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
Great list, we will use this again.
May I recommend a crucial addition: a martini shaker. Nothing like sipping a dry martini fire-side in the comfort of a deck chair once the tent is pitched and sun goes down. Which leads me to the second item, a tin of green olives in brine.
Cheers,
Rob.
Thank you
im 27 and the last time I went camping was when I was 6 lol
so this is exactly what I needed especially because the friend I am going with isn’t exactly the most prepared of people in the world.. now ill be able to rest peacefully knowing that I have a great checklist to go by. As we are leaving not tomorrow but the day after
Awesome Post and Good Stuff List for Camping I can wait this summer enjoy with my children.
thanks
Are you going camping, or are you dragging all your unnecessary junk into the wilderness??? So many things you don’t need when you’re camping, on this list
good advise for camping I followed it and it really helped.
Hi there,
Really great checklist to make sure you have everything in your tent far away from your home. As I’ve booked powered camp site I would like to add few things that will make this list perfect.
1) Power Board
2) Extension Cable
3) Hand Sanitizer
4) Kettle
5) Strainer
6) Dish Pan
7) Bluetooth Speaker
8) Tablet
Thanks,
Parth Dave
Sad people this aint what campings all about
Jess is a hater, this is an awesome check list. I forgot the mini dust pan for tent camping this coming weekend. Thanks for the reminder
I always bring baby wipes camping. Everything gets dirty/dusty they are just handy especially with a toddler! + hand sanitizer
I’ve been camping for about 27 years with my husband our children and his whole family sometimes just the two us and sometimes with a group of up to 30people or more. We tent camped for 21 of those years and that 6 in our rv and I have learned that everybody has their own ideas as to what camping is my opinion is that why should one be uncomfortable or miserable while camping if you have room to carry it and can carry it and it makes you or who you are camping g with carry it I have also learned that no matter how well you pack or prepare you are going to forget something or need something you don’t have with you I am a list person I start writing my list in March and April and add to it anytime I think of something we camp a lot during the summer months I keep my list and if we go camping the first week of May and realize they I wish I had this I add it to our list I have taught girl scouts how to camp and be prepared I’ve taught my children how and now that they are grown I’m gearing myself up to learn survival camping with only what is in my backpack but all that being said if you are sleeping under the stars in a tent or t.v. it’s still camping and you know you are really camping when a tornado touches down in the camp ground you are in and fills your tent .ankle deep inside water happy trails people and enjoy the great outdoors
I was always taught that real camping was living of the fruit if the land I didn’t have pots and pans to cook with I had a rock and I had to boil my water to make it safe to drink you how hard that was without a pot or pan I mean yes this is a really really good checklist but agreeing with other people there is alot of stuff that is not needed when I camp this is my list tent,sleeping bag,matches,axe,pocket knife,canteen that’s it everything else I got for myself from the wild then again maybe its just the scouts and military in me talking at that point well have a blessed day anyone reading this just thought I’d say packing to heavy isn’t the smartest idea only the essentials pack light it makes for easier packing and leaving early if necessary