Car Camping for Beginners: A Simple Setup

Car camping means you drive right up to your campsite and set up next to the car. No hiking with a heavy pack, no counting ounces. It's the best way to start camping, and plenty of people never need anything else.

01The basic gear list

Shelter and sleep - Tent (a size bigger than the number of people is comfortable) - Sleeping bags rated for the season. See sleeping bag temperature ratings. - Sleeping pads or a cot. See R-values explained. - Pillows from home

Kitchen - Two-burner propane stove and fuel. See camp stoves in the cold. - Cooler with ice - Pot, pan, utensils, plates, cups - Water jug, dish tub, biodegradable soap, trash bags

Camp - Headlamps and a lantern - Camp chairs - Tarp for shade or rain - Firewood bought locally (moving firewood spreads invasive insects) - Lighter or matches

Personal - Layers of clothes, rain jacket, warm hat - Toiletries, sunscreen, bug spray - First-aid kit - Phone charger or power bank

02Your first trip

1. Practice at home: set up the tent in the backyard once.
2. Pick a campground close to home with bathrooms and water.
3. Arrive in daylight so you can set up before dark.
4. Plan simple meals. See easy fall campfire recipes.
5. Check the weather and pack for it to be colder than forecast.

03Mistakes to avoid

• Sleeping cold. Most first-timers underestimate how cold nights get. Bring more warmth than you think.
• Arriving after dark.
• Forgetting the rules: quiet hours, fire rules, food storage.
• Leaving food out: raccoons are expert thieves.

04Leave it better than you found it

Pack out your trash, put your fire out cold, and leave the site clean.

Booking a site? See Recreation.gov tips. Welcome to camping.

Photo: Car Camping in Nova Scotia (49688100722).jpg) by Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Related: Fall Foliage Camping: Planning a Trip Around Peak Color