Ready to pack up and go? If so, then you’d better be prepared for car camping.
Below is a comprehensive list of 21 car camping essentials to ensure you enjoy a tranquil, trouble-free, and positively memorable trip.
You won’t regret taking advantage of the additional room in your trunk or backseat!
What’s So Great About Car Camping?
Car camping is an experience that teeters between roughing it and easy living. The manageability of your adventure will depend largely on the car camping essentials you bring with you.
Fortunately, setting up camp next to a personal vehicle affords campers extra room to bring along convenience products.
Let’s get started with our list. We’ve selected great car camping items for your bedding, hygiene, campsite, food, and safety needs.
Bedding
1. Sleeping Bag or Blankets
When you plan any kind of getaway, sleeping arrangements are one of the first decisions considered. Likewise, bedding is among the most important car camping essentials.
The construction of the sleeping bag or blankets you choose will depend on the weather of your destination. Car camping in the fall or winter will merit heavier bedding than camping in the spring or summer.
If you aren’t sure what to bring, consider the Moosejaw Double Snoozilla XL Sleeping Bag. This sleeping bag is designed for use in temperatures of 30-degrees Fahrenheit and its features include a fast-warming interior liner, a water-repellent shell, and room for two full-sized pillows.
If the weather isn’t quite so cold where you’re going, use the double-sided wraparound zippers to remove the top and use it as a quilt. This sleeping bag is larger than a queen-sized mattress, so you can stretch out or snuggle with a loved one–or get away with both!
If your trip (and car) call for something more compact, try the Yeti Lowlands Blanket. Use it for bedding or to provide a barrier from the ground below. It even repels pet hair!
2. Air Mattress or Sleeping Pad
While it’s true that not everyone who goes car camping uses an air mattress or sleeping pad, it’s also true that it makes a big difference.
Err on the side of comfort and pack a sleeping pad like the HEST Foamy Sleepy Pad. This one-person sleeping bag is self-inflating, so there’s no need for any setup. Simply unroll the pad and watch it fill up!
3. Compressible Pillows
If you really need to save space, you can always bundle up a sweatshirt or two as a substitute pillow. But let’s be honest, your sleep won’t be anywhere near the quality of rest you’ll have with a pillow like the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow Cinch.
This super-soft pillow has a light layer of insulation and a cinch cord, so you can adjust its firmness. When you’re ready to go, it packs into itself for easy storage.
Hygiene
4. Toiletries
Toiletries are car camping essentials you certainly can’t compromise on.
Most people will need to pack a few personal hygiene items, depending on your needs. To keep all your products accessible and protected in one place, you can use the Vorspack Toiletry Bag.
This bag is made from water-repellent material and has several mesh pockets to help you stay organized. Use it to pack all-in-one shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, toilet paper, lotion, sunblock, medication, toothbrush and toothpaste, razor, and more ! If you don’t have ready access to a water source, bring along some disposable, rinse-free bathing wipes.
Pro tip: Save money by bringing shampoo, conditioner, and body wash from home using refillable silicone travel-sized bottles.
Campsite
5. Tent
Arguably, a tent is your most important car camping essential, especially if you’re traveling in a group.
When it comes to tent styles, the sky’s the limit. You can find a tent that accommodates one person all the way up to 12 people. There are tents made from materials to withstand all sorts of weather conditions, from freezing cold to high heat, and from torrential downpours to high winds.
We recommend starting with Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Model Geodesic 4-Person Tent. This tent is built for four-season protection and underwent field testing in Alaska to prove it. Its geodesic shape, seven-pole system, and durable fabrics are made to withstand strong winds that would crush other tents. It’s also UV-, abrasion-, and water-resistant and features an extra-thick coating to keep out ground moisture.
Pro Tip: Consider the number of people in your party and choose a tent with capacity for an additional person. For example, if you’re a family of four, opt for a five-person tent. The extra room ensures there’s enough space to store belongings and bedding, and accommodate everyone comfortably.
