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The Most Important Pieces of Gear You Need for Car Camping

Car camping makes getting away easy as pie. These items make it even tastier.

collage of a camping chair, an air mattress, and a coleman stoveGCI Outdoor, Amazon, Walmart

By Tyler Duffy and Mary Singler

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Exploring the great outdoors is a popular pastime. And you can plow a lot of money into that with a custom camper van or premium off-road camping trailer. But if you’re flying solo and aren’t too particular about your amenities or sleeping arrangements, car camping could be a compelling option. Camping out of your vehicle is relatively easy — no towing or awkward parking required — and accessible. And hey, who wants to lug around gear in a huge pack when your Toyota Tacoma can carry it far more easily?

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Things to Consider While Car Camping

Car camping comes along with the luxury of having electricity and shelter in the case of an emergency. These perks may seem extravagant for a seasoned backpacker, but I’m not sure anyone would be upset about having a few extra modern amenities while still enjoying the outdoors.

But even when setting up one of these fancier campsites, you can’t get lazy and ignore some of the critical things to watch for while setting up camp.

Pick the Right Spot

Finding the right spot to park can be tricky, especially if you’re not pulling up to a reserved site. If you are on a more developed campground, odds are that the ground will be relatively flat, and it will be built where a flood is not prone to happen. If you are on a backcountry site or maybe just some public BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, you will need to consider your surroundings more closely.

Look out for established animal habitats, wash basins and large slopes. It is also nice to look for coverage from the elements, depending on your location and season. If you are camping in a tent, keep in mind that your car can be positioned to protect you from the wind and sun.

Your Car Isn’t Invincible

If you are camping in your actual car, you can rely on a completely dry place to sleep and be generally pretty safe from animals. And while your vehicle is a really solid shelter, it is still not your house. It is not as insulated as your home and will be hot in the summer and cool in the winter, and while there are techniques to combat these issues (i.e. crack the windows for a breeze), you will want to keep in mind the more extreme temperatures.

Also, remember that you do not want to overuse your car battery while the vehicle is not running. There may not be anyone around to give you a jump, making it easy to end up in a sticky situation. For charging your devices and powering lights, I would suggest investing in a power station to avoid this altogether.

Clean Up After Yourself (And Your Pet)

When leaving your campsite, you want to leave it as you found it. The goal is to leave zero traces that you were ever there. The easiest way to do this is by picking up your trash and hauling it out with you. Think of how annoyed you would be if you pulled up to a campsite and it was littered with junk from the previous inhabitants. And just a reminder, while you still might be in nature, clean up after your pets!

Carrying around propane is a pain. So is cooking over an open fire. Fire & Flavor’s portable Hero Grill is easy to use, easy to clean — and stows away nicely, thanks to a minimal footprint.

If part of the appeal of car camping for you is having a rolling shelter that’s much more secure than your average tent, this air mattress designed for cars — made with durable 300-denier fabric and capable of supporting up to 600 pounds — is just what you need.

Climate control doesn’t need to be a high-tech affair. This awning will keep you cool and dry, and only takes up six inches of space on your roof rack.

Sometimes, you want some car-side shade but don’t want something permanently affixed to your ride. The MoonShade offers a 9-by-7-foot space to keep you away from rain or shine, but stows down into an eight-pound bag that all but disappears into your trunk when not in use.

Our tester found the shade to be extremely easy to set up, only taking a few minutes. The included strut pole makes it compatible with smaller SUVs, so even if your car doesn’t hit the 7′ mark, you will be good to go. This is a great option for camping, as the suction cup mounts are easily removed when packing up. Our tester also tried out the magnetic mounting option that makes things even easier and found it to be great for people with roof racks.

Part of the appeal of car camping is having ample space. This 4-person, three-season tent offers an excellent place to stretch out and relax after a long day’s drive. The front “porch” is awesome for storage and hanging out.

Car camping means you can bring plenty of gear with you — but it never hurts to have a little extra portable storage once you get where you’re going. This 70-liter waterproof container is rugged and durable as hell, but collapses down to a thin platform when empty for easy stowage.

For the tent dwellers, this is one of our favorite sleeping bags. While it doesn’t pack down small enough to take on a backpacking trip, it will definitely do the trick when camping out of your car. It is rated down to 40º and comes in a long size for the taller folks.

One of the best parts of car camping? No worrying about the weight of the drinks you want to bring along. This sturdy, 30-liter soft-sided cooler can hold enough beers to keep you going for a whole weekend – and keep them cold the whole time, too.

When packing out with the whole family, space can get a little tight. This small rooftop cargo box can give you the extra room you need and can easily be mounted on smaller cars. A pro tip here, when the camping trip is over and you need to pack out your garbage, this is an awesome way to keep the smell out of the vehicle on the drive home.

