Preparation

Camping Checklist: What You Need to Go Camping

Camping is your chance to get out and experience all that Mother Nature has to offer. Whether you head to a secluded forest, a remote lake or a nearby campground, there is so much to love about this great outdoor activity. But making a camping checklist and packing your bags can sometimes be stressful and overwhelming, taking some fun out of the experience.

Yet it really is the most important. To make the most of your tripand to stay safeyou need to be prepared.

Mother Nature sure is beautiful, but she can be quite unforgiving.

There are tons of guides out there all offering the most detailed camping checklist, all of them offering a “complete” list of everything you may need for any camping trip. But each adventure is different, so you need to prepare for each one differently.

The best way to do this is to make your own list, one that is specific to where you are going and what you will be doing. But there is a lot you need to consider before doing this.

This guide will help you answer all the questions you need to answer before leaving for your trip. We’ll help you plan for whatever may come your way so that you can have the best possible experience.

 

Why create your own camping checklist?

Quite simply, because no two camping trips are the same. There are essentials you need to bring with you no matter what (something we will discuss later). But the gear you bring will depend on what type of trip you are taking. Camping in the mountains with your friends is obviously different than camping at the lake with the kids. You’re camping checklist should be different, too.

Yet if  look for help when making a “camping checklist,” you’ll probably have trouble finding something tailored to your trip.  Instead, you’ll find lots of rather large lists about everything you could bring instead of a short list of what you must bring.

Sometimes these massive lists are helpful when you first starting thinking about the trip.  But to get everything you need for your trip, you need something more specific.

Getting Started: Some things to consider for your camping checklist

To put together your camping checklist, there are some questions you need to ask yourself first. The more information you can find out about your destination, the better.

Here’s what you need to know before you can make your camping checklist:

How are you getting to your camping location?

This is one of the first things you should ask. Are you waking into the backcountry? Are you driving to a campground? Riding bikes?

This will determine how much stuff you can bring. You’re obviously not going to carry a barbecue grill if you’re putting everything on your back. But you could easily bring that with you if you have access to a car.

How many people are in your party?

This is, again, to help you figure out how much you can bring. If you’re going alone, obviously only bring what you are comfortable carrying.

If you’re travelling with children, remember that you may need to carry some of their gear, meaning you can bring less with you. On the other hand, if you are travelling in a group of equally-abled people, you can share the load amongst yourselves, allowing you to bring more stuff if you need it.

When traveling with others, it may be worthwhile to get together beforehand to make your camping checklist as a group. That way you can ensure everyone is on the same page.

How long are you staying?

Most people head out to camp for a night or a weekend. But others will want to extend their trip and camp for several days at a time.

What you need to bring changes the longer you go for. For example, if you’re going for three or four days, you will need to bring more food, and you may need to bring some way to purify water.

For your first trip, it’s probably a good idea to just go for a night or two. This way you can decide if you like it or not, and then head out for longer on your next trip.

Are you camping in a tent, RV camping or cabin?

Camping Checklist: RV Camping

Another big thing to consider when preparing for your trip and making your camping checklist is how you’ll be camping.

Camping in a recreational vehicle (RV) is a popular choice for families or for people who are heading out on extended trips. In general, you won’t need to much extra gear. Pack for your day activities: hiking, swimming, mountain climbing, etc. But since you’ll be staying indoors with access to electricity, you can more or less pack as if you were headed to a hotel..

Cabin camping isn’t much different, but you may need more gear for sleeping and making food. If staying in a cabin, find out what amenities are offered there. You may find yourself packing for a hotel, or packing the same way you would to stay in a tent, depending on what’s available.

The lists we’re going to suggest are mostly for tent camping.. This is because it is the most rugged, and you therefore need the most special gear.  

Tent camping is great because it brings you closer to nature and also offers more flexibility. You don’t always need to go to designated campgrounds (in the U.S., nearly all National Forests and Bureau of Land Managements lands allow dispersed camping, meaning you can set up pretty much wherever you want for free.)

What kind of weather do you expect to encounter?

You’ll want to take a look at the forecast for the days you will be camping. But it is a good idea to go a step further and to find out what some of the trends are for the area in which you’ll be.

For example, is there a chance of unexpected thunderstorms? What about flooding? Frost or snow? The forecast might not be predicting any of this, but we all know the forecast can sometimes be wrong. You don’t want to be caught off-guard by a serious weather event.

Are there any special activities you intend to do?

Depending on where you are going, you may want to do something out of the ordinary while camping. Maybe there is a place where you can go rock climbing, fishing or hunting.

If you want to do something you can’t carry, look into rental options. Unless you are going somewhere really secluded, you may be able to find canoes or kayaks you can use for the day.

Also, make sure you can legally do these things. You may be able to carry your own hunting rifle with you, but make sure you are allowed to hunt where you are going. And also check that you have all relevant licenses and permits.

What amenities or services are available?

Find out what is available where you are going. If you are heading into the backcountry, don’t expect much. There may not even be running water.

For those headed to campgrounds, check to see if you’ll have access to hot water, electricity, flushing toilets and other services. If not, make sure you make proper preparation. Mental ones if nothing else (cold showers aren’t that bad if you psych yourself into it!)

Another big thing to look for is laundry facilities. When going for extended trips, having a place to wash your clothes is a great way to save space.

Will you be near stores or other infrastructure?

One of the goals when packing for a camping trip is to try and bring as little as possible. There are few moments when the phrase “less is more” is more applicable.

This is because when you are camping, either inside the tent, RV or car, space is often limited. Or, you usually need to carry much of what you bring. Either way, you don’t want to overload yourself.

So you’ll want to find out what is available near where you are going. Many campsites will have general stores where you can buy food and other necessities. Or if you are going in your car, find out if there is a town nearby where you can stock up.

This way you can save space for gear and equipment and buy food as you need it.

Will you have electricity?

This is a biggie. If you’re traveling in an RV, having electricity is a basic necessity. But if you’re going to a campground, find out if you’ll have access to a plug.

Few campsites will have power. However, many will have service stations (usually where the laundry is) where you can plug phones or tablets in to charge.

Your best bet, though, is to have car chargers available, or bring cordless battery chargers with you so that you can recharge away from an outlet.

Can you make a fire?