# How do you define "camping"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-camping/577032>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 3, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-camping/577032 "2011-04-03T13:25:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-camping/577032/61 "2011-04-05T03:37:00Z")

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> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#):
>
> bugs - it really isn’t camping if there aren’t bugs.

But that’s the main appeal of winter camping.

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-camping/577032/62 "2011-04-05T07:22:19Z")

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I distinguish between true camping, city camping, and retro camping. City camping is covers the first three options, true camping covers the last two, and retro camping is the last one with the additional requirement that you try to use as little modern technology as possible. My dad’s really into that last one, but, due to his sleep apnea, has to bring a car battery and a breathing machine, but that still counts.

If I just hear camping, I think real tents, so I picked option 4. And I don’t know anyone who even considers anything attached to your car to be a tent. I had to look up the term.

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**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-camping/577032/63 "2011-04-05T09:33:51Z")

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> [@MandaJo](#):
>
> In my family, we call that “staying at a campground”.
> 
> In my mind, I think it comes down to motivation. If you are sleeping in your car at a campground to save money on your way somewhere (a virtuous choice in our family), that’s “staying in a campground”. If you are sleeping in your car because you want to spend a few days in a natural setting and it’s just easier to throw an old mattress in the back of the van than to mess around with a tent, that’s closer to camping.

Why would you pay to sleep in your car? Parking lots are free.

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**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-camping/577032/64 "2011-04-05T22:05:24Z")

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> [@ExcitedIdiot](#):
>
> Why would you pay to sleep in your car? Parking lots are free.

Showers, bathrooms, and not being chased off by the cops.

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