What to Bring Camping: A Beginner’s Guide

If you’re new to camping or have only gone a few times, no worries! We’ve got you covered. Through the years of camping every summer, we basically have it down to a science for what’s required for a great camping trip.

We have a comprehensive list of all the gear you will need so you don’t forget a thing. Feel free to print out the list and check things off as you pack. If you need to purchase any of the items on the list, we have some suggestions below of things you can get on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Camping Gear List: 

  • Grill 
  • Propane
  • Hot Dog Sticks & Mountain Pie Irons
  • Grill Utensils
  • Metal Table
  • Cooler
  • Plates
  • Utensils
  • Paper Towels
  • Garbage Bags
  • Cooking Spray
  • Tent
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Air Mattress & Air Pump
  • Pillow
  • Sheets & Blankets
  • Lantern
  • Pop Up Canopy
  • Camping Chairs
  • Bug Spray

Kitchen Necessities:

You will need some of these roasting sticks if you plan on making hot dogs or smores! You can get a 5 pack on Amazon here.

Of course, you’ll have to get a pie iron or two if you plan on making pizza or cherry pie mountain pies. If there are multiple people with you, I would recommend getting a double iron. You can find both a single and a double iron on Amazon here. 

Unless you are going to eat hot dogs and mountain pies your entire camping trip, you’re going to need some sort of grill. Below are a few good options:

If you don’t want to cook over the fire every night, we suggest getting a smaller, portable Blackstone! We love grilling burgers on ours! You can find them on amazon here. 

If you would rather not get a Blackstone, here is a cheaper option that will get the job done! You can find them on amazon here.

If you get one of the grills we listed above, you’re going to need some propane to fuel them. Be sure to get more than one so you don’t run out! You can get a 3 pack on Amazon here.

If you don’t prefer a portable grill, there is also the option to get a folding grate that goes over top of the fire ring. You can find them on Amazon here.

This metal table is perfect for setting your hot pie irons or cast iron pans on. You can get one on Amazon here.

Sleeping Necessities: 

Unless you’re staying in a camper, you’re going to need a tent to sleep in. Depending on how big of one you need, Coleman has 2, 4, 6, or 8 person tents on Amazon here.

I’m sure you don’t want to sleep on the cold, hard ground, so an air mattress is definitely a necessity. This one has a built-in pump. If your campsite doesn’t have electricity, you will need to purchase a pump that can plug into your car. You can get this air mattress on Amazon here.

You will also need a sleeping bag to stay warm. Even on those hot summer days, the temperatures can drop pretty low at night. Another Coleman recommendation, you can find this sleeping bag on Amazon here.

Other Necessities:

A pop up canopy tent is a great item to bring if it’s calling for rain or if you need some shade during the day. We love to set ours up over top our picnic table. It keeps everything dry during those nighttime storms. You can find this on Amazon here.

You will need to bring a camping chair to sit around the fire. If you’re interested in a basic chair, this is a great option you can find on Amazon here.

If you’d like to recline back and relax, possibly take a nap in the sun, then this is the perfect chair for you. I love reclining with a good book to read!. You can find this zero gravity chair on Amazon here.