Car Camping List – our checklist of essential car camping gear
- FULL MESS KIT – Go ahead and bring the full monty for cooking, why not? A cutting board, a sharp knife, a Coleman double burner, a coffee press, a double-wall mug, a kitchen towel, a tupperware to act as both plate, bowl and daypack sandwich holder, stacking utensils and a Snow Peak cookset are my essentials, but I expand that to include much more depending on the length of the trip.
- COOLER – Stocked with ice, of course, for perishable items (we know you won’t forget the beer, but don’t forget the creamer for your coffee).
- FOOD – No dehydrated anything if you don’t want – you’ve got a deluxe camp kitchen!
- SUN SHOWER – This is a car camping essential in my book. Hook it to your hatchback, or set it on your roof top or a tree branch.
- 5–7 GALLON WATER JUG – When you live in a place with as good of drinking water as Tahoe, no other water will do. Plus, this is the best way to easily refill your water bottles and pots for cooking.
- CHAIRS for lounging around the campfire.
- FIREWOOD – Annoying to pack, but way better than buying a bundle for $6 from the camp host.
- TENT - Size doesn’t matter at the campground, so bigger is better (like the Nemo Asashi) for sitting up in and fitting in the pup and her dog bed.
- SLEEPING PAD, BAG AND PILLOW – Go ahead and sleep as comfy as possible when weight is not at a premium. I use the Nemo Cosmo pad with pillowtop for a bed-like base, a Mountain Hardwear Phantom sleeping bag, and the big pillow from my bed.
- LANTERNS/HEADLAMPS
- PAPER PRODUCTS including toilet paper, paper towels and moist towelettes if you really want to get fancy.
- FIRST AID KIT
- SHOES FOR CAMP - If you don’t have to stay in your hiking boots 24/7, then why on earth would you? I like to pack my Chaco flip-flops as well as some comfy camp shoes, like Vans, that are easy to slip on and off, yet will keep your toes warm.
- FOLD-UP TABLE if you know your campsite won’t have a picnic table
- GEAR for whatever sport you’re doing – with all the extra packing you’re doing, don’t forget the most important items: like crash pads, daypacks, climbing gear, fishing poles, etc.
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