Car Camping Packing Checklist

One of the things I’ve learned from camping that applies to other areas of life is that the better prepared and organized you are, the easier it is to relax and enjoy yourself. Extra batteries are always good, and knowing where they are is even better.

There are plenty of camping checklists on the Internet. But this is what we bring when we go camping. (And thanks to my friends over at parentips.com for asking.)

Camping Checklist

For 2 adults, 3 kids, a station wagon and a seltzer maker

Important Things

I.D./reservation info/$ (wallet)

Cel phone/charger

Camera/batteries

Sleeping

Tent

Foam pads (we use foam mattresses from IKEA)

Sleeping bags (kids)

Sheets & blankets (grownups)

Pillows

Bear spray (pepper spray) – I keep this in the tent, figuring most bears would come when we’re asleep looking for food, not when we’re awake banging around

Light & Fire

Lanterns

Flashlights

Batteries (+extras)

Candles

Matches and bic lighters AND a stove lighter (the long kind)

Newspaper to start fires

Hatchet to cut wood into kindling

Pocket knife

1^st Aid

Bug spray – the health food store kind for regular nights

Bug spray – the poisonous kind for mosquito swarms

Sun screen

1^st Aid Kit – bandaids, aspirin, calamine lotion, tweezers, antibiotic cream, things like that - anything more serious and we’re going to town

Prescription meds (bring extra)

Sun glasses

Toiletries

Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss

Soap

Deodorant

Hair brush & hair bands

Chapstick!

Toilet paper

Towels (will double as beach towels)

Clothing

Warm clothes (sweaters, jackets, long johns) – even in the summer

Wool hats, extra socks

Hats with sun visors (baseball caps)

Bathing suits and solid foam floaties (a lot of places don’t allow inflatable floaties)

Extra shirts, pants, shorts, dresses (my daughter is a dress person), underpants and socks. *The best socks for camping are tube socks. They go up high and keep the ticks away!

Rain Jackets – We always forget these and have to wear garbage bags (classy), but you should remember your rain jackets

Kitchen/Campsite

An extra card table – we have a cheap, plastic one that comes apart

Camp stove with extra propane tanks (they sell the tanks at many campgrounds)

Campfire grill – a big, round one to fit over the fire pit (they often sell these at campgrounds)

Camp chairs – we only have 3 – we improvise with coolers or logs

1 medium pot, 1 skillet, 2 lids

Tea kettle – most people don’t bring this but we like our tea

1 large mixing/salad bowl

knife & cutting board

Spatula, wooden spoon, tongs

Can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew

Potato peeler

pot holders & dish towels

Plates, bowls, silverware, paper plates

Mugs and cups

Something to make a pot of tea in – we use a large Tupperware thing that Chinese soup came in

Seltzer maker! What can I say. We need seltzer.

Plastic tub for washing dishes

Scrubby sponge

Biodegradable dish soap

Paper towels

Garbage bags

Ziploc bags – large and sandwich size

Rope – about 3/4” thick

Clothespins

Tin foil

Tupperware

Coolers (see Packing the Coolers)

Water – pack two jugs of water and refill them at campground as needed. Nearly all campgrounds have potable water.

Food

*Plan for every meal and bring just the food that you need. Freeze everything possible and pack it carefully in the coolers, with the things that get used first on top.

That said, don’t forget these, or you will be sad:

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

Sugar

Coffee & maker (we use the low-tech Mellita filter system)

Tea bags

Milk

Spices

Condiments

Wine!

Marshmallows, Graham crackers and Hershey bars (S’mores)

For the Kids

Compasses

Flashlights

Glow sticks

Books

Stuffed animals

Maps

Binoculars

Cards, games, toys, a ball, badminton or horse shoes, beach toys

Pens, paper, scissors, tape

Frisbee

For the Growunups

Books (a Kindle is nice and I’m not just saying that because I write ebooks. Kindles are easy to read at night and you can bring all your books with you)

Musical instruments (guitar, bongos!)

Song books

Nice to Have But Not Critical

A broom – nice to have to sweep out the tent, especially someplace beachy

Dutch oven – fun for a big group

Pie iron(s) – kids love them

Bandanas – come in handy

Hammock (with extra rope)

Walkie-talkies

Bikes & helmets

Bird guide

Star Map

Car

Spare tire, jack, lug wrench

Flares

Hide-a-key (you will thank me for this some day)

And…

Don’t Bring

Your own wood. Most campgrounds don’t allow it. Bite the bullet and buy campground wood.

And …

Don’t Forget

To tell someone where you are going.

Have a great camping trip. Wish I were going, too!