I’ve been camping since I was a small child. We didn’t have a lot of money, and the 10 day trip we took each summer a the highlight of the year. Most of our camping equipment came from within our house, so my mom was organized about making sure we had everything.
I got a copy of her packing list when I started camping on my own, and have expanded and adjusted it to suit our family camping style over the years. This list is over four decades of experience!
Some parts of this list may seem like overkill, but you don’t want to arrive at a campground 2 hours from civilization to realize you didn’t pack the tent pegs!
Five years ago we upgraded to a trailer, which has shifted some of our camping needs. I’ve tried to include items for both tenters and RVers.
Finally, if you’re planning a backpacking trip, this list is NOT for you. I’m not that much of a minimalist! I recommend Born To Be Adventurous for a family backpacking.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclosure for more info.
Land Acknowledgement
This land has welcomed First Nations from across Turtle Island, and settlers and visitors from around the world. Alberta lands are part of Treaties 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10, and the homeland of the Métis.
Alberta Mamas respects and celebrates the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit nations. We are striving to better listen, understand, and learn from the Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.
We are all Treaty people.
Table of Contents
Editable Checklist
Be sure to grab your free, editable version of this checklist!
Save a copy (File -> Make a copy) to your own Google Drive so you can adjust the list to your own needs. This should be a living document – be sure to adjust it after each camping trip with anything you forgot or don’t need!
Shelter & Bed
The most essential part of camping and what can make or break your trip!
- Tent (or trailer)
- Ground sheet
- Pegs
- Tent fly or tarp
- For each person:
- Sleeping bag/quilt
- Mattress pad
- Pump if needed
- Pillow
- Travel stuffed animal (we don’t bring their favourite stuffie on trips – I’ve managed to get a duplicate that is specifically named “travel stuffie”)
- Optional: foam mats (these save my knees in a tent and provide nice insulation underfoot in a trailer)
Individual Supplies
Every person will need most of these items. The weather and length of your trip will impact quantities, but I usually recommend packing at least one sweater and pair of shorts, even if you don’t think you’ll need them.
If you’re going for a trip longer than a week, try to plan a laundromat day rather than packing two weeks worth of clothes. This will save you quite a bit of space!
- lip balm
- hiking backpack (we use this on day trips, too)
- water bottle
- Clothing:
- sweater
- t-shirts
- pants
- shorts
- bathing suit
- underwear
- socks
- PJs
- Footwear (have two pairs you can wear outdoors as a minimum – just in case one gets wet):
- sandals (may double as shower shoes)
- camp shoes (sneakers)
- slippers (trailer only)
- hiking boots
- rain boots (if hikers aren’t waterproof)
- Outerwear (I pack most of these in the hiking bag):
- jacket
- rain poncho
- toque
- gloves/mitts
- Buff (for all the ways you can wear it)
- sunglasses
- ball cap
- Grooming kit:
- soap
- wash cloth
- deodorant
- tooth brush
- tooth paste
- dental floss
- hair brush
- hair product
- pony tail holders
- face and body lotion
- shaving supplies
- Shower kit:
- bag
- towel
- shampoo
- conditioner
- shower shoes (dollar store sandals or “crocs”)
- quarters & loonies
Exterior Supplies
Covering things like sun & bug protection, campfire, and general camp comfort, these are the kind of supplies that make you look like you know what you’re doing, and help ensure the smoothest trip.
- propane tanks (20+lb for the trailer and several 1lb for camp stove and/or other propane powered items)
- camp chair for each person
- Sun & Bug:
- bug spray
- mosquito coils
- mosquito coil holders
- sunscreen
- Campfire supplies:
- lighter
- matches
- paper
- splitting axe
- shovel
- Optional:
- Note: buy your firewood locally to avoid transporting pests
- For the kids (not everything is pack for every trip):
- glow sticks
- outdoor toys (we keep these in a large beach bucket)
- cars
- sand shovel and related toys
- play dishes (pinecone soup!)
