Car Camping Essentials Checklist: Must-Have Gear for the Outdoor Adventure

Car camping can be a lot of fun for the whole family. However, if you don’t prepare properly, you may find yourself in an uncomfortable or even dangerous situation. Make sure that you have all of the right equipment by following this car camping essentials checklist, which is full of must-have gear for your next adventure.

Essential Items For Car Camping 

• Sleeping Bag, Blankets, and Pillows: A good night’s rest is essential for staying strong, awake, and energized throughout your trip, so make sure to bring these items to get a good night’s rest.
  
• Clothing: Camping can often be dirty, so be sure to bring at least two pairs of clothes for each day you are gone, especially if you plan on doing any swimming or hiking.
  
• Toiletries: Travel-sized toiletries allow you to maintain good hygiene while you’re out adventuring—just because you are in the great outdoors does not mean you need to smell like an animal.
  
• Space Heater: Having a device like the EcoFlow Wave 2 Portable AC is essential for remaining warm on cold nights without having to leave your car running all night, which would drain your car’s battery and produce unnecessary emissions that could harm the environment.

Best Food Items For Car Camping

• High-Protein Foods: Bringing along food that is high in protein is key to staying healthy and energized and is essential for your well-being, especially when you are out camping and spending more energy than you normally would.
  
• Electric Skillet: An electric skillet that runs off of a portable energy source, such as one of the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Series Portable Power Stations, is a great way to prepare fresh, healthy, and hot food that is sure to keep you going throughout your trip without having to solely rely on a campfire.
  
• Portable Refrigerator: A portable refrigerator such as the EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator is a must-have for any outdoor adventure because it is very portable, makes ice, can double as a freezer, is far more efficient than a traditional cooler that relies on you buying ice, and will keep all your food and drinks cold.
  
• Water: Staying hydrated is essential for staying safe and healthy while you’re active in the wilderness, so remember to bring enough water or water purification tablets if you want to drink from a natural water source.
  
• Mess Kit: Bringing along a hard plastic or tin mess kit is a great way to avoid bringing a ton of nice dishes that need to be cleaned and carefully taken care of, or having to bring plastic, styrofoam, or paper plates and knives that can negatively impact the environment.

Entertainment For Car Camping 

• Books: If you need to take a break from technology, then bringing a book with you is a great idea. Learn, relax, and unwind after a long day without feeling harassed by screens and the internet.
  
• Power Source: If you plan to bring appliances or devices that need power when your car is off, you’ll need a small solar generator and a charger like the EcoFlow 800W Alternator Charger. This charger can use the energy your car’s motor creates while driving to charge your appliances and generator.
  
• Speaker: By bringing along a Bluetooth speaker, you can still listen to music or your favorite podcast even while the car is off.
  
• Portable TV: If you bring along a generator like the EcoFlow RIVER 3, you’ll have more than enough electricity to power an entire TV setup and enjoy an outdoor movie night.
  
• Games: Everyone loves a good game night, and bringing a few board games or a solar generator for your TV and favorite video game will allow you to keep playing what you love while away from home.

Emergency Equipment For Car Camping 

• Flare gun: Shooting a flare is a sure way to grab anyone’s attention, whether a park ranger or another camper. It alerts them that you need help, prompts action, and helps them find you.
  
• Paracord: Paracord is a great tool for many situations, such as marking where you are, tying up food, or helping scale a cliff to safety—don’t leave this invaluable tool behind.
  
• Long-Range Radio: Purchasing a long-distance radio and earning the required certifications is one of the best ways to reach out for help, as there are many places where you will not have a cell signal and cannot call 911 for help.
  
• First Aid Kit: A first aid kit, including alcohol wipes, burn cream, antibiotic ointment, bandages, gauze rolls, tweezers, scissors, cold pack, and gloves, is something everyone should have in their car, even if you’re not actively camping.
  
• Bear Spray: The wilderness is home to a variety of creatures, all of which are beautiful yet often dangerous—carrying along a can of bear spray is a great way to protect yourself in the instances of accidentally crossing paths with a momma bear, mountain lion, or just about any dangerous mammal (including ill-intended humans). 

Must-Have Vehicle Equipment For Car Camping 

• Extra Gasoline: If you’re adventuring in rural, rough, or new-to-you areas, you never know when a detour, bad traffic, missed turn, or even a gas leak may leave you with an empty tank and miles from the nearest gas station. That’s why it is always smart to bring along an extra gas can or two just in case things go south.
  
• Jumper Cables: Car batteries often lose charge, especially if you leave the car running idle for too long, which is why it is always a good idea to bring along a set of jumper cables to help jumpstart another camper’s car or your own when in this tough situation.
  
• Spare Tire: Tires can also fail more than we would like, especially when traveling rough terrain, so be sure to have a solid spare tire and the tools to change it, such as a car jack and a four-way lug nut wrench.
  
• Tow Hitch: A tow hitch is another tool that is always good to have on hand, even if you are not camping, especially if you own a large truck. It will make you more able to help yourself or others if a vehicle gets stuck in the mud.
  
• Toolkit: Having a small toolkit that includes a hammer, some nails, a small electric drill or screwdriver, some screws, a pair of pliers or wire cutters, and some electrical tape could come in handy when setting up your camp or making any small repairs around your campsite.

Best Car Camping Gear

• Fire Starter: Maybe you want to use natural heat instead of a space heater, or you want to cook some marshmallows over an open fire. Either way, a fire starter is always handy, and it works a lot faster than rubbing two sticks together.
  
• Knife: Whether you are looking for something to cut rope or cloth or maybe even carve your and your significant other’s name into a tree, a knife is always a good tool to have.
  
• Hiking Boots: Sturdy hiking boots are always needed when hiking in the woods, where the ground is harder to traverse. Without the proper support, the risk of twisting an ankle is higher.
  
• Fishing Gear: Fishing is a fun pastime and can be a great bonding moment between family members, so it’s always a good idea to bring a few fishing rods, tackle, and extra fishing lines.
  
• Duct Tape: Duct tape is possibly the most useful thing you can have at your disposal. It is so strong and sticky that it can hold just about anything, no matter what substance, together (it can even act as an emergency bandaid if necessary).

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Car camping is a family-friendly and fun way to spend your vacation. When you bring along a power source like the EcoFlow RIVER 3 to power all of your heaters, coolers, and devices, and the appropriate charters, like the EcoFlow 800W Alternator Charger, you can keep the good times rolling almost indefinitely with a great deal of comfort. Just be sure to print up a checklist and that you are fully packed for emergencies, food, and clothing to have the best time possible. Most importantly of all, make sure to have fun.