Thanksgiving Camping Ideas

5 from 2 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
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Ever thought of doing something different for Thanksgiving? Why not go camping? It’s a great way to spend time with your family and eat well, all while having nature as your backdrop! Here is a list of thanksgiving camping ideas!

We have all the camping ideas you’ll need for a Thanksgiving weekend, from food to decor!

a cozy cabin in the woods - thanksgiving dinner, thanksgiving meal

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Why I have never thought of camp (or glamp) on Thanksgiving is a mystery to me! Thanksgiving camping is a wonderful way to slow down and spend time with friends and family, with nature as your backdrop!

It’s also fun to celebrate a Friendsgiving, the weekend before Thanksgiving too! Find a good camping or “glamping” location near you and plan a memorable weekend with some of your closest friends!

shot of a moscow mule - thanksgiving dinner, thanksgiving meal

Easy Thanksgiving Desserts for Camping

We have two special desserts we love to make when camping. S’mores and campfire pies. We usually make campfire apple pies, but for a holiday, we made delicious pumpkin pie campfire pies that are SO good!

shot of s'mores on a table - thanksgiving camping trip

Gourmet S’mores

Of course, you can’t go camping without making s’mores! To make gourmet s’mores, have an array of different toppings available for guests.

Like this fun and easy recipe, if you’re a total s’more lover like me, really, I can never turn down a Baileys Dipped S’mores!

Here are some ideas:

  • Cranberry Jam
  • Strawberries, Raspberries, and Blackberries
  • Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate
  • Nutella
  • Candies Almonds and Walnuts
  • Different Cookies
  • Pumpkin Butter
  • Cookie Butter

Campfire Pumpkin Pies

I also made campfire pumpkin pies, which I’ll go on record saying taste better than traditional!

Easy and scrumptious. And we didn’t have Thanksgiving camping without sweet potatoes! For these, I baked them over the fire in foil, then added marshmallows, brown sugar, and butter…. they were delicious!

How to Make Campfire Pumpkin Pies

1. Mix the pumpkin, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and milk in a bowl until combined. Taste test to get your desired flavor… more or less sweet, etc.

2. Butter 2 pieces of bread really well! The more, the better!

3. Place the butter side down in the pie maker. Then scoop some pie filling into the center. Add the other piece of toast to the top.

4. Close the pie maker.. extra bread will hang out of the side but will fall off in the fire.

5. Cook over the fire until golden brown. Turn periodically so it doesn’t burn.

camping ideas - campfire pumpkin pie, thanksgiving camping trip, instant mashed potatoes

Camping Food Ideas

Surprisingly, cooking a full Thanksgiving menu over a campfire is actually really fun and totally achievable!

I’ll be honest, I was going to cook the traditional turkey over the coals (or deep fry it), but I decided last minute to skip the tradition and go with gourmet turkey dogs instead.

It was a great choice and kept things easy!

shot of pot cooking - instant mashed potatoes, propane camp stove

We made the stuffing, cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, and more. It really was a Thanksgiving feast, all cooked fireside!

shot of drinks and food on the table - propane camp stove, dutch oven

You can also make some items ahead of time, like the cranberry sauce. Then warm it up when you’re ready to eat.

shot of charred brussel sprouts - dutch oven, camp stove
shot of sweet potatoes in tin foil - camp stove

Foil Wrapped Sweet Potatoes

Instead of our traditional sweet potato casserole with whipped marshmallow fluff, we cooked it over the campfire in tinfoil. We then added mini marshmallows to the top. They melted and created delicious sweet baked potatoes with marshmallow topping!

How to Make Campfire Sweet Potatoes

Wrap each sweet potato in heavy-duty tinfoil.

    Place them in the embers of the fire to cook.

    Turn them in every 10 minutes to ensure they cook evenly.

    After about 20 to 30 minutes (depending on the size of the sweet potato) remove from the fire.

    Carefully open the tin foil and cut the potato down the center. Add in mini marshmallows and allow them to melt.

    Gourmet Hotdogs

    camping ideas - gourmet hotdogs, campfire grate

    It is camping, after all! The gourmet hotdogs were amazing! We topped them with stuffing and cranberry sauce, too. So good! It was just the perfect fit for the setting.

