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Camping Trip Supply List
The booking, gear and camp-kitchen items for a car-camping trip, including the ones people skip.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
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Roadsurfer's beginner guide says the usual camping failure is not a forgotten flashlight but booking too late. Most Recreation.gov campsites open six months before arrival, and popular ones sell out within minutes. Gear comes second. This list assumes a car-camping trip at a developed site. It draws on a Zimbabwe travel guide's packing list, a camp-kitchen guide and a canoe-tripping forum. It leaves out RV hookups, backcountry permits and meal planning, and you should adjust the quantities for your weather and group size.
Why these items are on the list
- Book campsite early. Roadsurfer: most Recreation.gov spots open six months ahead. Check your listing's own booking window.
- Check who manages the land. Roadsurfer says national forest, BLM land and national parks follow different camping rules.
- Tent with all set-up gear. Named in the Zimbabwe travel guide's shelter section.
- Sleeping bag per person. The Zimbabwe guide lists one per person, plus extra blankets.
- Sleeping pads and pillows. Pads appear on the canoe-trip forum list. Pillows appear on the Zimbabwe guide's list.
- Tarp or canopy. The Zimbabwe guide lists a protective tarp or canopy for the tent.
- Camp stove and fuel. Take Them Outside advises one even if you plan to cook on the fire, in case fires are not allowed.
- Matches or lighter, fire starter. Take Them Outside: a lighter is needed for propane stoves and campfires alike.
- Cooler box. Listed under cooking must-haves in the Zimbabwe travel guide.
- Can opener. Take Them Outside: even if you don't expect to need one, some trip you'll be glad you have it.
- Knife and cutting board. Both are on the Zimbabwe guide's cooking list.
- Pots and frying pan. Take Them Outside suggests a few pots for larger families or more involved cooking.
- Plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery. Take Them Outside: one of each per person, plus a few extra for cooking and serving.
- Water jug and bottles. Take Them Outside suggests an identifiable bottle for each person and a large jug for the campsite.
- Dish tubs, soap, dish towels. Take Them Outside says 2 or 3 tubs make washing up at the site easier.
- Trash bags. Take Them Outside: keep garbage packaged and away from animals.
- Toilet paper. Named in the hygiene section of the Zimbabwe travel guide.
- Wet wipes or hand sanitizer. Take Them Outside suggests them for cleaning hands after handling meat.
- First aid kit. On both the Zimbabwe travel guide's list and the canoe-tripping forum's lists.
- Headlamp and spare batteries. The Zimbabwe guide lists a torch, LED lights and extra torch batteries.
- Rain jacket. A raincoat appears on both the Zimbabwe guide and the canoe forum's lists.
- Warm layer for nights. The Zimbabwe guide lists a light jersey for early mornings.
- Map of the area. On the Zimbabwe guide's list, and a forum member's short must-remember list.
- Mosquito repellent. Listed in the Zimbabwe guide's other items, alongside a power bank.
Most camping lists are long static articles that start with gear and leave booking to the end. A tickable list lets you put the reservation first and share it with everyone coming, so two people do not both pack the can opener and nobody packs the stove.
When to use it
Start it as soon as you pick dates, since booking can be months ahead, and finish the packing section the night before you leave.