Go Camping and We'll Guess What National Park You Are

By: Elisabeth Henderson
Estimated Completion Time
7 min
Go Camping and We'll Guess What National Park You Are
Image: Seth K. Hughes / Image Source / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Camping. What other word has more drastically different meanings, depending on whom you talk to? For some, going camping entails nothing more than a backpack, a canteen and a walking stick. Hardcore campers enjoy the experience of actually roughing it, testing their endurance against the elements and reveling in their status as just another animal in the wilderness. 

Others go to the woods with their top-of-the-line ice chest, brimming with beverages and gourmet food to cook over a fire, surrounded by friends kicking back in camp chairs. Camping can mean playing music under the stars, socializing in the pure, clean air of the mountains, away from the distractions of city life. 

For yet others, camping means rolling up in a fully outfitted RV, arriving in a scenic location with all the comforts of home ready at hand. A family can experience the beauty of the wild without ever having to use a public restroom. This brand of camping focuses on the amenities offered by many of our national parks, including pools, playgrounds, and shuttles to and from the trail. 

Then, of course, we have to make room for the glampers: those glamorous campers who enjoy the camping vibe and kitschy camp decor, arranged in safari tents outfitted with king size beds, air conditioning, WiFi and a hot tub nearby. 

What counts as camping in your book? Answer these questions about your camping habits and we’ll tell you which park fits your camping vibe! 

When you’re eating under the stars, what is the perfect camping meal?
Fish that I just caught, cooked over a fire
A simple can of beans warmed over a fire
Sausage and potatoes cooked in foil in the coals
Local grass-fed beef with local greens and foraged mushrooms, cooked by an on-site chef

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Moose
Wiki Commons By Ryan Hagerty
How do you like your wildlife?
So close I can smell them
Cooked and on my plate
A distant rumor in the woods
Through the window of a safari Jeep

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Hiking
Archie Binamira via Pexels
What is the purpose of hiking on a camping trip?
To get further out into the wilderness
To tire out the children
To people watch
To experience the thrill of roughing it

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Wilderness Cooking
DusanManic / E+ / Getty Images
In your camping group, who sets up the sleeping arrangements?
I’m usually alone, so it’s just me unrolling my sleeping bag.
My sleeping arrangements are set up when we roll out the driveway.
My friends and I work on setting up the tent together.
Whoever is employed on staff will fluff the bed.

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In what event could you imagine yourself getting lost on a camping trip?
It could happen almost any hour of the day.
Getting out to the campsite, it’s a good possibility.
If one of the kids gets too far ahead and I chase after them
I can’t imagine that one of our guides would let that happen.

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What would a swimming excursion look like on one of your camping trips?
A naked dip in a remote glacial lake
Jumping into a river and floating on my back with no one else around
Hopefully a swimming pool with a lifeguard
We may find a swimming hole and play in the water with everyone else in the park.

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crescent
Pixabay by Skeeze
How would you describe a normal trip to the camp bathroom?
Find a spot with a nice view and dig a hole about six inches deep, unless I have to pack it out.
Hopefully it’s a smelly outhouse stocked with toilet paper. If not, I can dig a hole.
It’s a bit small, but at least it’s a toilet with running water and no outhouse smell.
I step in my private bathroom with environmentally-friendly bath products available.

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What’s your preferred fire building method?
I like to use the bow-drill method.
I generally bring some newspaper and make a tepee of sticks around it.
We buy lots of wood, pour lighter fluid on it and toss a match on.
I prefer to watch someone else build the fire, preferably a professional.

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Bryce Canyon
LordRunar / E+ / Getty Images
What, in your opinion, is a perfect scenic view?
Wide-open expanses of desert leading up to craggy mountains
Rolling hills and smooth boulders toppling out into ocean tide pools
A deep valley carved by a babbling river with majestic cliffs rising on both sides
Expansive mountain fields marked with unique land formations and roaming herds of elk

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Take This Quiz and We'll Guess Which Disney Sidekick Matches Your Dog’s Personality 1
buchsammy/Moment/Getty Images
Who is the best camping partner?
Maybe a dog
My own pack of children, along with my spouse
A tight group of friends
A romantic partner

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On a camping trip, what kind of shelter are you most likely to make?
A lean-to for sleeping under
A fort made out of sticks for the kids to play in
A large tarp over our gathering area to hide from the rain
Pulling the blanket over my head if I get too cold

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Thinking Campfire
Photography by Boris Zharkov / Moment / Getty Images
If you are a coffee drinker, how do you make it while camping?
I gather water from the creek, boil it and pour it into the instant espresso in my mug.
I use my camp stove and my percolator.
I turn on the coffee maker.
I request a cup from the food service staff.

