Our Ultimate Family Car Camping List (Including Practical Pro Tips!)

Inside: Car camping made easy with this all-inclusive packing and supply list.

One of our favorite ways to unwind in the summer and fall is to go car camping. We love getting out in nature, hiking, canoeing, reading tons of books around a campfire, and of course…eating!

Camping is affordable, flexible,e and just plain fun. Let’s take a peek at what we actually pack and use while camping!

Over the years, we have been working hard to compact our gear to eventually move to a more “grab and go” approach. We have been able to do one hiking camping trip and are looking forward to doing more.

Everything on this list fits in our car. We do not have a roof rack or trailer.

Camping Papers:

We camp mostly in Provincial or National Parks in Canada. They focus on preserving nature and include many learning opportunities on the trails. Many have outdoor theaters that tell about the history and steps you can take to help preserve our wildlife.

Parks Canada also provides dry shelters. They often include showers and flush toilets along with pit toilets.

Wherever you decide to camp, here is a list of important papers you will want to take:

• Your campground reservation info
• Emergency contact numbers
• Directions to the campground

Pro Tip:  Camping tends to be on the affordable side, and many campgrounds fill up fast. I recommend booking ahead if you can

Camping Shelter:

We use a Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin.

CORE Blackout 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent | Pop Up Dark Room Tent with Easy 60 Second Camp Setup for Family | Included Storage Organizer for Outdoor Camping AccessoriesColeman Weatherproof Rainfly Accessory for 6-Person Instant Tents, Keeps Dry & Protects from the Elements

 

I had requirements for my car camping tent. Plain and simple, I wanted to be able to stand up to change. Lying down trying to get into pants is a royal pain. At 10 x 9 ft., 6 ft. center height. 6 ft. center height, this tent is awesome.

This tent is easy to set up; it takes under 3 minutes with the poles attached. (Yes, I know the review says 60 seconds, but I gotta move it around and see where I want the door. LOL)

We did not buy the fly and now we are kicking ourselves! So we throw a small tarp over it because someone (me) is terrified it is going to leak. We camp every summer and have never had it leak yet.

This tent says it sleeps 6, which is true if you like the cuddly feeling. I never go by “people sizing”. This works great for 4 people and bags of clothes.

We hope to replace this with a tent that folds up smaller. This is my only complaint. It takes up a lot of car space.

Pro Tip: Always try out a new tent in your own backyard or city park before heading out into the wilderness so that you are familiar with how to assemble it, as well as to see if it leaks. I use a garden hose to check.

Items you need:

• Tent
• Tarps or fly
• Pegs for pegging the tent down in rain (bring extra since a few might break!)
• Bungee cords or rope for tarps
• Hammer or Mallet

Tarps Heavy Duty Waterproof 10’ X 12’, 10 Mil Multipurpose Poly Tarp Cover, tarp Waterproof UV Resistant Tear&Fade Resistant, Outdoor Tarpaulin for Roof, Camping, Patio, Pool, Boat, CarGrizzly Tarps by B-Air 6′ x 8′ Large Multi-Purpose Waterproof Heavy Duty Poly Tarp with Grommets Every 3617 Pack Heavy Duty Metal Tent Stakes for Outdoor Decorations, Gardening & Canopies, Christmas DecorationsAegero 18inch Bungee Cords with Hooks,6Pcs Heavy Duty Extra Strong Outdoor Elastic Rope,Multi-Purpose Elastic Bungee Straps for Luggage,Camping,Tarps,Bike Rack,Outdoor Tent,Weatherproof（Black）Azarxis Tent Stake Mallet Tark Peg Puller Hammer Nail Remover for Outdoor Camping Gardening Backpacking Hiking Lightweight Portable with Carry Bag (Orange – Carbon Steel Head + Aluminum Handle)

 

Camping Sleep:

For sleeping, we take air mattresses. It keeps you off the damp ground in chilly weather, and let’s just say, it is softer than the ground. We use the Intex Classic Downy Airbed. We have a queen, and the kids have singles.

These can be purchased in sets to include pillows and hand pumps. I highly recommend having a hand pump in case your electric pump fails. We haven’t had that happen, but ouch, can you imagine??

