The Essential Packing List for Your Epic Camping Road Trip
If you are you going on a long camping road trip, being prepared and packing the right gear can make a big difference. In this post, we’ll share our recommended packing list, with details on our favorite items.
Updated: 2023. Originally published: 2016.
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Our Big Road Trips
So far, we’ve completed two epic road trips, one month each, through the National Parks. Our first road trip took us to about a dozen parks. We spent most of the month camping but tried to stay somewhere with a hot shower and wifi every four (or so) days. In the second road trip, we spent almost half of the time staying at friends’ houses, but we still had a two-week stint in the middle of the trip where we camped in National Parks.
Note: We get most of our camping gear from REI. Why?
- Great products, reviews, and advice from a community of people that are passionate about outdoor adventures.
- Great return policy and customer service.
- Amazing benefits for becoming a member. Cost of membership? Free. Benefits like: you get 10% cash back off of regular priced items.
- Access to their famous REI Garage Sales where you can get returned, hardly used items at ridiculous prices.
Table of Contents
Road Trip Camping List: Essentials
Tent with Rain Fly and Footprint
We borrowed tents on both of our trips. While most nights we didn’t need the rain cover and footprint, we were really glad we had them for protection during two surprise storms.
We Recommend: REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus Tent
Sleeping Bags
We invested in mummy-style, down sleeping bags from REI Co-op which kept us warm when temperatures dipped into the 30’s at night in Banff.
We Recommend: REI Co-op Trailmade Sleeping Bag
Compact Sleeping Pads
On our first trip we took our own, bulky sleeping pads and they took up too much space in the car. (Air mattresses would also require extra room.) The second time around we borrowed some great, compact inflatable pads from our friends.
We Recommend: REI Co-op Camp Bed Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad
Camp Pillows
We always kept a pillow in the front of the car with us as well, which doubled as back support on long drives.
We Recommend: REI Co-op NEMO Fillo Pillow
Camp Towels
We both have thin, quick dry towels from REI that take up very little space. We not only used them camping but also at one AirBnB rental which did not provide towels.
We Recommend: REI Co-op Multi Towel
Fold-up Camping Chairs
Camp chairs were perhaps our bulkiest item after the suitcase. The seating in most campsites is limited to a picnic table, so chairs are necessary if you want to be able to sit by your fire at night.
We Recommend: REI Co-op Camp Chair
Hot/Cold Bag
These take almost no space and can come in handy if your groceries exceed the size of your cooler.
We Recommend: REI Co-op Cool Haul 24 Soft Cooler
Canvas Shopping Bags
Multi-purpose for grocery shopping, keeping clothing items separate, etc.
We Recommend: Grocery Tote
Laptops and Laptop Cases
Obviously these are not required for going into the wilderness, but for budding digital nomads like ourselves, we had to keep up on our online work every once in a while!
Bag for Cords and Chargers
It’s easy to lose track of cords and chargers for your electronics, so we keep them all in one bag. Remember to bring chargers that can be used in your car.
Large Rolling Duffle
Our one big suitcase from REI acted as storage for the bulk of our clothing and toiletries. We like to keep our clothing a bit neater by packing in separate canvas bags or packing cubes within the suitcase.
We Recommend: REI Co-op Big Haul Recycled Rolling Duffel and Eagle Creek packing cubes
Small Suitcase for Overnights
Due to the nature of our second car camping road trip, we made a lot of short stops at friends’ houses so we packed a small carry-on bag with the stuff we needed that night and left the rest in the large suitcase in the car.
Day Backpack
Jedd carried a small backpack on almost every day hike we did. It held a water bottle, camera, phone, bear spray, mosquito repellent, and extra jackets if necessary.
We Recommend: REI Co-op Flash 22 Pack
Dust Broom and Pan
This always comes in handy to dust off your tent before packing it up or clean your shoes after a hike.
We Recommend: OXO Good Grips Little Dustpan and Brush Set
Bin for Cooking Stuff
We kept all of our cooking-related items in one box so we could pull it all out easily for meals.
We Recommend: IRIS Stack & Pull Clear Storage Box, 53 Quarts
Reusable Water Bottles
Our Sahara waterbottle is excellent for staying cold, regardless of the outside temperature. Put an ice cube in there in the morning, there’s a good chance it will still be intact at the end of the day! They’re a bit hefty but we’ve managed to cart them around Jamaica for two years and all of our other trips too.
If you’re camping without a clean water source, Sagan Life bottles have a built-in purification that eliminates 99% of bacteria, viruses, germs, and toxins.
We Recommend: Tiger Sahara Sports Bottle 1.0L
Blanket
Apart from one chilly Ranger talk where I bundled up in the blanket, we primarily used the blanket to hide any items in the car that weren’t covered by the trunk.
