Every campsite comes with one picnic table, and somehow it's never enough. The stove, the cutting board, the cooler, the lantern, the bug spray and everyone's plates all end up fighting for the same few feet of space.
A little planning goes a long way. Here are 10 ways to set up your site so there's room to cook, serve and actually sit down and eat.
1. Split the site into zones
Decide where cooking happens, where food gets served and where people eat, before you unpack. Keeping the stove and prep away from the eating area keeps hot pans and sharp knives away from elbows and kids.
2. Give prep its own surface
Chopping vegetables on the same table people are eating at gets crowded fast. A separate prep station means the cook isn't working around everyone's plates.
We built The Big John Table for exactly this. It clamps onto the end of the picnic table and gives you a stainless-steel prep surface, with a towel bar on the side for tongs and a dish towel.
3. Get the grill off the eating table
A portable grill on the main table takes up half of it. Setting it up at the end of the table, on its own sturdy surface, keeps the heat and the grease away from everyone's food. Always follow your grill's instructions for safe clearance, and keep an eye on the total weight on any table extension.
4. Set up a drink station
Put the drinks, cups and ice in one spot away from the food. People stop reaching across the table, and the cooler lid isn't opening every two minutes.
5. Clip down the tablecloth
A vinyl tablecloth makes cleanup easier and covers splinters and old stains. Use tablecloth clips so the wind doesn't take it, and your plates with it.
6. Use the space under the table
Stackable bins under the picnic table keep dishes, utensils and spices organized and off the tabletop. Label them so anyone can help set up.
7. Hang what you can
A hanging organizer on a nearby tree or shelter post (where it's allowed) holds paper towels, utensils and small items. A lantern hung above the table frees up space and lights the whole area.
8. Turn one picnic table into a banquet
Feeding a big group? Add extra surface to both ends of the picnic table and you've got room for chairs at each end and a lot more elbow room.
9. Make room for everyone
If someone in your group uses a wheelchair, plan a spot where they can pull right up to the table instead of sitting off to the side. An extension on the end of the table with open space underneath does the job. Here's our guide to making a picnic table wheelchair accessible.
10. Pack gear that folds flat
Space in the car or RV matters as much as space at the site. Look for gear that folds flat and has a handle. The Big John Table folds flat and weighs 16.5 pounds, so it slides in next to the camp chairs.
More room, less juggling
You don't need a bigger campsite. You just need a better setup. Start with zones, get prep and the grill off the eating table, and add surface where you need it.
See The Big John Table and join the waitlist for our first run of 100 tables, launching this holiday season.