Note: Not a tip, but don’t let your cat walk all over the airbed if they have claws. They leave tiny holes that will never be found. 

Intex Classic Downy Twin Air MatteressElectric Air Pump,Portable Quick-Fill Air Pump, Air Mattress Pump with 3 Nozzles for Inflatable Boat, Air Mattress Beds,Swimming Ring.Compatible with Home and car Adapter by Inscool (110V AC/12V DC)ETENWOLF AIR 3 Air Pump for Inflatables with 2600 mAh Battery & Camping Light, Ultra-Fast and Mini Electric Air Pump, Inflate Deflate for Air Mattress, Pool Floats, Vacuum Storage Bags

 

Pro Tip: We take a larger pillow cut down the middle and sew it closed for two smaller pillows that are comfier and take less room than a full size

Sleeping bags:

We use two Broadstone Sleeping Bags. These can be zipped together to make a double sleeping bag for hubby and I. These are large and take up a lot of room. They are on the “to replace with a compact lightweight item” list.

We do have mummy-style sleeping bags for the kids. They prefer the pillows that come with their air mattresses.

Items you need:

• Sleeping bags
• Air mattresses or pads
• Pillows
• Extra blankets if in cold weather
• Patching kit

3-4 Season Portable Waterproof Envelope Sleeping Bag for Adults & Kids – For Traveling, Camping, HikingColeman North Rim 0°F Big & Tall Sleeping Bag Cold-Weather Mummy Sleeping Bag for Adults No-Snag Zipper with Adjustable Hood for Warmth & Ventilation PFAS-FreeMOXILS Sleeping Pad, Ultralight Inflatable Sleeping Pad for Camping, Built-in Pump, Ultimate for Camping, Hiking, Airpad, Carry Bag, Repair Kit, Compact & Lightweight Air Mattress(Blue)Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad, Ultralight Camping Mat with Pillow Built-in Foot Pump Inflatable Sleeping Pads Compact for Camping Backpacking Hiking Traveling TentCoghlan’s 2350 Mesh Repair Patches

 

Camping Kitchen Set Up:

As important as the rest of camping is food is where it is AT! 😉 We try hard to make sure most of our food is made ahead so we don’t spend all day cooking.  We want to explore and hit the trails.

We have a kitchen tent but I will admit we didn’t use it last time. It was given to us. It has holes and is on the flimsy side. It wasn’t worth the space or effort. I’d love to get a sturdy one that compacts down small. Someday…

In the meantime, we set up a very large tarp, similar to this Roughneck 6-Oz. Extreme-Duty Black/Silver Poly Tarp. This tarp is black on one side and reflective on the other. This is the KEY!

Tarp Heavy Duty 6x8ft Waterproof Tarps,10mil Uv Resistant,Multipurpose Silver/Black Tarps for Cars,Camping,Roof,Ship,Garden.by-MVPNETOdoland Adjustable Telescoping Aluminum Tarp and Tent Poles Set of 2 – Collapsible Lightweight for Camping, Backpacking, Hammocks, Sun Shade Shelters, and Awnings

 

When camping in colder weather, you want to put the black side up to attract the heat of the sun while the reflective side reflects the heat from the stove and campfire down on you. When camping in warmer weather, you flip it over to the opposite effect.

Using bungee cords, paracord, knots, and trees, we secured the tarp up high enough to stand under. If you have tent poles for tarps I highly recommend them. (another wish list item!)

The tarp provides shade and protection from the rain, be sure to tie it tightly from gusts of wind.

Cooking Stove:

We use two stoves. We love/hate our Coleman Camp Propane Grill/Stove+. I bought it years ago for the 2 in 1 factor. We love the grill but miss the extra burner. So we also take along our Coleman Butane Stove. We love our butane stove, it is small, lightweight, and easy to use. We’ve had ours for years!

Coleman Classic 1-Burner Butane Stove Portable Camping Stove with Carry Case & Push-Button Starter Includes Precise Temperature Control & 7650 BTUs of Power for Camping Tailgating & MoreGas One Portable Butane Camping Stove with Case: Automatic Ignition, Precise Heat Control – Camping & Tailgating and Outdoor Cooking

 

Pro Tip: Always set up and try out your camp stove before heading out. Test how to light it, and be sure to bring extra fuel.

