How to Keep a Tent Dry in the Rain
Ground tarp, campsite placement, ventilation, and dry bedding for rainy-weather tent camping.
Ground tarp, campsite placement, ventilation, and dry bedding for rainy-weather tent camping.
Rain does not have to ruin a tent campsite. Start with where the tent sits, keep the ground tarp under the tent footprint, manage wet gear at the entrance, and keep enough ventilation to reduce moisture inside.
Avoid the low spot where water collects. A slightly higher, level site gives rain somewhere else to go.
The ground tarp should protect the tent floor without sticking out beyond the tent where it can collect rainwater.
Wet shoes, jackets, and other gear are easier to manage near the entrance than beside the bed.
Closing every opening can trap moisture inside. Use the tent's screened vents and openings to let damp air escape.
Before setting up, look at where rainwater is likely to run. Avoid depressions and obvious drainage paths. A level spot that sits slightly above the surrounding ground is better than the lowest flat patch at the site.
See our campground guide for more about choosing campsites.
We use a 10 x 10 ground tarp beneath the tent. The important part in rain is keeping the tarp under the tent footprint rather than leaving an edge exposed where rain can land on it and run underneath.
Our inflatable tent worked well through a week of rain without a separate rainfly. We kept the ground tarp tucked under the tent, kept bedding away from the walls, and used ventilation and a fan to control moisture inside.
Some tents use a separate rainfly. Ours did not need one during a week of rain.
Keep sleeping bags, sheets, pillows, and clothing away from wet shoes and rain gear. If something comes into the tent wet, keep it near the entrance until it can dry rather than carrying the water through the sleeping area.
Keep bedding, pillows, and clothing from pressing against the tent walls. Condensation can collect on the inside of the fabric and dampen anything touching it.
See our camping bed setup for the bedding we use.
Rain often makes people close every window and vent. That can leave moisture from breathing and damp gear trapped inside. Keep the tent's intended screened ventilation open enough for damp air to escape while keeping rain out.
A small fan can help move damp air through the tent and reduce condensation. Aim it across the sleeping area or toward a screened vent.
For hot and humid weather, see How to Keep a Tent Cool.
Ground protection beneath the tent for dirt, mud, moisture, and rough campsites.
View the Ground Tarp →Sometimes the only choice is to pack the tent while it is still wet. When that happens, unpack it again and let it dry as soon as practical rather than leaving it stored wet.
Camping in cold weather instead? See How to Keep a Tent Warm.
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