    Cheeseboard

    I’m all about a delicious cheese plate, so we stopped by local cheese shop in Santa Barbara for some charcuterie before heading to the campsite. Here’s a little guide to cheese and how well they fare for camping:

    camping ideas - a cheese board, campfire grate

    shot of eden serving drinks

    Camping Cocktails and Drinks

    Apple Cider Moscow Mules

    Red and White Wine

    Algonquin Bar Punch

    Apple Pie Sangria

    shot of table with food on it - whole turkey
    shot of cocktail - whole turkey
    camping ideas - camping decor
    top down shot of pears on a table

    Add flowers to small glass jars (which you can also buy at the grocery store) and then placed some pears and other pretty fall fruit on the table for easy decor.

    rustic table and bench

    The leaves around the campsite were beautiful and added a festive fall touch. Everything else I packed from home and took to the campsite.

    shot of pumpkins on a barrel

    Camping Ideas – Buying Guide

    Copper mugs – Mark and Graham

    Copper ice bucket – Mark and Graham

    shot of board games on a table

    Gold flatware – Pier 1 Imports

    Cashmere blanket – Mark and Graham

    Canvas weekend bag – Mark and Graham

    Board game – Mark and Graham

    Double Pie Maker – Amazon

    ice bucket with drinks in it

    Top Tips For A Great Camping Experience

    • Bring Cozy Bedding
    • Add Touches of Home. Items like colorful rugs, fresh flowers in a sturdy vase, a small mirror, art prints, and other decorative touches truly take your site from camp to glamp.
    • Light Up Your Space. Mini-LEDs and faux candles placed in tents and around your lounge area provide maximum glamping feel with minimal effortSolar-powered lanterns add sustainable chic!
    • Bring the Entertainment With You.
    overhead shot of beautiful table spread
    shot of eden wrapped in a cozy blanket
    shot of sign saying canyon store

    More Thanksgiving Ideas

    DIY Thanksgiving Dessert Table

    Campfire Apple Pies

    Thanksgiving Kitchen Essentials

    Fall Desserts

    A Rustic Modern Thanksgiving Table

    camping ideas - shot of glamping tent
    side shot of laid out table

    Let us know if you made our campfire pumpkin pies! Leave a comment and review below and let us know how it turned out! You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious desserts, cocktails, and entertaining ideas!

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    5 from 2 votes

    Campfire Pumpkin Pie

    By: Eden
    This campfire pumpkin pie is easy and delicious, perfect for a toasty and yummy outdoor treat
    Prep: 5 minutes
    Cook: 10 minutes
    Total: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
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    Ingredients 

    • 1 can pumpkin puree
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • 1/4 milk
    • Loaf white bread
    • Butter

    Instructions 

    • Mix the pumpkin, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and milk in a bowl, until combined. Taste test to get your desired flavor… more or less sweet, etc.
    • Butter 2 pieces of bread really well! The more, the better!
    • Place the butter side down in the pie maker. Then scoop some pie filling into the center. Add the other piece of toast on the top.
    • Close the pie maker.. extra bread will hang out of the side, but will fall off in the fire.
    • Cook over the fire until golden brown. Turn periodically, so it doesn’t burn.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 345kcal, Carbohydrates: 69g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 438mg, Potassium: 134mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 31g, Vitamin A: 64IU, Calcium: 251mg, Iron: 3mg

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

    Like this? Leave a comment below!

    About Eden

    I’m Eden Passante and I develop, create, style and photograph every recipe and party on Sugar and Charm. I’m the author of Entertaining with Charm and have a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and I’m here to help you create simple and easy recipes for entertaining and how to add charm to any gathering!

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    6 Comments

    1. Amber says:

      We backpacked the high country in Yosemite for years, though I can no longer carry a pack due to back problems from working, and I miss it so much. Having gone to Yosemite almost yearly my whole life I thought ‘wait, I COULD do this and still be a part of the beauty’. Then I realized we are speaking of 2 different El Capitans. Damn. But no, now you have inspired me to try this place.

    2. Kate says:

      I’m definitely not a fan of camping but even I would love to partake in something like this!

      xx

      bombshell-to-be.blogspot.com

    3. Bonnie Sanders says:

      Looks Beautiful! I sure would love to know more about what you did with those waffle cookies with the fruit. They look delicious. Thanks!

      1. Eden says:

        Thanks Bonnie!! I love using those cookies for s’mores because they look so beautiful, right?! They’re thin too! They’re called Pizzelle cookies!