Camping Checklist
Preparation is essential for any outdoor adventure. Having the necessary supplies and equipment can make a difference in your overall enjoyment and experience. Checklists are a great tool to help with your organization. Your camping list will vary according to the type of camping and activities you have planned, the places you are going, the time of year and the length of your trip. Add or remove items to suit your individual needs. Please email us with any other items that you would include in your camping checklist.
By popular request, we’re now offering a printer friendly camping checklist!
Shelter
__Tent
__Ground cloth/tarp
__Extra stakes
__Shade tarp/poles/rope/stakes
__Axe or hammer
__Mat for tent entrance
__Dust pan/brush
Bedding
__Sleeping bag
__Sheets/blankets
__Pillow
__Air mattress/sleeping pad/cot/tarp
__Air pump
__Repair kit for air mattress
__Utility bags for storage
Cooking
__Large water jug & water bucket
__Coolers/ice
__Thermos
__Stove with fuel/propane
__Matches/lighter
__Charcoal/firewood/buddy burner
__Dutch oven/tin can stove/box oven/etc
__Campfire grill/BBQ grill
__Fire starters/newspaper
__Tablecloth/thumb tacks/clips
__Plates & bowls/paper plates & bowls
__Silverware/plastic silverware
__Measuring cups
__Heavy-duty aluminum foil
__Paper towels
__Trash bags
__Dish soap
__Clothes pins
__Cooking oil/Pam spray
__Containers for food storage
__Potholders/oven mitts
__Pots and frying pans with lids
__Soap for outside of pots and pans
__Cook utensils-spatula, knife, spoon
__Tongs
__Skewers/grill forks
__Can opener/bottle opener
__Folding table
__Dutch oven
__Pie irons
__Mugs/paper cups
__Mixing bowl
__Cutting board
__Ziplock bags
__Napkins
__Dish pan
__Dish rags/towels
__Scrub pad/brillo
__Seasonings/sugar/condiments
__Potato peeler
Clothes
__Shoes/boots
__Jeans/pant/belt
__Shorts
__T-shirts
__Socks/extra socks
__Hat
__Bandana
__Sweatshirt/jacket
__Underwear
__Sleep clothes
__Rain gear
__Swim suit/towel
__Laundry bag
Personal
__Shower shoes/flip flops
__Towels/washcloth
__Soap in plastic case/shampoo
__Tooth brush/tooth paste
__Deodorant
__Comb/brush
__Razor
__Feminine products
__Toilet paper
__Shower bag or 5 gallon bucket
__Camping shower/shower pump
__Other personal items
__Personal medications – take extra
Miscellaneous
__Sunscreen/chapstick
__Lantern with fuel/mantles
__Extra batteries/bulbs
__Compass/GPS
__Bug repellant/candles
__Whistle
__Water filters/purification/treatment
__Camera/battery/film/video (see photo jigsaw puzzles)
__Books/magazines (a Kindle would be better)
__Candles
__Maps/directions
__Misc. tools
__Backpack/fanny pack
__Fishing gear/license/bait
__Radio
__Musical instruments/song books
__Camp chairs
__Sunglasses
__Hammock
__First aid kit
__Tissues
__Saw/axe
__Park map/guidebooks/trail maps
__Lantern pole or hanger
__Collapsible drying rack
__Popcorn
__Marshmallows, Graham crackers, Hershey bars (Smores)
__Flashlight/batteries
__Pocket knife
__Plastic grocery bags
__Binoculars
__Rope/clothes line
__Canteen/water bottle/coffee pot
__Bungi cords/straps
__Cards/games/toys/golf
__Duct tape/electrical tape
__Notepad/pen
__Reservations info./confirmation
__Cell phone/charger & 2-way radios/walkie talkies
__Small shovel
__Safety pins
__Money/ID/credit card/quarters
__Bikes/helmets
__Travel alarm clock
__Work gloves
__Umbrella
__Hand wipes
__Drinks/snacks
__Small sewing kit
__Fire extinguisher
__Hot chocolate/tea bags/coffee
__Scissors
__Watch
Tell someone of your plans – give details of where you are going and when you expect to return, give directions and possible alternative roads that you may take, provide cell phone numbers, vehicle description and license plate numbers, hand-held radio channel and codes that you will use, and provide local authority phone numbers (State Police, Game & Fish Commission, Sheriff Dept, etc.) for the county or area that you will be in.