- marbles
- bike
- helmet
- bike lock
- soccer ball
- baseball & gloves
- chalk
- bubbles
- kite
- inflatable baby pool
- Tools:
- Toolbox
- screwdrivers
- allan key
- pliers
- adjustable wrench
- hammer
- axe
- rubber mallet
- duct tape
- work gloves
- disposable gloves
- rags
- flashlight
- zip ties
- fire extinguisher
- tent repair kit
- blue shop towels
- rope
- bungy cords
- tarp
- extra tent pegs
- camp stove refill fuel & funnel (if using a naphtha stove)
- Toolbox
- Trailer supplies:
- wheel chocks
- leveling blocks
- 20/30/50 amp cord
- city power adaptor
- surge protector
- fresh water hose
- city water adaptor/water pressure regulator
- Sewer hose kit
- Sewer hose support
- outdoor rug
- Optional:
- extension cords
- propane hookups
- wagon
- campfire sidetable
- dining tent
Creature Comforts & Safety Bin
These items typically go into the tent/trailer and stay near the door (the exception being the first three, which stay in the vehicle). If we set up a dining tent it may go in there, instead, so it’s more accessible during the day.
- Health & Safety:
- hand lotion
- first aid kit
- toilet paper (always pack it; don’t trust the campground to have some)
- kleenex/tissues
- fire extinguisher
- emergency candles
- emergency sewing kit
- safety pins
- lantern
- flashlight/headlamp
- batteries
- umbrella & rain poncho (I keep dollar store versions of these in with the camp supplies year round so we aren’t caught without)
- scissors
- Sharpie (you never know what you’ll need to label)
- pens/pencil & notebook
- extra blankets
- deck of cards
- travel games
- For the kids:
- colouring books
- construction paper
- white paper
- crayons
- pencil crayons
- markers
- scissors
- playdoh
- Cleaning supplies:
- clothespins
- rope
- broom
- dust pan
- laundry hamper/bag
- hand sanitizer
- disinfecting wipes
- baby wipes
- laundry soap
- hand towel
- Trailer specific items:
- stools
- ladder
- Owner’s manual
- lightbulbs
- extra fuses
- Optional:
- doormat (reduce the dirt tracked in)
- fan
- travel clock
- phone charger battery pack
- walkie talkies
- ear plugs
First Aid Kit
I keep everything together in a fabric bag everyone in the group knows what it looks like and where to find it.
- Medication:
- Kids Advil
- Kids Tylenol
- Advil
- Tylenol
- TUMS
- stomach meds
- allergy medicine
- aloe cream (sunburn)
- bug bite cream
- Polysporin
- alcohol wipes
- bandaids
- sterile gauze
- tape
- tweezers
- steri-strips
- nail clippers
- thermometer
- Q-Tips
- eye wash kit
Kitchen
When tent camping I pack all of this into a large tote. I always dreamed of having a more organized camp kitchen system, but the Rubbermaid bin did the trick. And now I have drawers and cupboards!
- paper towel
- tin foil
- plastic cling wrap
- parchment paper (trailer only)
- ziplock bags
- trash bags (old grocery bags)
- Campsuds soap
- dish pan (I love that this one doubles as a cutting board)
- plastic dish scaper
- dish cloth
- dish towels
- storage containers
- pots
- frying pan
- kettle
- pot holder/oven mitts
- coffee supplies (we still get fancy with our coffee while camping – if you aren’t, you could just pack instant coffee, or find the system that works for you)
- Pour-over cone
- Filters
- Aeropress (check filter supply)
- Grinder
- Beans
- camp stove
- griddle (optional, but so nice)
- toaster
- cooler (to bring lunch with us)
Cooking Utensils
Depending on your menu you can adjust what you pack, but if you like to pack once and go all year (my preference!), this is what I keep stocked in my kitchen.
If you’re just getting started, a set like this is a great option to get most things you need and keep it organized.
- spatula
- tongs
- big spoon
- ladle
- whisk
- knives
- scissors
- veggie peeler
- can opener
- cork screw (so important! We have bought THREE while camping before it became a part of the list)
- bottle opener
- cutting boards (at least 2 – one specifically for raw meat)
- strainer
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- skewers (cheap bag from the dollar store)
- mixing bowls
- chip clips
- meat thermometer
- egg timer (great for all kinds of things, but you can also just use your phone)
- funnel
- toothpicks
- silicone brush
- cheese grater
Tableware
Whether you go with disposable, plastic, metal, enamelware or whatever you were able to find at the thrift store, we all need something to eat off of!
