The Best Family Packing List For Car Camping

A Detailed Review And Handy Checklist Of What To Pack For Car Camping

I love camping. We try to go as often as we can, even if it is just for a quick overnight to the nearby Smokies. That means I need to keep the camping stuff somewhat easy to grab and go and have a way to remember all the things.

Enter my camping packing list which has been honed over the years to include just about everything I can think of that we might need.

It was so easy back in high school and college when a tent and a sleeping bag plus a bag of potato chips and some cans of spaghetti-Os were all I needed for a great weekend of boondocking in the woods.

But camping with kids is something else entirely and I always end up bringing a heck of a lot more stuff. Plus, the kiddos aren’t very helpful with the packing so I need to remember everything for all of us lest I forget the headlamps (been there, done that). Or the fuel for the camp stove (also been there, done that).

*** To be clear, this packing list assumes that you are driving to a campground. My backcountry camping list would eliminate probably 90% of the stuff mentioned below. When it comes to weight vs comfort for me, I’ll often pick weight. Bring on the Ramen!

The Complete Packing List For Car Camping

Tip: I will say that after years of using (and wearing) outdoor gear, I do now usually spend the $$$ to buy name brand stuff. Generally it pays for itself by lasting so much longer. My favorites are SmartWool, Patagonia, The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, and Coleman. If I have found a specific piece of equipment that has worked well for us, I will link it below in the descriptions.

Detailed Descriptions Of What (And Why) We Pack For A Camping Trip

Personal Items

Quick Drying Shorts, Pants, Shirts

The specifics depend on the season and number of days camping. Plus, whatever activity we have planned for the days- hiking, mountain biking, or paddling.

I always pack 1 more outfit than # of days of the trip, 2 more for kids. So if camping for 3 days, I bring 4 outfits for me, 5 for kid. You’re in a car so take advantage of the ability to bring stuff.

My best tried and true, quick- dry, clothing has come from REI, directly from favorite brands websites, or my local outdoors store. I like to skim through their sales a couple of times a year and pick up what I need or what is too good a price to pass up.

Underwear

Same rules apply: total amount = # of days of trip +1, ( +2 if packing for kids)

Camp Wear- Clothes and Shoes

Even if I can’t take a shower, I always like changing into dry, clean clothing or at least a fresh shirt when I get back to camp after a fun day exploring.

A change of shoes is also welcome after a long day hiking. I often use flip flops or my Tevas as comfy camp shoes. Crocs also work really well as they are easy to get on/off for nighttime bathroom breaks and are so easily cleaned.

I will usually double-duty my camp wear as sleepwear so I like it to be comfortable. Leggings, T-shirt, and pull-over fleece are my go- to’s. I also usually wear my camp outfit for more than one day/night but will bring a spare outfit just in case.

Socks

Again, I use my general rule of “# of pairs = # of days + 1 ” but I increase the addition. Pack 2 more pairs than days camping, 3 more for kids. Kids can find a puddle anywhere. And wet socks are not cool.

I like Smartwool socks, even in summer, as I find they keep my feet the most comfy and they smell the least. I will bring a pair of fleece socks for wearing around the campsite if I am winter camping- they keep my feet extra warm in my sleeping bag.

Camp Towel

I have an over-sized, quick drying towel that I have had for years. Works great and truly does dry in no time so you aren’t carting home a big wet towel.

Even if I have plenty of room in the car, I won’t bring a bath towel from home. It is an easy way to cut down on what you are bringing without sacrificing comfort. And those big towels never dry, especially when camping in the southeast.

Toiletries

• Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss
• Soap- because often the campground bathroom is out or does not supply it. We keep a cheap bar in a plastic travel case in the camping equipment bin.
• Shampoo and Conditioner- only if I am lucky enough to be camping somewhere with showers
• Face Wipes- Because I break out easily. If there is no shower in the campground, these also work in a pinch for a quick and dirty body wash
• Roll of Toilet Paper (or more)- because not all campsites are restocked enough.
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray- I am a mosquito magnet so I never go anywhere without bug spray.

Personal Electronics

This is a tough one for me because part of the reason I love to camp is so I can get away from electronics. But there are a couple that I still like to take with me, even into the woods.

Phone

Mostly because it is all I use for pictures now but also for using the GPS to double check trail maps. I would never solely depend on GPS but it is helpful. Also 911 will work in some cases even without cell service so the phone comes with me into the woods.

Smartwatch

I use a Garmin smartwatch and it is fantastic for keeping track of mileage and elevation. Not absolutely necessary but very helpful.

