The Best Car Camping Essentials for Life on the Road (2024)

Bolstering comfort and cleanliness, the addition of certain items when car camping makes a world of difference and provides a markedly more refined experience overall. Car camping can serve as a great means of dipping one’s toes into the world of the great outdoors, especially for those adverse to going without modern amenities. The addition of your vehicle obviously does come at a slight cost of having less of a connection with nature, though we’d say there is a time and place for both kinds of camping (hoof-in and drive-in). So, with this in mind, we’ve poured through our gear, checked the market, and brought you this thorough list of the best car camping gear essentials.

Car Camping vs. Traditional Camping

Though camping normally means roughing it and going without a number of basic creature comforts and day-to-day amenities, car camping opens the door to a host of gear and equipment that wouldn’t normally be considered if you were hiking into camp on foot. This allows for an array of items that can make for a much more comfortable trip, as your kit isn’t limited to what’s being carried on your back, and is now only confined by how much weight your engine can pull (i.e., larger items).

What to Look For

Usefulness: First and foremost, you should be collecting items that are going to be useful, or potentially useful, to you in your endeavor. Items to guarantee your car’s health are a must, as are things that guarantee your own health and safety.

Convenience: Utility and convenience can be one in the same hat. However, certain products are deemed necessary because of their convenience. These include coffee makers, stoves, chairs, and the like. While being one with nature means sacrificing certain comforts of your home, it doesn’t mean sacrificing all comforts of your home.

Compactness: While car camping definitely allows for bringing along larger items, you want to maximize your space and your vehicle’s capability. Unlike backpacking, this has less to do with weight than it does with physical size. If you’re camping alone, however, you may want to favor lighter items in general, but it’s not a requirement. Space should be reserved for inherently big items like tents, stoves, heaters, etc.

How We Chose Our Picks

So many products have come into our hands over the years, especially when it comes to the camping and car camping spaces. The following picks have been deemed the most essential based on our own experience and research. Certain products may not be the best overall in their respective categories, but we may still consider them to be the best for this specific topic. For car camping, we’ve focused on utility, compactness, and convenience. While we favor items that can balance both form and function, essentials. for roughing it in the wilderness may require a bit more function than form. In other words, camping gadgets are fun, but when it comes down to the few select items that need to be in your kit, you should be assembling based on usefulness first and foremost.

Slime 50107 Emergency Flat Tire Repair Kit

Best Car Repair Kit: When venturing out into the mountains or desert to do some car camping it’s imperative that you take the necessary measures to ensure you don’t get stranded in a remote location. This means bringing along a means of jump-starting a dead battery, extra fuel should the tank run dry, and some method for patching a punctured car tire. And it’s this latter issue that this product from Slime remedies, with the offering including both a bottle of tire sealant and a tire inflator that can re-inflate a flat in just three minutes. Wildly easy to use (even by the least mechanically-minded/“handy” of individuals) this system doesn’t require any additional tools, and you don’t even need to jack the flat tire up off the ground. Based on the ridiculously accessible price point of this item, there really is no excuse not to add one of these to your car camping loadout.

Sealant Capacity: 16oz
Max PSI: 100

GSI Outdoors Gourmet Kitchen Set 11

Best Car Camping Kitchen Gear: The days of camp food consisting of hot dogs cooked on a stick and cans of chili heated in a fire are behind us thanks to offerings like the Gourmet Kitchen Set 11 from GSI Outdoors. A pivoting spoon and spatula made from high-temperature Nylon 6-6, collapsible whisk, scrubber, scraper, camp towel, and cutting board constitute the kit, all of which fits neatly into a travel case made from ballistic nylon. The kit even includes a fully-waterproof salt and pepper shaker, as well as a pair of mini condiment bottles for bringing along your favorite BBQ or hot sauce. Add a stove, knife, and a pot or pan and you’ve got everything needed to whip up a gourmet camp-cooked meal.

Total Weight: 17.2oz
# of Pieces: 11

BioLite HeadLamp 200

Best Car Camping Headlamp: As implied by the name, this headlamp packs a 200-lumen output that can run for up to three hours on its Lithium-ion battery (which is recharged via a micro-USB port) or up to 40 hours while utilizing the lowest of the 200’s four light settings, which also includes a red light and a strobe function. What really sets this headlamp apart, however, is how amazingly slim and lightweight it is, tipping the scales at just 1.76oz and boasting a silhouette that’s narrower than the width of a than the diameter of a penny — a design made possible by integrating the headlamp’s electronics directly into its performance fabric band — which is decorated in a subtle topographical-inspired graphic. IPX4-rated for water resistance, this BioLite headlamp’s LED light can also pivot out from its ultra-low-profile housing.

