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Make your next family camping trip more enjoyable for all with these Must Have Camping Supplies.
Camping is much more fun when you plan ahead. It’s easy to forget basic items or over pack unnecessary things even if you’re experienced. If scouting taught me anything it was to be prepared. Many camp outs later, I have come up with my perfect list of fun essentials. These must have camping items will help you and your family plan ahead so that the trip to the great outdoors is just that- GREAT!
I’m leaving off a tent, sleeping bags, and food because those are pretty obvious supplies. Plus, the tent and sleeping bag you pick are dependent on the climate where you are camping. After decades of camping, these are my Must Have Camping Supplies that I won’t leave home without. If you need a basic camping checklist, check out my Camping Supplies List printable.
Must Have Camping Supplies
Make your next family camping trip more enjoyable for all with these Must Have Camping Supplies.
Solar Charger
A solar charger is a must. Use it to keep your GPS and phone charged up. I use my phone for photos and with a long trip, my battery eventually runs down and I love to keep it charged for emergencies. To keep your phone battery charged longer switch it to airplane mode.
Outdoor Camping Pots and Pans
These are my favorite little pots, besides a nice cast iron skillet. They are the perfect size for heating a can of beans, boiling a little water, or scrambling eggs for my family. They stack and store nicely.
Portable LED Camping Lantern with Ceiling Fan
We added a tent fan/light combo a few years ago. It’s a great addition and perfect for getting organized for bed with a little light. The fan is a necessity here in Arizona…it gets so hot that getting the air moving just a little bit will lower the temperature about 10 degrees in the tent.
The Perfect Campfire Grill
We were gifted this exact portable grill. We camp where there isn’t a fire pit and grill usually, but on the chance we end up in a campground I hate how dirty the grills are. This grill comes with a case and it’s swivels around and moves up and down. It’s sturdy enough to hold my cast iron skillet, but can also handle hot dogs. We never camp without it.
Multi-Spice
I love this spice kit. I always saw I’m gonna make my own, but I usually pick up this guy at Walmart or Bass Pro when we are prepping for the summer camping season.
Camping - Lawn Chairs with Built-in Cooler
Fold up chairs chairs are the best. They take up little room and come in all sorts of sizes and varieties and colors. Heck, I’ve even seen fold up rocking chairs. Just make sure to splurge for chairs with a cup holder.
Camp Propane Grill/Stove
Having a camp stove is always a fun addition. It’s great for quick meals when you don’t want to light a huge fire.
12 Cup Enamelware Percolator
We never leave home without our percolator coffee pot. It’s a fun change from our espresso maker at home. If you are a die hard drip coffee fan, you can splurge for a drip maker that works on a portable stove. The percolator can be used over a fire or on the portable stove.
Folding Camping Kitchen
Okay…don’t laugh! I love to cook and depending on the length of our trip, I bring this camping kitchen set up with us. It is amazing! Don’t want something so big, try this smaller camping kitchen.
Instant Screenhouse
This was a purchase I insisted on, I have this exact screen. My camping kitchen fits in it (along with a couple folding chairs). We’ve had some crazy trips where we got swarmed by vulture bees and mosquitos while I was preparing our food. I don’t always take it, but on long trips where I’m doing a ton of real cooking I bring it.
These are my favorites for camping. I don’t bring real dishes because I don’t want to be doing dishes constantly. The benefit of these plates and cups is that you can toss them in the fire when you are done eating. It saves you from doing tons of dishes and there is less trash to pack out. The long stick lighters are a must for camp fires…always bring more than you think you’ll need.
Looking for camping inspiration? Check out my whole Camping Planning section for recipes, tips, and ideas for great family camping vacations.
I’ve been wanting to camp more and I think investing in some quality gear could be helpful. It makes sense that it’s important to have a good camp stove and other cooking supplies to make it easier in the morning. This is something I need to remember in particular because I don’t like having large fires, especially if I plan on leaving the site in the morning, so, good camping cooking supplies could be a great investment to save some time.