Kindle Paperwhite

I love reading in my tent and the Kindle has become a favorite because then I don’t need to use my headlamp. I use my Kindle Paperwhite versus the Kindle app on my phone because the Paperwhite holds a charge forever and I preserves the battery life of my phone.

Portable charger

Because everything above still requires charging. I love Anker products and have been using them for a decade (my oldest portable charger from them is still going like a champ!)

They make some fantastic small chargers that easily go into a daypack (or my purse at home). I also bring a bigger brick charger for multi- day camping trips, car trips, basically any long trip I take- this baby comes along.

Camping Equipment

Tent

I have a Mountain Hardwear Optic 3.5 that I love. It’s been a reliable companion to our camping adventures for the past 6 years through rainstorms, dogs in the tent, kids, and more. I would buy from them again in a heartbeat as well as North Face (who made my previous 2 person tent that I camped with for a decade until I killed it by putting it away wet. Mildew is no joke).

Mountain Hardwear discontinued my specific tent but the Mineral King 3 and the Bridger 4 are the closest to what I have and what I usually recommend to people.

We also have the generic Coleman monster tent that sleeps 4 people. It is a fine tent, especially for the price, but nowhere near as easy to set up or as waterproof as the Mountain Hardwear Tent.

If tents are not your thing but you still like camping, check out our reviews of the Rove Rentals camping trailer and the roof top tent. It was a really fun rental for a camping weekend in North Carolina.

Tarp

I always put a tarp underneath my tent since I am usually camping in the Southeast and the ground always is a little damp. It also helps with cleanup as well as it keeps the tent bottom dry and mostly free of dirt for easy put away. You can see the tarp under my tent in the picture above.

A 6 x 8 is enough to cover the bottom of my tent but I prefer an 8 x 10 tarp so I have a little room to put shoes outside the tent door off the ground. Or you can always get a tent footprint from your tent maker that exactly matches your tent’s size.

Sleeping Bag

I frequently bring my big mummy sleeping bag as I get cold at night even in 70 degree weather. I might unzip it and use it as a partial blanket when it is warm but I like having it. I have a 10 year old Sierra Designs mummy bag that has done well throughout the years, even if newer bags obliterate it on weight.

If you need a sleeping bag, don’t skimp and buy a cheap one. Nothing sucks the fun out of camping quicker than a night shivering while waiting for dawn. Expect to spend at least $200 for a good bag. The good ones last for years so the investment pays off.

REI has a great selection of sleeping bags from different manufacturers and they have good customer service and a nice return policy.

If you are a hot sleeper or summer only camper, you might look into a thin fleece sleeping bag. Some of the kids only use a fleece bag, particularly when camping in July in the southeast. Often times you will see it sold as a sleeping bag liner but we use it by itself. Easier to wash too, than a big sleeping bag.

Sleep Sack

Camping frequently in the Southeast, the weather is sometimes just too hot for any kind of sleeping bag, even a thin fleece one, especially when I first hit the hay.

My solution was to take old sheets, fold them in half, sew the edges together, and voila! Great sleep sacks that were thin and breathable. (And to be fair, it was my Mom’s solution as I can’t sew to save my life. Moms to the rescue!)

You can buy sleep sacks online if sewing isn’t your thing. They are often called travel sheets too as they work well for hostels or anywhere you have to bring your own sheets.

Inflatable Sleep Pad

I have a Basecamp Therm-A-Rest from 2002 that is still going strong. I love it. It’s basic and awesome. Unfortunately, my body is old and less forgiving so it has been passed onto the kids.

If you need more than a basic inflatable sleep pad, look at the Exped Megamat 10 Insulated Self- Inflating Sleeping Pad. It has made me love camping again because I wake fully rested and refreshed. Truly worth every penny.

Amy and I both love this pad so much we each bought one and Amy bought one for her husband too. It is definitely an investment but they often go on sale and it is frankly the most comfortable night camping.

Amy wrote a whole review of the Exped, singing its praises.

Pillow

Some people bring pillows from home, but I like the Therm a Rest compressible pillow. Really does pack down to nothing and expand to be a decently sized pillow. I take mine on planes with me as well. I would err on the side of the larger sizes for car camping.

Headlamps

Bring a headlamp for each person and spare batteries for at least two of them. Snakes can be an issue in the parks where I frequently camp and you shouldn’t walk around at night without light if that is an issue.

I switched to a headlamp with a red light option years ago and will never go back. It is totally worth the extra money as you stop blinding your tent mates in the middle of the night and your night vision is so much better. I wasn’t sure if it was worth it before I bought it and am totally a believer now. It is great.