Basic First Aid Kit
__Personal medications
__Roll bandages
__Adhesive tape
__Antiseptic wipes
__Sterile gauze pads
__Cotton swabs
__Tweezers
__Safety pins
__Scissors
__Bee sting kit
__Sinus medications
__Tissues
__Bug repellant
__Sunscreen
__Notepad/pen
__Sterile compresses
__Splinting materials
__Personal information/contact person
__Feminine products
__Ipecac
__Razor blades
__Plastic bags
__Small bottle of water
__Blanket
__Other personal needs
__Small mirror
__Triangular bandages
__Misc. Band Aides/bandages
__Anti-acids (Tums, Rolaides)
__Antibiotic cream
__Aspirin/Ibuprofen/Tylenol/Naproxin
__Hydrogen Peroxide
__Ace bandages
__Sunburn lotion
__Burn ointment
__Snake bit kit
__Eye drops
__Poison ivy cream/cleansers
__Heat/cold packs
__Small flashlight
__Latex gloves
__Antibacterial soap
__Thermometer
__Coins for emergency phone calls
__Antibiotic soap
__Butterfly bandages
__Twine
__Mole skin for blisters
__Road flares
__First aid manual
__Nail clippers
Additional First Aid Tips
- Take a First Aid class and a CPR class – keep current on this information
- Keep supplies in a well marked, durable, waterproof container
- Keep the contents organized
- Know how to use everything in your first aid kit
- Inspect content often, re-supply as needed
- Keep readily available at all times
Need more tips and ideas for camping? Check out the ultimate guide to family camping
Angie – buy sticks? You are camping. Bring a pocketknife, find a stick and whittle the end to a point. Now, if you were doing kebobs, then I’d say yes, bring your own skewers (metal)…but not for marshmallows.
Hey I like the list, quite comprehensive – marshmallows IS essential indeed.
But I have to say, hikers and campers need to remember to hydrate! I had a dehydration issue last year when I was in the Sierra Nevada and could not find potable water under a burning sun. Needless to say, water bladders, hydration packs are important if you are serious about hitting up the wilderness right. I know that http://sourceoutdoor.com is known for their hydration systems, pretty much every other trekker I meet has their water pack.
List is very helpful, thanks a lot!!
Just wanted to added that mosquito spray is very useful as well!!
Erika, bug repellant IS on the list, you animal… Thanks for the list, it makes me feel very …listy.
wow now that is a list thanks for all the help wish there were more sites like these
love the list! it is really great! My husband has been camping for years and of course when we got together i started as well. However this will be our 1st year going w/o his side of the family and in our own camper. This list is going to help tremendously as I set up our camper. one thing that i can think of that is not on the list is Velcro if you have a camper that way when you are on the go your things arent. my MIL has them and i thought it was the coolest thing.
Great list!
I print it before each trip, highlight the items we’ll need, and check off accordingly.
Thanks for putting it together!
RE: “feminine products”
um, no, these are generally *not* stocked in a first aid kit for someone who is menstruating. I usually keep one or two feminine napkins (rated for heavy days) in my first aid kit — they can be used to stop hemorraging. They are completely sanitary and can be packed into fairly large wounds to stop blood loss.
You don’t have a flash light on this check list
They forgot beer
How about graham crackers, marshmellow sticks, and chocolate.
can you bring rollerskates?
TRUE
Marshall this list does not suck
I have a kindle
and marshmellows
Complete reference, very helpful, thanks
jm
its not kebobs its kebaabs
I am one of those diehard campers. For the most part what is in the house stays in the house. I have my camping supplies for just camping.
I use two heavy duty, strong plastic footlockers. One to store all of my tarps, rope and the tent in.
The second one to store my sleeping bags and bedding in. Once at the campsite I use the same heavyduty containers to store my food in. Most state grounds that I have been to have bearboxes to store your food in. The footlockers make it easy to take out and store the food items.
When trailer camping with the RV. There have been times that I had to back the camper into the site in the dark when it is hard to see. I take a string of rope lights, plug them in and use them as a guide to back along side of. No shouting from a spotter or ending up backing up into something. Plus I keep my camper fully loaded with supplies (minus food and water) . Any time I want to leave I just back up- hook up and leave. No loading or unloading. Makes life a little bit easier having extra’s of almost everything already in the camper.
some cool ideas thanks
I agree with frontier man and Chris both… BIBLE AND GUNS! just in case of the worst scenarios. restating the knifes and 550 cord… and always a water jug of some kind. know about edible plants too. Again plan for worst case yall
@Chris Kolousek
Bible? Really? Keep your beliefs to yourself. Some of us don’t believe in fairy tales.
