp was!

Camping was then and is today a great way to escape a busy schedule, daily pressures, and the crowded city life for a few days and nights to enjoy fresh air, the sounds, and the sights of nature. Camping is an opportunity to really relax. An estimated 40 million people in the United States participate in this outdoor activity each year. Camping is a popular activity!

From Backyard Fun to Real Adventures

Tent camping and RV camping top the list of most-popular ways to camp. However, if you throw a camp tarp over a rope extended between two trees in your backyard and secure the bottom of the tarp, you will be the one who is popular! Backyard camping will top the list of fun activities for your children!

Whether your camping fun is at home or away-from-home, having the right gear for a comfortable and successful camping experience is of utmost importance.

Along with food, water, sleeping bags, matches, and other essentials, be sure to include a waterproof camping tarp or canvas tarp for camping. Tarps are one of the most versatile and underrated camping essentials. Get acquainted with this helpful piece of outdoor gear!

What is a Camping Tarp?

A camping tarp is a strong, flexible sheet of material used for covering—covering that protects from moisture, screens harmful sun rays, preserves equipment, and shelters adventurous outdoor campers. Usually, tarps are made of polyethylene, canvas, or vinyl. They come in a multitude of sizes, colors, and materials—one is sure to fit your needs as well as be within your budget, whether you're seeking canvas tarps for camping or lightweight polyethylene options.

Benefits of Using Tarps While Camping Outdoors

Part of the outdoor adventure involves changeable weather! Whether your camping days are rainy, sunny, or windy, the benefit of having a waterproof camping tarp for protection is immeasurable. The right tarp overhead protects from harmful sun rays, keeps your camping site dry, and gives relief from the blustery wind.

Using a tarp for camping also gives increased space to your camping area by creating additional shade or dry areas. Adding onto your home is expensive. Adding onto your camping area with a tarp is inexpensive and cost-effective! In addition, camp tarps are portable—easy to take with you, to set up wherever you camp, and to take back home again until next time.

Also Read: Top 10 Creative Uses for Heavy-Duty Tarps in Home and Garden Projects

Creative Uses for Tarps in Your Outdoor Adventures

Tarp Ground Cover: Moisture Protection for Tents and Campsites

Your outdoor adventure will be less adventurous—in a good way—when a camping tarp is placed underneath the tent. The tarp will protect from ground moisture, minimize the dirt inside the tent, and keep the creepy-crawlies inside the living area to a minimum.

Tarp Shelter: Quick and Easy Canopy Setup for Camping

A tarp for camping hung between two trees with ropes or camping tarp poles or bungee cords and secured to the ground can provide shelter for your camping area from wind, making the outdoor adventure more enjoyable.

For cyclists on the move, a minimum of gear is important. Bring a lightweight waterproof camping tarp along on your journey. Turn two bikes upside down a few feet apart (resting on the handlebars and seat). Stretch your tarp across the bike wheels, anchoring the tarp ropes into the ground with stakes. Pull the ropes taut and throw your sleeping bags underneath. It’s your new home!

Is more “living space” needed at your camping area? Do you need more shade? Using a camper tarp for additional cover, as mentioned earlier, increases the living space available for cooking, playing, or simply relaxing.

Protection from the elements for your gear while camping is important, simple, and inexpensive—cover it with a camper tarp cover.

How to Make a Hammock Using a Tarp for Camping

A tarp can double as a hammock if you want to sleep off the ground while camping. After locating two trees the right distance apart, follow these simple instructions:

• Wrap a rope six or seven times around a tree trunk, preferably above a strong branch.

• About 12 inches from one end of the tarp, scrunch the fabric together.

• Wrap the loose end of the rope half a dozen times around the gathered part.

• Pull one of the loops out two inches, fold the remaining rope in half, and pull this loop part-way through the first small loop. Then pull the wrapped tarp end down, letting it tighten naturally. Since it is not knotted, the rope can easily be loosened when taking the tarp down later.