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compass
WikiCommons
What is one item you would never camp without?
My compass
My stove
My flushing toilet
My cell phone

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How do you prefer to relax at the end of a camping day?
Sit on a ridge and meditate
Watch the sunset with a favorite beverage
Talk by the fire while the kids play at the playground
Play music with friends

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Campfire
wundervisuals/E+/GettyImages
Is there any kind of storytelling that takes place on a typical camping trip?
I go back in my mind and remember stories from my past.
We sit around the fire and tell ghost stories.
We tell stories about old times until late at night.
We sometimes read aloud to each other at bedtime.

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How do you stay warm at night if you camp in cooler climates?
I build a small fire and sleep close to it on the ground.
I zip up all the windows on my tent and snuggle down in my warm sleeping bag.
My friends and I scoot closer together to make the most of body heat.
I ask the front desk to bring a heater to our tent.

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RV Vacation
[stellalevi] / [E+] / Getty Images
What is a camping deal-breaker for you?
More than one person nearby
A campground full of RVs
A campground that doesn’t have hookups for electricity and water
A campground without a bed and a private shower

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What is the primary joy of camping, in your book?
Facing my existential vulnerability
Experiencing solitude in nature
Getting away from the distractions of the city to be real with friends
Enjoying the quiet and peaceful beauty of nature

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What is the most dangerous experience you’ve had while camping?
Being lost and without water for more than a day
Encountering a wild animal face to face
Trying to climb a boulder without any experience or gear
Going on a guided hike without looking at the mileage

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What amount of padding is crucial for you to be able to sleep?
At least a layer of pine needles
A standard camping mat
A standard twin mattress
A queen bed

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What do you do when a storm hits your campground?
Hunker down in whatever shelter I can find
Put the fly on my tent and get in
Go inside and close the door and windows
Get under the tarp shelter and make a fire

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How and how often do you typically clean yourself when you’re camping?
I’ll bathe in water whenever I encounter some.
I generally don’t bathe until I get home.
We try to shower once a day, if there’s time.
I never go without a shower.

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Dutch oven
By AntiCompositeNumber, from Wikimedia Commons
What do you use to wash the camp dishes?
I have a bandana that I use to wipe them clean, after rubbing them out with dirt.
We have a sink and just wash dishes by hand.
I go to the dishwashing area and rinse everything under the water spigot.
I rely on the camp staff to wash the dishes.

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What fear plagues you on camping trips?
I’m afraid I’ll be attacked by predators, and people won't find me for days.
I’m afraid one of my children will get seriously injured.
I’m afraid of being left alone out here.
I’m afraid of losing cell service.

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4 canned food GettyImages-157643381
FotografiaBasica / E+ / Getty Images
When you are camping, how long does your food typically stay good?
Indefinitely, since I usually catch it fresh or preserve it
I bring a lot of canned goods that can last forever.
We have a refrigerator, so food can last about a week.
We have a fancy cooler that will keep food for a week.

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Why do you think national parks are necessary?
To preserve wilderness in its natural state
To maintain places where people can get away from civilization
To cultivate community that exists outside of city life
To refresh our spirits so we can go back to the real world

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18Psalm5110
Artur Debat / Moment / GettyImages
What is the ideal distance you prefer your camp to be from civilization?
Out of sight and sound
Just far enough so I can forget about it
Within a couple hours’ drive
Within sight in the distance

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What survival tool do you need to bring to feel secure while camping?
My knife
A can of bear spray
An axe
A cell phone

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Map Thinking
Pixdeluxe / E+ / Getty Images
How do you keep track of where you are on a hiking trip away from camp?
I use a topographical map and compass.
I use detailed maps and a keen sense of direction.
I generally follow the crowd.
I follow my guide.

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When you get back to civilization, what is the first thing you do?
Start dreaming of my next excursion
Journal about the epiphanies I had while camping
Do tons of laundry
Post pictures on social media

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You Got: