Car Camping Checklist
Can you tell I’m on a camping kick? I’m coming up on July camping trip #3 and, at the request of my friends that know my obsessiveness, decided to share my camping checklist.
I’m a checklist girl, always have been. I wrote checklists as young as 9 years old that listed things like, “Wake-up… check, Get dressed… check, Watch cartoons… check, etc.” I’ve looked at almost a dozen camping checklists online and none apply to car camping. So I wrote this one. You’ll notice my list is sectioned off by where I keep things, one large Rubbermaid tub and a smaller picnic basket. We pack everything in the bed of our Toyota Tundra. Guess if I’ve got a checklist and four camping trips in one month, I better start calling myself a camper, huh?
Car Camping Checklist (or Truck Camping Checklist if you want to get technical)
Basics (Truck Bed)
- Rope and Bungee cords
- Tarp
- Camp stove
- Propane
- Sleeping bags x4
- Pillows x4
- Blankets
- Pack-n-play or Porta-crib
- Chairs x4
- Beach Umbrella
- Sand toys
- Firewood
Basics (Rubbermaid Tub)
- Tent
- Tent stakes
- Thermarest pads x2
- Air mattress with pump (D batteries)
- Coleman lantern w/gas
- Flashlights/Headlamps
- Extension Cord
- Dish wash bin
- Tea kettle
- Coffee and Cocoa
- Large Cutting board
- Paper towels
- Wet wipes
- Mini-broom and dustpan
- Trash bags
- Insect Repellent
- First Aid (band aids, etc)
- Flyswatter
- Clothes pins
- Newspaper
- Axe
Kitchen (Picnic Basket)
- Mugs, Plates
- Knife
- Silverware
- Tongs, Spatula, Serving Spoon
- Frying Pan
- Serving Trays
- Oven mitts
- Dish towel
- Sponge, Soap, Scrubber
- Matches, lighter
- Salt/Pepper
- Aluminum Foil
- Table Cloth
Ice Chest
- Ice
- Butter
- Ketchup, BBQ sauce, etc.
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Bread/Tortillas
- Meat
- Fruit and Veggies
- Milk
- Chips, snacks
- S’more items
- Water, Drinks
Personal Items
- Shirts, shorts, pants, socks, underwear
- Sweatshirts, jackets
- Hats
- Pajamas
- Swimsuits
- Hiking shoes
- Water shoes
- Towels
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries
Pet items
- Food
- Dog bed
- Leash
- Toys
A few things we would love to purchase in the future: canopy with screen, cots, camping cookware (right now I use one old frying pan and our camp stove comes with a cast iron griddle), S’more/hot dog skewers (the telescoping kind). I’ll be honest that camping is growing on me. It’s not that expensive, you can’t beat the Colorado scenery, and the kids absolutely love it. Sleeping on borrowed cots made a HUGE difference in how much I liked living in a tent this last weekend, even with the boys waking up at 5:30 a.m. I’ll let you know if I’m still positive after camping trip three and four.
Let me know what I’m missing from the list. I’m probably obsessive-Type-A-over-prepared, but that’s the nice thing about car camping. You can stow all of the extra crap in the car and feel good that you didn’t forget anything. Happy camping!
© 2010, FROM MILITARY TO MOM. All rights reserved.
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camping, camping checklist, camping with children, car camping, what to bring camping
Themocracy
Okay, I strive to be an organized list person like yourself! I have lists. . . but they are so jumbled and have 100 different things that looking at them makes my head spin! Next time we go camping, I am printing off your lists. . . Mark will think I have turned into another person!
Thanks, lady. Glad you like the list!
Love you list…thanks for sharing. Two things I would add for a dog are water/food bowl and some poo bags.
Karen, so wish I would have read your comment before we went camping last weekend. TOTALLY forgot the poo bags! Thanks for stopping by.