My first serious camping trip was a three-day weekend on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I packed like I was moving into a house. Cooler full of food, brand-new tent, sleeping bag rated to 20 degrees even though it was June. I thought I had covered everything. Then the first night, standing over the camp stove with two cans of chili and no can opener, I learned a lesson that has stuck with me for over two decades: the stuff you forget matters more than the stuff you bring.
Since then I've completed a large portion of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in North Carolina, tested more gear than I care to admit, and spent hundreds of nights sleeping outside. I still forget things sometimes. But the core list has been refined through years of mistakes, and it's the list I'm sharing here.
This is a camping checklist for beginners, but it's also the checklist I personally use before every trip. I've organized it by category so you can work through it section by section when packing. Where I've tested specific gear, I've linked to those reviews so you can dig deeper.
Shelter and Sleep
Sleep is everything. You can have a rough day on the trail or at the campsite and recover from it. But two bad nights of sleep in a row will make you miserable and ready to go home. Invest here first.
Tent
Your tent is your home base. For car camping, weight matters less than livability. Get something you can stand up in if possible, with a solid rain fly and good ventilation. For windy conditions, I've tested several options in my pop-up tent guide. If you're camping in the summer, ventilation and mesh matter a lot. Check out our bug-proof tent roundup for options that keep the mosquitoes out without turning your tent into a sauna.
Sleeping Bag
Get a bag rated at least 10 degrees below the lowest temperature you expect. A 40-degree bag sounds fine for a 45-degree night until you realize the rating is a survival number, not a comfort number. If you're camping in areas where rain is likely, a waterproof sleeping bag is worth the extra money. I've tested several in my waterproof sleeping bag review.
Sleeping Pad or Mattress
This is the item most beginners skip or cheap out on, and it's the one that will ruin your trip fastest. The ground is cold and hard. A good pad insulates you from below (your sleeping bag compresses under your body weight and loses its insulating value) and cushions pressure points. I'm a side sleeper, so I need something with real thickness. If you're the same, I reviewed the best inflatable mattresses for side sleepers.
Pillow
You can stuff clothes into a bag and use that as a pillow. I did it for years. But a dedicated camping pillow weighs almost nothing and the difference in sleep quality is real. I wrote up my favorites in the camping pillow guide.
Extra Blanket
Even in summer, temperatures can drop more than you expect after sunset. I always bring an extra camping blanket. It works as extra warmth in the tent, a wrap for sitting around the fire, or a ground cover for hanging out during the day.
Stakes
The stakes that come with most tents are flimsy aluminum that bends on the first rock. Bring a set of heavy-duty stakes that can handle rocky or hard-packed soil. Losing your tent to wind because of cheap stakes is a mistake you only make once.
Kitchen and Cooking
Camp cooking does not need to be complicated, but it does need a few key pieces. The goal is hot food, hot coffee, and clean water. Everything else is a bonus.
Stove
For car camping, a two-burner propane stove is hard to beat. It lets you boil water for coffee while cooking breakfast at the same time, which matters more than you think at 6 AM. I've tested a bunch and wrote up the best ones in my portable propane stove guide.
Cookware
You need a pot for boiling water, a pan for cooking, and something to eat out of. That's it for a first trip. A compact nesting cookware set saves space and covers the basics. I reviewed several options in our camping cookware roundup.
Coffee Setup
I am fully aware that coffee is a want and not a need. I am also aware that I am a worse person before my first cup. If you're the same, plan for it. A pour-over, a French press, or a percolator all work well in camp. I compared the best options in my camping coffee maker guide.
Water Bottles and Storage
Bring more water capacity than you think you need. A good insulated water bottle keeps cold water cold and hot drinks hot, which is useful day and night. For your campsite, a collapsible water container holds a few gallons and takes up almost no space when empty. Fill it at the spigot so you're not walking back and forth all day.
Spices and Seasoning
Salt and pepper at minimum. Camp food is only as good as the seasoning you bring. I started packing a small compact spice kit a few years ago and the quality of my camp meals improved immediately. Garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and a good all-purpose seasoning go a long way.
Don't Forget
- Can opener (learn from my mistake)
- Lighter or matches
- Paper towels or a camp towel
- Trash bags (pack out what you pack in)
- Dish soap and a small sponge
Clothing and Layers
Cotton kills is the old saying in the outdoor world, and it's mostly true. Cotton holds moisture, dries slowly, and will chill you fast if you're wet. For anything beyond a summer car camping trip in warm weather, go with synthetics or merino wool.
Rain Jacket
Non-negotiable. Even if the forecast says zero percent chance of rain, bring a rain jacket. Forecasts are wrong, and a lightweight shell packs down to almost nothing. I've tested a lot of them and reviewed my picks in the ultralight rain jacket guide. A good rain jacket also blocks wind, which makes it useful even on dry but breezy evenings.
Socks
Your feet will make or break the trip. Blisters from bad socks can end a hike in an hour. Bring merino wool or synthetic hiking socks, and bring at least one extra pair. Wet socks mean miserable feet. I did a deep dive on the best hiking socks for blister prevention.
