From Tent to Caravan: How I Manage Camping with Chronic Illness and Limited Energy

Camping has always been something I love. But like many things in my life since becoming disabled, I’ve had to adapt the way I camp. Camping with chronic illness means changing not just where and how I camp but also what I bring to make it manageable and enjoyable

In this blog, I thought I’d share how I’ve adapted my camping setup over the years, plus some of the things I bring and do to make it doable with chronic illness, autism, and limited energy.

Falling in Love with Camping

I feel like canvas is my second skin. As a child, my parents took us camping in a bright orange tent, typical of the dayglo ‘70s. The pitter-patter of rain on canvas, the sound of the zip sliding open and closed, those are the soundtracks to my childhood. They evoke a sense of calm from a time when much around me was anything but.

I loved the closeness to nature, the simplicity of it all. Setting up a little home, eating simple food, and collecting water. Being outside the confines of everyday society was something I couldn’t name back then, but it’s what drew me in and still does.

I’ve camped in the most beautiful places, wild Wales, the vast expanse of Dartmoor, and the eclectic fields of Glastonbury Festival. That feeling of having your home and everything you need on your back is incredibly freeing.

Grieving as Camping with Chronic Illness Becomes Challenging

Becoming unwell with ME/CFS and PoTS has made that kind of camping impossible. The exhaustion, post-exertional malaise, and all the other symptoms mean it’s just not safe for me. I would risk making myself far more unwell. Besides, there’s absolutely no way I could carry a rucksack now, let alone everything inside it. Plus, using a wheelchair adds an extra layer of complication in terms of accessibility.

My last Glastonbury Festival was in 2024. I gave it one final go using the access facilities. Glastonbury does have brilliant access, and Chris came with me as my personal assistant. Thanks to this, attending the festival and camping with chronic illness was possible. We brought a bigger tent and everything we could think of to make it comfortable. And while I’m so glad I went, I was exhausted afterwards. I realised then that I needed to take a break from festivals. I just wasn’t well enough.

Adapting – Finding a Way to Camp with Chronic Illness

Still, I wasn’t ready to give up on camping altogether. I was desperate to find a way to keep camping with chronic illness. Chris and I decided to try a Camplet trailer tent. It’s fairly simple to put up (you can even do it solo), and once it’s up, you’ve got a proper bed, a full cooking setup, and comfy seating, all while still being under canvas.

We found a cheap second-hand one, and got to grips with it quickly. We had a great season with it, and it worked for a while.

But over time, we kept adding more comfort items, which made the setup and pack-down longer and more draining, especially for Chris, who was doing most of the work.

It started to look like I’d have to give up canvas entirely. I was heartbroken.

From Camping to Caravanning

I had initially been hesitant to the idea of a caravan. I saw them as tin boxes. It didn’t feel like we would be in nature in the same way. However, I got to a point of acceptance where I knew if I wanted to continue to enjoy the camping lifestyle, it had to be done in a way that was energy-friendly and not a burden on Chris.

We discovered the characterful little Freedom caravans. I could see how I could make it really quirky and fun and not at all like a tin box!

We found a secondhand Freedom Jetstream. It’s small, light to tow, and incredibly easy to set up. We also added a small inflatable sun canopy that doubles as a basic awning, giving us a bit of extra space. This setup is so much easier and less energy-draining, and it means I can still camp.

I couldn’t do this without Chris, though. There’s no way I could camp solo now, and I feel very lucky to have his support.

Even with help, I’ve had to make loads of adjustments. These days, camping is all about pacing and planning. It’s not spontaneous or effortles, but it’s still possible to camp with chronic illness, and that means the world to me.

What I Pack to Pace and Manage my Limited Energy

Here are some of the essentials I take to help me manage my energy and sensory needs while camping:

• Visible ArmBand and App

Camping without crashing has been made possible because of this incredible wearable device and app.

Visible tracks my body’s energy and shows me how I’m doing each day. It removes the guesswork from pacing and helps me respond to what my body needs. This means I can now camp without overdoing it and enjoy my holidays more. I would likely have had to stop camping completely without the support of this app.

You can find out more about how visible helps with energy management in a recent YouTube video, which you can watch here.

• Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Those of us with chronic illness, or who are neurodivergant, are often sensitive to noise. As calming as camping is, there is often still unwanted noises! I swear by these Soundcore Q20i noise-cancelling headphones. I can choose to completely block everything out, or put on transparency mode so I can just dull things down a bit. Bliss!

• Bluetooth Eye Mask

I adore my Bluetooth eye mask! You can use it just as an eye mask, if you want a sleep during the day. But, the bonus of the inbuilt headphones is that you can use them to play calming music and meditation as well. It’s so soft and incredibly comfortable to sleep in

• Sensory/Fidget Toys

These help regulate my nervous system, especially when I’m anxious or overwhelmed. I have a huge collection, I shared some in a recent YouTube video. Tangles and Needohs are my two favourite kinds, which I buy online from Tink and Stink or Funky Fidgets.

• Special body wipes

I find it impossible to shower everyday when Im at home. Showeing at a campsite is even harder with the extra work involved as we dont have a shower in our caravan. These special body wipes from Fresh Wipes are amazing. They do cost more than regular wet wipes, but that’s because they do a much better job! Ypu only need one, and you feel properly clean and fresh afterwards!

• Comfort blanket

I love my soft fleecy blanket and I make no apology for it! Especially now I’m unmasking my autism! It gives me so much comfort, and helps me calm and get my body into a rest state if I am overdoing it.

• Comfortable camping chair

Comfort is key when energy is limited, and a really decent camping chair is essential. I have tried so many over the years! These oversized bucket chairs are incredibly comfortable, offering loads of padding and support.

• Collapsible stool

These collapsible stools are handy for so many reasons. I can use it around the camp to save energy, whilst cooking, for example. And if there isn’t a seat in the camping showers. Its also great for putting my feet up when I’m resting.

Other Things I Do to Help Manage My Energy

• Leaving the bed set up – Setting up and taking down the bed every morning and night would waste precious energy. Plus, leaving the bed made means I can easily take a nap if I need to during the day. We set it up as a day bed during the day with lots of cusions as a cosy relax/sleep space.

• Keeping things slow and simple– I don’t try to do everything—I focus on enjoying what I can do without pushing myself past my limits.

• Staying flexible – We don’t over-plan, and we let the day unfold depending on how I feel. Rather than a schedule, I have an ideas list of things to do, so that if I am feeling up to ging somewhere we dont have to then scrabble to think of what to do. On there will be a mix of different energy level things to do from scenic car rides, beach cafes to visit to wheelchair rolls in country parks.

Closing Thoughts

It’s taken a lot of trial and error to get to this point. There were times I truly thought I’d have to give up camping altogether. But with the right tools, support, and a bit of creativity, I’ve learned I can still do the things that bring me joy, just differently.

If you’ve found ways to adapt camping (or any other hobby!) to fit your needs, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

🎉Watch my Latest YouTube Reel! – Camping with ME/CFS? Here’s What I Packed To Pace