Luci Light

One of my favorite Christmas gifts ever, the Luci Light is an amazing invention that I use all the time. Recharges on the dash of the car during the day and gives off hours of light at night.

We always bring at least 2 Luci Lights, one to hang over the picnic table and one to hang in the tent. They are waterproof too so I can take them with me on a paddleboard for night paddles.

This is a really useful piece of gear that will make a great present to anybody who camps, paddles, or just likes to hang out on their back porch at night.

Luci Lights are also awesome to keep handy around the house for power outages. They keep a charge for months (even a year or more on a couple of ours), throw off a ton of light, and are easy to hang above a kitchen table, sink, etc.

Luminoodles (plus a portable charger)

Another excellent Christmas gift, Luminoodles are more for added fun than they are strictly necessary. Plug them into a portable charger (like the kind you use for a phone) and you have instant fairy lights to add ambiance to your campsite.

The kids love these things, especially if you string them up around the hammocks. These are one of my favorite choices for $10 or less gift exchanges or for the kid I don’t know well.

Camp Chairs

Some people get really fancy with these but I have a lightweight, very portable one that I snagged on clearance from Target years ago. Looks like this one I found on Amazon. I love the smaller size and lighter weight of this chair even if I am giving up arms and drink holders.

We also have approximately a kajillion generic chairs-in-a-bag that have somehow accumulated in our garage over the years and they also get brought on camping trips.

I could just sit at the picnic table but its nice to gather around the fire in chairs. If I have enough room in the car, why not?

Kid Games/ Things To Do

A frisbee, soccer ball, football, cornhole, etc. Something active for them to do when I am setting up camp, making dinner, or I just want to chill out for a bit.

A card game is also a great idea. We are partial to UNO, but Go Fish and War are always good fun. Dominoes is another family favorite.

Hammock

I have a Wise Owl hammock that I got for $25 off of Amazon and I never get to sit in it because there is always a child in there.

There is nothing better than watching the kiddos chill in the hammock with a good book when we are camping. But I did end up getting them their own hammocks for Christmas so I can reclaim mine and read my own book!

Whatever hammock you buy though (the original ENO hammocks or a knock-off), definitely invest in the ENO Atlas suspension straps (about $30). They are worth it because it considerably expands the distance between trees that you can have and they are ridiculously easy to use.

My nine year-old nephews can do it by themselves. The ENO straps are much better than any of the knock-off straps we own and I will spend the extra money to get those from now on.

Nylon Rope Or Paracord

I always bring about 25ft of spooled nylon rope. I often use it hang lights but it also works for an impromtu washing line, to use as additional guy lines, or tie down things that break. Because something always breaks.

Marine rope is handy because it usually has a loop at one end already, making it easier to attach to trees, tarps, etc.

Duck Tape

Because I am from the south and do firmly believe there is nothing duck tape can’t fix.

First Aid Kit

I pack my own First Aid kit but pre- made ones are fine too. Just make sure your First-Aid kit includes an ACE bandage. One of the most useful first aid things ever. Good for sprained ankles, holding ice on a bruised leg, and keeping bandages in place in awkward areas like the soles of your feet.

My First-Aid Kit

(I have used every single one of these things at least once)

• ACE Bandage- so useful
• Large Non-stick Pads
• Band-Aids- have a variety of sizes, including butterfly
• Mole Skin- probably the other most useful thing in my first aid kit. Nothing works to prevent blisters like mole skin. I won’t go on a hike with kids without moleskin.
• White bandage tape
• A bunch of gauze pads (If something is bad enough that you need gauze pads, you will need lots of them)
• Tweezers
• Small Scissors
• Cotton Q Tips
• Neosporin
• Betadine or Hydrogen Peroxide
• A 10 or 20 cc syringe. For deep cuts you will want to use the syringe and a dilute betadine solution to flush out the wound before bandaging.
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Tylenol- kids and adult
• Ibuprofen- kids and adult
• Pepto-Bismol Chewable Tablets- great for upset tummies in the middle of the night
• Antacids- also surprisingly good for a variety of “I don’t feel good” complaints
• Loperamide/ Immodium AD
• Thermometer
• Latex Gloves
• Instant Cold Compress

You can often start with a pre-made first-aid kit that already has many of these items and then add things you want. That’s how I started and then just added things over the years as the kids and I discovered new and fun ways to injure ourselves 😉

Cooking Equipment For Car Camping

Coleman Classic Two Burner Stove

This thing works fantastic considering you can usually pick one up for $50 or less. There is a reason you see this stove frequently around campgrounds.

