I want to go camping but get bored after about 5 minutes. What do you do?

You should be going to places that you find truly special or enjoyable. At least for those of us who love the outdoors, that's the point. Not to sit around and smoke weed and drink. Go camp at a place that is pretty and where you don't want to stop exploring and hiking to see views, wildlife, fall colors, streams and lakes, cliffs, rock formations, etc. because you feel like you'll miss something awesome. And it's so awesome you want to come back and show more of your friends and also see stuff you didn't have a chance to see.

I like to hike. I don’t like the idea of pitching a tent with a bunch of bears around or maybe getting murdered by someone l. I can’t get any decent shut eye because of that

I’m 52 and with rock hard abs and buns. Hair is thick and jet black. Think Ted Danson in the 1980s.

Camping can be life changing. In the late 90s I used to bring some fine local honey to Joshua Tree. Endless weekends of running and hiking in the desert. When nighttime came, let’s just say the heat was hotter than the desert itself.

This is how you create an online persona...fan of your work

Thread is startin to get silly.

Skip it. Trail RUN or hike during the day but come back to civilization after.

boredom is actually a good thing, just lean into it. in this world we get used to constant stimulation, disconnecting enough to get bored is a blessing

That's the entire point of it all. Enjoy the Silence.

No, but I’m not attracted to woods and hills.

I love how this site has primarily become an autist support group <3

Turn off from the worries in life

Maybe its an issue of time and location and how our brains got wired growing up. I grew up in 70s/80s in rural America so spent zero time on devices and next to zero time watching tv, as we got one channel. I was fine with quiet, being alone and had a I low-key curiosity about the outdoors and what I'd find there. When I was young, like 8 or 10, I'd disappear for hours in the woods and wander miles from home. Maybe I'd find an old abandoned car and pick through the parts, or climb up into a parked logging truck to check it out. Or just get a little turned around and make sense of the areas where I lived. Today I spend too much time on computers and devices, but when I'm in the woods, I sort of revert into that kid again. A different part of of my brain kind starts driving and everything changes. I can't imagine feeling anxious about anything out there, let alone boredom or "things to do."

Exactly, who wants to be stuck with the same girl multiple nights in the woods. That’s almost like marriage, sheesh.

Wow, you seem so cool, man. Anything noteworthy about your penis and its functionality in the 2020’s?

You're supposed to get bored. You get through it, and then suddenly you're not bored, even though you're not "doing" anything. It helps to be somewhere that's actually beautiful, but it doesn't need to be like an instagram spot. I've stared at lakes or into canyons for 6 straight hours and not been bored. It rewires your brain a bit. Ideally, when you return to civilization, it will feel strange and jarring.

Nothing. That's the point.

Most people who enjoy camping usually build the day around simple activities instead of just sitting around the campsite. Hiking nearby trails is probably the most common one. Fishing, cooking over a fire, exploring the area, or even something simple like bird watching can fill a lot of time. Some people bring a book, a small hammock, or a camera and treat it as quiet time away from screens. At night the campfire becomes the main activity, cooking, talking, or just watching the fire. If someone gets bored quickly, it usually helps to pick a campsite near something to explore like lakes, trails, or scenic spots instead of just a random patch of woods.

When I go camping it’s usually pretty active. We’ll hike, kayak, go to scenic overlooks along the Blue Ridge where we camp, and sometimes go river tubing. After all that, we finally head back to the campsite to set up camp, get a fire going, eat, and relax. I like to sit by the fire with a beer and a book, and later in the evening we’ll chat as a family and sometimes tell ghost stories to the kids before bed.
There’s something about being outside and doing things the hard way that’s challenging but still really fun—like getting a fire started, setting up a stove, or huddling peacefully in the tent while a mountain rain passes by.
Summer camping in the Appalachians is especially great because it can be about 20 degrees cooler than the valleys—around 60° instead of the 80s or 90s. We often go around the 4th of July. When we go tubing, we’ll usually grill too since most of the parks have public grills, so it turns into a nice barbecue day in the sun. Other days we might hike, kayak, or go rafting.
If it rains, we might just relax in the tent and read with a warm drink, or occasionally even go catch a summer blockbuster at a nearby theater.
The only downside is that eventually you start to stink—you smell like smoke. Thankfully our campsite has hot showers, so that helps. The worst part for me is actually sleeping, especially the first night. My back definitely feels it. After a couple nights it gets better once you adjust (or you're just tired enough). A cot helps a lot if it’s bad.
I really enjoy it, though. But different strokes for different folks. Some people would rather spend their vacation in a big city at a 4–5 star hotel, which can be nice too. The one thing you couldn’t pay me to do, though, is go on a carnival cruise.