May 22, 2020 |
Camping Checklist
If you're new to camping it can be a little overwhelming to think about all of the gear you might need to spend the night outdoors. Even seasoned campers have moments of forgetfulness and wind up driving out of their way to grab forgotten items. So how do you remember all of the camping essentials without a stressful packing experience? A checklist and an understanding of what gear you need to have and why is a great place to start.
A great resource for those who don't own camping gear or need a few extra items for an upcoming trip is our partnership with Arrive Outdoors. Arrive allows you to rent the camping and hiking gear you need online at an affordable price. Arrive will ship the gear, where you need it, and you can return it for free. You can also change or cancel your order anytime before it ships. As we discuss camping gear in this blog, we'll provide links to some gear on Arrive's website so you can add what you need to your cart.
Whether you're heading out for your first camping trip or preparing for an annual family camping adventure, the following camping checklist, and gear explanations should help you tackle camping prep like a pro. Our list covers the basics of campsite gear, tools, cooking supplies, clothes, personal items, activity supplies, and even pet supplies. Use this list to help guide you as you pack for a prepared and comfortable camping experience.
Camping Essentials
Some campers thrive with the basic necessities for a quick setup and takedown process while others prefer to add additional touches for an extra cozy campsite. As you continue to camp, you'll settle into a style and find what gear you need to add or leave at home to create the best experience for your time outdoors.
If you're looking to rent the basics, Arrive Outdoors offers bundles of camping essentials that include a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a lantern, and more. There are bundle options with gear to accommodate one to four people.
When it comes to camping essentials here's what you need to pack and why:
Tent
Tent camping at Tennessee State Parks makes an incredible vacation or spontaneous adventure. The accessibility of being able to throw a tent and some camping essentials in the back of your car opens the door to exploring all of our parks that offer camping. Car camping sites, in particular, allow you to pull right up to the site and unload your gear with ease. This allows you to think less about the weight of the gear you're packing and makes for a quick setup and tear-down process.
When you start looking for tents, you'll see that they're available in a range of shapes and sizes. From lightweight backpacking tents to seasonally specific shelters, how do you find the tent that's right for you? In most cases, a standard 3-season camping tent will keep you comfortable. You don't need to splurge on a lightweight backpacking tent if you'll be car camping and a 3-season tent will hold up to most of the weather in Tennessee.
In addition to a tent, there are two essential items you won't want to forget. First, you'll want a tarp or footprint to place underneath your tent. If your tent didn't come with one of these, a generic tarp folded to the size of your tent will work just fine. Placing a tarp or footprint under your tent helps you stay dry and warm throughout your trip and protects the bottom of your tent from damage. You'll also want a rainfly to cover your tent with. A rainfly is a waterproof piece of fabric that attaches to the top of your tent protecting you from rain and moisture like morning dew.
Rent a tent from Arrive.
Sleeping Essentials
Sleeping outdoors doesn't have to be uncomfortable. With the right sleeping essentials, you can wake up to greet the sun refreshed and ready for a day of adventure.
Sleeping Pads, Mattresses, and Cots
A sleeping pad or mattress provides a cushioned barrier between you and the hard ground, ensuring you sleep soundly throughout the night. A sleeping pad is compact and easy to inflate but is also much thinner than an air mattress. Most sleeping pads are self-inflating which means one less piece of gear you have to bring. Most car campers are fine with the added weight and setup that an air mattress requires given it provides a more cushioned sleep. Camping close to the car allows for easy inflation with an electric air-pump but manual pumps are also an option.
Rent a sleeping pad or cot from Arrive.
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags come in a variety of different temperature ranges. For most seasons, campers find that a 30 to 40-degree sleeping bag works best. When car camping, you can always stash a few extra layers for cold nights. You can also buy or rent sleeping bag liners. These lightweight inserts for your sleeping bag can increase the temperature by an average of 15 degrees.
Arrive rents sleeping bags from 20 to 35-degrees. They also rent sleeping bag liners.
