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How to use AI on your next outdoor adventure

July 15, 2025 | by John Stone

Photo by Sergei A

Introduction

Are you wondering how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance your next camping or hiking trip?

Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, AI has become an increasingly powerful tool in our daily lives — and outdoor adventures are no exception.

Planning Your Camping Trip with AI

AI tools can significantly reduce the time it takes to plan your trip. What used to take hours — from researching trails to organizing gear — can now be done in minutes using AI-powered apps and chatbots.

Microsoft and other companies have shared AI prompts for trip planning which can be surprisingly useful. AI can be a great research assistant, but it comes with a caveat. It is not always accurate.

It is a great resource to use to generate ideas, packing lists, or general travel advice just be careful to not rely on AI for survival decisions.

Booking Campsites with AI Tools

If you’re looking to automate campsite booking, tools like CampChimp offer a unique solution. CampChimp uses AI to search for available campsites based on your preferred location and dates. It’s a convenient way to find camping spots without endless web browsing.

However, keep in mind that CampChimp requires a paid subscription to access full results — either a 7-day free trial or $29.99 per year.

While I personally have never used CampChimp, and it is still a relatively new app, it has over 4 stars on the App Store and it looks promising. With the increase of AI, this is just the beginning for how AI could be used for booking campsites or other outdoor activites.

Meals

Meal planning just got a whole lot easier. Several ways you could use AI to help with your planning process is to give it a list of food that you have and to ask it to come up with a meal plan.

In addition, you could just ask AI “What are some easy camping meals?” and take it’s reccomendations. If you are curious this is what it provided.

“What are some easy camping meals?” – ChatGPT output (click to expand the view)

🍳 Easy Camping Breakfast Ideas

  1. Campfire Breakfast Burritos
    • Prep at home with scrambled eggs, cheese, and sausage. Wrap in foil and warm over the fire.
    • Keyword tip: great for “make-ahead camping meals.”
  2. Overnight Oats in a Jar
    • Mix oats, milk (or plant-based alternative), fruit, and nuts. No cooking required!
    • Perfect for no-cook camping breakfasts.
  3. Shake-and-Pour Pancakes
    • Use a just-add-water pancake mix in a bottle for quick campfire pancakes.

🥪 Quick Camping Lunch Recipes

  1. Grilled Cheese and Canned Soup
    • Make grilled cheese sandwiches on a skillet and pair with ready-to-eat tomato soup.
  2. No-Cook Wraps and Sandwiches
    • Try turkey and cheese, hummus and veggies, or peanut butter and banana wraps.
  3. Campfire Quesadillas
    • Layer cheese and beans between tortillas, cook on a pan or wrap in foil.

🍲 Easy Camping Dinners (One-Pot & Foil Meals)

  1. Foil Packet Dinners (AKA Hobo Meals)
    • Combine ground beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions with seasoning. Wrap in foil and cook over coals.
  2. One-Pot Chili
    • Canned beans, tomatoes, and ground beef or plant-based protein make this hearty and easy to prepare.
  3. Campfire Nachos
    • Tortilla chips, cheese, canned beans, and salsa layered in foil or a cast-iron pan.
  4. Hot Dogs & Corn on the Cob
  • Roast hot dogs on sticks, and cook corn wrapped in foil with butter over coals.

🍫 Camping Snacks and Desserts

  1. Classic S’mores
  • You can’t camp without marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers.
  1. Campfire Banana Boats
  • Slice a banana lengthwise, stuff with chocolate and marshmallows, wrap in foil, and warm over the fire.
  1. Trail Mix
  • Great no-prep snack loaded with protein and energy — mix nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate.
  1. Granola Bars
  • Easy to pack and perfect for hiking or mid-day snacking.
  1. Fruit Skewers
  • Skewer chunks of pineapple, apple, or melon. Grill lightly or eat fresh.

Final Thoughts

AI is changing the way we prepare for outdoor experiences. From itinerary planning to campsite searches, artificial intelligence can save time and simplify logistics.

With any new tool there will be mistakes so just remember to verify information from trusted sources, especially when it comes to safety and survival in the wild.