Gear Gadget

What to Bring Car Camping

Seven things. How to size each one, then the list filled in with today's picks.

The checklist

  1. 1

    Tent. One size up from your group, with a full rainfly.

  2. 2

    Sleeping bag, one each. 40°F for summer, 20°F for spring and fall.

  3. 3

    Sleeping pad, one each. R-value 1.5+ for summer, 3+ for cold nights.

  4. 4

    Cooler. 25-35 quarts for one or two, 45-52 for a family.

  5. 5

    Camp chair, one each. Compact for a small car; standard for an SUV or truck.

  6. 6

    Lantern and headlamp. An LED lantern for the site, a headlamp for your hands.

  7. 7

    Stove and cook set, if you cook. One burner for one or two people, two for a family.

The checklist, filled in for two: 9 items, ~$931

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

Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Tent

Fits:
3 person
Rating:
3-season+

~$299

Check price on Amazon

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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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 (~$308) or Premium (~$1,527) .

Quality tiers: what changes

Tiers are quality levels, not budgets. Today's lowest solo total per tier at Amazon prices; a couple runs $250-480 at Starter, a family $410-830.

Starter - solo from
$220
  • Basic construction
  • 3-season basic weather
  • Shorter product lifespan
  • Heavier weight
See the Starter kit →
Essential - solo from
$390
  • Better materials
  • 3-season robust weather
  • Multi-year durability
  • Better weight/pack size
Recommended
See the Essential kit →
Premium - solo from
$745
  • Premium construction
  • Cold-capable comfort
  • Long-term durability
  • Better features
See the Premium kit →

Common questions

What are the essentials for car camping?
Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cooler, camp chairs and lighting. Add a stove if you cook.
How much does a car camping setup cost?
For two, about $258 at Starter, $782 at Essential and $1,249 at Premium at today's Amazon prices. Solo starts around $220; a family runs $410-830 at Starter.
What size tent do I need for two people?
A 3-person: room for two adults and their bags. A 2-person is tight once gear comes inside.
Can I car camp with a small sedan?
Yes, with compact gear: a tent that packs to a duffel, backpacking-style chairs, a cooler of 35 quarts or less.
What sleeping bag temperature rating do I need?
40°F for warm-weather camping (April-October); 20°F if you camp year-round.

Your group, your car, your list

Six questions and the checklist fills in for you.

Build my kit →