I have cooked soup, pancakes, quesadillas, grilled cheese, and mac n’ cheese so far on mine. It boils water in no time for coffee, an urgent necessity for me in the morning.

The stove requires 16oz propane tanks that can be found lots of places– Target, Lowes, grocery stores, ACE, etc. One tank easily lasts me through a weekend of cooking pancakes and rice dinners but I usually bring 2 just in case.

You can pick-up the old school classic Cascade Camp Stove at REI while Amazon only carries the newer Triton stove. I have the Cascade but they look identical to me except for the color so not sure I this is just a licensing thing?

Camping Cooking Pots

I have an ancient pair of MSR pots that nest and are great. The larger pot holds enough mac n’ cheese for 2 adults, 2 kids and the smaller one is perfect for side vegetables and heating water for coffee and hot chocolate.

The lid fits nicely in either. MSR doesn’t make the exact same ones anymore but this is the closest set to mine I have seen.

Camping Cooking Utensils

Spatula, slotted spoon, ladle, sharp knife, small cutting board, hot pad, and tongs make up my basic camping cookware set.

I got a nice camping utensil set as a Christmas gift from my Mom who saw it on my Amazon wish list. I have really liked it so far. Has everything I need and zips up into its neat carrying case for tidy packing.

Dishware and Flatware We Use For Camping

We go cheap here and reuse all of our old plastic plates and bowls from when the kids were little. Lightning McQueen lives again when we go camping as do various other cartoon characters.

Rescuing the old plastic plates works great as they are lightweight, pretty easy to clean, and don’t break easily when dropped. I also don’t care if they have to get tossed for whatever reason. Win-win. Just be careful when cooking as they tend to be very susceptible to heat.

Paper plates are also handy when camping but I hate the waste. If I already have to make a trip to the campground sink for cleaning dinner pots and pans, I might as well wash plates and bowls too.

Flatware I usually just borrow from home or raid our stash of disposable stuff accumulated from various restaurant to-go orders over time. I am slowly starting to accumulate nice silicon and reusable camping flatware but it is expensive.

Another option is to stock up on some inexpensive bamboo cutlery before your trip. A lot of it can be washed a few times and then tossed so you don’t have to bring it home.

Cups are a little bit different as we love to have hot chocolate while camping so plastic cups don’t always work well. These stainless steel tumblers linked below are good for any beverage and are easy to clean and store. That’s about perfection for camping stuff— easy to carry, clean, and multi-functional.

Cast Iron Griddle

I use my griddle for pancakes and quesadillas primarily but I know others make burgers and even steaks on theirs. Most 2-burner griddles will fit on top of the Coleman stove mentioned above.

If you get a cast- iron one, you can also use it on a campfire. I love the one made by Lodge (and its made in TN so it’s especially cool). It is super heavy but does a great job and is easy to clean once you get the hang of it. Do read the instructions with it.

Fire Starters

Popular campgrounds have slim pickings for kindling as most of the good stuff gets used quickly. Bringing a few newspapers and wads of dryer lint can go a long way to getting your fire started without many twigs. So can a Duraflame in really dire situations.

Most campgrounds require you to buy wood onsite to prevent insect contamination but not all of them store the wood very well. A fire starter brick can keep your nascent fire going long enough for something to actually catch when many of the logs are spitting out a ridiculous amount of water.

A super trick a friend showed me years ago is to pour olive oil on wet logs and let it soak in for a bit before lighting them. I saw this work in a campground where it had rained for days. We had the only fire going in the whole place and I became a believer. So I will usually bring a thing of very cheap oil with us if it has been very rainy lately.

Long Handled Lighter

Long handled lighters were one of the items that has been forgotten on a camping trip and one of those things that was a lot more annoying to do without than you might think.

I had a small sized emergency lighter but it was a pain to light the propane stove with that. I ended lighting a twig on fire and then using that to light the stove. It worked but was a pain and now a long handled lighter is one of the first things I check off my list.

Marshamallow Sticks

Because the whole point of camping is s’mores, am I right?

And once you have a watched a kid get a little too up close and personal with the fire while getting their marshmallow just right, then a telescoping, 32” long stick seems like a really good idea.

Paper Towels

Clean-up, napkins, emergency fire starter– a full roll of paper towels always gets used when I camp (2 rolls if we are going for more than a weekend).

Dishwashing Liquid

A small bottle is usually more than enough for meal clean-ups. Also works in a pinch to clean clothes if the occasion calls for it. For instance, if your two nephews decided to ride their bikes though all the muddy puddles at the campground.