All-Purpose Tool
A leatherman or other all-purpose tool with knife and pliers has all sorts of uses and is a must-have in your long term camping gear.
We Recommend: Leatherman Skeletool
Lantern and Headlamp
We kept these in the tent for getting around the campsite at night.
We Recommend: MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0 Inflatable Solar Lantern & Black Diamond Storm Headlamp
Sunscreen
Use SPF 30 or above with wide spectrum and remember that the sun can be stronger at higher altitude.
Reef-friendly Broad Spectrum Sunscreen and other reef-safe options here
Small Bug Spray
We found mosquitos in the most unexpected places, so it’s good to have something small and effective.
We Recommend: Off! Family Care Insect Repellent and Ranger Ready deet-free repellent
*Take 10% off any travel-size bug spray at rangerready.com with code IntentionalTravelers10 >
Bear Spray
According to the Park Rangers, making noise on a hike is the best way to avoid a scary encounter in bear country. But if you do encounter a bear up close, bear spray is almost 100% effective to deter them. For hiking in Parks like Banff and Glacier, it is highly recommended. (And you can donate them to the Park Rangers when you’re done.)
Maximum Strength Bear Spray by Mace
iPhone with podcasts, music, audiobooks
We made sure to have fresh downloads on the iPhone to keep us going during the long drives between stops.
Smartphone Holder and Car Charger
How did we find anything without GPS and smartphones? This holder works great and this specific car charger can recharge phones (USB C and USB A inputs) quickly!
We Recommend: iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Dash & Windshield Car Mount and Anker USB C Car Charger, 50W 2-Port PIQ 3.0 Fast Charger Adapter
Camera
Thanks to a generous donation from our cousin, we had an excellent digital point-and-shoot which we carried with us everywhere. If you’re not a travel blogger or photographer, your smartphone will probably do the trick just fine.
We Recommend: Sony RX100 VII
Umbrella
We keep two compact-but-sturdy umbrellas under the seat of the car.
We Recommend: Totes Compact
First Aid Kit
While car camping typically has fewer risks than wilderness camping, it’s a good idea to at least pack bandaids, ointment, pain meds. We keep a small first aid kit in the trunk of our car at all times. Of course, don’t forget your prescription medications as well.
We Recommend: Ultralight Watertight Adventure Medical Kit
Gifts for friends
We tried to bring something to thank our hosts for putting us up along the way. See this post for our recommendations.
Other Camping Supplies:
Laundry Detergent
We brought both a one-time use packet and liquid laundry soap in a plastic carry-on bottle. Remember to use environmentally-friendly detergents, especially if you’ll be washing while camping outdoors (Example: Sea to Summit washes).
Wipes and Paper towel
Keeping a clean, odor-free campsite is very important, especially where bears are concerned. Find out if the campsite has a dish washing station and follow their guidelines about containing waste water. In some places, even water used to boil pasta should not be discarded because it can attract unwanted wildlife. You can do some creative dishwashing with wipes and towels and minimal water.
Baby wipes and wet wipes are also a great option where showers are limited.
Olive oil
We found that a short water bottle carried just the right amount for several weeks of cooking and we added leak protection by sealing it in a ziplock bag.
Favorite Seasonings
We even took Johnny’s seasoning to Peace Corps with us because we use it on everything! For this trip, we also packed teriyaki sauce for stir fries and parmesan cheese for pasta.
Sweetener of Choice
This time it was agave.
Tin foil
Tin foil can have multiple uses while camp cooking, so we always make sure to bring a small roll.
Soap
We brought dishwashing soap in a carry-on size bottle.
Extra Gear (depending on your campsite)
– Toilet Paper: If using your own luggable loo or in case the campsite runs out.
– Your Own Water: If potable water is not available on site.
– Duct Tape: For quick repairs and “macguyvering”
Camping Kitchenware Checklist:
Your camp kitchen essentials will vary based on the kind of cooking you plan to do. Our camp meals are primarily made with fresh food, so we come prepared to do food prep with minimal, essential items.
Tablecloth (A)
Something easy to wipe down and store away every night.
Plates, bowls, utensils (B)
Stackable or collapsible can help save space.
Flexible cutting boards (C)
These are great because they can be used as work spaces while cooking and they store easily.
Small Cooler (D)
The size will vary depending on how many people you’re serving and how often you can restock at the grocery store.
Tupperware (E)
Pack your lunch, keep certain kitchen items together in them, or use them to store perishables in the cooler without getting everything soggy from melted ice.
Good knives (F)
Chef Jedd recommends one pairing knife and one chef’s knife.
Vegetable peeler (G)
If you’re cooking with carrots, potatoes, and the like.
