Solo Car Camping? This Important Preparation Tip Could Save Your Life

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While camping can be a wonderful way to connect with family and friends, it's also a fantastic thing to do if you're craving some alone time. Solo camping can be a profound experience that allows you to slow down and reconnect with yourself. Spending time in nature has positive impacts on our mental health and overall well-being, and camping alone can bring a deep sense of inner peace and increase feelings of self-confidence. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to completely unplug and spend some time alone. However, it's important to remember that camping solo isn't without risks. It's crucial that you know how to physically defend yourself against other people, should the need arise while car camping solo.

Millions of people go camping in U.S. national parks each year. Most travelers return home at the end of their trip without running into any trouble, but some find themselves in scary situations with dangerous people. According to the National Park Service, 25 murders happened in national parks between 2014 and 2019. There was at least one homicide each year during that time period, and eight murders happened during 2018 alone.

If you're learning how to master camping on your own, or you're in the process of planning an epic solo-camping trip, it's a good idea to brush up on some basic self-defense skills in case you run into someone who has bad intentions. In an emergency situation, knowing how to fight back could save your life.

In 2024, a heated debate spread like wildfire across the Internet, as women discussed whether they would prefer to encounter a man or a bear alone in the woods. Many people said that they would rather encounter a bear because they believed men posed a greater risk to their safety. Van-life influencers on social media often share their scary stories about creepy people who bother them while camping. There's even a viral video on TikTok in which a solo female traveler reports, moments after it happened, that someone tried to break into her camper van. The investigation surrounding the murder of Gabby Petito, who went missing near Grand Teton National Park in 2021, captured international attention. In July 2025, a family was allegedly attacked by a former school teacher while hiking in Arkansas' Devil's Den State Park. Tragedies can and do happen — which is exactly why every solo camper should be prepared to defend themselves.

If you're embarking on a solo camping adventure, it's a good idea to learn some basic self-defense skills before you go. You can find self-defense courses in most cities. Many police departments or community centers offer inexpensive civilian self-defense courses — sometimes you can even find them for free. In a pinch you can watch some online videos to learn situational awareness, de-escalation tactics, and some basic moves. During my self-defense training courses, my instructor stressed the importance of practicing moves that I would actually be able (and willing) to execute in real life. We spent hours practicing on human-like mannequins. It is extremely helpful to practice hitting, kicking, and elbowing at full force, and in an emergency situation, knowing self-defense skills that you're comfortable performing could save your life. 

In order to stay safe, invest in some crucial supplies that can be used for self defense before you go solo camping. If someone attacks you and you need help, you'll be glad to have a whistle on hand. You should absolutely yell and use your voice as well, but a whistle can be louder and cary further than your voice alone. The loud piercing sound may be enough to scare off your attacker, and it can also help draw attention to the situation so that people nearby will know that you need help. You can also purchase personal safety alarms that serve the same purpose, like this siren and strobe light combination alarm from She's Birdie. 

Pepper spray is an excellent way to deter an attacker so that you have time to escape. It is similar to bear spray and uses the same active ingredient, but it is designed to be used against a human attacker at close range. A flashlight or a pocket knife are items you might already have in your camping kit that can be used to defend yourself. You might also consider carrying a taser or another weapon — just make sure you know how to use weapons safely and responsibly if you're going to carry them while camping. Being prepared to make a quick getaway is another crucial safety tip when car camping to avoid dangerous situations.