How Much Does Car Camping Gear Cost?

A complete kit for two - tent, bags, pads, cooler, chairs, a lantern and a headlamp - is $258 to $1,249 at today's Amazon prices, depending on quality. Cooking adds a stove ($84) and a cook set ($65).

Three quality tiers, for a couple

Starter

~$258

Warm-weather weekend gear: a slower tent, bags fine above 40°F, foam pads, standard folding chairs. It all works.

One or two trips a year, summer only.

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Essential · recommended

~$782

Full rainflies and aluminum poles, bags rated for spring and fall, insulated pads, a cooler that holds ice through a weekend.

Three or more trips a year. The biggest quality jump per dollar.

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Premium

~$1,249

Tents that pitch in five minutes and shrug off weather, cold-rated bags, pads above R3, coolers that hold ice for days.

Year-round camping, or buying once.

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Midsize SUV, warm weather, no cooking. Solo is about two thirds of these; a family of four about double.

The Essential kit, item by item: 7 items, ~$782

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

Tent

Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Tent

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

~$299

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Sleeping Bag (x2)

Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag

Comfort to:: 40°F
Fill:: Synthetic

~$80 each (x2)

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Sleeping Pad (x2)

Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad

Warmth:: Cool nights (R 4.4)
Type:: Inflatable

~$73 each (x2)

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Cooler

Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler

Holds:: 52 qt
Keeps ice:: 3 days

~$55

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Camp Chair (x2)

Coleman Cooler Quad Chair

Packs:: Standard quad
Supports:: 325 lbs
Seat:: Padded

~$35 each (x2) 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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Add all 7 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 (~$258) or Premium (~$1,249) .

Five ways to spend less

1
Skip the stove on the first trip. Sandwiches are fine; add cooking gear once you know you like camping.
2
Essential tent and bags, Starter everything else. A good tent with cheap chairs beats the reverse every time.
3
Camp in warm weather first. Summer gear is cheaper and smaller; cold-rated bags cost 50-100% more.
4
Use the cooler you own. Any insulated cooler works unless it is broken or too small.
5
Buy at end-of-season clearance. September and October discounts buy next year's kit at this year's prices.

Common questions

Can you go car camping for under $300?

Solo, yes: a complete Starter kit - tent, bag, pad, cooler, chair, lantern and headlamp - runs $210-370 for one at today's Amazon prices, $250-480 for two (the bags, pads and chairs double).

What is the most expensive piece of camping gear?

The tent: $50 at Starter, $299 at Essential, $329 at Premium today. Then the cooler and the sleeping bags.

How much does camping gear cost for a family of 4?

$410-830 at Starter, $880-1,160 at Essential and $1,880-2,270 at Premium, at today's Amazon prices. Four bags, four pads and four chairs, plus a bigger tent and cooler, is why it multiplies.

What camping gear is worth spending more on?

Tent and sleeping bags. A better tent sets up faster, keeps rain out and lasts; a better bag means you sleep. Chairs and lighting can be cheap.

How long does budget camping gear last?

Budget gear shows wear after 10-20 trips (zippers, seams and pole joints go first). Mid-range lasts 3-5 years of regular use; quality gear a decade with care.

Your group, your car, your total

Six questions and you get the picks and the number.

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