Camping Checklist

Forgetting a key item on a camping trip can cast a pall over your whole camping trip, and it is just not worth relying on your brain to remember everything you will need for a camping trip. As much as I have camped (if you put it all back to back, it would amount to about 3 years of camping), packing is very much routine for me. Yet I still make lists.

Below I have compiled a list of things you should or might want to take camping with you and left a few blanks for you to add your own. You can print this page out or copy and paste this list into Word, print it out, and use it to plan your next camping trip. One thing to note is that a lot of these things are optional; it just depends on whether or not you are doing primitive or campground camping, and how luxurious you want things to be. This list is for car camping, not backpacking.

_____ Tent...................................................................... _____ First Aid Kit

_____ Stakes, ties (extra); hammer.......................... _____ Bug Spray

_____ Sleeping Bags ................................................. _____ Whistle

_____ Pillows................................................................ _____ Radio (esp. weather radio)

_____ Mattress of some kind.................................... _____ Sunscreen, chapstick

_____ Tarps .................................................................. _____ Binoculars

_____ Flashlights, batteries ..................................... _____Cards, Books, Games, Ball

_____ Good Knife(s).................................................... _____ Paper & pen

_____ Small Axe .......................................................... _____ Daypack (for hikes)

_____ Camp Chairs................................................... _____ Water bottle, canteen

_____ Lantern.............................................................. _____Laundry Bag

_____ Folding Table.................................................. _____ Pants, shorts, shirts

_____ Grill ..................................................................._____ Shoes, boots, river shoes

_____ Camp Stove.................................................... _____ Small sewing kit

_____ Stove Fuel....................................................... _____Socks

_____ Cooler.............................................................. _____ Swimsuit & towels

_____ Plates & Spoons, Forks, Knives................. _____ Hat

_____ Cups, Mugs.................................................... _____ Jacket, Sweatshirt (both)

_____ Can Opener.................................................... _____ Sleepwear

_____ Charcoal & lighter fluid................................. _____ Rain Gear

_____ Matches, lighter, fire starter......................... _____ Prescription Medicine

_____ Pot holders, towels....................................... _____ Glasses, sunglasses

_____ Pots & Pans................................................... _____ Spare car and house keys

_____ Aluminum foil ................................................_____ Water jug

_____ Condiments, seasonings .........................._____ Camera, batteries, film

_____ Measuring spoons, cups............................ _____ Fire extinguisher

_____ Storage Ziploc bags, garbage bags ........._____ Jiffy Pop popcorn

_____ Tongs ............................................................._____ Maps

_____ Spatula, Cooking Tools ............................._____ Trail guides, plant, animal, track identification guides

_____ Coffee Pot..................................................... _____ Comb / brush

_____ Small broom & dust pan (for tents) .........._____ Toothbrush / paste

_____ Soap (dish and hand)................................. _____

_____ Paper towels ................................................._____

_____ Water.............................................................. _____

_____ Rope, clothesline........................................ _____

_____ Dishpan

_____ Pot scrubbers, sponge

_____ Shovel

_____ Duct tape

_____ Candles

_____ Marshmallows, Graham crackers, Hershey bars (S'mores)

_____ Hot chocolate / tea / coffee