Red Dead Redemption 2 Camp Guide – General Tips and Tricks

Trying to build a home away from home? It's not as tough as you might think, and our Red Dead Redemption 2 camp guide will make glamping easy.
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Spend any amount of time away from the creature comforts of a town in Red Dead Redemption 2 and you’ll realize that your camp is essentially your home away from home. Well, it’s supposed to be. However, your camp is really only as good as you make it. If you’re particularly smart, your camp can be a source of food, ammo, and general comfort. Check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 camp guide for some beginner’s tips so that you can learn to maximize your efforts while glamping.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 Camp Guide –  General Tips and Tricks

So, first thing’s first. If you actually want to upgrade your camp, you’re going to have to have finished the following quests from Chapter 2 of Red Dead Redemption 2 first:

  1. Polite Society, Valentine Style
  2. Americans at Rest
  3. Paying a Social Call
  4. A Quiet Time
  5. Good, Honest, Snake Oil
  6. Money Lending and Other Sins (unlocked when you complete the first 5)

Once you’ve completed Money Lending and Other Sins, you’ll be able to find what’s called the Ledger by the tithing box in your camp. Now, you’ll be able to assign various upgrades. It’s important to note that this isn’t just a solo endeavor – contributing to the camp’s betterment will encourage your companions to do the same, and they’ll also help you reap better rewards when their morale has improved. 

We’d recommend chipping in for the following upgrades to your tent once you’ve unlocked the ability to do so:

  • First Things First (Dutch’s Tent) – allows the gang to contribute
  • Next in Line (Arthur’s Wagon) – unlocks the ability for you to fast travel 
  • Tonics Satchel – upgrade accessed via Pearson which increases your capacity to hold Tonics
  • Something With Kick – upgrade accessed via Strauss which will let you buy Tonics and Premium Liquor
  • Horse Station – this gives you more hitching posts and lets you access a network of horses via stabling
  • Leather Working Tools – these will be essential to Pearson’s upgrades and if you want satchels made, so this would be a priority for us

What you use your camp for outside of our recommendations is largely up to you. We’ve tried to hone in on improvements that make the game less tedious, which is why we vouch for upgrading your wagon to access fast travel as soon as you can. Your camp can also be used to store outfits, you can do a bit of personal grooming, and also borrow ammo from everyone. As we’ve mentioned, putting your back into it with the camp will inspire camp members to do the same, which will mean that they’ll donate not only money to more upgrades in the future but also free provisions, medicine and the like. Everyone wins!

Now that you’ve got our Red Dead Redemption 2 Camp guide in hand, you too can turn a little slice of roadside living into a semi-forever home. Sure, it might not be the most comfortable way to experience your travels in the Wild West, but don’t knock it until you try it. Need a hand with anything else in Red Dead Redemption 2? Check out the following guides that we’ve put together:


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About the Author

Ginny Woo

Ginny hails from just south of Mordor, and when she's not debating others about the One Ring then she's probably glued to an MMO or a JRPG. With Final Fantasy XIV, Destiny 2, and World of Warcraft on her plate, she's always got something to chat about and a sneaky guide up her sleeve. If writing's not on the cards, then she's probably drinking way too much coffee.