Hat
Sun protection matters even on overcast days. A wide-brim hiking hat keeps the sun off your face and neck and can prevent the kind of sunburn headache that ruins an afternoon.
Layer System
The simplest approach: a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid layer (fleece or down), and a waterproof outer layer. You can add or remove pieces as conditions change. This works in nearly every season. For summer trips, the base layer and rain jacket alone might be enough, but always have the mid layer in your pack.
Safety and Navigation
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Most camping trips are uneventful, which is the whole point. But the one time you need a first aid kit or a way to call for help, you'll be glad you packed it.
First Aid Kit
At minimum: adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, medical tape, pain relievers, tweezers, and any personal medications. You can build your own or buy a pre-made kit. I reviewed several in the first aid kit guide. Check your kit before every trip because supplies expire and get used up.
Headlamp
Not a flashlight. A headlamp. You need both hands free when you're cooking in the dark, setting up a tent, or walking to the bathroom at 2 AM. I always bring two: one on my head and a backup in my pack. See my headlamp roundup for the ones I trust.
Bear Spray
If you're camping anywhere bears live, and that covers a lot of the eastern US and nearly all of the West, carry bear spray. Keep it accessible, not buried in your pack. Practice reaching for it. I've never had to use mine, and I'd like to keep it that way, but I carry it every single trip.
Emergency Radio
Cell service is unreliable or nonexistent at many campsites. An emergency weather radio with NOAA channels gives you storm warnings and severe weather alerts. Some models include a hand crank, solar panel, and USB charging port, which makes them useful even when the weather is fine.
Navigation Basics
- Paper map of the area (phones die, especially in cold weather)
- Compass (and know how to use it)
- Share your trip plan with someone not on the trip
Comfort and Extras
These items are technically optional. But after 20-plus years of camping, I've found that the line between "roughing it" and "miserable" is thin. A few comfort items make the difference between a trip you want to repeat and one you don't.
Camp Chair
Sitting on the ground is fine when you're 25. At nearly 50, I want a chair. Even a lightweight backpacking chair beats a log. Your back will thank you on day two.
Fire-starting Kit
Waterproof matches, a lighter, and some fire starters. Wet firewood is the norm at many campsites, and trying to start a fire with damp wood and a single match is an exercise in frustration. Bring a backup ignition source.
Headlamp Batteries or Charging Cable
Whatever your headlamp uses, bring extras. Running out of light at night is a problem that's easy to prevent.
Book or Journal
Leave the phone in the car. I know that's a big ask. But the best part of camping is the disconnection. Bring something to read or write in. Some of my best thinking happens when I'm sitting by a fire with nothing to scroll through.
Stuff Sack or Dry Bag
Keep your clothes and sleeping bag dry even if everything else gets wet. One waterproof bag can save an entire trip when it rains harder than expected.
The Printable Checklist
Here's the quick-reference version you can screenshot or print. Check off each item as you pack.
Shelter and Sleep
- Tent with rain fly
- Sleeping bag (rated 10 degrees below expected low)
- Sleeping pad or inflatable mattress
- Pillow
- Extra blanket
- Heavy-duty stakes
Kitchen and Cooking
- Camp stove and fuel
- Cookware (pot, pan, utensils)
- Plates, bowls, cups
- Coffee maker
- Water bottles
- Collapsible water container
- Spice kit
- Can opener
- Lighter and matches
- Paper towels or camp towel
- Trash bags
- Dish soap and sponge
- Cooler with ice
Clothing
- Moisture-wicking base layers
- Insulating mid layer (fleece or down)
- Rain jacket
- Hiking socks (plus extras)
- Sun hat
- Sturdy shoes or boots
- Camp sandals for around the site
Safety
- First aid kit
- Headlamp (plus backup or extra batteries)
- Bear spray (if applicable)
- Emergency radio
- Paper map and compass
- Trip plan shared with a contact at home
Comfort
- Camp chair
- Fire-starting kit
- Book or journal
- Dry bag for clothes and sleeping bag
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
A Few Things You Can Leave at Home
Beginners tend to overpack. I did, and I see it at every campground. Here's what you can skip on your first trip:
- Ax or hatchet. Most campgrounds sell firewood or have it available. You don't need to process your own.
- A giant cooler. A medium cooler is easier to manage and forces you to plan meals instead of overpacking food that goes to waste.
- Multiple changes of clothes per day. You're camping. You'll smell like smoke and dirt and that's fine. Two to three days per outfit works.
- Anything "just in case." If you can't name a specific scenario where you'd use it, leave it home. You can always drive to a store if you really need something.
Final Thought
The best camping trip I ever took, I forgot half the stuff on this list. We improvised, borrowed from neighbors, and ate cold sandwiches instead of the planned hot dinner. It was still a great weekend because we were outside, away from screens, sitting around a fire with people we cared about.
Gear matters, but it's not the point. The point is getting out there. Use this checklist as a starting place, adjust it based on your own experience, and get outside. You'll figure out the rest as you go.
Brian