Essential Things To Bring On Your First Camping Trip -

What essential items do you need for a first camping trip at a designated site in a state or national park? My wife Melissa and I have enjoyed camping for many years now, starting literally with our wedding and honeymoon in Big Bend National Park. These days we do most of our camping with our two dogs – out of our “overland vehicle” – which is a slightly modified pickup truck with a rooftop tent. We enjoy tent camping as well, especially when we can get off onto some singletrack and get a few miles out into the backcountry for peace and solitude and a little more space to spread out.

We love dispersed camping as an escape from it all, but also enjoy camping every so often in designated campgrounds for the conveniences they offer, such as hot showers and real toilets. Camping (despite some horror stories you may have heard) is really fun and safe and we hope to continue our favorite activity into our golden years.

So, how do you get started camping and what are the some necessities to bring along?

Too Much Stuff – The key word here is: necessities. Over the years we’ve learned what to bring on a camping trip, and what to leave behind. If we had to do it all over again, we would have spent a lot less on gear if we’d done our research before buying things that were redundant or unnecessary.

Items to bring along on your first camping trip vary from family to family, but the main camping items are much the same – shelter, bedding, appropriate clothing, food, toiletries, water, a light source, etc.

Things You Need To Go Camping The Very First Time

Before you try backpacking, or camping in the back country, try camping in a drive-up campground such as at a state or national park. You can find great campsites and make a reservation ahead of time at Recreation.gov or ReserveAmerica.com. A good attitude is one of the most important things you can bring on your first camping trip. Expect to have a good time, but also realize that not all camping trips feature sunshine and rainbows.

The photo above was taken at Eleven Mile Reservoir State Park, CO, where we had a three amazing nights and one miserable, rainy one. A morning rainbow, along with hot coffee and freshly scrambled eggs, was a fair trade, though!

Essential Camping Item #1 – A Good Tent

Almost everything you need for camping can be rented at REI or similar outdoor outfitters – or borrowed from a friend. Try renting a tent first, to find out if you even like camping, before dropping a couple hundred bucks on one. You can even reserve tents that are already set up on AirBnB, but you’ll miss out on the fun of fumbling with set up and figuring out instructions. It’s very satisfying to learn how to set up your own tent, and newer models are easier than ever to erect.

Pro tip #1: practice set up at home, rather than attempting it on-site for the first time. Read the directions carefully, make sure you have all the components, and check out YouTube for directions for your specific make and model. The key to choosing a tent is to get sizing right and not buy one that’s too big – or too small – for you and whoever you bring along. Don’t forget how much space your furry friends take up as well!

Pro Tip #2: Pick the next size up from what’s advertised. A six person tent offers much more room for a family of four than a “four person tent”.

Choose An Easy to Set Up Tent With Only Two Poles

We like tents that are easy to set up and take down. Watching new campers who’ve purchased complicated tents setting up can be amusing if you’re the audience, but not fun if you’re the one causing all the giggles! Choose a tent with just two, shock-corded poles and a square footprint. These are easiest to set up and with practice, one person can have it up in about 10 minutes. We like models like the Kelty Discovery Element, a four-person model that has two main shock-corded poles.

At a whopping 10 lbs, you don’t want one of these for backpacking, but for drive-up camping they’re great. We’ve used ours for two seasons now and don’t have any complaints. The video below shows just how easy tents like this are to set up.

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Tips For Setting Up Your Tent

Chose an open area with good drainage, away from trees (especially dead trees which could fall on you). Also, beware of things like ant mounds, roots and rocks in your tent area.
Bring along a hammer for your tent stakes. Using a rock to bang in tent stakes can be dangerous! If camping in rocky areas, don’t rely on the plastic stakes that came with your tent – get some heavy metal tent stakes from an outdoor store.
Keep food away from your tent (and absolutely never store it inside the tent) so you don’t attract wildlife or ants! Suspend your food from a tree or use an odor-locking food cache or “bear canister”).
Don’t forget to install the rain fly. You may go to sleep with clear skies but wake up to rain in the middle of the night.
Always put down a ground sheet (heavy plastic tarp) before setting up your tent. Ground sheets help keep moisture out and protect your tent floor’s fabric.
Consider which direction you face your tent. It’s best to face your entrance opposite from the direction heavy winds and rain may come from. Think of privacy as well in crowded campgrounds.
If there’s a thunderstorm, leave your tent and weather it out inside your vehicle. Vehicles offer much better protection from lightning strikes than tents!
Don’t wait until dark to set up your tent!
Never set up your tent near your campfire and never use candles or heaters inside a tent.

