Are you heading out camping for the first time? Do you have a new (or new to you) tent that you need help setting up? Have you ever wondered why your tent has so many pegs and lines that you never use? We’re here to help!

This guide on setting up your freestanding tent will help you set-up your tent properly so that you have the perfect shelter while enjoying the great outdoors. 

My Key Takes 

• Before heading out on your camping trip, check to make sure your tent is complete and that you know how to set it up. 
• Make sure you have enough pegs for both the tent body and the fly.  Tent makers unfortunately skimp on pegs
• Peg your tent our TAUGHT. A taught tent sheds rain better and maximizes interior space.  
• Like most things in camping, a few extra minutes of preparation go a long way.  Take time  to find the perfect spot for your tent and remove any debris that will either damage your tent or poke you in the back all night.

How to Set-up a Tent: A Complete Guide

1. Know Before You Go

Before setting out on a camping trip with a new (or new to you tent), make sure that you set it up at home first so that you know how it goes together. When setting up a tent for the first time, I have the following questions in mind:

• Does the tent have a footprint and fly?
• How many pegs are needed to properly set up the tent?
• Does the tent have pole sleeves or pole clips (or a combination of the two)?
• Is the tent in good condition? Do the zippers all work? 
• Does the tent come with instructions that I should read?
• Does the tent have any markings to indicate how the footprint, tent body, and tent fly all go together? 

2. Pick A Spot

Some campsites will have designated tent pads that dictate where to put your tent. If no tent pads exist, make sure you pick a spot that is away from your kitchen and fire pit (see our guide to setting up a front country campsite). The ideal spot will be flat and will not be in a low spot where water will collect if it rains.  If you are in the backcountry, be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles and camp on durable surfaces. 

Once you’ve found your spot, clear away any rocks or sticks that could damage your tent or make for an uncomfortable sleep. 

3. Lay Out the Footprint 

If your tent comes with a foot print, lay this out in your chosen spot, making sure that it aligns with where you want your tent positioned. Most footprints will have a shiny side and a dull side; the shiny side has the water resistant coating and taped seams and should face up to minimize abrasion.

If your tent doesn’t come with a footprint, you can use a tarp as a groundsheet. Just make sure that once you’ve completed your tent set up that you tuck any exposed groundsheet under the tent body to prevent the groundsheet from funneling water under your tent.

4. Lay Out the Tent Body

Lay out the tent body, which is the main part of the tent, on top of the footprint. Pull all the corners out so that it aligns with the footprint (note that the footprint will be slightly smaller than the tent). 

5. Assemble the Poles 

There are many different pole structures for tents. Free-standing tents will have 2 or more poles that will typically cross over the tent body and insert into opposite corners of the tent.  

Some tent manufacturers create complex tent designs and use metal or plastic hubs to connect all the poles together. This helps make tents easier to set-up correctly. 

Pole sections are held together by stretchy shock cord to make it easier to put poles together. When assembling poles do not let the poles ‘snap’ in place. Instead, gently insert each pole section into the others to avoid splitting the pole ends (which can happen with both aluminum and fiberglass poles).

6. Connect the Poles to the Tent

If your tent has pole sleeves, run poles through the sleeves and insert the pole ends into the pockets or grommets found at the tent corners. It is often easier to insert one end of each pole first and then as you insert the second end of each pole, the tent will take shape. This step is best done with a buddy, especially if your tent is a 4-person model or larger. 

If your tent has clips, lay the poles across the tent and align them with the correct corners.  Insert poles into the pockets or grommets to form the tent structure.  Working from the ground up, clip the tent body to the poles. 

Some tents will have a shorter ridge pole to add structural support and to create more headroom in the tent.  The ridge pole will insert into pockets or grommets near the top of the tent (or in the tent fly, see Step 8) and should be added last. 

7. Peg Out the Tent

For optimal stability, every corner of the tent should be pegged out, and the floor of the tent should be taut.  Insert a peg through the loop at one corner of your tent.  If your footprint uses loops, pass the peg through the footprint loop as well (the footprint loop should sit below the tent loop). Move around the tent clockwise or counterclockwise pegging each corner and pulling the tent tight before each peg is inserted.

To increase holding power, pegs should be inserted on a 45 degree angle leaning away from the tent. Soft conditions (like snow or sand) call for larger pegs, while rocky ground requires thinner pegs, or pegs with a v-notch.  

If the ground is too firm or rocky to allow the pegs to hold, you can tie corners out to rocks or logs as shown in the video above.

8. Attach the Tent Fly

The tent fly adds a layer of protection from wind and rain to your tent.  Drape the fly over your tent, making sure to align the fly correctly so that doors in the fly match those in the tent. Many manufacturers use colored tabs on the tent, footprint, and fly to simplify alignment. The tent fly will often have Velcro fasteners on the underside. These are used to help align the fly with the pole of the tent. Attach these first.  Next, clip or attach the fly to the tent corners; this is often done with an adjustable buckle that allows the fly to be drawn taut to the tent corners. 

9. Peg Out the Vestibule and Guy lines

Many tents have vestibules outside their doors. These are storage areas outside the tent body that are protected from the elements by the tent fly.  Peg the vestibules out so that they are taut and so that the door of the fly can still be opened.

Guy lines are used to either secure the tent in windy conditions or to draw the tent fly away from the tent body to improve ventilation and rain protection.  Guy lines should be secured with pegs and then tensioned using the built-in tensioner. 

10. Move in!

Do one final check to make sure everything is nice an taught, unzip your front door, set-up your camping sleep system, and be happy with a job well done!