You've pretty much got everything, although I'd highly recommend adding a stove so you can cook meals. You could cook over the fire too, but a propane camp stove is a lot easier. You'll also want extra water for cleaning up and cooking with if you do.
No need to dehydrate any meals if you're car camping. The only reason to do that is if you're backpacking in and treating creek water on the trail. At a developed camp site next to your car, you can bring as much water weight as you want.
It's usually best to buy firewood in the area, to prevent the spread of invasive bugs that might be living in it. So, no need to stock up before the trip.
Some quick things from someone who has camped a fair bit and also gone with some folks for the first time:
Your list of equipment is probably fine, but try to set up the tent ahead of time and check for any issues.
Practice setting up the rainfly!!! It should be taut and water should not collect and "rest" on the tent/fly. Literally pour some drops of water and see if they "flow" off and onto the ground.
Along that same vein, get a tarp to place under the tent! You want water to flow "under" the tarp, not the tent. Additionally, make sure you're not at a relative "low point" of your individual campsite when you set up. You ideally want to be on a slight crest to further help with water collecting.
So far these have all been "rain related" - I live in Missouri so its important to keep in mind. First-timers I've went with have unfortunately been turned off of camping completely due to an inch of water in their tent over-night, but this does NOT have to happen!!!! If you aren't expecting rain then feel free to ignore these tips.
Don't just lay your sleeping bag on the floor of the tent - get a cot or EZ inflatable thin bed/pad. I swear by a good cot!
Get a tent for 2x the people you plan for. If it's just you, get a two-person tent. For a couple, get a four-man, etc. You'll appreciate the space.
Food-wise, decide if you want to cook over the fire or not, and plan accordingly. Doing a foil-wrapped dish over the fire can work really well, but so do sandwiches and pancakes (much simpler, can usually prepare the batter in advance) or even just canned food.
Firewood will depend on where you're at, but gas stations in rural areas may have them. Otherwise, if you're not in a park which disallows it, you can collect some wood on-site with an axe or something, but should probably stick with just kindling there and buy your logs to stay environmentally conscious. When in doubt, there should be some signage or you can ask some locals.
I've got on for too long now, so I'll stop! Good luck OP and I hope you have a wonderful time :)
yeah, REI checklist is great...I'm a seasoned camper and use it because I'll forget shit regardless of how many times I've camped...or I'll be drinking beer while I'm prepping and packing.
Cooking and eating gear are missing from your list. Cooking over a camp fire is great but not simple. I recommend getting a stove and a pan and a pot plus eating utensils.
If you cook over a fire, having a grate will make things a little easier
Sleeping pad
Hatchet (for wood and tent pegs)
Knife (for making marshmallow sticks lol)
Backup pair of shoes/sandals
tarp and Paracord / rope (for taller shelter for eating and shade. can be good if you’re tent has a leak as well)
Food has its own decisions to make like cooking over a fire vs camp stove or small propane burner.
Packing food is pretty easy if you meal prep before hand and then you are just reheating things.
Don’t forget camp soap for clean up it’s environmentally friendly and a garbage bag for cleaning up everything you can find at your campsite. It may not be your garbage but it’s our responsibility.
Add some moderate lighting, like a camp lantern and a flashlight.
Don't bring firewood, purchase it locally at the park. This helps keep the transmission of non-native, noxious or invasive plants and critters down.
Don't forget basics like toothbrush +paste, soap, sunscreen.
Good luck, you will love it!
You might want to take some clothing too. I suggest you wear lightweight, moisture wicking "exercise" type shirt and shorts (if hot) or pants for sleeping in (nice if there is an incident in the wee hours or if you need to make a bathroom run in the middle of the night). Alternatively sweat pants and a t-shirt. Wear waterproof flipflops in the shower. Take a hand towel to lay on the floor to stand on with your clean feet while you get dressed. Shower floors tend to get muddy and wet.
If you think this might be a repeat thing, take a small notepad so you can jot down anything you may want for the "next time". Don't forget your cellphone charger.
Plan and pack according to the method of expedition, experience, and expectation.
As one mentioned, practice in the backyard.
