The Ultimate Camping Checklist

Camping is a classic way to commune with nature and spend time with family and friends. It’s good for the body, mind, and spirit to mix up our routines and get outside for some fun and relaxation. But we know how daunting packing for multi-day camping trips can be. That’s why we put together this checklist to help make packing easy and stress-free.

The Gear

To determine what gear you need to bring on your trip, ask yourself these 3 questions:

• Are you going to a campground or a primitive campsite?

  This will help you determine whether or not there will be picnic tables, fire pits, bathroom facilities, water, and electricity. You’ll obviously need to pack a bit differently for primitive camping.

• What activities would you like to do?

  You get to decide how you want to spend your time in the outdoors. Complete your gear list with the items you need to make hiking, fishing, biking, playing games, or just relaxing in camp enjoyable.

• How luxurious do you want your camp to be?

  Think of your campsite as a blank canvas where you can set up as much or as little as you’d like to make it your own. Some people take great pride in setting up elaborate, cushy camps, while others prefer to take a more minimalistic approach.

Starting from Scratch?

While this gear list may look intimidating at first, but you don’t need every single item here, and you’ll probably find that you already have a lot of these items around your house.

Start by gathering the important basics like your shelter and bedding first, then expand from there.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider renting or borrowing big-ticket items to get you started. Your camping supplies will upgrade and evolve as you go on more trips and grow to love camping.

The ultimate camping checklist

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE PRINTABLE CHECKLIST
(Change margins to ‘narrow’ when printing)

SITE GEAR/FURNITURE

• Table

• Chairs (camping/backpacking)

• Hammock + tree straps

• Outdoor rug

• Tablecloth (w/ clips)

• Clothesline (w/ clips)

• Clear plastic bins to store items

• Insect-repellent (or Thermacell)

• Sit pads for insulation on chairs

PRIMITIVE SITE GEAR

(when water, toilets, & electricity aren’t available)

• Water filter/purification

• Collapsible water bottles or large water container

• Trowel/shovel (when outhouses aren’t available)

• WAG bag (+ OPsak or old stuff sack for containing poop bags)

• Portable camp shower

SHELTER/BEDDING

• Tent (camping/backpacking)

• Footprint

• Stakes + guylines + mallet

• Sleeping bag (camping/backpacking)

• Sleeping pad, mattress, or cot

• Air pump or pump sack

• Pillow

• Camping blanket(s)

• Sunshade, tarp, or screen house (w/ stakes + guylines)

• Duct tape + Tenacious tape (repairs)

ELECTRONICS

• Power bank & extra batteries

• Phone & charger

• Camera

• Tripod & wireless shutter remote

• Lens cloth

• Headlamp

• Lantern or tent lights

• Map or GPS

• Headphones or speaker to play music

• Bags for garbage & recycling

• Bottle opener/corkscrew

• Can opener

• Potholder

• Measuring cups/spoons

• Paracord + food hanging bag (for bear country)

CONSUMABLES

• Water

• Ice for cooler

• Food & snacks (or freeze-dried meals)

• Beverages

• Coffee/tea/creamer

• Condiments, spices + cooking oil

CAMP KITCHEN

• Cooler

• Stove + fuel (camping/backpacking)

• Lighter or matches

• Cookware & utensils (camping/backpacking)

• Grill rack/dutch oven (to cook over fire)

• Coffee maker

• Travel mug(s)

• Water bottle(s) or hydration pack

• Dishes + utensils

• Cutting board + knife

• Biodegradable soap + sponge

• Dishwashing basin (or plastic bin)

• Mini pack towel or paper towels

• Food containers, bags + foil

CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR

• Hiking pants (men’s/women’s) & shorts (men’s/women’s)

• Wicking shirt/tank & long-sleeve sun shirt (men’s/women’s)

• Quick-dry underwear

• Down jacket and/or fleece jacket

• Windbreaker or rain jacket (depending on forecast)

• Base layers

• Shoes & socks

• Hats (1 warm, 1 for sun)

• Sunglasses

• Gloves

• Swimsuit & pack towel

• Sandals (men’s/women’s) or camp shoes

• Bandana or washcloth

PERSONAL GEAR

• Daypack

• Knife or multitool

• Cash, credit card, ID

• Duffle bag

• First aid kit

• Sunscreen + lip balm

• Toiletries (shampoo, etc.)