• Repeat the steps above on the diagonal side of the tarp, attaching it to the second tree in the same way.

• Carefully sit in the middle of the tarp, allowing the ropes to tighten.

• To rest or sleep comfortably, lie down in the middle of the tarp and cover yourself with the two loose sides of the tarp. The tarp has become a hammock with a blanket!

Emergency Solutions

Along with a first-aid kit, a tarp can make the difference between life and death during an outdoor adventure. When it is necessary to transport an injured person, fold the tarp to a manageable size, securely fasten a stick or rod at both the top and bottom, and carry the person to transportation or safety.

A camping tarp waterproof setup can also be helpful as a signaling device when your location needs to be made known for responders to arrive. Use pegs or sticks to anchor the tarp to the ground. Write an SOS or HELP message on the tarp in huge letters.

Another way of signaling for help would be to attach a large piece of tarp to a tall tree or pole. Red tarps are especially easy to see from a distance. Identifying your location in this way will enable the rescuers to locate your campsite.

Choosing the Right Tarp for Your Outdoor Adventure

Camping tarps come in several materials and various sizes, weights, and colors. Some materials are heavy duty and long-lasting. Some are lightweight and very inexpensive. Some tarps offer excellent moisture protection; others protect from harmful sun rays. Which camp tarp you choose will depend upon the outdoor adventure you take.

When hiking and backpacking in the mountains, the tarp needs to be lightweight, compact, and easy to adapt to your purpose. If your family is on a weekend of adventure in the great outdoors, several tarps can be easily loaded into the trunk: one for under the tent, one for a tent, one for over the tent, one for additional canopy space, one to cover the wood pile, one on which the baby can play . . . whatever your tarp camping needs might be!

Blue polyethylene tarps are economical for general purposes, such as weatherproofing, covering gear, and short-term needs. Silver tarps offer outstanding protection from UV rays and are durable for long-term sun exposure. Green, brown, and camouflage tarps are durable, made for the rugged outdoors. Each color blends right into the natural, outdoor-adventure camping tarp scenario. Placing one of these under and over or outside your tent gives added protection and shelter.

Taking care of your camper tarp after your adventure is over makes a difference in how long the tarp will last. First, be sure the tarp is clean and dry. Next, roll it up. Then place the tarp in a dry, dark place until the next time you need it—which will be soon, right?

Practical Tips for Setting Up and Using Tarps

For outdoor-adventure camping purposes, several ways are available to set up and secure camping tarps. If the tarp has reinforced grommets, these will help with the anchoring process and durability.

• Tent stakes or pegs – put a stake in the grommet and drive the stake into the ground.

• Bungee cords – stretch bungee cord between grommet and a stable object (tree, camping pole for tarp).

• Carabiner hooks – insert through the grommet and hook to ground anchor.

• Sandbags – let tarp sides rest on the ground; place sandbags around the edges to add stability in windy locations.

• Ropes – tie ropes through the grommets to a stable object (stake, tree, pole). Or, tie a rope securely between two trees; throw a tarp for camping over it; secure the tarp with rocks or sandbags.

• Tension – check the tension of your set-up method from time to time while camping. A loose tarp might add to the adventure, but it is better to avoid that kind!

One aspect is quite evident: camp tarps are essential for outdoor adventures! Every kind of camping is enhanced when tarp camping poles and sturdy shelter materials are included.

Tarps are flexible—flexible to use in a multitude of ways to make camping easier and more fun. Tarps are adaptable—easily adapted to meet whatever is needed for sun protection, wind protection, moisture protection, and additional camping space.

While on your outdoor adventure, you can relax, knowing that a camper tarp (or two) is covering you, yours, and your stuff! In fact, encourage your friends to join you next time. Just say, “Home is where my tarp is!”

Ready to gear up for your next adventure? 

Explore our collection of premium camping tarps — waterproof, durable, and made for every outdoor challenge. Shop now at Tarps.com and make your campsite feel like home.