Camping Cooking:

I splurged and bought this Campeggio 8 Piece Camping Cookware Set.  It is heavy, but it nests. It is soooo cool. It was my anniversary gift to my husband that year, and he was so excited. You get two pots, two frying pans, a removal handle, and covers. The pans are nonstick. They are the only cookware we take. Love them!!

You can use this set right on the campfire if you want. We made a stew this way it was the best ever.
For coffee, we use our Coleman 12-Cup Stainless Steel Percolator. This is perfect for heating water for tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and dry food meals.

Camping Cookware Set 304 Stainless Steel 8-Piece Pots & Pans Open Fire Cooking Kit | Frying Pan Steamer with Travel Tote Bag | Compact for Outdoors & Indoors Kitchen Campfire Hiking RVColeman Stainless Steel Percolator Coffee Pot, 12-Cup Capacity Lightweight Coffee Percolator & 24-Piece Enamel Dinnerware Set, Durable Dishes & Utensils for Camping & Outdoor Use

 

Camping Dishes:

Our dishes are GSI Outdoors Infinity 4 Person Deluxe Tableset.  We love this set.

It includes:

• Color-coded 4-person deluxe table set designed for car camping
• Four 6-inch bowls with lids and four 9-inch plates
• Four 17-ounce insulated mugs and four 12-ounce glasses
• Mugs include insulated EVA sleeves and no-spill Sip-It lids
• Stores in stuff sack; measures 9.3 x 9.6 x 9.3 inches (W x H x D)

Here is a photo of them all laid out so you can see what comes in the set. You will also see these in my photos!

GSI Outdoors Infinity 4 Person Compact Nesting Tableset for Ultra-Light and Compact with Cup, Bowls and Plates for Camping, RV, or BBQLipper International 7215 Teak Wood Edge Grain Kitchen Cutting and Serving Board, Small, 12

 

We love this set but do not use steak knives on the plates! They scratch big time. This is the only downside we have found. We purchased a small wooden cutting board for this reason. Also, we chucked the lids. I mean, they are perfect if you are going to carry something or keep leftovers but… really? We never used them.

The mugs are awesome!! And they come with cozies that you will use for your coffee, and the lids are awesome for walking around with your drink 🙂
It is the only dish set we use.

We use sporks for eating, pack a serrated knife for cutting meat and bread/English muffins etc., a wooden spoon for mixing and an egg flipper for eggs etc.

Items you need:

• Camp stove
• Fuel (butane or propane – different stoves require different fuels)
• Firestarter (matches and lighter)
• Cookset (pots/pans) and cooking utensils
• Coffee maker/percolator
• Eating utensils (plates, bowls, cups)
• Can opener, bottle opener, knife, cutting board, etc.

Pro Tip: Invest in having “Dedicated Camping Gear” such as can openers, corkscrews, wooden spoons, etc, and keep them in your camping gear. You may think this is a waste of time until you are sitting next to a can of soup you can’t open because you forgot your can opener.

Camping Food:

I talked about our make ahead camping meals before. However, you are going to need a way to take them with you.

We take a Coleman 60 Quart Performance Wheeled Cooler. I am starting to think we love the Coleman brand lol never noticed this before today, Ha! It keeps everything cold for 4 days and has wheels and a handle for easy moving. Full coolers are heavy!

Also fun fact about coolers in Canada, at least. This one is 60-quart, but they advertise “holds 90 cans” umm??

One thing we love about this cooler is that it is high because you can store tall bottles of water, coffee creamer, etc., without laying them down and worrying about them spilling. We also freeze bottled water as ice. It is larger and stays frozen longer. The drain on the bottom is handy for getting rid of water, and it is easy to clean.

We also use a tote for dried food such as bread, chips, trail mix, anything that doesn’t need to be kept cold, as well as odds and ends.

Pro Tip: To save on buying bags of ice, make your own large ice blocks using 2 Litter Milk Cartons. Fill them with water and freeze. Or pre-freeze large ice packs.

