Car Camping Essentials – An Ultimate List
Close your eyes, open your arms, inhale the peace that morning breeze offers you… You have such a nice, welcoming morning in adventurous outdoor camping when you have kept all our car camping essentials checklist in view.
With car camping, an unseen but situation also always awaits you. However, you can avoid any camping failure by following the guidelines that tell you exactly what to collect. To help you with your car camping, I’ll be sharing my expert advice with you.
So, be with me… You are just a 10 mins read away from a wonderful car camping.
What Is Car Camping? Let’s Find First
Some people think of car camping as something minimalist and make poor arrangements. While others bring everything to the campsite except their home. Both end up in distress more than fun.
Car camping allows you to carry all of your camping gear inside your car to the campsite — by some lake or the national park. Some may confuse the idea of car camping with sleeping inside your car during the camping.
Though it seems nice and safe, yet it’s tiresome. Therefore, it has less to do with the actual meaning of car camping. Another question might intrigue you, “I’ll be single, we two, or more?” The answer is it depends on your planning and affordability.
My Ultimate Camping List
To help you carry your most useful car camping essentials, I’ve listed the necessities which I never miss. I’ve also taken great care of car camping on a budget. So, you’ll also find my car camping checklist easy to follow.
In our car camping list, you’ll find all the options. It includes solo, couple or friends & family camping, and budget, of course.
1. Sleeping Tent
First comes the sleeping tent in our camping gear list. By the end of an adventurous day, all you need is a comfortable sleep. You can buy any tent: either cheap or larger and pricy. But make sure it should be easy to set up and lightweight.
You can also have a car roof tent which will be safer for camping by the unconventional sites. Similarly, you can sleep in your car too, in the case you’re a solo camper.
2. Sleeping Luxury: Air-Filled Bed And Camping Blanket
No one wants an uncomfortable sleep. Therefore, a portable mattress can be a good and lasting investment. With a quality air-filled mattress you can also sleep inside your car, ground tent, or roof tent.
You might think it costly. Yet, you can get a bed under your budget after careful research. Here, I’ll advise you to get a car mattress that has built-in pillows. For a peaceful sleep, a camping blanket is also essential. So, you can buy according to the size that you need.
3. Lighting Gear
Every camping day ends with a night. Therefore, lighting gear is of great importance. Good quality light can help you enjoy a bed read, or fulfill other necessities. You can have a headlight or a portable LED lantern.
I’ll suggest you get a lantern that is waterproof and has longer run time. If you do camping on sunny days, you can also go for a solar panel light.
4. Food
On your camping trip, food is a must because besides meeting your energy needs, food also adds delight. So, bring dry, cold serving or warm food with you. You can also pack your most favorite snacks, cereals, chocolates, instant coffee pack besides dairy, hot dogs, and frozen barbecue items.
You can keep it safe in a portable cooler from animals, birds, and spoilage. You can also get an electric cooler fridge if your budget allows you.
I’ll advise you to keep your food cooler out of your car if you’re planning to camp inside the car, especially in the wild or bear area. Those unwelcomed wild guests will shake your car if they sniff the food inside.
5. Propane Stove And Fuel
Your car camping essentials aren’t complete without a stove. Cooked food and boiled water can save you from sickness. A propane stove is easy to light and extinguish. You can get a single burner, or two burners foldable stove for your cooking and heating needs.
If you’re planning for winter car camping, I’ll advise you to get a stove that may also serve as a heater. Inadequate fuel supply can cause a welcomed circumstance — cold or undercooked food, or a dying heater on a chilly night.
Therefore, you must bring sufficient storage of fuel with you. Similarly, it’s also necessary to keep a waterproof fire starter with you.
6. Kitchen Tools And Utensils Kit
Cooking adds more fun to your adventure. However, it depends on how much your camping is to do with cooking and eating. Thus, you can keep your kitchen tools and utensils with you.
