Gear Gadget

Car Camping Gear List for Families

Four of everything personal, one of everything shared, and a car big enough for it. Here is the kit for a family of four.

The kit for a family of four: 9 items, ~$1,138

Midsize SUV, warm weather, cooking. Essential tier, Amazon prices, checked daily. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.

Tent

Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4-Person Tent

Fits:
4-6 person
Rating:
3-season+

~$130 last checked Jan 30

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Sleeping Bag (x4)

Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag

Comfort to:
40°F
Fill:
Synthetic

~$80 each (x4)

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Sleeping Pad (x4)

Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad

Warmth:
Cool nights (R 4.4)
Type:
Inflatable

~$73 each (x4)

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Cooler

Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler

Holds:
52 qt
Keeps ice:
3 days

~$55

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Camp Chair (x4)

Coleman Cooler Quad Chair

Packs:
Standard quad
Supports:
325 lbs
Seat:
Padded

~$35 each (x4) last checked Jan 30

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Camp Lighting

Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)

Brightness:
1000 lumens

~$43

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Headlamp

Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp

Brightness:
300 lumens
Power:
Rechargeable

~$10

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Camp Stove

Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove

Burners:
2
Fuel:
Propane

~$84

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Cook Set

Fire-Maple Feast 12-Piece Camp Cookware Set

Pieces:
12
Surface:
Steel

~$65

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Add all 9 to Amazon cart

One press puts the whole kit in your cart; take out anything you already own there.

Open this kit in the builder - or the same kit as Starter (~$517) or Premium (~$2,164) .

What changes with a family

  • Bags, pads, chairs and headlamps come in fours. They are the cheap items, but four of each is what doubles the total against a couple's kit.
  • The tent and cooler go up a size. A 4-person dome and a 45-52 quart cooler; the 2-person tent and the 25-quart cooler are gone.
  • The car matters more. This kit fills a midsize SUV; in a compact car it is the compact version of everything and no spare room.

Four mistakes on the first family trip

  • Expecting the gear to live inside the tent

    A 4-person dome sleeps a family of four when the duffels stay in the car. If you want standing room and bags inside, size up to a 6-person.

  • Skipping sleeping pads for the kids

    Kids get cold from the ground too. Everyone gets a pad; a smaller one is fine.

  • One cooler for everything

    Drinks get opened constantly and warm the food. Two coolers, or a drinks bag on ice, keeps the food cold for the whole trip.

  • Underestimating the cargo space

    Four bags, four pads, four chairs and a family cooler fill a compact car. A midsize SUV is the comfortable minimum; a minivan or big SUV makes it easy.

Common questions

What size tent does a family of 4 need?
A 4- to 6-person tent. The family pick is a 4-person dome: it sleeps four with the duffels left in the car, which is how car campers use it. For standing room and gear inside, a 6-person cabin.
How many sleeping bags do we need for a family?
One per person. For young kids, kid-size bags or two rectangular bags that zip into a double.
What size cooler for a family camping trip?
A 45-65 quart cooler works for most families on 2-3 day trips. Longer trips, or a family that drinks a lot: a second cooler for drinks.
Can a family car camp with a sedan?
Possible, with the compact version of everything and some comfort items left home. An SUV, wagon or truck makes it much easier.
How much does family camping gear cost?
$410-830 at the Starter tier at today's Amazon prices, $880-1,160 at Essential and $1,880-2,270 at Premium; the range within a tier is vehicle size and season. A family's total is roughly double a couple's because the personal items come in fours.

A minivan, a truck, or a cold-weather trip?

Six questions and the kit rebuilds for your car, season and budget - the family of four stays filled in.

Build our family kit →