Car Camping Master Packing List

Camping is one of the best ways to vacation on the cheap! You can plan a whole vacation around camping itself, or you can use car camping as cheaper alternative to staying in a hotel when you are on a road trip. Whatever your reason for wanting to camp, it is important to make sure you’re prepared!

If you’d like to see an example of a camping road trip, check out my post One Week in the Canadian Rockies!

If you are new to car camping, it can be overwhelming to pack for your trip. I have created a master list of everything I bring camping to make it easier for you!

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Essential Equipment

• Tent
• Tarp/tent footprint (Depending on your tent, you may want to put a tarp under it to prevent moisture coming in through the ground)
• Sleeping bags (Make sure you bring the right sleeping bag for the night time temperature!)
• Sleeping mats (I use a similar mat to this one with a built-in pillow)
• Pillows
• Camping chairs
• First aid kit
• Head lamps/flashlights/lantern
• Emergency water
• Bear spray

Cooking Equipment

• Camping stove
• Cooking fuel
• Lighter
• Eating utensils
• Dishes (mugs, bowls, plates)
• Pot/frying pan
• Spatula
• Knife and cutting board
• Cooking oil
• Meal ingredients
• Salt/pepper
• Food containers
• Cooler and ice
• Water bottles
• Jugs to transport water to your site
• Any additional utensils for your specific meals (Ex: can opener, tongs, mixing bowl)

Cleaning Equipment

• Wet wipes/paper towels
• Dish cloths (for cleaning and dish drying)
• Sponge
• Bins for dish washing
• Biodegradable soap
• Garbage bags

Personal Equipment

• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Hat/sunglasses
• Hand sanitizer
• Toiletries
• Towel (preferably quick-dry)
• Slides/sandals for going in and out of the tent
• Hiking/walking shoes
• Clothing that can be layered
• Warm sleeping clothes and socks
• Jain jacket
• Swimsuit

Site Dependent Equipment

• Water purification tablets or water filter
• Toilet paper
• Firewood (Some campgrounds supply firewood)
• Axe

Optional

• Table cloth
• Tarp and rope for overhead cover
• Mosquito tent
• Games/cards (My favourite game to bring camping is Bang!)
• Sports equipment
• Bikes
• Speaker
• Sticks for roasting marshmallows/hot dogs
• Hammock
• Portable charger

Like lists? Check out my list of 20 Free Ways to Practice Self-Care!