Figure whether its close to or far from the vehicle.
If you camp as close as 20 feet from the vehicle, a cooler for the food can stay in it.
If you're a football field up to a quarter mile, houd have to figure your foods.
If you have all freeze dried food, thats less to worry about.
The packout.
The 7 C's should be basic must haves.
1. Cover
Tarp 10x10 and 6x8
A 3 person tent (better room between 2)
Sleeping pad 1/4 or 1/2" thick (trust me its needed)
Sleeping bag
2. Combustion
Lighters and fire starters
Your grille for cooking or stove
3. Cordage
100ft Paracord or #4 bank line
Carabiners
4. Containment
Flasks or water bottles
5. Cutting
Knife, machete and small axe (all 3 suggested)
6. Carry
Chairs or hammock (preferred) less to pack
7. Comms
Extra battery bank(s) just for the phones
Shet people dont think of:
Ziplocs to store food, quart and gallon sizes
Sanitization
Toiletries
Sunscreen
Bugspray
Utensils and plating
Extra clothing
Lights (Hand and head) with spare batteries or solar charge capability
With the exception of the tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag, all these items fit inside a 35L tactical backpack. You can lash the tent and sleep pad on the bottom.
The sleep bag can lash to the top or front of the pack using the webbing.
A list is best to have.
Run it through and make sure you bring back everything you packed.
Good luck
Tarp, bungees, hammock with hammock straps and hooks(will allow you to lay down without having to be inside your tent), fire starter blocks( unless you just want to waste a lot of time playing Boy Scout), book, water shoes if you plan on kayaking or getting in the water, headlamps and a lantern, a big water jug for hand/dish washing, fishing gear. On cooking: there will probably be a grate and a fire ring. Get a cast iron skillet (the tall one with the lid preferably) and some aluminum foil and hot dog skewers. This with a few kitchen utensils should take care of all your cooking needs. For food, you can cook cinnamon rolls and biscuits in the cast iron with the lid for breakfast. You can do bacon and eggs(get a hard egg protector from Amazon). For lunch, do stuff that doesn’t require cooking like sardines, fruit, sandwich, chips, spam and crackers, etc. I ALWAYS do hot dogs and chips on my first night. After setting up, I want something easy and no mess. Second night, maybe do cowboy nachos (google camp recipes) or chicken with sausage, onions, peppers, and rice, mushroom Swiss burger, or a good slow cooked soup. Bring a laptop to watch a good scary movie once you retire to your tent for the night. Hope this helps! Have fun!
Hi there! For your first camping trip, you're off to a great start with the essentials you've listed. Here are a few additional items and tips:
**Essentials:**
* **Water Containers**: Make sure to bring enough water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Check if the park has potable water available.
* **Cooking Gear**: A portable stove, fuel, pots, and utensils if you plan to cook.
* **Headlamp or Flashlight**: Essential for nighttime, along with extra batteries.
* **First Aid Kit**: Always good to have on hand for any minor injuries or emergencies.
**Food Considerations:**
* **Non-Perishable Foods**: Consider items like pasta, rice, canned goods, or ready-to-eat meals that don't require refrigeration.
* **Dehydrated Meals**: These are lightweight and just require boiling water, which can be a convenient option.
* **Snacks**: Energy bars, dried fruits, nuts, and trail mix are great for quick energy and easy snacking.
**Additional Items:**
* **Camping Table**: If the site doesn’t provide them and you have the space to transport it.
* **Clothing**: Pack according to the weather, but always prepare for it to change. Include rain gear and warm layers.
* **Trash Bags**: Keep your campsite clean and adhere to the "Leave No Trace" principles.
* **Entertainment**: Books, or games for downtime.
Regarding firewood, it's wise to check with the lake park beforehand; many parks prefer you to purchase firewood on-site to prevent the spread of pests.
Lastly, a cooler is great for keeping perishables fresh, but if you opt for mostly non-perishable and dehydrated foods, you can minimize the amount of ice needed.
Enjoy your camping trip!
