We love primitive camping. Where else can you truly be one on one with nature and just relax from civilization, including its hectic pace, crowds and overbearing technology.

We often spend a week-end or more at different campgrounds, mostly around Florida. Sometimes, if we knew there was a body of water nearby, we used to trailer our small 20-ft Pro-Line runabout. We have pitched our tent on a beach, in numerous state parks and in the thick of the woods.

And soooo many times we would start doing something and exclaim: “Damn! I wish we brought this or that!” Naturally, you are not in the North Pole and you can go shopping, but those costs accumulate and you end up spending more money than you had planned.

So, we decided to create an Ultimate Packing List for a Camping Trip that would help us eliminate those additional costs and have everything we need with us. We started using this list and it really helped us to get ready for our camping trips so much easier and quicker!

We use this list every time.

So, hopefully, it can help you, too. Of course, you will probably add or change some items, specific to your own needs and lifestyle, but you can take this as a basic list and modify it as you go.

Accommodation:

• Tent

I know, you’re like: “how can I forget THAT!” but believe me, it almost happened to us once! Our tent is rather large, but is easy to assemble. It has two areas where a 6 ft. tall man can easily stand. One area is a bedroom, the other is a mudroom/hall/storage. We also keep a table with the coffee machine and other kitchen equipment there.

• Tarp

We use it for the floor base and place it under the tent. It keeps the tent clean (we simply hose off the tarp at the end of our trip), and also add moisture protection.

• Bed

We try not to rough it when we don’t have to. Our bed is the inflatable queen size and we use the real sheets, pillows and comforters.

• Bed sheets

• Comforters or sleeping bags

• Small fleece blankets

They can be really cool when it’s cold and you need a cozy wrap, while sitting outside. We use Mainstays Fleece Throw blankets.

• Folding chairs

• A folding camping table

This is the camping table we use.

• Heater or fan, depending on the weather

We have a small ceramic electric heater that doesn’t get too hot, so it is safe to use.

• Towels

• Doormat

A very important item, because you don’t want to bring that dirt inside the tent where you sleep. You can use old towels in place of the mat.

Power:

• A battery-operated lantern

• Luci Lights

It was really surprising to me how many people don’t know about them! Luci Lights are inflatable solar lights that are invaluable in any trip, not just camping. They are light, unbreakable, they can float and they come in many different colors, from regular white or lamp-like yellowish to blue, green, purple and read ambient lights and even a flickering candle. When you leave them to solar charge all day, they stay on most of the night and are perfect for when you need to leave something on for the night, but don’t want to get up to turn it off (for example, an outside light.) A regular white Lucy-light is extremely bright and can easily light your tent. Learn more about Luci Lights on Amazon: Clear Luci Lights ; Colored Luci Lights.

• 12 v to 120v Inverter

Necessary if you need to charge something from the 12 volt plug in your car. It is especially important if your camping site doesn’t have electricity.

• Batteries

Make sure you bring enough batteries for everything you have

• A long outdoor extension cable

• Power strip

• Flashlight

• Spotlight and its charger

A spotlight is an extremely bright directed flashlight that proves really valuable if you need to light up anything in the distance. We generally use it on the boat to navigate at night and point the markers, but even if you don’t have a boat, a spotlight proves is a great safety and convenience tool. We use STANLEY FATMAX SL10LEDS Rechargeable 920 Lumen Lithium Ion LED Spotlight Flashlight with USB Power Charger.

Kitchen Essentials:

• Matches and lighter

• Paper plates and cups                                                             

We try to reduce plastics that we use during our camping trips, so we opt for paper products. We also have a couple of melamine unbreakable plates if we want to have a bit fancier dinner!

• Forks and knives

We take regular forks and knives as we try to reduce plastic during our camping trips.

• Corkscrew and can/bottle openers.

• Candles

Even if you have multiple lanterns and Luci Lights, you might wanna enjoy a romantic evening every now and then! Just make sure you light your candle outdoors and not in your tent – even a small candle can cause CO poisoning in enclosed environment. It’s also a fire hazard, so be careful.

• Citronella candles or citronella incense sticks

Cintronella will protect you from mosquitoes! Here are some really cool citronella incense sticks that smell incredible.

