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Photo by Elaine Skylar Neal / Travels and Curiosities

Ultimate Car Camping Checklist

July 7, 2020


Being well-prepared for a car camping trip can save a lot of headaches. It can be extremely frustrating realizing you’ve left a critical item at home… like the tent stakes, for instance. For a low-stress trip, use our ultimate car camping checklist to get organized and stay relaxed for your next night out in the wilderness.

If you’re new to camping, check out our articles Camping for Beginners and How to Build a Campfire for Beginners to get you started. And if you don’t own any camping gear, never fear, you can always rent! Renting gear is a great way to test out whether car camping is right for you before you invest your hard-earned dollars. REI is a great option for rental gear if you live within driving distance of a location.


Most important items for camping:

  • Tent with rainfly, footprint and stakes

  • Sleeping Bags | Extra blankets

  • Sleeping Pads | Inflatable Mattresses | Cots

  • Pillows

  • Lanterns, headlamps and/or flashlights

  • Camp chairs

  • Camp stove and fuel

  • Lighter | Matches | Tinder fire starter kit

  • Firewood if campfires are permitted

  • A cooler with frozen cold packs that won’t leak

  • Food and eating utensils

  • Sharp Knife

  • Personal hygiene items

  • Prescription medications

  • Extra socks and layers of clothing

  • Dish soap and hand sanitizer

  • Sunscreen

  • A First-Aid Kit and Snake Bite Kit

  • Bear Spray

Fun and nice to have items:

  • Hammocks

  • Camp table

  • Two-way radios or walkie talkies

  • A portable power station

  • Canopy tent | Tarp for shade with cording

  • Picnic Blanket

  • Multi-tool

  • Hammer or rubber mallet for grounding tent stakes

  • Constellation chart or app for stargazing

  • Large water jugs with a spigot for easy hand washing

  • Ice

  • Skewers for roasting marshmallows + s’more ingredients

  • Citronella candles | Insect repellant

  • Portable campfire

  • Games | Books | Journals

  • Sunglasses

  • Earplugs

  • Flipflops

  • Warm hat

For the foodie camper:

  • A two-burner camp stove with two separate skillets

  • Grill rick or pan | Dutch oven for slow roasting

  • Cooking utensils

  • Plates | Bowls | Coffee mugs

  • Tea kettle | French press

  • Tablecloth

  • Collapsable dish sink | Scrubber or sponge

  • Kitchen towels

  • Foil

  • Bottle and wine opener | Cocktail shaker

For the photo nerd camper:

  • A camera and tripod

  • Dry bag for gear protection

  • Lens cleaner

 
 

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