Stay Fit with These Camping Exercises

When you start your camping vacation, you don’t have to put your exercise routine on hold. The fact is, you can liven it up when out on a camping trip. It’s always good to surprise those muscles, and doing exercises you don’t usually perform works to keep your body limber and fit. Check out the exercises ReserveAmerica has listed below, and start getting super fit while camping.

Plan Ahead: Pack Some Special Gear

Be sure to bring some fit gear that will help you with your workouts. It should be portable equipment to make it simple and light to pack. Here are a few suggestions:

• Resistance bands
• Light dumbbells
• Jump rope
• Fitbit or other monitoring device

Regular Camping Activities to Stay Fit

No need to leave your workout at home when you're camping. Check out some of these options that are fun to incorporate on any trip.

• Hiking - Many state parks have miles of hiking trails including easy, intermediate, or difficult levels. Research the park before you go and see what sort of distance you feel comfortable exploring. The difficult and intermediate trails will give you more of a workout.  Humbug State Park in Oregon offers spectacular views of the coast during a hike.

• Swimming - When the time of year is right, swimming in a lake (or even the ocean in a coastal state park) provides plenty of exercise.  One place that offers great swimming for all ages is North Toledo Bend State Park in Louisiana.

• Running the trails - One of the best cardio workouts you can get will be running along the trails where you are camping. A solo run is perfect to get your heart pumping.  Alapocas State Park in Delaware provides trails through rolling hills of fields and forests.

• Biking - You can bring your own or rent one at many campgrounds. This is a good cardio workout, and it is easier on the back and knees than running. You’ll see lots of lovely scenery as well. Enjoy a designated off-road bicycle trail that offers a 9-mile course for beginner to intermediate level cyclists at Bloxham Pavilion Lake Talquin State Forest in Florida.

• Canoeing, Paddleboarding or Kayaking - Any of these activities will give your arms a nice workout. For a serene water experience, try Nickerson State Park in Massachusetts.

• Exercise Stations - Each exercise station varies in the equipment they offer. Look for equipment such as a horizontal chin-up bar, sit up and back extension seat, push up bar, T-bar, and many more. For a wide variety, Caroga Lake in New York has 18 exercise stations from which to choose. 

Recommended: Experience Outdoor Exercise on State Park Biking Trails

Other Activities that Will Keep You Fit

• Weightlifting - It's simple to lift weights without having dumbbells. Just take a gallon water jug and fill it to the weight you choose. You can do curls or shoulder presses just like at the gym.

• Hiking with a full backpack - Fill your backpack with different equipment and hike a ways. Don’t overdo it but make it so you are carrying a bit of extra weight to give yourself a challenge.

Exercises that You Can do Anywhere

• Walking lunges - Place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a large step forward with one leg, letting the other knee go almost to the ground. Then do the same with the other side.

• Wall squats - Stand with your back against a wall. Place your feet far enough away from you that when you slowly lower yourself to a sitting position, your shins are perpendicular to the floor. Your knees should also be right above your ankles. Hold that sitting position for ten to sixty seconds. 

• Push-ups - you don’t need any equipment for push-ups, you just need to get down there and do them. They work your shoulders, chest, abs, and core. 

• Sit-ups - Lying back on a flat piece of ground, you bend your knees and place your feet flat on the ground. Put your hands behind your ears, lift your shoulder blades off the ground, and pull your chin towards your knees. Repeat for the amount of times desired.

• Use a Resistance Band - If you brought along your resistance band, you will find a number of great exercises to do for the upper body.  Wrap the tube part around a tree or a fence and do back rows or pull-downs. You can also wrap it under a chair and do overhead shoulder presses. Stand on the tube and do bicep curls. You have many choices. The best thing is that the resistance band doesn’t take much room when you are packing.

Besides all of the above, you don’t want to neglect stretching, which can also be done anywhere. Yoga exercises are a great way to really get the cramps out of your muscles. They can be done down by the lake or at your campsite in the woods. It’s a wonderful way to finish the day.

Your camping trip takes on a special meaning when you plan fun ways to keep fit!

Check with your Local Government Organization

Many policies have been established to counter and control the coronavirus outbreak. State and local officials have been taking decisive action to stop the spread. The policies vary by state, sometimes to a great degree. When you book a reservation, make sure to review the park and state's latest rules and regulations prior to your visit.

For COVID-19 updates, please visit our Impacted Park List and Reservation Guide for the latest information.