If you’re a beginner with car camping, you can use the tools and utensils from your kitchen as well. For this purpose, you can also carry them into a small basket.
These kitchen tools can include
- Set of spatulas
- Cutting board
- Knives
- Plates
- Mugs
- Cooking pot with lid
- Cooking pan
- Spoon, forks, and tongs
- Water can
- Can opener
7. First Aid Kit
No wound, no adventure…!!! You can’t control nature. Bug bites, cuts, slips, injuries are common to camping.
Minor cuts, stings, flu, or fever can put you and your partner in distress. They can be more harmful in case you catch an infection in the wild. Therefore, a first aid kit is one of the most important car camping essentials.
8. Tool Kit
You know that camping comes with unpredictable issues. I’ve seen my friends complaining that they had to leave their adventure in the middle because they needed some hammer or pliers to make a tiny fix.
Your tools can help you with a puncture, setting a tent, repairing your fishing rod, or pegging into the ground to save your fire.
So, your tool kit serves as “a stitch in time, saves nine.” They will allow you to make your camping restful through creative solutions.
9. Portable Water Bladder or Tank For Water Supply
Whether you camp by a freshwater spring or in the wild, water is a valuable addition to your car camping essentials. Therefore, always keep a sufficient supply of water with you, not only for cooking or drinking purposes but washing as well.
To carry your water with you, you can get a portable, inflatable water tank. You can palace it on the top of your car. Some water tanks also let you enjoy an instant bath when you’re sick of using wipes, etc.
10. Waterproof Rooftop Cargo Bag
I love to have a waterproof rooftop cargo bag. Why? It allows me to carry my luggage while caring about rain or frost.
A waterproof rooftop cargo is among one of the most vital camping necessities when you are on a trip of unlimited charm. When you want a car camping under budget, they are for you.
They are sturdy like wooden boxes but cheaper. So, they suffice to end your worry about your luggage deterioration in the unfriendly weather.
Some More Car Camping Tips
Do you think you’re on the go? Stop, please… I have some more valuable car camping advice, which will help you further to collect gems of memorable moments for you. Let’s check out…
- If you plan to sleep in your car, don’t forget to ventilate your vehicle.
- “It isn’t cold,” you might think. Yet, keep extra clothes. They can also help you with your bedding needs.
- Keep your cash with you. It can help you buy some necessities from nearby towns or shops as well.
- Keep garbage bags with you, your trip will be environment friendly.
- Cut on the gears, aim at the functionality if you’re looking for a car camping on a budget. For example, an insulated mug can also serve as a water flask. Likewise, a portable propane stove-plus-heater can also help your winter car camping.
- Portable camping chairs and tables can make your car camping happier. You can enjoy a sun nap, playing cards, or eating food on them.
- A hammock can be the thing you might miss during your camping. So, don’t forget to bring it as it’s not too heavy.
- Bring your toiletries with you, because for your refreshment you miss them as soon as the day passes.
- Take a shower before leaving for car camping.
- Car camping essentials for women can also include makeup, sunblock, sports bras, napkins as well. So, check on them if you’re a female camper.
- Keep your power supply with you. It can be portable solar generators or your power bank.
- If you’re taking your pet with you, take its portable pet carrier and pet supplies with you. Also, let it sleep with you to prevent wild attacks.
- Check your gears properly before you leave.
- Follow the rules of the camping area.
- Carry more food, water, and fuel.
You’re Ready To Go With Our Car Camping Checklist
Having fun in the car camping is a gold mine of bliss and happiness. Starry nights, rising mornings, flowing water waves, gossips and eating become unforgettable when you’ve made all arrangements, keeping the car camping essentials in view.
You can head towards your successful car camping or episode. So, check our ultimate camping checklist first.
Recommended Readings:
Camping for Beginners – An Absolute Guide
Best Portable Refrigerator For Camping 2021
10 Best Travel Backpack for Women 2021
Best Smoker For Beginners 2021