Camping Item # 2 – Sleeping Bag

A good sleeping bag is the second most important item you’ll need for camping the first time. Choose a bag that suits the weather you’ll be camping in most. Sleeping bags are rated on the number of seasons (1-4), for which they’re to be used. A three season bag will work well for spring, summer and fall. Winter camping is not our “bag” so we don’t do it! How warm of a sleeping bag you’ll need depends on how cold or warm-natured you are.

Pro Tip #3: Wear extra thick wool blend socks when sleeping, since having cold feet when camping is no fun! A wool ski cap can also help keep your head warm when sleeping.) We prefer “mummy” type bags for cooler weather, and traditional, rectangular Coleman sleeping bags for summer camping since they provide more room.

Essential Camping Item #3 – Sleeping Pad or Air Mattress

A good sleeping pad or air mattress can be the difference between a great camping trip and a miserable one. We recommend that for your first camping trip you start with an inexpensive, self-inflating type such as a Coleman Silverton Camping Pad or a roll up foam camping pad that’s at least 1″ thick. You may not like using the inflatable pillow on the Coleman pads, but you can choose to not inflate it. Be careful when using these in areas with grass burrs and thorns, since they can be punctured.

We’ve had large inflatable air mattresses before – they seem like a great idea at first – but the reality of inflating, deflating and storing them, never mind finding and fixing leaks, is why we no longer use one. The K.I.S.S. principle, (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is a good rule for camping gear. Plain old roll-up foam camping mattresses do take up a bit more room, but aren’t prone to leaks and can last for years.

camping flashlight — Small LED flashlights like this one from Lumintop can last for hours.

Essential Camping Item #4 – Flashlight or Headlamp

We like to use USB rechargeable headlamps (Petzl and Pelican are good), when camping instead of flashlights. When assembling tents, cooking food, going to the bathroom, etc, you don’t want to be holding a flashlight. A couple of lightweight headlamps are worth their weight in gold since they free up your hands for cooking, etc. We bring a couple small Lumintop LED flashlights, which only cost about $12 each, along with spare batteries. They’re bright, (150 lumens) water-resistant and have three settings (and don’t include the blinding strobe some models have). On low they’ll run all night long and if you reverse the clip they can be used on a cap.

First Camping Trip Lighting Tips

Avoid gas-powered camping lanterns. These are illegal in some areas and can start forest fires, as well as posing serious burn risks
Bring along multiple light sources when camping. Headlamps are useful, but you’ll want an omnidirectional light source, such as a battery-powered lantern for illuminating your campsite.
Avoid gimmicky hand-crank flashlights and stick to long-life rechargeable and battery-powered lights for camping.
Place your camping light away from your tent and your food prep area, so you won’t attract moths and other insects into those areas.
Always respect other campers’ privacy when using lights at a campground and not shine yours towards other campers. Be careful when walking around the campground at night and aim your light towards the ground, rather than into other campsites.

Essential Camping Item(s) #5 – Food

On your first camping trip, keep food preparation as simple as possible. If you’re permitted to have a campfire, you might try roasting hotdogs over the coals, making S’mores or heating up canned goods. To keep things simpler, pack your cooler with cold drinks and sandwich fixings and avoid cooking over a fire altogether. If you want a heat source for cooking, a basic Coleman stove with an extra propane canister works very well.

When packing food for your first camping trip, try to do some meal planning beforehand, and bring enough for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the number of days you’ll be camping. Instant tea and coffee or a couple of canned coffee beverages can be a lifesaver for coffee drinkers, especially if you find yourself without a heat source.

how to prepare for a camping trip — We check the items that we’ll need for making each meal off the list as we stock our portable pantry, a Yeti Loadout GoBox

Camping Early or Late in The Season? Don’t Forget Warm Clothing!