• Prescription Rx

• Toilet Paper

• Hand sanitizer

• Toothbrush, paste + floss

• Comb/brush

• Ear plugs + eye mask

• Permits/reservations/fees/licenses

• Check weather forecast

CAMPFIRE SUPPLIES

• Hatchet or folding saw

• Firestarter (egg cartons work well)

• Matches or lighter

• Firewood (if unavailable near campsite)

• Tarp (to cover wood + protect car)

• Roasting forks for s’mores

FUN & ENTERTAINMENT

• Games (dice, cards, etc.)

• Reading material, notebook/sketchbook & pen

• Instruments

• Binoculars

• Fishing gear

• Hiking guides/maps/field guides

• Dog gear (dishes, leash, longline, bed)

Camping Tips

Staying Organized

It’s really easy to keep your camping gear organized by using clear plastic bins with lids. You can see what’s inside the bins at a glance and slide them easily in and out of the car. The bins also keep your items contained and protected from dust and critters in camp. And, as an added benefit, your stuff will always be in one place in your garage and ready to go at a moment’s notice. All you’ll have to do next time you want to head out is quickly go through the bins with your checklist, add clothing, restock consumables, and you’re good to go.

Camping Food

The camp kitchen and your food system will vary greatly depending on how much or little you want to cook on your camping trip. Some people prefer to bring mostly cold or prepared foods, while others enjoy whipping up gourmet meals at their campsite.

Deciding whether you’d prefer not to cook, to cook on a stove, use a grill, or over a fire will help you figure out what to pack and what kind of food to shop for. We usually prefer to prep and combine some ingredients at home, then do some simple cooking on a stove in camp. Taking the time to make a meal plan before your trip will make your role as camp chef much easier and more fun.

Check out our Easy Camping Recipes That Taste Gourmet post for meal ideas. We also have a ton of other food-related resources that work for both camping and backpacking.

Stay Cool, Cooler

A quality cooler will have thick insulation to help keep it cold for a long time. But even the best cooler will lose its cool after a day or two on hot summer trips.

Use these tips to help your cooler perform to its max potential, keeping food safe and drinks ice-cold, the way we like ‘em:

• Pre-chill both your food and your cooler before you load it for the best start

• The fuller your cooler is, the less trapped warm air has to cool, so choose one that isn’t too large and top it up whenever possible

• Separate your drinks from your food in two smaller coolers instead of one large one to reduce the number of times people open them

• Cover your cooler with a blanket, sleeping bag, or pad, and keep it in the shade

If you’re in the market for a new cooler, check out our list of the Best Coolers.

Garbage in Camp

It’s a good practice to keep your campsite clean and free of litter to keep birds, rodents, bears, and other wildlife from getting a taste for human food. It really doesn’t take much to follow Leave No Trace protocol and it improves the way you experience your campsite too.

We try to separate garbage from recyclables whenever we can. Dispose of garbage in campground receptacles when you leave your site unattended or store foods items and garbage in your car. In bear country, it’s a good idea to keep your food in a bear locker, store it in your car, or properly hang a food bag like the Ursack.

First Aid Kits

You can’t be prepared for absolutely everything, but you should have what you need to take care of minor cuts, scrapes, sunburn, bug bites, upset stomachs, and headaches. Check out our Best First Aid Kits list to find the best one for you and your camping needs.

Did we miss anything? If so, leave us a comment below and we’ll update our list.

More Information

If you enjoyed this review, you’ll probably like the CleverHiker Gear Guide as well. Here are some popular resources to check out.

• 10 Best Hiking Shoes & Boots of 2019

• 10 Best Backpacking Tents 2019

• 10 Best Sleeping Bags & Quilts of 2019

• 10 Best Sleeping Pads of 2019

• 10 Best Lightweight Backpacks of 2019

• Best Stoves, Food, Water Filters, Jackets & More: CleverHiker Gear Guide

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