6. Light Source
Keeping a flashlight in your car regardless of car camping plans is a good rule of thumb. The Fenix PD25R Rechargeable Flashlight is a reliable piece of equipment you can use repeatedly without worrying about buying batteries. It’s dust- and waterproof and has a strobe mode you can use as a distress signal.
Aside from a few handy flashlights, you’ll also want a light source for your campsite–and the Goal Zero Crush Light is a great choice for that. It’s collapsible, which makes for easy packing, with a built-in solar panel and micro USB cable. Choose from three light modes, including a candlelight flicker mode.
7. Firestarter
While many people travel with matches or lighters in their car, firestarters are another car camping essential that doubles as survival gear. You never know when you’ll need to start a fire from scratch and if the opportunity presents itself, you’ll be glad you came prepared. Choose a multipurpose firestarter if you can like the Swiss Safe five-in-one firestarter, which includes a compass, paracord, and whistle.
8. Portable Power Device
To bring modern conveniences to your campsite, you’ll need a way to power-up cooking devices, electric coolers, light sources, and handheld devices. A reliable, portable power station can be a bit pricey, but it’s a guaranteed way to use some of your other car camping essentials.
A safe, reliable option like the BioLite BaseCharge 600 Portable Power Station offers 622 watt-hours of capacity and charges conveniently through the wall outlet or car. Its easy-to-read dashboard lets you know exactly how much power you’re using and how much you have left–no guesswork needed!
9. Collapsible Camp Chairs
Packable chairs are perfect for car camping and they also pair well with all sorts of outdoor activities, from kids’ sports games to backyard barbecuing, beach trips, and outdoor community events.
If you’re looking for a chair that comes recommended, you can’t go wrong with the Bass Pro Shops Eclipse Mesh Back Canopy Chair. Comfortable and packable, this chair is made with water-resistant fabric and has an adjustable canopy to protect you from the sun. Assemble and disassemble it in seconds.
10. Collapsible Table
Having a collapsible table to pair with your collapsible chairs is super convenient. To boot, it’ll likely become the center of activity on your car camping trip.
The Moosejaw Eatastic Roll-Top Table offers the perfect amount of room to enjoy meals together, play card games, and discuss plans for the day. This adjustable and portable table sits four people and can hold up to 110 lbs. It also has three height settings, so you can use it as a coffee table, dinner table, or prep station.
11. Portable Fan
If you’re planning a trip in the summer, then a portable fan should top your list of car camping essentials. You can use the Odoland LED Camping Lantern With Ceiling Fan in the car, tent, and every place in between. The fan is lightweight and offers a high and low setting and a brightly-lit lantern. Set it up as a ceiling fan, hold it towards you, place it on a counter or table, or sit the fan on the floor.
Food Preparation, Storage, and Clean-Up
12. Electric Cooler
Whether you’re leaving for a weekend or taking an extended trip, you’ll need an electric cooler to store food, water, and other perishables. A handy cooler like the Coleman Powerchill Thermoelectric Cooler ensures you won’t have to run to the nearest convenience store whenever you need eggs or milk. Instead, you can spend time taking in the scenery and making memories with loved ones or alone.
13. Portable Propane Stove with Fuel
Cook up some burgers or fresh-caught fish with a portable propane stove like the Coleman1900 Collection 3-in-1 Propane Stove. Sure, you can go the “easier” route and purchase dehydrated meals, but cooking your own food is just plain old fun.
This stove is compact enough to pack and bring anywhere. Its removable cast-iron grill grates will hold up for years to come and it comes with griddle accessories for more meal options. Control the temperature of its two adjustable burners with precision and use the rotary ignition to light the stove; no matches needed!
14. Cookware and Garbage Bags
With your stove and electric cooler, you’ll need a way to cook your food and discard any trash. After all, one of the greatest rules of camping is to leave your campsite how you found it; mother nature surely appreciates it!
Avoid clunky sets of pots and pans and opt for a set like the MSR Flex 4 Cook Set. It comes with two pots, a flex skillet, four deep-dish plates and four insulated mugs. Even with all that, the set saves space by packing into itself!