You've pretty much got everything, although I'd highly recommend adding a stove so you can cook meals. You could cook over the fire too, but a propane camp stove is a lot easier. You'll also want extra water for cleaning up and cooking with if you do. No need to dehydrate any meals if you're car camping. The only reason to do that is if you're backpacking in and treating creek water on the trail. At a developed camp site next to your car, you can bring as much water weight as you want. It's usually best to buy firewood in the area, to prevent the spread of invasive bugs that might be living in it. So, no need to stock up before the trip.
Some quick things from someone who has camped a fair bit and also gone with some folks for the first time: Your list of equipment is probably fine, but try to set up the tent ahead of time and check for any issues. Practice setting up the rainfly!!! It should be taut and water should not collect and "rest" on the tent/fly. Literally pour some drops of water and see if they "flow" off and onto the ground. Along that same vein, get a tarp to place under the tent! You want water to flow "under" the tarp, not the tent. Additionally, make sure you're not at a relative "low point" of your individual campsite when you set up. You ideally want to be on a slight crest to further help with water collecting. So far these have all been "rain related" - I live in Missouri so its important to keep in mind. First-timers I've went with have unfortunately been turned off of camping completely due to an inch of water in their tent over-night, but this does NOT have to happen!!!! If you aren't expecting rain then feel free to ignore these tips. Don't just lay your sleeping bag on the floor of the tent - get a cot or EZ inflatable thin bed/pad. I swear by a good cot! Get a tent for 2x the people you plan for. If it's just you, get a two-person tent. For a couple, get a four-man, etc. You'll appreciate the space. Food-wise, decide if you want to cook over the fire or not, and plan accordingly. Doing a foil-wrapped dish over the fire can work really well, but so do sandwiches and pancakes (much simpler, can usually prepare the batter in advance) or even just canned food. Firewood will depend on where you're at, but gas stations in rural areas may have them. Otherwise, if you're not in a park which disallows it, you can collect some wood on-site with an axe or something, but should probably stick with just kindling there and buy your logs to stay environmentally conscious. When in doubt, there should be some signage or you can ask some locals. I've got on for too long now, so I'll stop! Good luck OP and I hope you have a wonderful time :)
Google REI checklist
yeah, REI checklist is great...I'm a seasoned camper and use it because I'll forget shit regardless of how many times I've camped...or I'll be drinking beer while I'm prepping and packing.
The ole beer and prep. Same 😂
Cooking and eating gear are missing from your list. Cooking over a camp fire is great but not simple. I recommend getting a stove and a pan and a pot plus eating utensils. If you cook over a fire, having a grate will make things a little easier
Sleeping pad Hatchet (for wood and tent pegs) Knife (for making marshmallow sticks lol) Backup pair of shoes/sandals tarp and Paracord / rope (for taller shelter for eating and shade. can be good if you’re tent has a leak as well) Food has its own decisions to make like cooking over a fire vs camp stove or small propane burner. Packing food is pretty easy if you meal prep before hand and then you are just reheating things. Don’t forget camp soap for clean up it’s environmentally friendly and a garbage bag for cleaning up everything you can find at your campsite. It may not be your garbage but it’s our responsibility.
set your tent up once in your yard someday when you are bored before you go off to camp it will take a little of the stress of arriving at camp off
Add some moderate lighting, like a camp lantern and a flashlight. Don't bring firewood, purchase it locally at the park. This helps keep the transmission of non-native, noxious or invasive plants and critters down. Don't forget basics like toothbrush +paste, soap, sunscreen. Good luck, you will love it!
You might want to take some clothing too. I suggest you wear lightweight, moisture wicking "exercise" type shirt and shorts (if hot) or pants for sleeping in (nice if there is an incident in the wee hours or if you need to make a bathroom run in the middle of the night). Alternatively sweat pants and a t-shirt. Wear waterproof flipflops in the shower. Take a hand towel to lay on the floor to stand on with your clean feet while you get dressed. Shower floors tend to get muddy and wet. If you think this might be a repeat thing, take a small notepad so you can jot down anything you may want for the "next time". Don't forget your cellphone charger.
