You Only Need These 9 Things to Go Car Camping Right Now

Stop making excuses. You don't need tons of specialized gear to go car camping -- just grab the essentials and go. Below are the only things you actually need (minus food and water). Just remember to be safe, check the forecasts and follow local regulations.

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[haylee]

“Stop making excuses. You don’t need special shit. Grab your essentials and go”
Needed this lol

[seniortraveller]

'Use whatever you have at home' is my theory. I use my hatchback car and fold down the back seats. I use my exercise mat as sleeping pad, not long enough but I use pillows I use the kitchen eating utensils. Anyway, it is only car camping, not thru hiking. No need to buy fancy gear.

[pilgrim]

I'm one of those "Want to, never done it since I was 8 and in my back yard" kind of campers. Now being over 60, I'd like to "just go" and this video was a GREAT encouragement. I have a Honda CRV and I think I can outfit it with what I have and have a fun time. Maybe start with a few overnights and then go from there. Thanks, Mr. Martin. Definitely going in my favorite Camping videos!

[sunnyscott]

I take my tent and set it up to put stuff in but I sleep in my GMC envoy.
It's comfortable and safer. I am a 72 year old lady and I camp in state parks.

[amysentell]

Thanks for this! I have finally decided to stop waiting for others and just do what I enjoy. Working on planning my first car camping trip and this was very helpful !

[ladyofthemasque]

Hitting the Like button for mentioning bringing a trash bag & packing out your trash, THANK YOU!

[Cutlass_Rudd]

You don't need a bunch of crazy gear, no, but a few things will make it a whole lot easier. Small folding table, $25 butane stove (building a fire each morning just to boil water for your coffee sucks), battery packs to charge your electronics, good LED lamp, good sleeping pad/sleeping bag/pillow, window screens to keep bugs out.

[victoriamahon]

Car camping hack if you don’t go camping that often and don’t want to invest in sleeping pads or mattresses but have a patio set, the patio cushions are great for sleeping on. We use these every summer when we go to the drive-in or camping they’re very cushy and it’s repurposing something you may already have on hand. This works especially well if you have thicker patio cushions or a set because then you can take multiple cushions and use them to fill up your whole space and make it a nice place to sleep.

[kellyjohnson]

My easiest fire starter is an empty toilet paper roll stuffed with dryer lint. I bring bags of those with me. They light easily and put one under a log snd it will really get that log burning. No special skills needed to make it. Snd it’s something that’s free snd readily available.

[Lioness]

I would also recommend bug spray. Bugs can make things miserable. Sunscreen should probably be brought if you're camping out in the open or are going to be out hiking or something.

[miguelgonzales]

Totally admitting I'm a first time camper. I signed up for the REI membership and had a $30 voucher about to expire. Bing bang boom, I walked about with a tent (marked at $569 but went for $169), two sleeping bags and a cooktop. Super excited and nervous that I'm going to f it up. Planning to do a test run in the backyard of setting up. Wish me luck (that my husband doesn't scream at me). lol.

[untamedjames]

Great advice, good to watch someone that isn't caught up on big brands! Its all about enjoying the outdoors.

[theserenewedroots]

My boyfriend, his daughter and I went camping for the first time together last weekend and it was great. Definitely would love to try car camping.

[katherinelangford]

Oh I've car camped and brought a bunch of blankets and a pizza and drinks. Campsite provides a picnic table. Only other thing is wood and a lighter at the front gate. Just put down the seats, blanket up, and you are good to go. Enjoy some walks, and sitting by the fire eating your pizza.

[gtrance]

GreaT tip on the food. I got horrendous food poisoning trying to cook while camping. Never again. Now we precook and just heat up. 👍

[rudyvonnelopez]

I totally enjoyed this presentation. Pleasant voice, great camera work, super encouragement. Sounds like a teacher. Thank you so much for this video.

[jammindave]

At 61 and camping my entire life, you don’t need anything but the desire. Build from there.

[maryburger]

I'm in France and NO campfires /bonfires are allowed here in nature, on proper campsites you have to use fire bins to have a fire in.

[Eusantdac]

"If its not quite your comfort level, You know replace something with something better" - Exactly. Get the basics and just go. With experience You will learn about what more You need, what You don't need, etc. Eventually, when You have good equipment suited to your needs, it will last You decades of fun and enjoyment. Speaking from experience.

[GabeBroDudeMan]

FINALLY found a guy who gets it! So many videos of people going OVER THE TOP just to camp in their car ON the trail thats about 20 minutes away FROM the main road like bro I just wanna know how to be comfy and OK while I figure it out myself! Thanks Bro, definitely gonna follow.