The 12-Piece Camp Kitchen Cooking Utensil Set is another packable set with all the necessary utensils to prepare and serve meals. It includes a stainless-steel spatula, soup ladle, steak fork, two knives, two refillable spice shakers, food scissors, a tong, a cutting board, and a dish towel. It also comes with a traveling case.
Having a way to store your trash is yet another car camping essential. After mealtime is over, you can use collapsible bins like Coghlan’s Pop-Up Bins to keep food scraps and garbage. Available in several sizes, these spring-loaded pop-up trash cans are portable, lightweight, and collapse to store.
15. Reusable Mess Kit
Now that you have a cookware kit, you’ll need utensils to enjoy meals the right way.
For this, we recommend choosing another space-saving option like MRS Folding Utensils. Choose from two versions: two forks and two spoons or four sporks. The utensils are color-coded so campers can easily identify their own and collapse to fit inside of drinkware for efficient packing.
16. Food
Food is yet another one of the most important car camping essentials you’ll need. Without food, your trip won’t last very long!
When it comes to car camping, you typically have two options: bring and cook your own food or bring packable, ready-made meals.
If you go the old-fashioned route, you can use the electric cooler, mentioned above, to store your perishables. But if you prefer ready-made meals–which is definitely a space-saving option!– we recommend Peak Refuel Titanium Spork. This bundle includes 12 individual meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including strawberry granola, chicken alfredo pasta, and beef stroganoff. Yum!
17. Water Filtration
If you’re on a hike deep in the woods and get turned around–yikes!–or if your car runs out of gas in a remote area, you’ll be thankful you brought a portable water filter.
A survival product like the LifeStraw High-Volume Gravity-Fed Water Purifier will solve any worries you have about being able to access clean water. The filter removes bacteria, parasites, protozoa, microplastics, and viruses from water, and it lasts through 4,755 gallons. The compact roll-bag reservoir is available in 1.3-gallon and 3.1-gallon sizes and, with the help of gravity, it produces 2.4 to 3.4 gallons of purified water per hour.
Safety
18. First-Aid Kit
Whether you’re embarking on your latest car camping adventure or not, it’s wise to keep a first-aid kit in your car at all times. This 273-piece waterproof first-aid kit by YIDERBO contains trauma supplies needed for cuts, bruises, and minor injuries. The kit includes bandages, a burn dressing, an emergency blanket, a blue tourniquet, and more.
19. Car Emergency Kit
With a first-aid kit as one of your car camping essentials, a car emergency kit is just as important. Be prepared for unanticipated car trouble with the Lifeline AAA Premium Road Kit. This kit includes booster cables, a flashlight, cable ties, and a two-in-one screwdriver.
If you have room in your trunk, we suggest bringing a flat tire kit and your car’s user manual.
20. Mesh Window Coverings
If you’re camping in the spring or summer months and you decide to snooze in the car, don’t forget to bring a pack of mesh window coverings. It gets too stuffy inside the car to leave the windows rolled up and if they’re left down, you’re inviting mosquitoes, spiders, and other critters into your vehicle. Mesh window covers like the EcoNour Car Window Screens keep the bugs out and protect you from the sun while allowing the air inside to circulate.
21. Portable Toolkit
Last but certainly not least, you’ll want to add a portable toolkit to your list of car camping essentials. You never know when something might break or requires manual assembly. There’s also the chance that other kits, like the car emergency kit, might not contain everything you need. Give yourself the certainty of having all the necessary tools with a kit like the Carman 39-piece Tool Set.
Prepare for a Seamless Car Camping Experience
This car camping essentials list covers everything you’ll need for a comfortable, efficient, and safe car camping experience. With all the basic necessities and conveniences covered, you can focus on the most important part of any trip: the memories you’ll take with you.
Looking for more information about car camping? Check out our Car Camping page with more blog posts and tips that will guarantee you have a blast in the outdoors!