One of the best parts about car camping? You can bring all the gear that turns a simple campsite into your favorite home away from home. When you’re not limited by weight or space, you can toss in a few extra comforts to make camp life feel easy, fun, and relaxing. Think comfortable seating, camp games, and even some decorations to make camp feel warm and welcoming.
But with so much gear you could pack, it's important to cover the must-haves first. The gear that keeps your comfortable, safe, and ready for whatever adventure (or weather) comes your way.
From essential shelter and sleep gear to your basecamp creature comforts, here’s your ultimate car camping checklist. Plus a few new extras to make your setup even better. Use our checklist when you pack up for your next adventure, so you can hit the road confident you’ve got every essential covered.
Car Camping Gear Checklist
Car camping allows for a more flexible camping experience. There are many options for how you choose to sleep (we obviously prefer a roof top tent!). But whatever your preference may be, the sleeping essentials for camping remain the same.
Camping Sleeping Essentials
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Shelter of your choice — ground tent, roof top tent, camper shell, RV, or just cowboy camp under the stars.
- Sleeping bags — this one happens to be our favorite. You can combine two singles to create a cozy double for two.
- Pillows
- Extra Blankets or our cozy Cloud Comforter
- Sleeping pad or Aircore Mattress — for an extra layer of cushion and insulation. Aircore works with more than just FSR rooftop tents. It can be used to upgrade your mattress in other rooftop tents or as a sleeping pad in a ground tent.
- Battery pack for LED light strip — if using one of our premium roof top tents.
Camping Toolkit
When you’re miles away from a hardware or convenience store, a simple toolkit can save the day or the trip. Always prepare your kit for small emergencies, repairs, and the unexpected.
- Lighter, matches, or fire starter
- First aid kit
- Multi-tool or pocket knife
- Duct tape (everyone's favorite camping tool)
- Water filter or water purification tablets
- Saw, ax or hatchet for firewood
- Extra rope or paracord
- Extra tarp
- Bear spray and bear canister (if in bear country)
- Maps, compass, or GPS (depending on how remote your location is)
- Small hardware kit — a few extra screws, buts, and bolts just in case your rooftop tent or awning needs a quick fix.
- Small wrench or screwdriver to tighten hardware on your rack or tent mounts.
- Portable battery power station — for keeping everything from cell phones to camera batteries charged and ready to go.
Camp Kitchen
Your camp kitchen setup will depend on your culinary style and the kind of trip you’re planning, but there are a few essentials you should never leave behind. Whether you’re a car camping newbie or a seasoned camp chef, a well-stocked camp kitchen makes every meal better.
- Water bottles and water jug — bring plenty, especially if you’re camping in a dry, desert location where available water is scarce.
- Cooking utensils — tongs, spoons, spatula
- Camp stove and fuel — we’re big fans of our foldable camp stove: easy to pack, quick to set up, and packs a punch when it comes to heat.
- Pots and pans
- Plates, bowls, forks, sporks or better yet the Ultimate Camp Kitchen Set — stackable stainless steel plates and bowls, pint glasses, airtight food storage containers for fresher leftovers. Everything you need from prepping to serving.
- Coffee gear — mugs, coffee, coffee maker, kettle
- Cooler — packed with food, snacks, and ice
- Knives, cutting boards
- Can opener, corkscrew, bottle opener
- Trash bags — pack it in, pack it out
- Kitchen towels — microfiber rags are good choice, they are lightweight and dry quick
- Aluminum Foil
- Clean up gear — soap, sponge and wash basin
- Seasonings — salt, pepper, garlic powder, sometimes a taco seasoning packet can do the trick
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Beer/Wine — or your beverage of choice
Camping Clothing
What you pack to wear at camp depends on where you’re headed and what you’re planning to do. Always check the weather, but don’t forget: even the warmest days can turn chilly when the sun goes down. Be ready to layer up so you stay cozy when temperatures dip.
- Long sleeve UPF shirts for sun or keeping bugs off
- Quick drying pants or shorts
- Jacket layering — light weight fleece jacket and down jacket for extra warmth
- Shoes appropriate for the terrain — hiking boots, sandals, sneakers, camp slippers
- Socks — wool or synthetic
- Rain jacket if needed
- Layers for sleeping — long underwear, base layers, sweatpants, sweater or sweatshirt
- Bandana or buff
- Beanie or warm hat for chilly nights
Camping Health and Hygiene Essentials
When you’re camping on BLM land or at a basic campground, showers are often few and far between. So plan on a few days of trail dust! Packing some smart on-the-go hygiene essentials can help you feel fresh and comfortable.
- Soap — biodegradable soap is always a good choice
- Baby wipes — oversized full body wipes are a game-changer for long camping trips
- Toilet paper
- Sun protection — sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
- Chapstick
- Lotion
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Hairbrush and ties
- Face wash — this face wash is designed for campers and hikers, rinse-free and environmentally friendly
- Hand sanitizer
- Bug spray
- Shower awning — create a private space for rinsing off at camp
Basecamp Needs
The truth is, you don’t need much to go camping, but a few thoughtful extras can really elevate the camping experience. Setting up your basecamp with good lighting, comfy seating, and a few extra touches can turn an ordinary site into your favorite outdoor hangout.
- Headlamp
- Lantern — our pick is the ReadyLight Camp Lantern or ReadyLight High Beam
- Camp Chairs
- Camp table
- Awning or pop-up for some shade or shelter — we love the 270 Awning V2 for its wide coverage and quick setup.
- If in a no burn zone, portable propane fire pit
- Portable propane heater if in a cold climate
- Anywhere Camp Mat — a durable camp mat for a soft spot under your feet or a place to kick off your shoes and relax.
Extras
This next list is totally optional — but if you’ve got the space, these little extras can make camp life easier, more fun, or just a bit more special. Bring what works for your campsite, your crew, and your sense of adventure.
- Shovel
- Hammock
- Camera
- Fun lighting — like our LED Speaker String Lights for tunes and a cozy camp glow all-in-one.
- Camp games — playing cards, Jenga, or fun drinking games.
- S’mores supplies — don’t forget the skewers
- Dog camping gear — bowls for food and water, leash/harness, dog bed. Read more about our dog camping tips here.
- Notebook and pen/pencil
- Books or reading material to read while relaxing
- Field guides on local wildlife/native plants
Ready for Anything
At the end of the day, camping is all about making memories, exploring new places, and soaking up the simple joys of life outside. Use this checklist to cover your basics, toss in a few extras to make it feel like home, and you’ll be ready for anything. From late-night s’mores to sunrise coffee with a view.
Here’s to packing smart, camping easy, and hitting the trails. See you out there!
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