Weight: 1.76oz
Max Output: 200 lumens
Max Range: 164ft

Wacaco Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine

Best Coffee Maker: Heading out into the great outdoors means leaving behind a great many creature comforts from our day-to-day life. A host of compact and cutting-edge new camping gadgets are changing this however, one of our favorite of which is the Wacaco Minipresso. Without requiring any battery or electricity, this manually-operated espresso maker can pump out 50ml (1.6oz) of high-octane morning joe. Using its integrated scoop, you simply add in ground beans, fill the tank with hot water, and give the thing a few pumps to pressurize the device, and then flip it upside-down in order to draw out freshly-brewed espresso that’s served in a receptacle that doubles as a travel cup. The company also sells a variety of attachments and accessories, including an upgrade that doubles its output capacity to 100ml (3.2oz).

Type: Espresso
Serve Size: Single+
Weight: 12.64oz

GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocking Chair

Best Car Camping Chair: There are few things quite like kicking back and enjoying the majesty of nature from a good old fashion rocking chair. And, while lugging a traditional wooden rocker out into the woods is obvious outside the question, this folding chair from GCI Outdoor is the next best thing. Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, this camping chair can handle up to 250lbs thanks to a durable steel and aluminum hybrid frame and guided track system. The chair’s two-piece seat and backrest setup, coupled with the use of mesh paneling, also allows for solid ventilation and airflow, even on hot days. Weighing just over 12lbs, this 26” x 24.8” x 39.8” rocker collapses into an 8.1” x 9.1” x 43.3” form that slips into its included carrying case.

Weight: 12.1lbs
Weight Capacity: 250lbs
Packed Dimensions: 34.8” x 25” x 4.9”

Wavian Authentic NATO Jerry Can

Best Jerry Can: Whenever heading out into nature, it’s always best to be a little over-prepared, taking the necessary insurance measures to help prevent you from getting stranded. And one staple insurance item is the classic jerry can. This particular jerry can is touted as being the “highest spec steel jerry can in the world.” Made in Europe, fully-rustproof, and both EPA and CARB-compliant, this military-grade fuel cell is built to authentic NATO-grade. The 20-liter sealed cell dispenses fuel via a bayonet-style quick-release nozzle and boasts a dual-pan construction and wide-channel breather that allows for easier pouring. Measuring 18.5” x 13.5” x 6”, this jerry can also fit inside the vast majority of standard 4×4-style fuel-can racks.

Material: Stainless steel
Volume: 20L

KingCamp Folding Aluminum Camping Table

Best Car Camping Table: Whether performing first aid, assembling or readying kit, or dressing, cooking, or preparing a meal, there’s no shortage of essential uses for a solid table while car camping, and this offering from KingCamp ticks all the right boxes. Weighing a bit over 14.5lbs, this table provides 42” x 28” of heat-resistant surface space, which is enough room to comfortably accommodate six adults. Capable of supporting more than 175lbs of weight, this locking table is made from lightweight yet durable aluminum alloy with an anode oxidation treatment — helping to prevent rust or any other corrosion — that’s constructed around a steel frame. The table is also sold with a carrying bag for when it’s all folded up, breaking down to a size of just 42.5” x 9.1” x 4.3”.

Weight: 14.5lbs
Weight Capacity: 175lbs
Packed Dimensions: 42.5” x 9.1” x 4.3”
Surface Dimensions: 42” x 28”

MY MEDIC MyFak First Aid Kit

Best First Aid Kit: Spending time out in nature can be unpredictable, and the unfortunate reality is that accidents can and will happen, which is why a first-aid kit is such an essential piece of kit for anyone spending time off the grid — car campers very much included. And, this civilianized take on a military medic field kit includes everything you need to patch up an injury while out in nature, including a bevy of first-aid essentials like a tourniquet, non-adherent gauze, QuikClot, wound-closure strips, Povidone wipes, burn dressing, aspirin, Dramamine, Endurolytes Fizz Tablets, Ammonia Wipe, a nasal airway (and lube), as well as a host of medical tools like a needle puller, surgical scissors, and a variety of scalpels and sutures. Sold in several colors including black, OD, and Coyote, this entire OSHA/ANSI and FSA/HSA-approved first aid kit comes in a military-inspired waterproof 600D nylon bag with MOLLE webbing and D-ring attachments.