Trash Bags

I usually bring at least 3 plastic grocery bags per day I am camping. That’s enough for food disposal, dirty clothes, and other sundry needs.

Tupperware

I bring a couple of pieces of tupperware in various sizes because I like to pack PB&J’s for the trail. Tupperware also works to pack trash out- apple cores, granola bar wrappers, etc. And they are good for storing any leftovers from your awesome camp meals.

Tablecloth

No we aren’t fancy people. I bring a tablecloth because there always seems to be bird poop on those tables and also because it makes the cleanup after dinner much easier. (You don’t want to leave food residue for bears to smell.)

Empty 2 Liter Bottle

I bring an old soft drink 2 liter with me because it is so handy for carrying water from the campground spicket back to the campsite. I use the water for meal clean-up/ fire extinguishing/ gear wipe-down, etc.

Small plastic bin

You need a bin for washing dishes as not every campground has a convenient dish washing station and using the bathroom sinks for the job is not fun.

Old Dishcloth

For drying the dishes, of course but also seems to come in handy for lots of other things in a pinch, including washcloth, tablecloth, and fly swatter. (No joke, we have totally used ours for that.)

Food For Car Camping Trip – My Shopping List

• Oatmeal
• Coffee – instant if it’s just me, ground coffee plus a french press if I have other adults along for the fun
• Butter- a half stick is usually enough
• Small container of olive oil
• Mac and cheese- pre-made so then I can just heat it up on the stove
• Milk
• Soup or Chili- again, pre-made and frozen or in cans
• Just-add-water pancake mix
• Maple syrup (for pancakes)
• Clif bars- we live off these things when traveling. They don’t melt or crumble and can fill you up.
• Box raisins/ craisins/ fruit snacks
• Baby carrots- no cooking necessary, bonus points if also throw in hummus
• Graham crackers, Hershey’s, and marshmallows (for obvious reasons)
• Wine- I prefer Bota Box for this. Take the wine bag out of the cardboard box and it is the most easily packable item.
• Beer – I also like a good craft brew around a campfire but I often will pick one up local from where we are camping. There are so many great local breweries nowadays so leave some room in that cooler!
• Apples
• Gorp for the trail
• Large tortillas and shredded cheese for cheese quesadillas
• Can of corn, can of diced tomatoes, can of black beans, a couple of avocados – drain them and add together with some olive oil and vinegar plus some Tostitos and you have a great dip (can drain the corn, tomatoes, and black beans ahead of time and bring with you).
• Bread, peanut butter, and jelly- my favorite picnic lunch since I was 5
• Water- most campsites have water but sometimes the wells can have an off taste. I have reusable 1-2 liter water bottles that I fill at home for drinking water.

My 3 Tub Car Camping Packing System

This packing list may sound like a lot (and to be fair, when I pack the minivan up, it is an impressive amount of stuff) but assembling it is not as hard as it may seem.

In general, I like to store things in large plastic tubs in my house. I have camping and hiking gear in a tub, paddling gear in another tub, Halloween decorations in a plastic tub, and so on.

When it was just me camping as a free and single young adult, I would throw the whole tub marked “Camping Gear” in the car and go.

Nowadays, my system has had to expand since it is no longer just me. Currently we have several, very large “Camping Gear” tubs stored in the basement.

When I pack up, I pull out these large tubs and take out what I need for each trip and put it into smaller tubs.

Set out what you are bringing and pack everything for that camping trip into 3 large plastic tubs: 1) Sleeping Stuff, 2) Kitchen Stuff and 3), Miscellaneous.

I have 3 empty tubs I use for packing everything I want for a car camping trip. I use a big tub for sleeping stuff (tent, sleeping bags, sleep mats, etc), another big tub for cooking and eating gear, and a small tub for “Miscellaneous” – games, lanterns, hammocks, etc.

Food goes into coolers with ice for cold stuff or a special, very sturdy plastic bin with a locking lid. This is for bear prevention and I treat it separate from the other tubs.

My 3 tub system also makes unloading and loading the car much easier. I just pull out the “Sleeping” tub to set up the tent, the “Kitchen” tub when it’s meal time, and the “Misc” tub as needed.

For clean-up, I throw everything into its tub and sort it when I get home. I like to get everything out and clean it at the house anyway.

My 3 tub system worked like a charm on one of my recent camping trips as we packed up the campsite in a rain shower. The boys and I had it all in the car in under 15 min with minimal mess outside the bins and they easily figured out what tub to put gear in. Just throw it in and go!