• Charcoal or firewood

• Starter fluid

• Cooler (or a portable refrigerator)

Besides a regular cooler, we have a Dometic portable refrigerator/freezer. It can work from either 12 or 120 volt. It is a truly convenient item when you plan to cook on site and keep food with you. The cool thing is that your items don’t end up soaked in melted ice like in a conventional cooler!

We use Dometic CF-050AC110 CoolFreeze AC/DC Refrigerator/Freezer – 48 Liter. It’s pricey, but oh, but there are plenty of less expensive options that are just as good.

• Grill Brush

Those public grills are often filthy! Make sure you have something to clean it with.

• Foil, food wrap, Ziploc bags

• Paper Towels

• Napkins

• Coffee Machine and filters

Yes, yes, we are that spoiled. But if you have electricity on site, why not? In the end, a simple coffee machine is not a luxury anymore. In fact, there is nothing better than a cup of hot coffee in a brisk fresh morning outdoors!

• Cleaners

We usually take Clorox clean-up, Clorox wipes and Windex.

• Big black garbage bags

We find them the most durable and convenient. Please, don’t forget to clean after yourself when you leave!

Tools:

• A basic toolkit

Various wrenches and screwdrivers. Make sure you can make at least simple repairs of what you are taking with you. Additionally, Michael has a Kobalt multi-tool/knife combo that proved irreplaceable in many situations.

• Duct tape

• Rope

• Axe

• Shovel

• Hose

• Bucket

• Broom

Trust me, no matter how clean you try to keep the inside of your tent, it will get dirty and sandy. A good broom is essential for your creature comforts!

Hygiene and Health Items:

• Wet Naps

• Toiletries

Your normal toiletries, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, lotions and creams. Besides a regular shampoo, conditioner and body wash I often take a travel-size bottle of Sailor Soap, in case I have to wash my hair in the ocean. I also have nail clippers, and small scissors.

• Toilet Paper

• Portable shower

This is a great tool if you don’t want to use public showers. You fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and drop the shower pump in it. So you can enjoy a great outdoor shower! It is USB rechargeable. We use Ivation Portable Outdoor Shower. You can also opt for a solar shower kit, especially it is’s hot outside.

• Medications

• Aleve

• Feminine products

• A first-aid kit

We usually take a small bag that contains bandages, gauze, band-aids of various sizes, cotton balls, Peroxide or any other wound cleaner and an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. I am prone to fever blisters, which can really ruin my trip, so I carry a small pack of Abreva cream.

• Sunscreen

• Mosquito repellent, such as Off

• Hand sanitizer

Electronics:

• Cameras

• Phones

• Tablets

• Chargers

Both 12 volt (car chargers) and 120 volt.

• A portable Bluetooth speaker

We use a small Bose Mini, and it takes care of all our music needs! There are also plenty or cheaper options around. Just make sure you don’t annoy your neighbors and comply with noise ordinance.

Clothes:

• Clothes, warm items, underwear

We usually choose clothes you can wear in layers, and mix and match easily. This way you can use the same clothes in any weather, from hot to cold.

Fleece hoodies are really cool to have! They are light, warm and moisture-resistant.

• Rain gear (ponchos or rain jackets)

• Hats

Both sun hats and warm hats, such as stocking hats.

• Flip flops, water booties, hiking shoes

Food:

• Ice and icepacks

• Water

• Coffee and cream

• Spices

You don’t want to have to buy those spices all over again and end up with multiple jars at home! Unless, of course, you never season your food…

• Stuff from your refrigerator that will go bad during your trip if you leave it at home

I hate to throw away food. I take everything with me. We love to cook ourselves during our trips and everything usually gets used.

Miscellaneous Items:

• Fishing rods, tackle, bait bucket, fish knife, fishing license

If you plan to fish: besides all the equipment, don’t forget to check the expiration date of your fishing license!

• A beach bag and beach toys if your trip involves staying at a beach

• Bicycles

We use a bicycle rack that hangs behind our car and accommodates two bikes. UPDATE: Now that we have an SUV with a hitch, we opt for a hitch-mounted bicycle rack and it is SO much more convenient. You can literally mound those bikes in minutes…

• A boat horn and pepper spray

Good protection items, and not only against bears!

and last, but not least….

• Your documents! 🙂

And what are the items that you would take with you during your camping trips? What do you consider an unnecessary luxury and what can’t you live without? Share in the comments!

For your convenience, you can download the list without comments and pictures in PDF format. Download The Ultimate Packing List for a Camping Trip.