Pillow
You don't need a fancy camping pillow to complete your bedding set up. A pillow from home will keep you just as comfortable if not more! However, if you're trying to conserve space or you want to avoid taking your pillows from home outdoors, you can buy or rent a camp pillow.
Rent a camp pillow from Arrive.
Lanterns, Headlamps, and Flashlights
When it comes to camping you'll need more than the moonlight and a campfire to help you navigate after dark. There's a number of items you can use for lighting up your campsite from the classic lantern to a headlamp. Headlamps are great for times when you need two hands and some bright light to focus on what's right in front of you. Situations like cooking or even trips to the bathhouse make headlamps a great option. Lanterns are great when you need to light a large area but you don't want to hold the source. You can set an electric lantern down on a picnic table or inside your tent for long-lasting, rechargeable light. Gas-fueled lanterns should never be too close or inside your tent, as it's a fire hazard. The classic flashlight is always a good choice, just remember to pack extra batteries if the kind you have isn't rechargeable.
Rent a lantern, headlamp, or flashlight from Arrive.
Fire
From providing warmth to toasting the perfect marshmallow, a campfire is the main event of most campsites. Make sure to check for burn bans in the area of your campsite, especially during dry months. It's also a good idea to brush up on your fire safety before heading out.
At Tennessee State Parks, we require that all firewood that's brought to the park must be certified heat-treated wood. This reduces the potential for transporting invasive species. You can purchase certified heat-treated firewood at most of our park camp stores. Some even offer to have the wood ready upon arrival if you call and purchase in advance.
Information
Information like park phone numbers, directions, and even trail maps is important for a well-executed camping trip. Specific park information can be found on the park's page of our website. Park alerts can be found on our alerts page. You can also download the Tennessee State Parks mobile app for easy access to park contact info, trail maps, and park alerts.
Campsite Extras
Here are a couple of items that can make your campsite extra comfortable:
- Foldable Chairs
- Hammock
- Tablecloth
- Doormat (helps keep dirt out of your tent)
- Sunshade
- Battery-powered fan
- Insect repellent candles
Tools
When it comes to camping tools, it's always best to be over-prepared. Tools like duct tape often come in handy when spending time outdoors. Here are a few essential tools you should take on each camping trip:
- Mallet or hammer (to drive stakes into the ground)
- Rope
- Duct tape
- Scissors
- Multi-tool
Cooking & Dining Supplies
Cooking outdoors may seem daunting, but some of the best food you'll ever eat can be made while camping. You don't have to limit your meals to cans of beans. In fact, there are lots of ways to make meals you would cook at home outdoors. The best way to approach camp cooking is with a can-do attitude and a plan. If you're spending three days at a park, plan out breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for all of those days and then shop accordingly. Although campfire cooking can be incredible, with gear like a camp stove you're not limited to what you can cook over the fire.
When packing up your kitchen supplies, we recommend buying one or two large clear bins to store all of your supplies. This makes it easy to grab everything you need from the car when it's mealtime. Here are the cooking and dining supplies we recommend bringing on your camping trip:
Reusable Water Jug
Many of our campsites have access to water for drinking and dishes. If you’re staying at a primitive site, come prepared with your own water in a large refillable jug. There are normally areas within driving or walking distance where you can refill. For backcountry sites, bring enough water for your trip and pack a water filtration system.
Camp Stove and Fuel
A camp stove makes cooking outdoors similar to cooking at home on a stovetop. Camp stoves come in a variety of types from small backpacking cooking systems to larger multi-burner stoves. Camp stoves are often fueled by small propane tanks that can be purchased at most supermarkets in the outdoors section. For car camping, a double burner camp stove is a great option that allows you to cook a range of meals from grilled vegetables to pancakes.
Rent a camp stove from Arrive. If you rent, make sure to purchase some propane to fuel your stove!
Cooler
Wondering how to keep your perishable food nice and cold throughout the entirety of your camping trip? A good cooler can insulate your food for days and prevent you from having a water mess of floating bacon and eggs by the end of your stay. There are lots of different types of coolers out there, and the one you buy or rent might depend on how long your camping trips normally last. If it's a quick overnight trip, a soft-sided cooler will do the trick. If you're going to be out in the woods for a couple of days, you might want to think about a plastic, hard-shell cooler with more space.
