Vehicle guide
Car camping in a Volkswagen Golf
Sleeps one inside - no tent needed. Here is the kit: $460, in stock on Amazon today.
The kit: 8 items, ~$460
Amazon prices, checked daily. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.
No tent in this kit: the Golf sleeps one on the folded seats. Two of you, or prefer a tent? Build the couple's tent kit.
Sleeping Bag
Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag
- Comfort to:
- 40°F
- Fill:
- Synthetic
~$80
Check price on AmazonSleeping Pad
Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad
- Warmth:
- Cool nights (R 4.4)
- Type:
- Inflatable
~$73
Check price on AmazonCooler
Igloo Marine Ultra 30-Quart Cooler
- Holds:
- 30 qt
- Keeps ice:
- 3 days
~$70 last checked May 10
Check price on AmazonCamp Chair
MOON LENCE Compact Backpacking Chair
- Packs:
- Compact (backpacking style)
- Supports:
- 330 lbs
~$35
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Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)
- Brightness:
- 1000 lumens
~$43
Check price on AmazonHeadlamp
Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp
- Brightness:
- 300 lumens
- Power:
- Rechargeable
~$10
Check price on AmazonCamp Stove
Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove
- Burners:
- 2
- Fuel:
- Propane
~$84
Check price on AmazonCook Set
Fire-Maple Feast 12-Piece Camp Cookware Set
- Pieces:
- 12
- Surface:
- Steel
~$65
Check price on AmazonOne press puts the whole kit in your cart; take out anything you already own there.
Stock and prices checked daily (how we pick).
Not quite you? Change who is coming, the quality tier or the season - your Golf stays filled in.
Why the Golf changes the kit
Folding rear seats unlock a 53 cu ft cargo area. A compact car, so:
- No tent: you sleep on the folded seats, and the money goes to a better pad.
- A cooler of 35 quarts or less - a family-size cooler does not fit beside the rest of the kit.
- Backpacking-style chairs and air or folding pads first - full-size quad chairs and rolled foam only when nothing compact is in stock.
Most owners can sleep diagonally on a pad if they remove the front-passenger headrest.
Sleeping inside the vehicle
With the rear seats folded, the Volkswagen Golf is a flat platform.
- On the cargo floor: a 2.5-inch self-inflating pad, or a 4-inch air mattress.
- Camp in it often: a plywood-and-2x4 platform with drawers underneath - a real bed plus gear storage.
- Crack the rear windows with rain deflectors and a 12V fan moves enough air to stop condensation overnight.
Two things this setup needs that the kit does not carry, because they are sized to the car: a 4-inch SUV air mattress for the cargo floor, and Volkswagen Golf window rain guards so the windows can stay cracked in the rain. Both on Amazon.
Common questions
Is the Volkswagen Golf good for car camping?
Yes. It is a compact car, so a compact car-camping kit fits without a roof box. It sleeps one inside with the seats folded.
Can you sleep inside a Volkswagen Golf?
With the rear seats folded, yes. The cargo area is long enough for a sleeping pad and most adults can stretch out diagonally if not straight. A simple plywood platform turns it into a real bed with under-storage.
What gear should I pack?
The kit above. Change the group, budget or season and it rebuilds.