Trip planner
Plan the trip, then build the kit.
This is what a region usually does to you in a season, not a forecast — check the actual weather, the land manager's rules, and your own experience before you go.
1 · Region
Northeast
New England, New York, Pennsylvania, the northern Appalachians
Southeast
the Gulf and South Atlantic states, the southern Appalachians
Midwest / Plains
the Great Lakes states, the corn belt, the Dakotas through Kansas
Rocky Mountain / High Desert
Montana through Colorado, the Great Basin, the Wasatch and Sierra
Pacific Northwest
western Washington and Oregon, coastal northern California, the Cascades
Southwest / Desert
Arizona, New Mexico, southern Nevada and Utah, the Mojave and Chihuahuan
Six regions, not fifty states — coverage is approximate, and Canada and other countries are not built.
2 · Season
3 · How you're travelling
Car camping
The vehicle is at the site. Weight does not count.
Backpacking
Everything you have is on your back.
Vehicle bug-out
Leaving in a loaded vehicle, sleeping wherever you stop.
Shelter in place
Staying put in a building you already have.
4 · Party size
5 · Weight budget
Pick a region to see the climate read and a shelter call.
What this does not do: it is not a weather forecast, it does not check permits, seasons, or land access, it does not identify a plant for you, and it never tells you to put anything in your mouth. It is informational, not professional advice. Spot something wrong for your region? Tell us — being right matters more to us than being finished.