Camping Checklist

Packing for a camping trip can be daunting—but not so much when you have this handy checklist!

This checklist is meant for your average car to tent camping trip, but of course some gear will have to be substituted or added based on where you’re camping (desert, forest, beach?), how long you’re going, how you’re getting there (car camping? backpacking in?) the weather, etc. Necessities are bolded.

Next time you’re camping, print this list out and never forget your sleeping pad, toothbrush or lighter again! (We’ve all been there…)

Campsite Gear

 Tent

 Sleeping bag (appropriately ranked for the temperature)

 Sleeping pad

 Pillows (stuffing clothes in a stuff sack works well too)

 Headlamp or flashlight (with fully charged batteries!)

 Camp chairs (fold ups or more portable ones, like Crazy Creeks—logs and stumps work great too)

Clothes

 Daytime clothes

 Dry clothes for sleeping

 Layers!!!

 Rainwear (you never know!)

 Swimsuit (and towels)

 Sturdy shoes for exploring

 Comfy camp shoes, like Chacos, flip-flops, crocs, etc.

 Warm hat for nighttime

 Socks and underwear (a pair or two extra than you think you need)

Kitchen

 Stove

 Stove fuel

 Lighter or matches

 Firewood (if fires are allowed)

 Pots, pans

 Portable coffee maker

 Trash bags (you can often make do with a make-shift bag)

 Plates, bowls, forks, spoons, knives, etc.

 Cups and mugs

 Cooler (if you’re car camping)

 Biodegradable soap, washcloths

Food

Easy Breakfast Ideas:

 Oatmeal

 Fruit

 Yogurt and granola (if you have a cooler)

 Granola and/or meal replacement bars (like Clif, Kind, Luna, etc.)

 Overnight Oats

See all camp recipes from the Hipcamp Journal.

Easy Lunch Ideas:

 Sandwiches

 Hummus and veggies

 Peanut Butter and Trail Mix Tortilla Wrap

Easy Dinner Ideas:

 Canned soup

 Quesadillas

 Burritos

 Instant rice or couscous with veggies

 Tacos

 Ramen

 Mac and Cheese

 Any of these sweet potato recipes

 Farro, Sweet Potato, Kale and Sausage Cast Iron

See these 7 Vegan Recipes from Simply, Sweet Vegan.

Snacks

 Jiffy Popcorn

 S’mores (or, Banana Split S’mores!)

 Date Ball Energy Snacks

 Hot chocolate

 Camping cocktail supplies

 Jerky

 Trail Mix

Check out these camp cooking tips from Luke’s Local.

Personal Items

 Toothbrush and paste

 Any prescriptions

 Sunscreen

 Bug repellant

 Chapstick

 Waterbottle(s), filled.

Basic First Aid

 Alcohol or antiseptic wipes

 Blister treatment

 Bandages

 Gauze pads

 Splinter tweezers

 Antihistamine for allergic reactions

 Ibuprofen

Extra Things for Fun

 Camera

 Cards

 Sketchpad and art supplies

 Battery operated LED lights (for vibes and extra light)

 Animal Spirit Cards (we’re obsessed)

 Frisbee

 Coozies

 Portable speakers

 Hammock

Camping Packing Tips

• I used to always forget my toothbrush (gross, I know) until I bought a second set of toiletries and just keep them in my pack for whenever I’m going to go camping again.
• Storage = your best friend. Buy one of those big plastic containers from Target and make it your camping gear treasure chest. Nothing is worse than running around your house trying to find random pieces of gear.
• Don’t underestimate the power of #campvibes to elevate any camping trip: fairy lights, patterned throw blankets, a deck of cards, a good bottle of whisky—you know what we’re talking about.
• Food prep at home! Chop your veggies, do portion control, and season your meats ahead of time. It’ll make cooking a whole lot faster and easier.

A note on gear and spending money: Camping gear can be an expensive investment, but luckily there are lots of rental gear companies out there, places to buy used gear (Patagonia Worn Wear, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Gear Trade, seriously Google this!), and camping ‘hacks’ to make gear right from your household supplies If you plan on camping more than once a year, it’s worth investing in some good, dependable gear that can last you years. Plus, chances are if you buy it, you’ll be more incentivized to spend more sweet, sweet time in nature. (And time in nature = priceless).

You can also bypass all that gear stuff and camp in a cabin, glamping tent, yurt or outfitted treehouse instead! We’ve got lots listed on Hipcamp.

Discover camps, cabins, treehouses, yurts, farmstays—you name it—on Hipcamp.