We have been camping for 43 years. Can’t count how many time my friends and other family members that all have camped for year needed first aide for one of the kkids or them selves..I could not leave home without a good stocked first aide kit..I have used a tackle box that I put a large red cross on it with electrical tape..It keeps everything neat and dry..take children meds, even if you don;t have children anymore, also burn med. and there is a pain med called stop pain it is a spray works good, put this to a feild test last year when my 41 year old daughter cought herself with a fish hook….made it so we could get it out without tooooo much pain….I think this list is a great list and I think it is better to be safe than sorry. Oh now some of the campgrounds will fine you a large fine for even cutting a small twig for roasting marshmellow….ask my son……lol….so buy some and take them with you. see you around the campfire
Hey, I loved this list
Alex, feminine products are tampons and pads, I think :S Ah well, have a nice camping everyone !!
Oh wow, Wouldn’t take everything on this list but it filled in the holes on my own list. Not by much though. I have been camping before but haven’t in a few years and just needed to check over my list to see if I was missing anything. But I would throw in that a lot of the time its easier and cheaper to bring your own fire wood. Some camping ground don’t like it when you cut up their trees.
Overall its a great list. A little too safeish if you ask me but its covers the basics and then some. Haha Thanks!
That’s way too much stuff to pack!! lol Imagine all the debris it will create. You must take a lot of garbage bags with you to keep everything picked up at the park. Or deep in the forest!! We had canned food, p38, sterno, water jug, and a shovel. LMAO.
Awesome list guys! I would also like to add that if you take a firearm don’t forget the ammo!
Great List….im going camping this weekend and this was very useful….
You dont need to bring this but i would bring pepper spray…for all we know jason could be out in the woods
Great list. I’ always looking for more camping checklist on the web.
For the shelter category you might want to say water proof mat or tarp. Since we all know that the rain hold out until we go camping.
THANKS!!! I live in Saudi Arabia and tomorrow me and my family is going to a desert side camping for the first time ever in our lives and for that we needed to make sure we had all the stuff and this list really helped! Thank you again!!
This list is for those families that think they’re camping just cause it says “campgrounds” at the entrance. Real camping doesn’t require half of this crap. the essentials, food, water, maybe a tent, i always take a tarp and improvise, maybe a hammock depending on terrain, and certain other essentials, like most backpackers take. some of this stuff though is definitely not needed, half of the kitchen items are not needed, who needs to measure out anything or have a mixing bowl? you’re not baking a cake. go somewhere where it doesn’t state campgrounds, middle of nowhere, now that’s camping.
@nick. and this is why you have water filters or something. if you needed water that bad, filter water through a shirt layered in gravel all the way down to fine sand, filter once more, make a fire if possible and boil if possible. many ways to make non potable water into potable water.
This list is the best ive seen so far! Great Job! and thanks for all the help!
Thank you for providing this list…
This seems like an extensive full on camping..do you have a list where it covers the basics …
Good list, to some it may be a bit of a overkill but when you are camping and find you did overlook something you will wish you read it. You don’t have to take everything just what suits your needs.
Of course, this is a way more comprehensive list than I would’ve written, but it’s great to pick and choose your necessities from!
I agree with the first-aid kit section though, the more prepared you are, the better!
Have fun camping, everyone!
I hike all the time and still check this list before I go just to make sure I’m not forgetting anything. Great job!
This was nice to review as a brainstorm, even if you don’t need everything. One thing to consider is your pets if you have any. Are they staying home or coming with you? Either way, be prepared for them too. When I was young, our basset hound was rooting in the backyard and got stung by something. Her face swelled up and had hundreds of lumps. I’m sure this can happen to your dog while camping; check with your vet for allergy and/or pain pills for your pet. Maybe think about putting on some Frontline (or other brand) for your dog for ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes.
Thanks so much! This list will be so handy this summer!!!
I love camping, and now I know what o bring
Great list! Definitely thorough! In my own opinion, everything not on the list is a personal preference thing, and I noticed a few extra items on this list above that is personal preference! In any event, you put my fiance’s mind at ease, even though I’m an ex-Marine survivalist, but then again, who wants to go camping like that (I do)! thanks again for publishing this on the net!
If you’re from the south, be sure and take a portable weather radio.