Learn From Tom: The Memorial Day Camping & RV Setup Guide

Tom's Real-World Advice

Memorial Day weekend is the first real camping weekend of the year for most families. The campgrounds are packed, the weather is unpredictable, and everybody's a little rusty from a winter off. I've seen more Memorial Day camping trips go sideways from poor organization than from bad weather. Gear that can't be found, extension cords that trip breakers, canopies that collapse in a gust — all of it avoidable with a solid setup routine.

Here's how I set up camp, in order, every single time.

Step 1: Get Your Power Right First

Whether you're at a campsite with a 30-amp hookup or running a generator, your electrical setup is the foundation of a comfortable camp. Everything else — the fan, the lights, the phone chargers, the portable griddle — depends on it.

The number one mistake campers make is leaving plug connections exposed. At a campsite, you've got dew in the morning, afternoon thunderstorms, and wet grass all weekend. An exposed extension cord junction sitting in that environment is asking for a tripped breaker or worse. I cover every single outdoor connection with CordSafe®. It snaps over the plug junction, keeps moisture completely out, and takes about 10 seconds per connection. I keep four of them in my camp kit permanently — they live in the bag year-round.

Check your cord gauge too. Running a griddle or a space heater off a campsite hookup? You need 12 AWG minimum. Lightweight cords overheat under load, especially on a hot Memorial Day weekend.

Step 2: Anchor Your Shelter Properly

A pop-up canopy at a campsite is a sail waiting to happen. Memorial Day weekend weather is notoriously unpredictable — sunny and calm one hour, gusty and stormy the next. I've watched canopies become projectiles at crowded campgrounds. It's dangerous and embarrassing.

I use AnchorStake® ground anchors at every corner. They're 11.5 inches of heavy-duty ABS plastic, go in without a mallet, and hold in soft campground soil far better than the flimsy wire stakes that come with most canopy kits. For RV awnings, stake the support legs and use guy wires if wind is in the forecast. Don't trust the awning arms alone in a gust.

Same rule applies to any tent stakes, gear tarps, or shade structures. Check everything before you go to bed Friday night — wind picks up overnight and you don't want to be re-staking a canopy at 2am.

Step 3: Organize Your Gear in Crates

This is the one that changes everything for family camping. Loose gear in the back of an SUV or truck bed is a nightmare — things shift, things break, things get lost. You spend half the trip looking for the spatula or the bug spray instead of enjoying the weekend.

I organize everything into dedicated CrateMate® milk crates before I leave the driveway. One crate for kitchen gear. One for tools and hardware. One for kids' outdoor toys and games. One for electrical — extension cords, CordSafe covers, a power strip, phone chargers. Everything has a home, everything stacks, and when it's time to pack up Sunday afternoon, it takes 20 minutes instead of an hour.

CrateMate crates are also perfect for the campsite itself. Stack them as a makeshift shelving unit under your canopy. Use one as a side table. Use one to corral wet gear away from dry gear. They're heavy-duty, stackable, and built to take abuse — exactly what you need at a campsite.

And yes — propane tank in a crate for transport. Always. A propane tank rolling around your cargo area is a hazard every mile of the drive. Drop it in a crate, it rides upright and stable the whole way.

Step 4: Set Up Your Camp Kitchen Right

Memorial Day camping means cooking — and cooking at a campsite means working in tight quarters with limited counter space, kids running around, and knives that need to be accessible but safe.

I never travel with loose knives. Every blade goes in a Blade Guard® before it goes in the kit. Hinged, locking, BPA-free, Made in USA. When I'm ready to cook, I pull the knife, pop the guard off, and it goes right back on when I'm done. No loose blades in a camp bag where kids might reach in. No nicked fingers when you're digging for the spatula.

For food prep and washing, the Flex Strainer® travels well and fits any standard camp sink or utility basin. Rinse vegetables, drain pasta, strain anything — one tool, two functions, easy to pack.

Step 5: Light Your Perimeter

Campsite safety after dark is underrated. Kids running between sites, uneven ground, guy wires at ankle height — it's a recipe for a twisted ankle or worse. I set up IQ America battery motion lights at the entry point of our site and near any trip hazards. No wiring, no campsite power needed, mounts on a stake or a tree in seconds. 800 lumens of motion-activated coverage means nobody's stumbling around in the dark.

Tom's Memorial Day Camp Setup Checklist

Run through this before you leave the driveway:

• ☐ All extension cord connections covered with CordSafe®
• ☐ Extension cords rated 12 AWG or heavier for appliances
• ☐ Canopy stakes replaced with AnchorStake® heavy-duty anchors
• ☐ Gear organized into labeled CrateMate® crates
• ☐ Propane tank transported upright in a crate
• ☐ All knives stored in Blade Guards®
• ☐ Flex Strainer packed for camp kitchen
• ☐ Motion lights packed for perimeter lighting
• ☐ Guy wires and extra stakes for awning/canopy
• ☐ First aid kit in an accessible, labeled crate
• ☐ Packed the night before ✓

Why Memorial Day Camping Is Worth Getting Right

Memorial Day weekend camping is one of those American traditions that sticks with kids forever. The smell of the campfire, the sound of rain on the tent, the chaos of cooking breakfast for eight people on a two-burner camp stove — those are the memories that last. Getting the setup right means you spend the weekend making those memories instead of managing problems.

Tom's rule: a well-organized camp is a happy camp. Spend an hour on setup so you can spend the whole weekend enjoying it.

More From Tom

• Learn From Tom — Practical Ideas for Safer, Smarter Family Living
• Tom's Memorial Day Backyard Safety Checklist
• CordSafe® Extension Cord Safety Guides
• CrateMate® Storage & Organization Guides
• Garden Tools & Plant Support Systems

Frequently Asked Questions

Can CordSafe be used at a campsite with a 30-amp hookup?

Yes — CordSafe fits standard extension cord connections and is weatherproof, making it ideal for campsite electrical hookups where moisture and dew are constant concerns.

How many CrateMate crates do I need for a family camping trip?

Most families find 4-6 crates covers everything: kitchen, tools/hardware, electrical, kids' gear, food/dry goods, and wet/dirty gear. Label each crate so the whole family knows the system.

Will AnchorStake work in rocky campground soil?

AnchorStake is designed for soft to medium-density soil. For rocky or very hard ground, use a small amount of water to soften the insertion point, or supplement with guy wires tied to a nearby tree or vehicle.

Are Blade Guards safe to pack in a camp bag with other gear?

Yes — Blade Guards are specifically designed to protect both the blade and anyone reaching into a bag or kit. The hinged locking design keeps the guard securely in place during transport.

How do I power IQ America motion lights at a campsite without an outlet?

IQ America battery-operated motion flood lights require no wiring or outlet — they run on batteries and mount on any surface with a stake or screw mount, making them perfect for campsite use.

Tom's Seasonal Note

Memorial Day is just the beginning. Tom's summer camping series continues through July Fourth, lake weekends, baseball tournaments, and Labor Day. Every guide is built around making outdoor family time safer, smarter, and more enjoyable.

Next up: Tom's Memorial Day Cookout Guide — Safer BBQ Prep for the Whole Family.

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