Spatula (H)
Boiling Pots – mini and large (I)
Our large pot doubled as a dishwashing bin when we didn’t have access to a designated campsite sink. The smaller one is good for using less gas when boiling water for a cup of tea or something, in place of a camping kettle. Also makes a good cup for “bucket baths.”
Can opener (J)
Wine bottle opener (K)
Oven mitts (L)
Strainer (M)
If boiling pasta/veggies
Portable mini burner and extra fuel (N)
When not cooking over the campfire itself, we made good use of the mini burner we borrowed on both trips. We even cooked a full meal on it in the corner of a snowed-in parking lot in Yellowstone!
We recommend Snow Peak LiteMax Stove
Travel mugs (O)
Sponge (P)
Non-stick pan (Q)
Lighter and/or matches (R)
Essential for building a campfire or lighting the propane stove. I prefer the lighter “gun” to keep more distance between my hand and the fire.
Tongs (S)
For cooking and also moving around hot fire wood.
Marshmallow/hotdog roasting sticks (T)
Dish soap in a carry-on bottle (U)
Wash cloths (V)
Cast iron pan (not pictured)
This is great for cooking over the fire pit. Just remember not to use soap when washing it.
Large tub or pot (for dishwashing)
Clothes for a Long Road Trip:
Our second road trip took us to the extremes, from an evening wedding in Seattle to doing yardwork at a friend’s house; from nights below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in Banff to days above 90 degrees in Denver. We’ve only included the stuff we wore to the National Parks below, since it’s not likely for other trips to include the same variety of circumstances.
After the wedding and yard work in the first week of our trip, we stuffed those clothes in a crevice of the Prius and didn’t see them again until we got home.
Read next: Best Long-Term Travel Clothing
Running/Hiking Shoes
Since we weren’t doing anything too hard core, I pretty much lived in my running shoes and used them for all of our hiking. Jedd brought separate, sturdier hiking shoes as well as running shoes for when we exercised.
Flip Flops
For hang out time as well as public showers.
Nicer Every-Day Shoes
For going out to eat when we visited friends in town.
Short and Long-Sleeve Layers
We both took a couple high-tech fabric under shirts (and long johns) for the frequent changes in temperature through the day.
Beanie or Ski Hat
To keep warm at night when temperatures dip.
Good Socks
One of the most important things to consider is your socks. It will help you feel comfortable and avoid blisters- socks that wick moisture are important to keep your feet warm.
We Recommend: Smartwool & Injinji Socks
Exofficio Underwear
We’ve used Exofficio underwear all through our Peace Corps service and they are perfect for camping and road trips, too, because they are high quality and dry really quickly.
We Recommend: Exofficio Underwear
Down Vest
Hooded Sweatshirt
Soft Shell Jacket
Swimsuit
Note: you might be wondering why we don’t suggest a rain jacket in this road trip gear list. If you are hiking and you get caught in a rain storm, we find it best to put on a poncho over your warm gear to keep you dry, warm, and free to continue to hike. Rain coats tend to get muggy and sticky if you’re active, plus they’re more bulky to pack. In most other situations, the best defense against rain is an umbrella.
* Free Printable Camping List Download *
Optional Gear:
Portable Camp Toilet
To better social distance while camping, we recently bought a simple bucket toilet, which we use with cedar wood chip pet bedding and trash bags for easy disposal. This is great to avoid using public facilities at campgrounds and even while driving on a road trip.
We Recommend: Bucket-Style Toilet or upgrade to the
Dometic Sani-Potty Toilet
Portable Power Station
If you work remotely or create content on the road, keeping your laptop and other devices powered on camping road trips can be a challenge. A power station is a big battery that can be charged up once at an outlet or even with solar panels, it can then charge multiple devices (laptops, phone, cameras) to keep you going for at least a week off grid.
We Recommend: Bluetti eb70s Power Station or AC180 Power Station
Solar Shower
We received this as a gift and were able to use it while camping in Glacier where there were no shower facilities nearby. We only used it to rinse off though because discarding soapy waste water was prohibited.
We Recommend: Pressure Shower
Hiking Poles
I really appreciate the stability these give me when we’re hiking around steep drop offs with loose footing! They collapse so we’d often carry them up in the backpack and take them out when the trail got more sketchy.
We Recommend: Black Diamond Trekking Poles
Rain Ponchos
In Colorado, summer brings the threat of some intense afternoon storms. We did most of our hiking in the morning for this reason but compact ponchos are light and easy to take along, just in case.
Collapsible fishing rods
Another great gift from a cousin, which allows us to hike and fish without too much trouble.
Fishing hooks
Bike rack, bicycles, and helmets
Bathing alternatives:
Wilderness wipes – Wipe away sweat and odors. Gentle and alcohol-free, no need to rinse.