Weight: 2.6 to 3.5lbs
# of Unique Pieces: 54

NEMO Tempo 35 Sleeping Bag

Best Car Camping Sleeping Bag: Backed by a lifetime warranty, this modern sleeping bag from NEMO is fairly unique, designed specifically for “side-sleepers,” with additional space around the elbows and knees for unrestricted sleeping. With a temperature rating of 35 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius), this bag is stuffed with extremely lightweight yet warm Stratofiber #8482 synthetic fibers stuffed inside a 50D polyester taffeta lining. Outside, there’s a DWR-treated 50D ripstop polyester shell that features a number of zippered pockets for quick and easy access to essential items like a flashlight or smartphone, plus an integrated pillow pocket with snag-free zipper. Sold in regular (72”) and long (78”) sizes, the Tempo 35 stores away in an included stuff sack when not being used.

Shell: 50D ripstop nylon
Insulation: Stratofiber #8482 synthetic fibers
Weight: 3.13lbs

NEMO Helio LX Pressure Shower

Best Car Camping Shower: Camping — even car camping — has never really gone hand-in-hand with stellar hygiene or grooming routines. Typically, this is just one small sacrifice made to enjoy the great outdoors, though, with NEMO Equipment’s Helio LX camp shower, you can enjoy the perks of a pressurized shower. Rather than relying on gravity, this camp shower sits on the ground. Its 5.8-gallon tank is then pressurized via a foot-pump, which expels water up through the shower’s (included) 7’ neoprene hose. And, thanks to a cleverly-sealed design, a few occasional pumps is enough to keep the shower pressurized for up to 10 minutes. Sold in a compact and ventilated carrying case, this camp shower — like all NEMO wares — is also backed by a lifetime warranty. And, in addition to showering, this item is also great for hosing off muddy gear before packing it away at the end of your trip.

Flow: Pump
Heating: Solar
Capacity: 5.8 gallons

REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3

Best Car Camping Cot: Most backpackers wouldn’t even entertain the possibility of hauling a 20lb cot on their backs, however, when you’re arriving at your campsite by vehicle, you open the door up to a world of markedly more comfortable sleeping accommodations. Case in point being this luxurious offering from REI Co-op. Built around a collapsible/folding powder-coated steel and aluminum chassis with three sets of legs that can handle up to 300lbs of weight, this plush camping cot boasts a padded, quilted top made from a quick-drying, water-resistant, polyester fabric. Instead of merely keeping you up off the cold ground, the Kingdom Cot 3 cradles your body, affording comfort and helping to prevent accidental roll-outs. This cot also has a twist-knob that allows the locking multi-position back to be set, making it perfect for lounging by the fire, as well.

Weight Capacity: 300lbs
Sleeping Area: 82″ x 31.5″
Weight: 20lbs

DEWALT DXH12B Portable Heater

Best Car Camping Heater: While the harsh winter months can be an abrupt end to your camping season, this feature-laden tent heater from DEWALT allows you to extend your annual time in the outdoors. While arguably too heavy to be conducive to backpacking-style camping, this 14lb steel-cased heater spits out a cool 12,000 BTU’s that can heat 450-square-feet of enclosed space for up to seven hours (on a single can of propane). And, on top of its heating abilities, this DEWALT item also features a 20V battery (from the FLEXVOLT or MAX battery families) that powers the tent heater’s handle-integrated LED light bar and trio of device-charging USB ports. The level of heat being generated can be regulated using the heater’s twistable knob setup, and it has several built-in safety features including kill switches activated via a tip-over sensor or oxygen depletion sensing system.

Fuel Type: Propane + Battery
Max BTUs: 12,000

DMOS Delta Survival Shovel

Best Survival Shovel: Shovels are another overlanding and car camping staple that come in handy in a myriad of backwoods situations, from making a fire pit to crafting a latrine, to digging out a stuck vehicle. And when shopping for a shovel to add to your car camping kit, it really is hard to do much better than the Delta Survival Shovel from DMOS Collective. Fully-sized at 25” x 12” x 4”, this folding shovel — which is offered in five color choices — is made in America from high-quality aluminum. And if you need a carrying case, the brand also offers a MOLLE GP-compatible, multi-compartment, US-made storage bag constructed from ultra-hardwearing ballistic-grade 1,000D nylon (sold separately).