Items you need:

• Cooler
• Ice/Freezer Packs
• Garbage bags
• Ziplock bags
• Biodegradable soap and a sponge
• Bucket or camp sink or small tote for washing dishes
• A dishwashing cloth and a drying cloth
• Clothes line and a few clothespins
• Paper towel roll
• Collapsible water jug
• Bottled water for drinking

Igloo Ice Cube Wheeled Roller Cooler, White/Blue, 60 QtPortable Camping Chair, Joyfair Outdoor Lawn Folding Chairs for Adults, Heavy Duty Large Foldable Chairs for Beach, Fishing, Tailgating and More Outdoor Sport, Carry Bag & Cup Holder (2, Black & Blue)24 Pack Clothes Pins Clothes Peg Clip Pins with Plastic Rope for Clothesline Multicolor Drying Clothing Clips Hooks Windproof Clothes Hanger for Hanging Socks Hats Pants Bras Underwears Towel Photo2 Pack – 2.64/3.96 Gallon Premium Collapsible Water Containers: Large Capacity Food – Grade LDPE, BPA – Free, Ultimate for Camping & Hiking. with a Patented Leak – Proof Faucet DesignGSI Outdoors Collapsible Water Cube, 20-Liter

 

We like to eat and read around the campfire. Therefore, we always bring folding camping chairs with cup holders. We love these collapsible chairs because they fold down into a bag.

However, make sure you are on HARD ground or they sink and tip! Before you know it, you’re tossed into the dirt.  We hope to find a sturdy brand to replace them with.

First Aid Camp List:

In the last tote we store camp fuel, odds and ends listed below, including our first aid items. We also store a smaller tote where we keep the utensils. This smaller tote doubles as a wash bin.

Items you will need:

• First-aid kit
• Insect repellent-Mine includes tick repellent
• After Bite
• Citronella candles
• Sunblock
• Prescription medications
• Allergy medication
• Duct tape
• Patching kit for tents and air mattresses
• Flashlights one per person
• Camp Lantern
• Cell phone, and a car charger and a portable battery pack
• Small broom and dust pan

330 Piece First Aid Kit, Premium Waterproof Compact Trauma Medical Kits for Any Emergencies, Ideal for Home, Office, Car, Travel, Outdoor, Camping, Hiking, Boating (Red)Mosquito Repellent Spray for Body, Family Friendly All Natural Bug Spray, DEET-Free, Bug Spray Travel Size Insect Repellent Spray for Skin 2 Fl Oz, 2 PackAfter Bite Outdoor Formula – Itch Relief with Diphenhydramine HCl – Ideal for Mosquito & Fire Ant Bites, Bees & More – Portable Gel Formula – 0.7 oz (4 Pack)Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Bug Repellent Candles for Outdoor Patio, Citronella & Essential Oils, Soy/Beeswax Blend, 30-Hour Burn Time, 9 Ounce, 2-PackNeutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50, 6.5 Oz, Water Resistant, Fast Absorbing, Oxybenzone Free, Lightweight Sun Protection, Face and Body SunscreenDuck Brand Max Strength Duct Tape, Silver, 1-Roll Pack, 1.88 Inch x 45 Yards, 240201Victoper LED Flashlight 2 Pack, Bright Tactical Torch High Lumens with 5 Modes, Waterproof Zoomable Flash Light for Outdoor, Gifts for Camping Essentials Gear

 

Fun/Rain Day Camping List:

No matter what, you can’t control the weather. When it rains, you end up with wet bored kids.

Here are a few things to take with us to keep sane:

• Games- think deck of cards or Crib,
• Notebook and pen- for drawing, hangman, and keeping score
• Art supplies and stickers
• Glowsticks
• Frisbee
• Ball
• Books
• Mini microscope

Regal Games Card Games for Kids – Go Fish, Crazy 8’s, Old Maid, Slap Jack, Garbage Monster, War – Simple & Fun Classic Family Table Games – Games May Vary (6 Set)Amazon Basics Classic Lined Notebook, 240 Pages Hardcover, 5 x 8.25-Inch, Black30 Ultra Bright Glow Sticks in Bulk – Multi Use Glowsticks for Parties, Camping, Emergency Light and Survival Kit with 12 Hours Duration (Multi Color)Activ Life Flying Rings for Kids, Fun Beach Toys, Gifts for Boys Girls Teens, Cool Family Outdoor Games, Play at Swimming Pool, Playground, Basket Fillers Birthday Presents, Blue/RedNERF Super High Bounce Ball – 2 Balls Included – Durable and Lightweight for Indoor and Outdoor Fun

 

Camping Clothing:

We pack our camping clothes in backpacks. We each get one. I like mine to have many pockets so I can stay organized. Much like my packing list for business trips ,I use a list.