It can often get cold in the early morning hours, even when camping in the summer. Don’t forget to bring a warm wool cap, a couple pairs of extra thick socks and long underwear and gloves. Having warm feet and hands can mean the difference between having a great camping trip and a miserable one, especially during the shoulder season.

First Camping Trip Food Tips

Store your food and snacks and leftovers in a bear-proof container, such as a Bear Keg, or Ursack, away from camp. For proper bear safe techniques to use when camping, see this article from BearWise for more info.
Don’t forget cooking and eating utensils, a can opener, trash bags, plates and bowls, matches, condiments, re-sealable containers or bags, and other essential food prep items.
Please don’t bring glass containers. Metal camping plates and cups can last for years and broken glass in your campsite can literally be a pain.
Visible consumption of alcohol is prohibited in many campgrounds. If you plan to drink alcohol, bring cans or Tetra packs of alcohol, koozies to “cover up”labels and non-glass cups for drinking.
Bring biodegradable dish soap and a scrub brush or pad to clean your dishes at the water station. It’s helpful to have a small collapsible dishpan to help conserve water when washing dishes.

Camping chairs — A couple of comfy chairs can help make your camping trip much more enjoyable. (Also, don’t set up an awning like this, it will direct water onto your tent.)

Other Things You’ll Need When Going Camping For The First Time

The following items are either necessary to bring when camping – or can help you have a better first camping experience.

Water! If the campground doesn’t have a water source, bring at least one gallon per person for each day. Not all campground water is potable (drinkable) so bring water!
Toilet Paper
Sanitary napkins or tampons (if needed ;)) and extra tissue and bags to dispose of used products in campground trash cans NEVER in pit toilets
Toothbrush and toothpaste (be sure to keep this in your bear safe container, away from camp)
Power pack or solar charger for cell phones and other electronics
First aid kit with bandages, ointment for poison ivy, tweezers, etc.
Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
Insect repellent.
A shower bag to carry your hygiene products to and from the campground showers/restroom, along with a pair of flip-flops to keep your feet safe in the shower.
Towels and dish towels
Dog food, leash, chew toys and a dog bed for furry friend(s). (Make sure your pets have an ID collar and are micro-chipped before taking them along camping.)
Rain jacket and warm clothes. (You’ll be surprised how cold it can get at night!)
Waterproof bins to store food and clothing
Knife – A good Swiss Army knife can come in handy
Camping chairs
Lighter or matches
Firewood / Charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid. – (if fires are permitted). Many campgrounds sell firewood, but be sure to check if it’s on hand before arriving.
Cooler and ice
Rechargeable camping fan. See our Review of the Ryobi One 7.5″ Fan
Shovel and bucket for drowning camp fires.
Good manners and a great attitude! Remember – you will be in close proximity to your “neighbors”. Try to be considerate!

Have a Backup Plan if You Must Bail On Your Camping Trip

There are lots of reasons why a well-planned camping trip can go wrong, so it’s good to have a backup plan. Bad weather, forest fires, and many other things can cut your trip short, so plan to be flexible.

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First Camping Trip S’mores Recipe

No camping trip would be complete without making s’mores beside a fire – (Always be careful – check first to be sure fires are allowed in your campground). You can make s’mores without a campfire, by heating the assembled sandwiches in a pan over a camping stove, but we love making them the old-fashioned way.

To make s’mores, you’ll need the following items.

Box of Graham crackers
Several milk chocolate bars (Hershey are great for this)
Bag of marshmallows
Long roasting sticks, sharpened to a point.

Instructions – After your campfire has burned down a bit, place your marshmallow on the stick and roast it – without burning it if you can – until golden brown. Place the hot marshmallow and milk chocolate bar between two graham crackers and enjoy! Repeat until full.

Be Safe! Always drown your campfire before going to sleep or leaving camp and make sure you follow all park rules regarding campfires.