If you’re at a campground, park, or other location where you have access to an unoccupied picnic table, you can use the table as the foundation for a simple temporary shelter.
This can be especially useful when you need protection from rain or sun but don’t have a tent or other shelter available.
What You’ll Need
- 1 large tarp — ideally 10 × 12 feet or larger
- 20–40 feet of rope or paracord
- 4–6 tent stakes
- A picnic table that is sturdy and in good condition
- A second tarp or groundsheet if available
Step 1: Choose a Safe Picnic Table
Make sure the picnic table is actually available for your use and isn’t reserved or occupied.
Inspect it before setting up.
The table should be stable, with solid legs and no obvious structural damage. Avoid tables that are broken, loose, or located underneath dead branches.
If you’re in a public park or campground, follow the site’s rules regarding overnight use, camping, and attaching ropes or tarps to park structures.
Step 2: Position the Tarp
A 10 × 12-foot tarp works well for many standard picnic tables.
Center the tarp over the table so that the middle of the tarp is approximately over the tabletop.
You can create a simple roof by draping the tarp over a ridgeline running lengthwise above the table, or you can simply position the tarp across the table and use the table itself as support.
For better rain runoff, a raised centerline is preferable.
Step 3: Create a Raised Center
If there are trees nearby, run a rope between two sturdy trees above the picnic table.
Place the tarp over the rope, creating an A-frame roof over the table.
If trees aren’t available, you can use suitable poles positioned beside the table, provided they are stable and securely anchored.
Another option for a very quick setup is to place the tarp directly over the picnic table and pull the corners outward toward the ground.
The picnic table then acts as the center support.
Step 4: Secure the Corners
Pull the four tarp corners away from the picnic table and stake them to the ground.
This creates a sloping roof.
The picnic table underneath gives you additional clearance and creates a useful raised area where you can sit, organize supplies, or stay off wet ground.
If the tarp has additional grommets along the edges, use them to add intermediate tie-down points.
Step 5: Keep One Side Open
For ventilation and easy access, leave one end or side partially open.
You can also fold or roll back a section of the tarp when the weather is good.
If rain is coming from one direction, position the lower tarp edge toward that side to create a windbreak.
Step 6: Use the Picnic Table as Your Raised Platform
One major advantage of this setup is that you’re not sleeping directly on wet or cold ground.
The tabletop can provide a raised surface for sitting or temporarily storing gear.
However, don’t assume a picnic table is designed to support sleeping people, especially if it is old, damaged, or unstable.
If you need to sleep under the shelter, use the area underneath or beside the table with a sleeping pad, blanket, or groundsheet rather than relying on the tabletop unless you know the table is structurally sound and intended to support the load.
A Quick Rain Shelter
If you simply need protection while waiting out a rain shower, you don’t need to build a complicated structure.
Drape a large tarp over the picnic table, pull the corners outward, and stake them down.
The result is essentially a large waterproof canopy.
This can provide a dry place to sit, organize belongings, eat, or wait for bad weather to pass.
Important Safety Considerations
A picnic-table tarp shelter should be considered temporary protection—not a permanent shelter.
Never attach a tarp to a picnic table in a way that could damage the table or create a hazard for other park visitors.
Also:
- Don’t use a picnic table shelter during severe thunderstorms or high winds.
- Don’t shelter beneath trees with dead or damaged limbs.
- Don’t use candles, charcoal grills, campfires, propane heaters, or other combustion devices underneath the tarp.
- Maintain good ventilation.
- Keep the tarp away from flames and other heat sources.
- Don’t block walkways, roads, emergency access, or other picnic sites.
- Take the shelter down when you’re finished and leave the area clean.
The Picnic Table Trick Is Worth Knowing
The beauty of the picnic-table method is its simplicity.
Instead of carrying poles or building a complete shelter from scratch, you can take advantage of an existing structure. One large tarp, some rope, and a few stakes can turn an ordinary picnic table into a useful temporary rain and sun shelter in a matter of minutes.
It’s a particularly useful technique to practice if you’re building a low-cost emergency preparedness kit or simply enjoy camping without spending a lot of money on specialized equipment.
FIND A CAMPGROUND: Staying in a Florida State Park When You Have Nowhere Else to Go
