How To Get A Perfect Nights' Sleep Under The Stars

A rejuvenating good night’s sleep is a must for any day. And it’s equally important when you want to enjoy your vacation. The great outdoors are very conducive to good slumber, with the sounds of nature becoming natural white noise.

However, the way humans are wired, we don’t easily adjust to sleeping well in a new location. It takes some tips and tricks to get comfortable sleep in a tent. Here are some ideas to check out.

1. Get Comfortable Tent Bedding

The key to a comfortable sleep is comfortable bedding. Even if you’re tired after a day’s hike, poor quality bedding can ruin your sleep plain and simple. It may not be as comfortable as your own bed, but modern camping gear comes pretty close!

There are plenty of options at your disposal, including tent cots, camping sleeping pads, and air mattresses. The lightweight and comfortable convenience of camping sleeping pads can be fairly impressive. They’re lightweight and comfortable. Some of these are inflatable pads, while others use closed cell foam for added comfort.

Of course, if you want more comfort, there’s always the choice to take along a queen-size air mattress. Sleeping pads work for most people, but if you really want to take along a mattress, make sure your tent is big enough to handle it!

2. Pitch Your Tent At The Right Spot

Pitching at the right spot is the simplest way to have the most comfortable sleep in your tent. Look for a flat surface that has no rocks or pebbles to poke at your tent’s floor. A grassy surface would be ideal, but it works best if you have enough confidence in the tent floor to hold out the dew.

It is useful to put a footprint under the tent. When you choose the spot, also look at your neighbors. Noisy neighbors might as well be a big red flag. If you find a relatively secluded spot, take it! The way campgrounds end up getting packed these days, those nice spots are few and far between.

3. Stay Relaxed And Calm Yourself

Had a tough day camping or got something weighing on your mind? Leave those worries behind and enjoy the calm. Lying under the stars and gazing at the sky is a great way to relax. Plus, you’re away from the light pollution that obscures the night sky in urban areas.

Take this time to appreciate the vastness of space and enjoy the beauty of stars. It is totally worth it to bring along a telescope. Watching the wonders of space and enjoying some pretty impressive views, both around you and through the telescope.

4. Got An Eye Mask And Earplugs?

Nature is a massive white noise machine for sleeping in the outdoors. You know what’s not good for sleep? People moving all around. The fabric-thin walls of the tent aren’t going to protect you from the noise and all the disturbance outside your tent.

Even if you’ve got considerate neighbors, someone simply trying to find their way with a flashlight could be a problem. A flashlight on the tent is going to filter in pretty deep and make the tent feel bright. Also, as the sun rises, be prepared to have your tent flooded in light.

The solution? Get good quality earplugs and don’t forget to bring along an eye mask.

5. Don’t Wear Moist Clothes To Bed

Whenever possible, keep a fresh pair of clothes available for when you go to bed. The clothes you wore throughout the day may feel okay, but they’ve absorbed moisture and sweat through the day. As the night gets cold, they’re going to feel cold and wet. It’s not worth the trouble.

Keep clothes you’re going to wear in the night separately. When you wake up, change clothes again and set your night clothes to dry. They should be dry enough by the time you’re done with breakfast and other morning chores.

6. Get A Quality Sleeping Bag

Sleeping warm comes with carrying along a quality sleeping bag. Many sleeping bags for campers are rated for temperature. Buy one that you think will be fit for the coldest temperature you expect.

Sleeping bags for hikers and backpackers usually have less width and are designed in a way to cocoon the sleeper. Sleeping bags for car campers tend to be heavier and wider. In most cases, you’ll also find a zipper along the sides that transforms the sleeping bag into a blanket.

7. Pack Away Your Food And Keep The Tent Clean

Know food packing ethics and pack your food away in bear-proof canisters. Equally important, make sure you don’t have any food crumbs lying around in your tent. Rodents are the real problem, and they’ll happily chew through your tent to get to the food crumbs.

If your campsite has mosquitoes, check your tent to see that the no-see-um mesh and tent fabric are intact and in good condition. You may also want to take along bug spray and mosquito netting.

8. Avoid Heavy Meals And Caffeine Beyond The Afternoon

Heavy meals before bed aren’t the pathway to good sleep. If you want a big meal, get it for lunch. Follow with a light dinner, and if you feel like nibbling on something later, enjoy something like light snacks and fruits.

The same goes for caffeine. No coffee, tea, or anything with caffeine once the afternoon is passed. If you want to enjoy a hot beverage before going to bed, think of lavender or chamomile tea.