For many of us, Memorial Day is the signal that camping season has arrived. However it can be stressful if you don't have everything you need with you. Some of us camp in RVs, others prefer to tent-camp. Either way, having everything you need with you can make the difference between a relaxing weekend or a irritating series of multiple trips to the nearest store to pickup items you forgot to bring. A camping checklist is an essential tool to make sure your camping trip is relaxing and enjoyable.
This camping checklist may help and feel free to modify it to suit your individual needs and camping style:
Remember the Camping Rule: ALWAYS LEAVE THE CAMPSITE IN BETTER CONDITION THAN YOU FOUND IT!
Camping Shelter
- Tent (with poles, stakes, and rainfly)
- Tarp (ground cloth)
- Extra plastic tarp
- Rope
- Inflatable mat
- Sleeping bags
- Sleeping pads
- Pillows
- Screen house
Personal Clothing
- Underwear
- Socks
- Base layer, top and bottom
- Fleece shirt
- Fleece pants
- Down jacket
- Zip-off travel pants
- Fleece or down vest
- Fleece hat
- Light gloves
- Rain or shell jacket
- Rain pants
- Shorts
- T-shirts
- Bathing suit
- Sun hat
- SPF clothing
- Pajamas
- Laundry bag
Camping Footwear
- Hiking boots or light hiking shoes
- Sneakers
- Sandals with straps
- Flip-flops
- Water shoes
- Camp boots
Childrens Camping Gear
- Front-loading baby carrier
- Baby backpack carrier
- Portable crib
- Kid-sized day pack
- Child’s reusable water bottle
- Portable potty or potty seat
- Portable high chair
- Child-sized folding camp chair
- Battery-powered night-light
- Child-sized or small adult sleeping pad
- Child-sized sleeping bag
Camp Kitchen
- Camp Kitchen
- Camp stove
- Fuel
- Pots
- Pans
- Skillet
- Grill rack
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Spatula
- Big spoon
- Long-handled tongs
- Strainer
- Plates
- Bowls
- Cups
- Insulated coffee cups
- Coffee making device
- Water bottles
- Utensils
- Marshmallow sticks
- Corkscrew
- Bottle opener
- Pot lifter
- Aluminum foil
- Small plastic bags
- Large plastic bags
- Plastic tablecloth
- Extra-large tablecloth clips or tablecloth weights
- Tupperware containers
- Matches, lighter, or fire stick
- Collapsible water container
- Water purifier (optional)
- Drink coozies
- Coolers
Camp Kitchen Cleanup Items
- Plastic washbasins
- Sponge with scouring pad
- Small scrubber brush
- Old washcloths or cloth towels
- Biodegradable camp soap
- Grocery-store plastic bags (for small amounts of garbage)
- Tall kitchen garbage bags
- Paper towels
- Baby wipes
- Clothesline and clothespins
Campfire Essentials
- Homemade or store-bought firestarting tinder
- Tinder collected at the campsite
- Kindling
- Larger sticks
- Bundle of firewood
- Matches, lighter, or fire starter
- Paper or plastic plate
Daily Hygiene Camping Needs
- Antimicrobial hand sanitizer
- Baby wipes
- Moisturizing lotion
- Small tube of Aquaphor
- Travel-size deodorant
- Lip balm
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Dental floss
- Hairbrush
- Soap and shampoo
- Sanitary products
- Washcloth and towel
- Plastic washbasin
- Earplugs
- Needle and thread
- Contacts and glasses
- Prescription medication
Backwoods Toilet Items
- Small poop shovel or garden trowel
- Toilet paper or baby wipes in a plastic bag
- Diaper rash cream for babies
- Plastic bag for trash
- Hand sanitizer
First Aid
- Adhesive bandages (e.g., Band-Aids)
- Butterfly closures
- ACE bandage
- Hurt-free antiseptic wash
- Small and large gauze pads
- Antibiotic ointment (e.g., Bacitracin)
- Zinc oxide (for sun protection and diaper rash)
- Thermometer
- Ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin or Advil; children’s and adult)
- Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol; children’s and adult)
- Antihistamine (e.g., Benadryl; children’s and adult)
- Nail scissors
- Medical tape
- Safety pins
- Insect repellent
- Anti-itch remedy
- 1% hydrocortisone cream
- Sunscreen
- Hand sanitizer
- Antacid tablets
- Cough drops
- Lubricating eyedrops
- Instant cold pack
- Safety whistle
- Emergency blanket
- Duct tape
- Moleskin for blisters
- Fine-pointed tweezers
Backwoods Travel Essentials
- Food
- Water
- First-aid kit
- Matches and emergency tinder
- Emergency blanket or large trash bag
- Map and compass
- Safety whistle
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Extra layers
- Rain gear
- Pocketknife
- Sunglasses and
- sunscreen
Water-Based Activities
- Fishing rods and tackle
- Bathing suits
- Goggles
- Water shoes
- Towels
- Personal flotation devices (PFDs)
- Water wings
- Dingy
Campsite Child Activities
- Frisbee
- Soccer ball
- Hacky Sack
- Soft football (like a Nerf)
- Baseball and mitts
- Little trucks with big tires
- Bubbles
- Sand toys
- Small dolls and action figures
- Favorite stuffed animal
Quiet Time
- Playing cards
- Kid travel games
- Travel-sized board games
- Rope for knot tying
- Camping-themed books
- Flashlight for reading in the tent
- Coloring books or sheets, markers, and crayons
- Clipboard for leaning on while coloring
- Guitar
- Songbook
- Book of spooky stories
Basic Camp Art
- Inexpensive digital camera
- Pencils and sharpener
- Sketch pad, coloring sheets, loose paper
- Crayons and markers
- Watercolors and brushes
- Nature journal
- Glue, paper, scissors
- Chalk (for rubbings)