Our Must Have Car Camping Gear

- We are not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned in this post. -

If you love the outdoors, you know how hard it is to find a cumulative list of all the things you need for a camping trip. Every person has a different budget, taste, and priorities. It can make gathering your gear a daunting task. These are our top 10 items we use while car camping.

Keep in mind, we do not use the same gear for backpacking. This gear is heavier than we would ever like to carry. While most of this geat does not require electricity at the campsite, it does make it easier to have more amenities. It is by no means required though.

With that, let's jump into our most used car camping gear!

1. Battery Powered Lamp

We use one we got from Walmart in the camping section.

2. Stove

We got this Eureka! stove a couple of years ago. I've used it a couple of times and have had no issues. It's easy to use and has an even easier clean-up. There are other brands of stoves like this. And they all seem the same to me. So get whichever one fits your needs best!

3. String Lights

If you have electricity at your campsite, string lights bring a whole new layer of fun! We like to use colorful ones.

4. Kitchen Box Setup

We have boxes with our camping gear in them so when we decide to go, it's easy to pack up. We have a whole box dedicated to kitchen items. This is our version of a pack up and go kitchen!

We include plates, multiple lighters, table cloth, a pan, freezer bags, two spatulas, dishwashing soap, dishwashing scrubs, cups, bowls, a flask, and bug spray. That's what we have found to be needed most by us on trips. We will be adding more and more to this box as time goes on. We already want a spice set, oil, and other cooking essentials to be added.

5. Tent - Kelty Discovery Dome 6

We searched for months for a good tent. We suffered through having a small tent with two people and a large dog for a few camping trips. Then we found this tent for sale from REI. This is a six-person tent. It comfortably would sleep four people. We can put a full-size mattress in it and our dog also sleeps inside of it with us. We love it!

6. Sleeping Bags

In our hoard of sleeping bags, there is one that stands out. It is the Outdoor Vitals one. We are unsure of its model and make. But this sleeping bag is light, has no zipper, and is incredibly warm.

7. Kelty Bestie Blankets

These blankets are perfect for it you need another blanket on the bed at night, being chilly next to the campfire, or just wanting a blanket while you are chilling in the hammock. These are perfection. Kelty did an amazing deed with this. We have four.

8. Comfortable blow up mattress

The struggle of not having a comfortable bed while car camping is probably the main reason people choose not to go. Splurge and get the nice mattress! It makes camping much more enjoyable. Get a nice mattress.

9. Fire Starter

This might sound crazy to include. But we have forgotten it so many times that we just have to put it on the list. Even if it seems intuitive to have, put it on the list. We use whatever the store on the way to the campsite has.

Get out there! Be inspired! And go!

- Following the Fernweh