Material: Steel
Open Dimensions: 25″ x 12″ x 4″
Payload: 1,000lbs+

YAKIMA SlimShady Awning

Best Car Awning: If you spend the lion’s share of your time cooped up in an office, studio, or warehouse, it can be easy to forget just how much of a tole the sun can take on you, beating down for prolonged periods until setting behind the horizon. Fortunately, the folks over at YAKIMA are well-aware of this aspect of the outdoors and have consequently introduced a handful of products to help block out the sun’s rays, one of the most popular is the playfully yet accurately-named: SlimShady. Constructed from ultra-rugged polyurethane-coated 420D nylon fabric, this well-made, fully-waterproof awning utilizes universal mounting hardware that fits the vast majority of factory and aftermarket roof-racks. Starting out as a 6.5’ sleeved case, the SlimShady unfurls into a sheet that provides 42 square feet of protection from the sun and fully sets up without the need for any tools or additional equipment. These are also great for when you have to cook in the snow or rain. And, with SKS Lock Cores, you don’t have to worry about the awning getting stolen.

Weight: 20lbs
Material: 420D nylon
Opened Dimensions: 54″ x 78″ x 0.5″

Jetboil Genesis Basecamp Camping Cooking System

Best Car Camping Stove: A brilliantly-designed product engineered by passionate and experienced mountaineers, the Genesis Basecamp system from Jetboil cleverly fits an entire camp kitchen into a highly-compact, 9.8″ x 4.6″ nesting and folding package. Dual burners fold up (daisy-chain-style) and fit into the kit’s five-liter “FluxPot,” which is then capped off by an included 10” ceramic-coated non-stick frying pan (and lid) — all of which fits into a hardwearing carrying case which includes a compartment for the system’s fuel regulator. And, with a pair of 10,000 BTU burners, this camping stove system can heat a full liter of water in just over three minutes’ time — a feat it can perform an impressive 48 times from a single 1lb bottle of propane. It can also consistently perform this feat even in harsh weather conditions as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit (or -6 degrees Celsius).

Fuel: Propane
Dimensions: 9.8″ x 4.6″
Power: 10,000BTU

Yeti V Series Cooler

Best Car Camping Cooler: Vacuum-insulated water bottles have long been the standard in the refillable cell segment, lauded for their rugged nature coupled with their stellar ability to insulate their liquid contents from outside temperatures, keeping cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for up to 24 hours and 12 hours respectively. This freshly-unveiled offering from Yeti takes traditional vacuum-insulation and applies it to the company’s first-ever vacuum-insulated cooler. Absolutely perfect for car camping, this unpowered hard cooler can keep all of your food chilled and fresh for the duration of a short weekend trip. And, with its brushed stainless steel construction and cast aluminum hinges, you can be sure this cutting-edge cooler can stand up to quite a beating. Just like with water bottles, we expect vacuum-insulation to soon be the standard in the camping cooler industry.

Outer Construction: Stainless steel
Cold Retention: 24 hours
Capacity: 96 cans

iKamper Skycamp 3.0 Mini

Best Car Tent: One of the newest items on this list, iKamper’s Skycamp 3.0 Mini is one of the most adaptable roof-top tents on the market. Capable of taking on any season, the tent is made from a polyester 75D (PU 3000mm) mated to a 300gsm poly-cotton exterior lining supplemented via an aluminum honeycomb insulation system. Suitable for comfortably housing two adults, the Skycamp Mini fits a wide range of cars, (not just the Mini Cooper) including smaller models, as the product’s moniker suggests. In addition to offering a pair of color options, the company also sells a bevy of attachments for this rooftop camping tent including various racks and connected awnings. Best of all,(once mounted to the roof) this entire tent can be set up in just one minute, so you can spend more time enjoying the wilderness and less time fiddling around with tent poles, stakes, and rain flies.

Type: Hard-shell
Shell Material: Double-layered fiber-reinforced plastic with 1″ insulation and 300gsm poly-cotton canvas
Capacity: 2
Weight: 125lbs