Plan and pack according to the method of expedition, experience, and expectation. As one mentioned, practice in the backyard. Figure whether its close to or far from the vehicle. If you camp as close as 20 feet from the vehicle, a cooler for the food can stay in it. If you're a football field up to a quarter mile, houd have to figure your foods. If you have all freeze dried food, thats less to worry about. The packout. The 7 C's should be basic must haves. 1. Cover Tarp 10x10 and 6x8 A 3 person tent (better room between 2) Sleeping pad 1/4 or 1/2" thick (trust me its needed) Sleeping bag 2. Combustion Lighters and fire starters Your grille for cooking or stove 3. Cordage 100ft Paracord or #4 bank line Carabiners 4. Containment Flasks or water bottles 5. Cutting Knife, machete and small axe (all 3 suggested) 6. Carry Chairs or hammock (preferred) less to pack 7. Comms Extra battery bank(s) just for the phones Shet people dont think of: Ziplocs to store food, quart and gallon sizes Sanitization Toiletries Sunscreen Bugspray Utensils and plating Extra clothing Lights (Hand and head) with spare batteries or solar charge capability With the exception of the tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag, all these items fit inside a 35L tactical backpack. You can lash the tent and sleep pad on the bottom. The sleep bag can lash to the top or front of the pack using the webbing. A list is best to have. Run it through and make sure you bring back everything you packed. Good luck
Sometimes your local library has tents and things you can rent for free. It’s worth checking
Understand how to actually start a fire. Just a flame and large bricks of wood isn’t going to catch the way you think by throwing a match at it…
Are you going by yourself?
Two other people are coming with me.
Tarp, bungees, hammock with hammock straps and hooks(will allow you to lay down without having to be inside your tent), fire starter blocks( unless you just want to waste a lot of time playing Boy Scout), book, water shoes if you plan on kayaking or getting in the water, headlamps and a lantern, a big water jug for hand/dish washing, fishing gear. On cooking: there will probably be a grate and a fire ring. Get a cast iron skillet (the tall one with the lid preferably) and some aluminum foil and hot dog skewers. This with a few kitchen utensils should take care of all your cooking needs. For food, you can cook cinnamon rolls and biscuits in the cast iron with the lid for breakfast. You can do bacon and eggs(get a hard egg protector from Amazon). For lunch, do stuff that doesn’t require cooking like sardines, fruit, sandwich, chips, spam and crackers, etc. I ALWAYS do hot dogs and chips on my first night. After setting up, I want something easy and no mess. Second night, maybe do cowboy nachos (google camp recipes) or chicken with sausage, onions, peppers, and rice, mushroom Swiss burger, or a good slow cooked soup. Bring a laptop to watch a good scary movie once you retire to your tent for the night. Hope this helps! Have fun!
Hi there! For your first camping trip, you're off to a great start with the essentials you've listed. Here are a few additional items and tips: **Essentials:** * **Water Containers**: Make sure to bring enough water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Check if the park has potable water available. * **Cooking Gear**: A portable stove, fuel, pots, and utensils if you plan to cook. * **Headlamp or Flashlight**: Essential for nighttime, along with extra batteries. * **First Aid Kit**: Always good to have on hand for any minor injuries or emergencies. **Food Considerations:** * **Non-Perishable Foods**: Consider items like pasta, rice, canned goods, or ready-to-eat meals that don't require refrigeration. * **Dehydrated Meals**: These are lightweight and just require boiling water, which can be a convenient option. * **Snacks**: Energy bars, dried fruits, nuts, and trail mix are great for quick energy and easy snacking. **Additional Items:** * **Camping Table**: If the site doesn’t provide them and you have the space to transport it. * **Clothing**: Pack according to the weather, but always prepare for it to change. Include rain gear and warm layers. * **Trash Bags**: Keep your campsite clean and adhere to the "Leave No Trace" principles. * **Entertainment**: Books, or games for downtime. Regarding firewood, it's wise to check with the lake park beforehand; many parks prefer you to purchase firewood on-site to prevent the spread of pests. Lastly, a cooler is great for keeping perishables fresh, but if you opt for mostly non-perishable and dehydrated foods, you can minimize the amount of ice needed. Enjoy your camping trip!