The first rule of packing for camping: only bring what you need.
You are going to need a lot of stuff, so only bringing the necessities makes it a lot easier and a lot less stressful in the end. It is a lot different from packing for a typical vacation where you stay in a hotel and maybe go out for dinner one night and go shopping in the town during the day. It is important to remember that you are going to be out in the woods, away from civilization and doing outdoorsy things; you do not need that cute sweater, trust me.
There are basically four categories to think of when it comes to what you need to bring camping: camping equipment, kitchen items, clothing/personal, and other.
Camping Equipment
- Tent(s)
- Tarps
- Stakes
- Sleeping Bags
- Air Mattress/Pad/Cot
- Air Pump
- Pillows
- Camp Chairs
- Lantern/Flashlight/Head Lamps
- Stove/Grill
- Propane/Charcoal
- Matches/Lighter
- Pots/ Pans
- Cooking Utensils
- Pocket Knife
- Rope
- Machete/Axe/Hatchet
Kitchen/Food
- Dishes/Plates
- Utensils
- Cups/Mugs
- Paper Towels/Rags
- Food for breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Snacks
- Beverages
- Water
- Coffee or tea
- Coffee Dripper
- Spices
- Butter or oil for cooking
- Cutting Board
- Dish Soap & Sponge
- Garbage Bags
- Cooler
- Ice/Ice Packs
Clothing/Personal Items
- T-shirts
- Sweatshirts
- Shorts
- Pants
- Socks
- Pajamas
- Underwear/Bras
- Sneakers
- Hiking Boots
- Shower Shoes/Sandals
- Raincoat
- Swimsuit
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Backpack
- Dirty Laundry Bag
- Soap/Shampoo, Conditioner
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Glasses or Contact items
- Hairbrush
- Towels
- Toilet Paper
- Medication
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Portable Chargers
Other
- First Aid Kit
- Extra Batteries
- Bear Spray
We understand that if it's your first time, you might think to yourself, "well what IF I need this?" If you really want to bring it, and it fits in your bags or into your car, bring it! This is not a trial to see if you can survive in the woods with two survival items; camping is meant to be fun and you should be comfortable.
There may be few things you need that we don't have on our list, we try to keep it general since we don't know exactly who you are and what you will need. But we will try and make sure you do not forget the things are needed for basic camping.
To make sure you don't forget anything, download our checklist and bring it with you! One can never really be too prepared, right?