Sometimes a sleeping bag just isn’t the move, or you want a way to bundle up when hanging out in your camp chair. Both the shell and insulation of this blanket are made with recycled plastic bottles. Our tester likes that it’s machine-washable, so you don’t have to worry too much about keeping it away from dirt and smoke. It is easy to store and can readily make the transition from the campsite to everyday life. Rumpl also makes a two-person version, and it is available in TONS of colors to match your vibe.

You have all that room in your car — why settle for a camp chair that doesn’t rock? This chair is one of our favorites and will be much more comfortable than your classic soccer-mom chair.

The BioLite Lamp is a bit fancier than your classic lantern. With multiple light settings, your campsite ambiance will be at its best. Our tester found this lantern to pack a lot of punch for its size. We found that the rechargeable battery makes it great for longer trips, as you don’t have to remember to pack a bunch of double-As. There is a hook on the top to make it easy to hang, but it also It gives off a solid 500 lumens and even doubles as a phone charger.

Having a table while car camping is a must. You can use it for food prep, eating or even if you need to hop on your laptop, it would provide a solid remote work spot. It folds up into a compact bag, making it super easy to pack up.

No matter how far off the grid you get, coffee is non-negotiable. The AeroPress can make coffee or espresso quickly, with minimal cleanup required. There is no reason to spend your relaxing morning at camp trying to figure out how to get your caffeine.

Having a solar power station on hand can extend any trip in the woods by powering all our modern “necessities” that we have grown so attached to. The Jackery weighs around 25 pounds and comes with two foldable solar panels for on-the-go charging. Our tester found this model has an impressive capacity and recharges extraordinarily fast, but there are more affordable options if you don’t need quite as much power as it falls in the middle of Jackery’s extensive solar charging lineup.

Read our full review of the Jackery 1000 here.

Weighing around 15 pounds, this portable Solo Stove is easy to transport and will fit snuggly in your trunk. The major perk here is that it is smokeless, making it great for those who are less than thrilled to smell like a campfire for a couple of days. There are also a variety of accessories that you can buy to make your camp cooking experience a bit more luxurious.

Our tester found the fire to perform as advertised as long as you follow the instructions. The removable ash pan is extremely helpful when it comes to clean up, so you won’t be hauling back a sout-filled fire pit after the trip is over.

Read our full review of the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 here.

The point of getting away from it all is to relax — and it’s hard to get more relaxing than laying in a hammock. This one sets up in seconds, packs down to the size of a honeydew when not needed and can hold up to 400 pounds.

There is nothing like a nice shower after a few days in the wilderness. This shower bag is one of our favorites as you don’t have to hang it for pressure; the foot pedal does all the hard work. It holds up to 5.8 gallons of water, which can give 7-10 minutes of a solid spray. While this option is definitely on the nicer side, there are plenty of more affordable camp shower options to choose from.

If you prefer tent life, car camping means you have the space to bring along an air mattress instead of a sleeping pad. This one comes in twin and queen sizes, handles up to 600 pounds and offers a built-in pillow-like structure to hold your head up. It even packs a built-in pump.

Two of the biggest worries when car camping are running down the battery (leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere) and getting a flat tire (same result). Pack insurance against both with this air compressor / jump starter.

Leatherman is as reliable as they come, and in an emergency situation, that is key. This multitool was made for first responders, making it an awesome tool to have around in a situation where you need to cut a seatbelt or break through a window. In addition to its more vehicle-oriented tools, you will find its lightweight build to be a nice feature when walking around the campsite.

Surviveware Comprehensive Premium First Aid KitAmazon

Surviveware Comprehensive Premium First Aid Kit

Safety first: bring a first aid kit. You never know what could go wrong. Hopefully, you will never need to use it for anything serious, but it is nice to have for the less serious scrapes and splinters that are bound to happen at some point. This is a well-stocked kit with 100 pieces of various first-aid essentials.

Sleeping in your car provides a shelter that is generally more reliable than a tent, but it is missing some key tent features. One of which is the ability to keep the sun out in the morning. These window shades will allow you to get some good Zss and add privacy to your vehicle.

There is no better feeling than taking off a pair of hiking boots after a day out on the trails. Here is where camp shoes come into the picture. Winding down and getting comfy is part of the camping ritual. These sleeping bag slippers are one of our favorites, and it is the perfect combo of warmth and durability for a night by the fire. They are well-insulated and have a solid sole, so a trek to the bathroom in the middle of the night doesn’t have to entail anything more than a quick slip-on.

When it comes to camp cooking, a good old-fashioned Coleman grill can always do the job. They last forever and are super easy to use. Just make sure you don’t forget the propane!

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