Must Bring Camping Essentials

Check out these camping essentials for your next camping trip!

These camping essentials are always in our camping checklist. There are so many things you could buy for camping. I always suggest starting with the basics and then slowly adding to your collection. 

Must-Have Camping Essentials

Tent (Or Whatever You will Camp in)

You need something to sleep in. We love our tent, but I also like pop-up campers. If you’re on a budget, start with a tent, and then you can gradually work up to a pop-up. Or you may find that you love tent camping!

Hiking Boots

If you’re camping and plan to go hiking, having some good hiking boots is essential. One of the best parts of camping is going on fun trails, and it goes way better if your feet are protected.

Sleeping Bags and Camp Mats

Sleeping bags will provide warmth if it is cold and great padding for the hot camping nights. We also love using these camping mats, as they can be packed with minimal space. 

 Camp Chairs

Having camp chairs is great for sitting around the fire! You can find tons of great deals on these and then repurpose them for sports games! 

Marshmallow Sticks

Every camping trip needs s’ s’mores! You can use sticks that you find, but we love having marshmallow sticks. Plus, you can use these for roasting hot dogs! 

Pie Makers

Pie Makers are fun to bring because they provide you with more food options. You can make dessert pies, pizza pies, sandwiches, and so on! 

Camp Stove

Having a camp stove helps so much with camping. You can reheat stuff on it and cook your food. Make sure to bring a pot and pan! 

French Press

All coffee drinkers will agree that camping coffee is a must. I love using my French press for camping. I heat the water on the camp stove and then use the French press. 

Tablecloth

A tablecloth is not really a must-have for all, but I like having it because you can then wipe off the picnic table. 

Clothesline

Bring a clothesline if you will need to dry any beach clothes! It is also helpful to use to dry the towels on. 

Flashlights and/or lanterns

I am always amazed at how dark it gets camping. We like to bring flashlights for the kids. It is also nice to have a lantern. 

Dish Pans for Washing Dishes

You can get plastic bins from the Dollar Store that are perfect for washing dishes in! 

First Aid Kit

Being outdoors while camping will mean some injuries here and there so it is helpful to bring a first aid kit to have on hand! 

Tarp

If you are camping in a tent, a tarp comes in handy under the tent or over the top. We used it during a rainy trip for an added layer of protection. 

Canopy

We recently added this to our camping gear and loved having it during a rainy trip! You can put your picnic table under it, so you can easily cook and eat, and play games without getting wet. 

Backpack

Bring an empty backpack that you can use on hikes! Then you can fill it with waters and snacks! 

Raincoats

We learned this the hard way during a rainy camping trip! Bring raincoats or ponchos! 

Camping Dishes and Silverware

While you can use paper plates and plastic silverware, I love bringing plates and silverware that we can wash and reuse! 

The list could go on and on, but these are always on my list every time! 

Check out these tips for camping with kids!