How to Charge Phone While Camping

Spending time without your phone is a great way to detach from social media and embrace nature without your tether to technology.

You won’t be caught in a loop of looking at your phone screen all day long. But what do you do if you run into an emergency while camping and need to make a call?

Here’s your guide on how to charge your phone while camping with limited access to electricity.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Nature, Stay Prepared: While disconnecting from technology is part of the camping charm, having a charged phone is crucial for emergencies.
• Campsites with Amenities: Seek out campsites that offer electricity hookups for an easy solution to keep your devices charged, though this may come with a trade-off in terms of crowd and authenticity of the outdoor experience.
• Portable Power Banks: Charge your devices with portable power banks. They are a versatile option, ensuring you have enough power for your phone regardless of the campsite’s amenities.
• Solar Charging Solutions: Solar phone chargers and solar generators offer a renewable energy solution, allowing you to recharge the power bank using sunlight, albeit at a slower rate compared to traditional charging.
• Utilize Your Vehicle: If you’re camping near your vehicle, use it as a charging station for your phone to avoid draining power banks, but be cautious not to deplete the car’s battery with heavier power demands.
• Expert Handling of Limited Electricity: Understanding the limitations and solutions for charging devices while camping can enhance your safety and convenience without compromising the outdoor experience.

Find a Campsite With an Electricity Hookup

Your first option if you want to bring your phone to your campsite is to find a location with an electricity hookup. There are plenty of accessible campsites that have places to charge your electronics.

You can also find out online which national parks have various amenities and accessibility options such as wheelchair-friendly paths.

Keep in mind that campsites with lots of amenities are often more crowded than others, so you may not get the true “outdoors experience”.

Convert Fire Into Electricity (BioLite Campstove 2+)

The BioLite Campstove 2+ is a cooking stove that has the added benefit of generating electricity to charge devices like phones while camping. It’s a convenient and portable option for staying connected in the wilderness.

The stove uses wood as fuel, and through its innovative design, it converts heat into electricity. This generated electricity can charge your phone or other small devices via a USB port.

With the BioLite Stove, you can enjoy cooking meals while also keeping your devices powered up during your camping adventures.

Bring a Power Bank With Plenty of Ports

A more practical option that works with any camping location is to bring a portable charger. This improves your camping safety by providing a reliable source of power for your phone battery.

Charge at least one or two power banks before you leave, and you could have enough electricity to power up your phone to full at least a couple of times.

Invest in a Solar Phone Charger

The biggest problem with a portable power bank is that they have a finite amount of energy. Once you’ve used up all the stored electricity, they’re as useless as bricks. However, this problem does not occur with solar phone chargers.

A solar-powered power bank or even a solar generator self-charges using exposure to sunlight. All you have to do is leave it out in the sun for a few hours to make use of it.

Keep in mind that this specific type of power bank may not recharge as quickly as when plugged into a wall.

See “What Kind of Generator for Camping?” for more information about campsite electricity.

Plug Into Your Vehicle

If your vehicle happens to be close to your campsite, then you always have the option to plug your phone into your car. Your mobile device’s energy drain is negligible compared to what it takes to power your car.

However, the same doesn’t apply to more powerful accessories like kettles or entertainment systems. This is important to keep in mind if you plan to go car camping and want to run multiple electronic devices. You don’t want to end up stranded because you killed your car battery.

Hand Crank Phone Charger

Hand-crank phone chargers are not the best option for charging your phone while camping. They require a lot of time and effort to generate enough power for your device. It can be tiring and inefficient to crank the charger to charge your phone continuously.

There are other methods, like portable power banks or solar chargers, that are easier and more convenient to use while camping. So, it’s better to explore those options instead of relying on a crank-powered charger.

Gas Generator

Gas generators are a reliable and convenient option for charging your phone while camping. They provide a consistent power source in the wilderness, allowing you to charge multiple devices simultaneously.

However, it’s important to note that gas generators can be noisy and may impact the environment. So, if you use a gas generator, be mindful of your surroundings and considerate towards other campers.

Be sure to check out our What Size Generator For Camping for help with choosing the best gas generator for camping.

Scavenging for a Power Source

While camping, finding a power source can be challenging. However, there are some ways to scavenge for electricity. Look for campsites with electrical hook-ups or ask neighboring campers if you can pay to use their power supply.

Local establishments like coffee shops or restaurants may also have outlets available for charging devices. Additionally, you can use your surroundings creatively – like tapping into the power supply at mountain huts or guesthouses if available.

Effective Ways to Prolong Your Phone’s Battery Life

To prolong your phone’s battery life while camping, reduce the screen brightness, turn on airplane mode when not in use, and keep your phone warm.

Reducing Screen Brightness

Reducing screen brightness is an effective way to conserve battery life while camping. Here are some tips:

• Lower the brightness level on your phone or device.
• Adjust the screen timeout to turn off the display quicker when not in use.
• Use dark mode or night mode on your device, which can help reduce battery usage.
• Avoid using unnecessary features that require a lot of power, such as animated wallpapers or live widgets.
• Close any unused apps running in the background, as they can drain battery life.
• Turn off push notifications for non-essential apps to minimize the screen waking up and draining the battery.
• Use black backgrounds for apps and websites whenever possible, as it uses less power on devices with OLED or AMOLED screens.

Turning On Airplane Mode

Activate airplane mode on your phone to save battery power while camping. This feature turns off wireless connections and helps conserve battery life. Here are some benefits of turning on airplane mode:

• Prevents battery drain in areas with limited phone signal.
• Extends the battery life of your phone when the signal is weak.
• Reduces battery usage significantly in outdoor settings.
• Preserves battery power for emergencies or important calls.
• Ensures you have a functioning phone even without network coverage.

Keeping Your Phone Warm

To ensure your phone’s battery doesn’t drain quickly in cold weather, try these tips:

1. Keep your phone in an insulated case or pouch.
2. Put your phone close to your body, like in a pocket or inside your jacket.
3. Use hand warmers or heated blankets to keep you and your phone warm.
4. Avoid leaving your phone outside or in the car overnight.
5. If you’re camping in extreme cold, consider using a portable power bank with built-in heating capabilities.

Handle Camping With Limited Electricity Like an Expert

Camping with electricity limits is challenging in the modern age, where so many of your daily appliances use energy. This is especially true for your mobile device, which is your primary source of both communication and entertainment. It’s a good thing there are a variety of ways to charge them, from solar power banks to your own car battery.

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