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2026 Camp Essentials: What To Bring Tent Camping & On Road Trips

When we drove from Ohio to Seattle and dispersed tent camped along the way (read more about that here), we learned fast what gear was essential for camping and what could have stayed home.

enter chat.. all of our favorite tent camping essentials in one place.

The key? Packing smart and keeping it organized.

  • Cooking gear went in one bin.
  • Cleaning supplies and paper products in another.
  • Camp accessories in their own spot.

Everything had to fit in our Prius while still being easy to grab when we needed it.

Below are our road-trip and tent camping essentials. From the exact mosquito incense we use, to Liv’s favorite hiking shoes, the favorites are all here.

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For the complete printable tent camping checklist – scroll to the bottom to screenshot.

All setup in Grand Teton National Park

Campsite Essentials

Optional extras:


what to bring to cook at camp
Not a bad view for making coffee!

Camp Kitchen


Clothing & Footwear

For rainy or cold weather:


Pro tip: keep your gear organized and stocked in totes between trips so you’re always ready for the trip.

It took us a few long trips to figure out what actually made our camping experience better and what just took up space. The essentials on this list have become our non-negotiables, and the fun extras are what make camp feel like home from anywhere.

To make things even easier, we pulled everything into a one-page printable checklist you can save to your phone or print out before your trip.

complete tent camping checklist

Keep it handy while you pack, cross things off as you go, keep things stocked and organized between trips and you’ll always be ready!

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