Rent a cooler from Arrive.
- Multi-tool bottle /can opener
- Pots and frying pan
- Reusable plates and bowls
- Lighter
- Oven mitt
- Kitchen knife
- Cooking utensils (spatula, large spoon, etc.)
- Eating utensils (sporks are great)
- Mugs and cups
- Reusable water bottles
- Trash bags
- Bin to wash dishes
- Biodegradable soap (please do not use generic dish soap when outdoors)
- Sponge
- Dish towels or paper towels
Cooking Extras:
- Non-electric coffee maker/ tea steeper
- Roasting sticks for marshmallows
- Dutch Oven
- Tupperware
Clothes
When it comes to camping clothes, the main question is: is it comfortable and practical for the climate and activity you'll be doing? Always check the temperature of the location you’ll be camping at for the morning, day, and night. Temperatures can vary drastically from day to night depending on the season and location. It’s always better to be over-prepared!
Arrive rents Men's and Women's hiking apparel.
All-Weather:
- Hiking boots or sturdy close-toed shoes
- Quick-drying pants and shorts (avoid denim as it holds moisture)
- Light jacket
- Clothes to sleep in
- Sock (synthetic or wool, bring two pairs per day)
- Long-sleeve shirts
- Short-sleeve shirts
- Moisture-wicking underwear
Cold Weather:
- Heavily insulated coat
- Long underwear or warm layers
- A hat that covers ears
- Gloves
Warm Weather:
- Bathing suits
- Sandals or water shoes
- Sandals for relaxing at camp
- Hat or visor
Rainy Weather:
- Rain jacket
- Rain pants
- Waterproof, close-toed shoes
Personal Hygiene and Items
Camping doesn't have to mean going to bed dirty every night. It can, but it doesn't have to. If you're someone who likes to shower before climbing into your sleeping bag, Tennessee State Parks offers campgrounds across the state with easy access to a centrally-located bathhouse from your campsite. Here are a few hygiene items you won't want to leave the house without:
- Toilet paper
- If staying at a campsite with a bathhouse, toilet paper is provided, but it's still nice to have on hand.
- Hand sanitizer
- Medications
- Eyeglasses or contacts with solution
- Towels and washcloths
- Hairbrush or comb
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Sunscreen
- Body lotion
- Shampoo and body wash
- Lip protection
- Insect repellent
- Earplugs
First Aid:
We recommend buying a first aid kit. If you’re creating your own, remember to pack these essentials:
- Bandaids
- Alcohol or antiseptic wipes
- Tweezers
- Pain relief medication
- Gauze
Activity Supplies
- Notebook and pen
- Camera and supplies
- Guitar or musical instrument (no noise between 10 pm and 6 am)
- Books and magazines
- Cards and board games
- Frisbee
- Wildlife field guides (these can be purchased at most of our gift shops)
Pets
All campgrounds at Tennessee State Parks are pet-friendly! Your pet must be kept on a leash at all times. Read more about our pet policies under dogs, cats, and other pets.
- Leashes and collar
- Water bowl (for camp and trails)
- Food bowl
- Pet food
- Pick-up bags
- Toys
- Pet bed
Let's Camp!
Many of our parks offer camping for tents and RVs, and some even offer hammock, primitive, and backcountry sites. Most tent and RV sites come with a picnic table, fire ring, electricity, access to water, and a central bathhouse.
Want to find out more about the campsites we offer?
Ready to Book?
New to Camping?
If you are interested in camping but don't know where to start, you're not alone. There are tons of campgrounds out there, but some provide amenities and access to tools that will help your first camping trip go as smoothly as possible. That's why we've compiled five camping destinations perfect for beginners. Even if you're not a beginner, these destinations are ideal for new parents or anyone looking to take a friend camping for the first time.
Looking for Campsites Close to Home?
Check out these camping destination blogs that list campgrounds near major cities:
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