Here is my basic car camping clothing list:

• Rain coat, make sure it has a hood.
• Hiking sneakers
• Shower sandals
• Socks
• Shorts
• Pants
• T-shirts
• Long sleeve shirt
• hoodie
• Underwear
• PJ’s- I use warmer pants
• Swimming suits
• Warm hat and gloves
• Sunglasses and baseball hat

Women’s Nature Camping Mountain Hiking Lovers Shirt Adventure Wild Outdoor Graphic Tees Tops(629-Dark Grey,XL)Women’s Hiking Pants Quick Dry UPF 50 Travel Golf Safari Running Lightweight Camping Work Cargo Pants Zipper Pockets,6608,Khaki,LMoisture Wicking Shirts for Women Quick Dry Athletic Running Long Sleeve T Shirts Womens V Neck Workout TopsCycorld Women’s-Hiking-Pants-Convertible Quick-Dry-Stretch-Lightweight Zip-Off Outdoor Pants with 5 Deep Pockets (Khaki, Large)Fishing Hat,Sun Cap with UPF 50+ Sun Protection and Neck Flap,for Man and Women Light GreyTrendy Queen Womens Oversized Sweatshirts Fall Fashion Hoodies Half Zip Pullover Long Sleeve Shirts Clothes Outfits CoffeeGrey MXiaomomo Womens Take A Hike Printed Short Sleeves T-Shirt Casual Camping Hiking Graphic Tee Tops (Pink, L)Merrell Women’s Speed Strike 2 Hiking Shoe, Sedona, 8

 

Camping Personal List:

We also keep our personal items in our back pack. I like to use a separate pocket or you can use a zip lock bag.

Items you need:

• Washcloths and towels
• Biodegradable soap/shampoo
• Face-cream one that contains sunscreen
• Lip balm one that contains sunscreen
• Pads/tampons
• Brush/comb
• headband/elastics
• Toothbrushes/paste
• Toilet paper
• Wet wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Deodorant

Disposable Towels for Travel – Ultra Soft, High Hygiene, Portable, Reusable & Durable Compressed Face Towel, Handy Pack, 10pcs – Camping Personal Care Products – Amusement Park Must HavesPackTowl Personal Quick Dry Microfiber Towel for Camping, Yoga, and Sports, Coastal Lines, Beach – 36 x 59 InchCoghlan’s Camp Soap, 4 fl. oz.Concentrated Campsuds All Purpose Cleaner, 4-Ounce, GreenBlistex Five Star Lip Protection Balm, 0.15 Ounce ? Wind & Water-Resistant Lip Care, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sun Protection, Soothes Cold Chapped Lips, Hydrating Lip Treatment, Holds in Moisture9Pcs Headbands for women Non Slip Headband, Soft Elastic Hair Bands for Women’s Hair, Fashion Cotton Cloth Stretchy Sweat Bands Headbands for Sports, Makeup, Gym, Running, Yoga, Workout (9Colors-A)

 

Car Camping Packing Tips:

I hope you enjoyed reading our ultimate family car camping list. Everything listed above fits in our car. We had a Mazda 6 for years. My husband does the actual “fit it all in the car” thing. So I asked him what his car camping packing the car tips were.

He said: Totes are the key for keeping organized. As for the order, the last thing you want to pull out of your car – put in first. Coolers, camp stove, etc.

If you are camping in the rain, you want to make create your weather shield first. You want to be able to reach your rain coat first. Make sure your tarps are accessible then your tent.

Lastly, our car looks like a chaotic mess but results in organized campsite!

There you have it! Our family camping car packing lists and practical tips. I hope this encourages you to get out there and enjoy your next camping trip!

Are you wondering what we eat while camping? We love these easy make ahead meals! Be sure to check them out!