Make sure you’re prepared for your next camping trip with this printable camping checklist! Keep everything organized and stress-free by making a list of everything you need to bring – from food and clothing to tents and sleeping bags. No matter if you’re a beginner or an experienced camper, our camping checklist will help make sure you don’t miss anything important. Get ready to relax and enjoy the great outdoors!
I have broken down what’s needed for a camp trip into sections, and have tried to include the essentials only. Don’t get me wrong, there’s TONS of fun stuff you can bring extra… but lets get the basics down!
Table of Contents
Camp Packing Checklist
If you’re a paper person (like me!) then you may find it more helpful to have a printable version of this list. I have included the printable version of these checklists at the end of the article for your convenience <3
P.S. If you’ve yet to pick out essentials, such as a tent, Switchback Travel has an excellent tent guide to picking the right one for you!
Tent Setup
- Tent + Stakes & Tiedowns
- Ground Cloth/Tarp
- Mallet
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Pad
- Pillow
Campsite Cooking
- Propane Sto
- ve
- Propane
- Matches/Lighter
- Bowls + Plates
- Utensils
- Spatula
- Foil
- Can Opener
- Paper Towels
- Trash Bags
- Drinking Water
- Wash Basin
- Folding Table
- Pot(s)
- Spices
- Dish Soap
- Cooler
- Oven Mitts
Hygiene
- Hand Sani/Soap
- Toothbrush + Toothpaste
- Toilet Paper
- Hairbrush
- Deodorant
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
First Aid
- Advil
- Thermometer
- Blister Bandaids
- Neosporin
- Nail Clippers
- Tweezers
Camping Tools
- Duct Tape
- Chargers
- Tent Patch Kit
- Extra Tarp + Rope
- Flashlight/Headlamp
- Small Axe
- Pocket Knife
Camp Recreation
- Camp Chairs
- Hammock
- S’more Sticks
- Speakers
- Shade Tent
- Fan
Extra Clothing (besides your norm)
- Hiking Boots
- Shower Sandals
- Rain Gear
- Sweater
- Swimsuit
- Extra Socks/Underwear
Primitive Camping (no hookups, power, bathrooms)
- Small Shovel
- Water Purifier
- Lighter
- Sun Shower Bag
Setting Up Your Tent Campsite 101
Each tent will be a little different, but these instructions are applicable to most tent setups. I *always* recommend setting up at home first to ensure there is no damage to the tent such as mold, tears, or simply pieces missing.
If you would like more detailed setup instructions, or you’re just a video person, I found this great youtube video showing a family setting up their tent site and have included it below.
If you’re curious, check out this article with tons of pictures of different campsite layouts – it’s helpful to brainstorm what you would like at your own camp!
Instructions to Set Up Your Campsite
- Find a flat spot – Established campgrounds may have a sort of “tent pad” that will make this alot easier, but do your best to find a spot with the least amount of debris that is flat as possible.
- Lay the footprint/tarp – This is important to increase the durability of the tent floor.
- Spread and stake – Spread out your tent and lay it over the footprint tarp. Pound the tent stakes in with the hook facing out.
- Insert longest pole segment – Tent poles are easy to put together as most are now connected with bungee cords. Find the longest one and insert it into the sleeves located on the outside of the tent.
- Finish inserting other pole segments – It can be easier to sort them by size if you find that your tent has many poles. After the first couple of times, you will remember which ones go where!
- Position rainfly – Drape the rainfly over the tent and look for extra unused fabric loops – these are for hooking your rainfly to.
- Tie down rainfly (if needed) – Some models need to be staked and tied down to keep it taut… check ahead of time so you know!
Camp Kitchen Equipment Choices
Before you start thinking of what you want to eat at camp, first think of how you plan to store it and cook it! Camp cooking can get pretty fancy (dutch oven cupcakes or camp bacon cheesy dip anyone??) or you can keep it simple with hobo (foil wrapped) or premade meals.
Here are a couple of different methods to pick from when it comes to prepping for camp cooking
- Chuck bins + Campsite Grill – Non specific totes to throw everything into and a cooler as needed. Not super organized, but the cheapest option and one most people already have these items at home and you can just utilize the onsite fire ring grill.
