Motorcycle Camping
Tent Camping on a Motorcycle: Pitch, Sleep Dry and Pack Up
Tent camping on a motorcycle: where to pitch next to the bike, where riding gear goes, how to cut condensation and how to pack a wet tent on the bike.
Tent camping on a motorcycle works best with a set routine: pick firm ground where the bike can park beside the tent, pitch the tent before you unpack anything else, keep riding gear in the vestibule, open the vents for the night, and pack the wet fly apart from the tent in the morning. This guide walks through that routine and the rules behind it.
It is part of our motorcycle camping guide. If this is your first trip, start with our 10-step plan for camping on a motorcycle.
Key takeaways- Pitch at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, on ground that can take a parked bike.- Airflow is the main defense against condensation: open the vents and doors and pitch the tent taut.- Never run a stove, heater or lantern inside the tent, even with the doors open.- Pack the wet rainfly in its own bag, apart from the tent body.
What makes a tent work on a motorcycle
Any tent can go on a motorcycle if it fits. In practice, look for four things:
We don't rank tents here. To buy one, see how to choose a tent for motorcycle camping and our comparison of tents for motorcycle camping.
| What to check | Why it matters on a bike |
|---|---|
| Packed length | It has to sit across the seat or rack without hanging past the bags |
| Pole length | Long poles stick out; short folded poles pack inside a bag |
| Vestibule size | It is your garage for helmet, boots and bags |
| Freestanding or not | A freestanding tent can go up on hard ground where stakes won't go in |
Choose a spot for the tent and the bike
Look for flat, firm ground with room to park the bike next to the tent door. Ride over the spot slowly first: if the tires sink, the side stand will too. Put a flat plate or puck under the stand on soft ground.
In open country, pitch at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. On BLM land, use a spot that is already disturbed and within 150 feet of a designated route. Pick slightly raised ground rather than a hollow, in case it rains.
Pitch in the right order
The order matters more than speed. Do it the same way every night and it becomes automatic:
- Park the bike where it will stay, on its stand, before you pitch.
- Lay the footprint or ground sheet, then the tent body.
- Put up the poles and the rainfly; stake the corners and guy out the fly.
- Unpack only the sleep kit: sleeping pad, sleeping bag, pillow.
- Move the rest of the bags into the vestibule or leave them locked on the bike.
Where your riding gear goes at night
Riding gear is bulky and often wet. The vestibule is the place for helmet and boots: out of the rain, but not in your sleeping space. Turn boots upside down or cover them so nothing crawls in.
Bring the jacket inside if nights are cold; it is an extra layer over your sleeping bag. Hang wet gear on the bike to drip rather than inside the tent, where it adds moisture.
Keep condensation down
Condensation is not a leak. It forms when water vapor in warm air meets a cold surface, such as the inside of the rainfly. Your breath and any wet gear inside the tent add to it.
Ventilation, meaning airflow through the tent, is the most effective way to reduce it:
- Open the vestibule doors partway, or both doors on a two-door tent, for cross-flow.
- Pitch the tent taut so moisture runs down the fly.
- Face the tent into the wind and open the vents.
In the morning, shake the fabric and let the tent dry before you pack it, if you have time. Guidance here comes from MSR and Sea to Summit.
Cook outside, never in the tent
On a cold night it is tempting to run the stove in the vestibule. Don't. Camping stoves, heaters, lanterns and grills that burn fuel should never be used inside a tent. A CDC report found that opening flaps or doors does not prevent carbon monoxide from building up.
Warm up with more layers and a hot meal cooked outside instead.
Rain and wind
In rain, the routine above still works; you just do it faster. Pitch the fly first if your tent allows it, so the inner stays dry. Keep the tent taut; taut fabric carries condensation down the fly to the ground.
In wind, stake and guy every point and park the bike on the windward side as a partial break. Our guide to motorcycle camping in the rain covers wet nights in depth.
Break camp and load the tent
Strike in reverse order: sleep kit packed first, tent last. If the tent is wet, pack the rainfly and the tent in separate stuff sacks, since the fly may hold more moisture. Dry everything at your next long stop or that evening.
Load the tent bag the way you load everything else: low, and over or in front of the rear axle. Use elastic cords with more than one attachment point per side, not rope.
Tent, hammock or trailer?
Big events are a special case. If you plan to pitch at a rally campground, read about tent camping at Sturgis.
| Option | Works best when | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Ground tent | Most campgrounds; any terrain with a flat spot | This page |
| Hammock | Wooded sites with trees the right distance apart | Hammock camping by motorcycle |
| Trailer camper | You want a raised bed and more storage, and your bike may tow | Motorcycle camping trailers |
Gear for the ride
Your riding jacket ends up as part of your sleep system on cold nights, so pick one you are comfortable in for long days. You can browse Leather Collection motorcycle jackets.
Related guides
- For everything else to pack, use our motorcycle camping checklist.
- On dirt routes, see dual-sport motorcycle camping for where you may camp.
- To give the tent and every other bag a fixed place on the bike, see how to set up a motorcycle camping kit.
FAQ
What is the best camping tent for motorcycles?
The best one is the tent that packs short enough for your rack or seat, gives you a vestibule big enough for helmet and boots, and suits the ground you camp on. The tent-choice guide linked above covers each point.
What is the best way to camp with a motorcycle?
There is no single best way, but a short first trip to a booked campground is the easiest start. The 10-step first-trip plan linked at the top of this page covers it.
margumi Editorial Team
margumi articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.