You may be ready to jump in the car and head to your favorite camping site, but first, you need to be sure you are prepared. With a car camping checklist, you can be sure you don’t forget anything important. Unlike a backpacking camping trip, have a car means that you can bring along the essentials and anything else you need to make the trip as comfortable as possible. If you aren’t sure where to start, the below will give you an idea of the car camping gear to bring along.
Tents & Sleeping Bags
Just because you’re going car camping, that doesn’t mean you have to sleep inside the car. The first thing you want to bring with you is somewhere you can sleep. Most people appreciate having a tent to offer some cover over their heads. If you prefer the open air, a sleeping pad might be the best option. Having a sleeping bag is also a must to keep you comfortable as you rest.
Fire Starting Tools
Another car camping essential is a way to start a fire. This could be anything from a fire starter tool to a portable grill, matches, or a lighter. Camping isn’t going to be much fun if you don’t have some fire to cook dinner or keep warm in the evening, so choose whichever you prefer but don’t forget to bring it along.
Cookware
Everyone has their own preferences in terms of what sort of cooking to do while camping. If you start an open fire, you can bring along nothing more than a grill grate, some pans and skewers, and you’ll do just fine. However, those who want to cook in a more modern way will want to bring a grill or ensure one is at the campground.
Some of the cookware you might find a use for includes a grill grate, pans, pots, skewers, a can opener, tin foil, a stove or grill, fuel, cooking utensils, plates, silverware, a cutting board, dishwashing liquid, and paper towels. A bottle opener is another must have if you’re bringing bottled beer or other beverages.
Food
Now that you have what you need to cook, you’ll also want to bring along plenty of food. Consider your preferences and those of the people accompanying you. Some ideas to get you started include chicken, burgers, vegetables, sausages, potatoes, condiments, potato chips, macaroni salad, cheese, bread, deli meat, eggs, bacon, granola bars, tortilla chips, salsa, trail mix, fruit, and coleslaw.
Ice & A Cooler
Since you are bringing camping essentials like meat and cheese with you, you’ll also want to have a way to keep things nice and cold. Fill up a big cooler with ice and toss all the perishables inside. You might also want to include a few sodas and beers to enjoy ice cold when you make it to camp.
Water
Along with the food, you’ll want water. However, consider what you’ll be using it for. You may need water for drinking, washing dishes, personal hygiene, and more. If the weather is pretty warm, you’ll need more than you might otherwise. The best plan is to bring one half gallon to a full gallon per day per person who is coming along.
Camp Lights
Whether you choose to string up lights at your campsite or just need a few flashlights for after dark, make sure you pack some form of light. Lanterns are an alternate option but no matter what you bring along, make sure you have fuel or extra batteries in case you run out earlier than you expect.
First Aid Kit
Having the appropriate camping materials for first aid situations is crucial. You never know what sort of injuries or accidents might happen. While you don’t need a 500-piece kit, there are a few things you should always have around:
- Bandages of various sizes
- Gauze rolls or pads
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Antiseptic cream
- Tweezers
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Fingernail clippers
- Antihistamine
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hand sanitizer
Proper Clothing
You probably want a few changes of clothing among your camping supplies, although the amount will vary based on the length of your trip. You can probably decide what you’ll need as far as basics go, but sometimes the temperature can change on a dime.
Bring along at least one long-sleeve shirt or a hoodie for chilly evenings. It’s also a good idea to bring more underwear and socks than you think you’ll need. In case of rain, having a poncho or a rain jacket can also be a great idea. Whatever you do, don’t forget to bring something you can go swimming in. Even if you don't plan to swim on your trip, you may need your swimsuit if you'll be using open showers at the campground.
Personal Care Items
Depending on how stocked your campground is, you may need more or less hygiene supplies. The most important are going to be a toothbrush and toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, deodorant, and sunscreen. If you are on any medications, that’s another item to add to your car camping checklist. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper should also be high on the list.
Tools
If you want to bring along your favorite tools, don’t hold back. However, if you have a multi-tool, that may be all you need. Bring something to hammer in your tent stakes, as well.
Camp Chairs
This might not be a must have, but it will make the camping process a lot more comfortable. Bring along some camping chairs. Beach chairs can also work well, but often lack the armrests and cupholders that come in handy when sitting by the fire. These chairs also fold up and won’t take up a lot of room on the way to camp.
Fishing Gear
If you plan to take part in any fishing while away, add a tackle box and rod to your car camping essentials. This is something else that won’t take up a lot of space. Plus, if you have any luck on the water, you can fry up fresh fish for dinner. There’s nothing that will taste better.
All the Extras
We’ve mentioned most of the essentials for your car camping checklist, but sometimes having fun extras can make the experience even better. Will you be somewhere that has Internet access? Bring along a power supply so you don’t have to completely unplug. A portable shower can also be a nice extra for the trip. Some sort of radio will provide a bit of entertainment, too. Consider what you like to do the most and see if it requires packing something else in your car.
If you are worried about not having room for everything, consider purchasing a rooftop storage compartment. This is especially useful if you are bringing along the entire family who all have their essentials to store. Roof storage can give you 20 cubic feet of extra space or even more, deciding on how large you want to go.
Wrapping Up
No matter where you’re camping or how long you’re staying, there are some pieces of car camping gear that are an absolute must. This list will give you an idea of exactly what you must have, and you can fill up the rest of your space with things that will make the trip for comfortable and fun for you.
Make sure you have what you need and enjoy the trip. Camping is a great way to get away from it all and spend time with the people you love the most doing something new and exciting.
