A Camping Checklist to Make Packing Easier

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A camping checklist can make the process of preparing your trip a little less daunting. There is no question that preparing to go camping takes some work.

Do You Really Need a Checklist

You are planning to sleep, eat, entertain and recreate in an unfamiliar area. Sleeping arrangements aren’t on automatic like they are at home.

Opening the fridge and just randomly choosing something for dinner is not an option. Running to the store to grab a missing ingredient REALLY isn’t an option.

Meals need to be planned. You only have so much room for food in the cooler so you need to think about camping foods that don’t need refrigeration or that take up less space.

Not to mention all the things you need to remember to just be comfortable while you are out in nature.

Bedding.

Extra clothes.

Bug spray.

The packing list for camping could go on and on depending on your “comfort” needs or how basic you want to make your trip.

Then there is all the gear that you need to pack for entertainment and activities. Are you going to fish? Do you need to load the kayaks. Don’t forget the life jackets.

Will this trip involve some day hikes? Do you need specific gear for that? Don’t forget your backpack with your survival essentials, your hiking boots, and the map.

Phew! This is getting a little complicated and we are only covering a few of the main points. We all have different ideas of what the camping essentials are.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Because camping is fun, damnit!!

The Perfect List

Sorry. There is no such thing.

Camping is an individual (or at least a family) thing. Your camping style might be completely different than mine. There are checklists out there that help you make your camp trip “as modern and comfortable” as possible.

Don’t forget the bathroom sink! or the toilet.

You will need to adjust your list based on the type of camping you are planning. Read this post if you want to brush up on the different types of camping.

Then there are campers like my sister who start pre-thinking the food days in advance and she makes 3 or 4 soups to haul along. She has even been known to bring the Insta-Pot and a roast.

I like to just grab groceries, hook up my camper, and start driving. I’ll wing it when I get there.

Or I want my kayaks, 5 days of food, and my fishing gear. I don’t plan on seeing people or returning to civilization until I can’t stand myself any longer.

You can’t make a packing list for camping that covers all the needs for all the different variety of camping styles and adventures we can all manage to have.

This camping checklist is just a generalization. You can pick and choose what you want to mark off. Blackout the things you would NEVER need or pack. Use this as your guide to gathering the supplies you need most for your camping list.

Print it out. Make it yours. Hopefully, this camping supply checklist will keep you from forgetting the important things. That’s the purpose. If you remember the bug spray, then it has done its job!

Camping Items

One camping tip that you will hear repeatedly is to return all your gear to the same location when you get home.

If you pulled things out of your camping box or your cooking box for this trip, it all goes back to its original place when you are done with each trip.

Don’t keep some things in a box under the bed, others in the garage, and some out in the back shed. Find a general area where you can keep all your camping gear and store it all together. Return it to that same area when you are done playing!

You can also keep a camping packing list as a form of inventory. What do you need to replace, refill, or add to your camping tubs?