I recommend having a couple more sets than you have people (e.g. if there are 4 of you have enough for 6), because we often end up using dishes and cutlery while prepping food in addition to eating.
- plates
- bowls
- cuttlery
- mugs
- cups
- tablecloth
- tablecloth clips (keep the tablecloth safe from kids and wind; also a great way to hang a garbage bag at the table)
- Optional:
- napkins (or use paper towel)
- wine “glass”
- serving trays (amazing for moving things around – especially from the trailer to the picnic table)
- bug covers (we don’t use them often, but are so glad we have them when needed!)
Food
There are a few ways you can approach camping food. When it was just hubby and I camping, we had a three day menu that we used every trip so it was really easy to just pack to the list, keep the basics we needed (salt, pepper, oil, etc) ready to go, and rarely came home with leftovers.
Now that we’re camping with kids (who like a bit more variety in their meals and snacks) my pack list has grown. This list reflects that reality.
Dry Food
I picked up a Sterilite-style plastic drawer system off Facebook Marketplace years ago and keep all our dry food organized in it. We usually keep it in the back of our SUV – even with a trailer – so snacks are always available when we’re out exploring (we camp in bear country, so it doesn’t stay out).
- water (we always bring a few gallons of drinking water from home)
- Spices & seasonings
- salt
- pepper
- garlic powder
- oregano
- rosemary
- cinnamon
- other spices
- corn starch
- baking soda
- bread crumbs
- oil
- vinegar
- sugar
- butter (1/2 stick at “room” temp for easy spreading)
- bread
- tea
- hot chocolate
- fruit (apples, oranges)
- canned fruit
- granola bars
- crackers
- graham crackers
- marshmallows
- jiffy-pop stove-top popcorn
- juice boxes
- parent “juice” (wine, scotch, etc)
These optional extras give me easy meals I can whip up if whatever we planned is a fail or we just don’t have the time. Most breakfasts are “serve yourself” from these options. (Sometimes the meal is planned to use these – especially on the day we arrive.)
- oatmeal
- dry cereal (Fruit Loops or single serve boxes)
- pancake mix (make sure it’s “add water and oil” not milk and eggs)
- peanut butter (single serve containers)
- jam (single serve containers)
- pasta
- tomato sauce or pesto
- Mac & Cheese and 2 tsp powdered milk
- canned soup
- canned tuna
- canned veggies
In the Cooler
Until we upgraded to a trailer we traveled with a 12v cooler (even in the early 90s, it was one of my parents’ splurge items). While you can always do a cooler with ice, one that runs on electricity is a bit more reliable for your eggs, milk, and steak dinner!
This is what I pack:
- Condiments – I’ll often collect single-serve packets in advance of camping season (especially of the later items) and keep them in a ziplock bag in the fridge that I can just throw into the cooler when we head out camping.
- ketchup
- mustard
- relish
- mayo
- butter
- maple/pancake syrup
- ranch dressing
- bbq sauce
- hot sauce
- lemon juice (the little lemon sized container)
- soy sauce
- milk (in a jug, not a carton – Sobeys sells them – or use a wide-mouth bottle with screw on lid so it’s easier to clean)
- eggs
- bacon
- cheese
- baby carrots
- charcuterie meat
- pop & beer (pre-chilled)
Before Leaving
In addition to packing, there are tasks that need to be done before every trip. Don’t forget to…
- Fill vehicle gas tank
- Check:
- tire pressure
- tail lights
- Trailer:
- fill propane tanks
- charged battery
- coupler lock
- breakaway cable
- heater works
- vents and windows are closed
- trailer keys
- Pack:
- lug wrench
- insurance & registration
- health care cards
- purse
- wallet
- Cash (firewood, corner store runs)
- Entertainment for the kids on the road
- Download audiobook(s) for family
- Download movies onto their devices
- Power cables are set up
- Headphones
- Confirm the checklist is complete
Grab Your Checklist
If you found this list helpful, don’t forget to grab your own copy of the free, editable version of this checklist!
Can you make this article better?
We’re always looking to improve! Have you noticed a spelling or information error, know of something we left out, or would like to share anything else, reach out to us!
- Email us at hello@albertamamas.com
- Get social on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, and Pinterest
- Use our Contact Us form
- Write your own post for us!