Campsuds biodegradable soap – Concentrated soap for the body, or even dishes. Environmentally-friendly but you should still use away from natural water sources.
No-rinse shampoo – Biodegradable, just lather in hair and dry.
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What NOT to bring camping
Here are a few more tips about what to leave out as you put together your epic camping road trip packing list:
– Bulk supplies: Space in your car is limited. Just packing the quantity you need for the duration of your trip.
– Scented cosmetics: Floral scents can attract bugs.
– Glass bottles: Consider repackaging food, drinks, and toiletries into containers that won’t break if they drop or get knocked around in your car.
– Bulky entertainment items: Unless you have plans to use them frequently, some non-essentials aren’t worth they space they take up, especially when you can enjoy the great outdoors instead. For us, we didn’t use Jedd’s guitar enough to justify bringing it again.
– Valuables: Jewelry and expensive electronics are best left at home to avoid damage or theft. Your favorite fancy clothing will likely smell like campfire smoke, so leave that at home, too.
That’s our packing list for a long camping road trip. We hope it helps you find all the road trip camping essentials you’ll need, wherever your adventures take you! Let us know if you have questions or suggestions.
Want a free, printable version of our road trip checklist? Sign up with the form below, and we’ll send the PDF to your inbox!
You might also like:
– Top Resources for Traveling Full-time in the U.S.
– Long Term Travel Packing List Essentials: Clothing Recommendations
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A great list to have for future reference. Some items you’d never think to bring, especially some of the cooking supplies!
Great list, very useful information, thanks! Me and my family also go on a road trip once a year here in AU and we always forget something or there is no more space in the car to bring everything with us. We want to go on road trips more frequently, so I am thinking about buying a custom built caravan. Thank you again for this packing list, it’s very helpful. Cheers
Helpful hint too put your butter, cheese ect in a glass mason jar in your ice chest. Keeps it cold without the water getting into it and ruining your food.
Thank you for putting together a great list! I’m sharing this now 🙂
I am looking to get a solar charger for my backpacking trips but I am a little lost as to which would hold up well on trips.
I see a lot of Goal Zero at REI but have read that they are more hardcore for sailing, etc. I will be using them really just to charge smartphones with USB cables.
Do you have any recommendations?
Hi Kate! We don’t have too much experience with solar chargers as most of our travels aren’t off the grid. We sometimes rely on powerbanks to recharge our phones and camera. REI does a pretty good job of vetting their products but they offer a limited range of products for electronics. I would suggest going through the options on Amazon and carefully reading reviews and questions by users: http://bit.ly/solar-chargers
Hope this helps. I’d love to hear if you find one that worked for you.
Saving this for later! Thanks guys!
Thanks for stopping by, Therie. Happy travels!
I know it’s a little late for the meat question–but I buy lean ground beef and after browning it I boil it a couple of times, rinsing in between to get as much fat off as possible. I then dehydrate it and vacuum seal it. Simply use a little extra water to rehydrate it. Add it to spagetti sauce and mac and cheese. I also use a lot of canned meat–canned chicken, beef, Pork, turkey, and tuna are all good. Finally, using shelf stable bacon and fresh eggs (unwashed) straight from the chicken along with powdered milk rounds out breakfast. Lunchmeat can consist of spam and shelf stable packages of salami. None of the above ever needs refrigerated or placed on ice. I like to be able to camp without being dependent on ice. As for the eggs–I always place them in a bowl of water before I use them. Throw them away if they float. If they sink, they are good. Two week camping trips in the summer with eggs and no cooler and I’ve never had one float…. But I always check to be safe. Hope this helps someone!
Thanks, Vicki. Great tips!
Hi,
My boyfriend and I are camp hosting in Wyoming next summer. We are trying to find ways to store meats! How did you do this? We will be VERY remote. At least an hour drive from the nearest town/city. Typically I backpack and use freeze dried foods, however, we will be camping for the entire months of June through September. We will be fishing quite a bit as there is a river very close to the campsite, but fish gets old! Thanks in advance!!
Leanne
Hi Leanne. We kept a small ice chest with us and on the few occasions that we bought meat or other perishables, we would also buy a pack of ice from the store to fill the cooler. For some things, we also had a collapsable hot/cold insulated bag. It’s good for going to and from the store, but not quite enough to refrigerate meat for more than a couple hours. Let me know if you find any other tricks, and enjoy camp hosting!
Bear spray is amazing. Me and my husband met a bear when we were in Denali last year. Only the spray made this animal go away. It was a little bit scary, though. I hope you don`t have to use it. Greetings!
Good point. That is definitely needed in some camping spots. We have not had to use it yet, but we did borrow a can from our friends when we headed to Glacier.
Very useful list that I’m sure will come in handy to many! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Sanjana!