- Chuck box + Propane Stove – A purpose built tote that has storage and organization built in. They can usually even hold your double burner stove and associated cooking things like utensils, oils and spices. I love this option as they also tend to be modular and easy to pack/store.
- “Hobo” meals – These are usually foil wrapped meals ready to be cooked in a campfire. These can simplify your cooking as there’s virtually no prep needed at camp
- Dutch oven + campfire – This requires specific equipment and some time to learn, but if you have the time and space…. it’s DELICIOUS!
Regardless of what you pick, it ALWAYS helps to plan ahead. I like making a little meal plan of sorts to make sure I don’t forget anything essential.
Camp Bathroom Equipment Options
The amount of prep and packing needed for your bathroom area depends on where you’re staying and how much convenience matters to you. If your campground has a bathroom, you may opt to use that so you don’t need to deal with your “business”.
If the campground bathroom is too far away though (or you’re boondocking) you will want to bring, at a minimum, a shovel. There are way nicer options than using catholes – here are some common ones
- Shovel – In order to follow LNT principles when camping, you need to poo a certain distance from water among other rules. If diggigin isn’t an option, you can always pack it out.
- 5 Gallon Bucket + Pool Noodle/Seat – An economical and (easyish) to clean option, it also tends to be the most common. There are waste specific trash bags to put in the bucket, and you can either get a “toilet seat” lid or just wrap a noodle on top for added comfort.
- Privacy tent + potty bucket – If you don’t have some trees/rocks to tuck your poo bucket into, you may want to bring a privacy tent so that you have more options on where to set it up.
- Portable toilet – If you want the full comfort and feel of home, you may want a portable toilet. It looks (and smells) nice than a bucket system, and tends to be easier to keep clean.
If you plan on camping long enough to need a shower system too, there are ton of portable camp shower options to look into!
Camping Essentials FAQ
These are the most common questions from those new to camping. As I mentioned earlier, my free camping checklists are available for you to print and prepare for your trip with.
What are the must haves for camping?
If you want the barebones, tipping your toes in the water camping essentials… then it’s a tent, sleeping bag + pad. Cooking can be done via onsite grills at a campground, so aren’t always neccessary.
How do I make my own camping checklist?
Check out a couple of different designs and types – there are simple ones that cover essentials, but there are also people who like using super specific camping checklists (one’s that even include individual spices and such!).
I recommend copying + pasting items you want to include to create your own list, or utilize a premade one to save some time.
What’s the best food to bring for camping?
Depends on your camp style – if you don’t like cooking normally, or just have a ton of plans, prepping ahead of time via foil meals can keep things simple. If there’s an onsite grill, or you have one, utilizing grilled meals saves on space and prep work as well.
What are the most forgotten camping items?
Both from personal experience and years of camping with friends, these are without a doubt the most commonly forgotten camping items
- Lighter – No ones eating without some heat!
- Smore/Hotdog Sticks – you *could* sharpen a stick.. but not all campsites allow foraging around the area
- Trash Bags – It’s so common
- Sunscreen – Just keep it in the box of camping stuff… or risk with 8 half used bottles at the end of the season from having to rebuy them each tirp
- Cash – Many campgrounds, especially those without service, only take cash for things like firewood and ice.
- Batteries – A headlamp with no battery isn’t very useful! =P
Download your free Camping Essentials Checklist now!
I am excited to share with you a simple set of checklists I created for the essentials when tent camping. If you’re looking for an RV specific set, check out this set of 9 RV Camping Checklists!
Included in the tent camping essentials checklists is
- Camp packing list – Includes tent setup, camp kitchen, bathroom and recreational items
- Camp meal grocery planner – Take note of each items you’re packing for each meal… no more emergency takeout =P
- Camp setup list – It seems simple, but until you’re actually out there setting it up… you might forget exactly how the first couple of times!
- Campsite log – It’s nice to have all of your info in spot… so I like to utilize a log of sorts!
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