Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The ultimate packing list for summer camping (so you’ll never forget a thing!)

From TP and trekking poles to playing cards and pancake mix, here's everything you'll ever need in the wild.

Mike Richard
By

camping packing list, tent in a forested campsite
A view from the inside of a tent looking out on a campground.

Three words we’ve so longed to hear: Summer. Is. Here! It’s about time to break out all of your best camping gear from the garage and head out to enjoy nature. Chances are, you haven’t looked inside your gear closet or storage bins in a while, and some things may either be broken, outdated, or not particularly useful to you anymore. (In which case, here are the best ways to discard your unused gear.)

To help you out, we’ve put together our ultimate camping packing list to ensure you’re ready for a good time in the great outdoors. From the essentials (a tent, sleeping bag, and sunscreen) to the nice-to-haves (playing cards and pancake mix), here’s everything you might ever need to camp this summer.

Related
The best tents for heavy rain can protect campers in even the worst weather.
Marek Piwnicki / Unsplash

The fundamentals

  • A reliable camping tent (with at least ten stakes)
  • Tent footprint or tarp (if your tent didn’t come with one)
  • Tent rain fly and/or sunshade (if your tent didn’t come with one)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Foam or inflatable sleeping pad
  • Folding furniture (based on your specific needs and headcount)
  • Light sources with batteries (think flashlights and/or headlamps)
  • Sunscreen (at least SPF 30)
  • Lip balm (at least SPF 15 with a moisturizer)
  • Any required camping/backcountry permits or parking passes
  • Paper map of the area where you’re staying & exploring
  • Guidebook of the area
  • Camera
  • High-quality Sunglasses
  • First aid kit
  • General repair kit for sleeping bags, pads, and tents
  • Your favorite multi-tool
  • Some cash and a credit card
  • Matches/lighter
Hiker with a backpack in silhouette walking over stones against the setting sun.
Usman Omar/Unsplash

Outdoor clothing

  • Moisture-wicking shirts and underwear
  • Quick-drying bottoms (hiking-ready pants and shorts)
  • Wide-brimmed hat for sun protection
  • Boots or shoes suited for the terrain
  • Water shoes
  • Cheap pair of flip-flops
  • Packable waterproof jacket (even if the forecast is 90 and sunny)
  • Socks (synthetic, quick-drying, and/or wool)
  • Quick-drying, packable towels
  • Waterproof gloves (based on the weather/adventure)
A camp stove cooking food with a desert landscape blurred in the background.
Alex Moliski/Unsplash

Camp kitchen supplies

The right food and beverages can turn a good camp into a great one. This is one area of your camping packing list that you don’t want to forget a thing.

  • Lightweight camp stove
  • Appropriate fuel for stove
  • Waterproof matches
  • Windscreen
  • Firewood (check with local regulations first)
  • Cast-iron pan or pot
  • Portable coffee and tea maker
  • Hard-sided camp cooler
  • Ice
  • Reusable water bottles
  • Water jugs (limit smaller bottles to limit campsite footprint)
  • Trash bags
  • Resealable plastic bags
  • Lightweight, insulated cups (one per person to limit campsite footprint)
  • Plates and utensils (biodegradable or light metal)
  • Paring knife
  • Chef’s knife
  • Aluminum foil
  • Biodegradable soap
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Skewers
  • Can opener
  • Roll of paper towels
  • Collapsible water container
Camping food grilling over an open flame with a blurred couple seated in the background.
Myles Tan/Unsplash

Camp food (will vary based on specific needs)

What food you choose to pack all comes down to a matter of personal preference. You’ll likely want to consider how long you’ll be camping, any food allergies or sensitivities, and the types of adventures you have planned. If you’re planning on high-energy activities like hiking or mountain biking, for example, consider packing easy-to-prepare, high-calorie foods.

  • Coffee & tea
  • Bread
  • Eggs
  • Peanut Butter
  • Energy bars
  • Cooking oil/spray
  • Meat
  • Grilling vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Salt/pepper
  • Spice kit
  • Trail mix (your favorite kind)
  • Pancake mix
  • Drink mixes
  • Marshmallows
  • Chocolate bars
Row of toothbrushes lined up against a wood wall outdoors.
Henrik Lagercrantz/Unsplash

Personal items

These will vary from camper to camper, but there are some essentials that most of us just can’t do without.

  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Brush/comb
  • Eye mask
  • Ear plugs (especially if you’re a light sleeper)
  • Insect repellant
  • Deodorant
people-playing-cards-in-tent-while-camping
luckybusiness/Adobe Stock

Add-ons

  • Backup battery or portable power station (with correct USB connectors)
  • Playing cards
  • A good book
  • Water toys
  • Notebook/journal
  • Packable poncho
  • Trekking poles
Recommended Videos

Pro tip: Pack with an app

Unless you’re a packing nerd (this humble author proudly raises his hand), you probably don’t enjoy packing, and you probably enjoy making packing lists even less. But we’re speaking from experience when we say that they can literally make or break a camping trip. That’s why we highly recommend downloading a good packing list app to do the hard work of remembering everything for you. A little preparation can go a long way because when you’re miles from anywhere, hopping over to the nearest store to grab something you forgot might be impossible. Make one camping packing list (or steal ours) of everything you might ever need for your camping trips and live by it. We promise you’ll never forget anything ever again. Scouts honor!

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
4 Things You’ll Want To Pack for Camping in the Fall
A table and tent under the trees in fall.

So you've decided you're going camping this fall. Great. So are we. Fall is prime time for camping. The hot-and-sweaty summer days are gone, but the cold-and-miserable winter nights are still far off on the horizon.

That said, packing the same gear you used all summer for your fall excursions is a great way to have a bad time. Fall is campfire weather for a reason: Mornings and evenings get awfully chilly, and it doesn't always warm up during the day either. That doesn't mean you need to start revising your gear list from square one though. With these four simple adjustments to your typical loadout, you'll be ready to enjoy all the best that the spooky season has to offer.

Read more
The 10 Camping Toiletries You Need for a Weekend (or Week) in the Woods
camping toiletries best 2021

Going out into the wilderness on a hiking expedition or camping trip can give you a much-needed perspective change on just about all of life's greatest mysteries. It's like pushing the reset button on the human being's operating system. When you get back, you're completely refreshed and performing optimally across all facets of your life. Among other things, it shows you just how few things you need to exist in blissful harmony with nature.

When you're out there in the woods, you don't need much aside from the best camping tent you can get, a sleeping bag, and some cooking gear for your camping meals. However, just because you pack light doesn't mean you should skimp on the toiletries. It's an essential step that many people forget. You want a few items to clean yourself up after an all-day hike or fishing adventure. It is possible to look and smell clean, even if you go off the grid for a few days. Heck, you might even feel so fresh and rejuvenated that you extend your stay for an extra day or two. Real life can wait – the great outdoors are calling.

Read more
This is our ultimate packing list for every camping trip
camping trip packing list with friends 266x266

Going camping, whether by yourself, with friends, or with your entire family, can be a lot of fun. It can also be a massive headache, mainly when you don’t take the time to prepare beforehand. By preparing, we’re talking about ensuring that you take all the essentials with you. Creating a camping packing list is the best way to do that.

Now, if you’re the type who wants to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch, then check out the family camping packing list we’ve put together below. Feel free to use it as a template to make your own! It’s sure to save you time and might even save you money, too.

Read more