Car Camping Gear List for Couples: Our Favorites

As a fellow gear whore, getting new camping gear is like Christmas morning. I first started collecting backpacking gear when I moved to Colorado, but over the years, I started noticing my friends’ comfy car camping setups and wanted one of my own.

Since then, we’ve slowly built our collection of car camping gear, finding things that make camping a little more comfortable without feeling over the top.

I’m sharing my favorite car camping gear for couples that we’ve collected over the years, plus a few things still on my wish list.

Sleeping & Shelter

Big Agnes Tent

Our Big Agnes tent might be my favorite thing on this entire list. I previously had an REI tent that I loved, but we were gifted a 3-person Big Agnes tent, and it’s SO easy to set up. I can easily put it together by myself, it’s lightweight, and it’s the perfect size for the two of us and our 70-pound dog.

We loved it so much that we eventually upgraded to a 6-person Big Agnes tent when we had two large dogs. It feels like a giant living room! You can actually stand up inside, so it’s perfect for families, camping with multiple dogs, or anyone who wants more room to spread out.

We still use our 3-person tent the most because it’s lighter and easier to set up. The 6-person is a bit heavier and takes more effort to put together, but it comes with a great carrying case and would be especially nice for longer camping trips when you want a more comfortable setup.

Big Agnes is a small outdoor gear company based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Both tents have held up incredibly well in Colorado weather, are durable, and easy to pack away. We also bring our smaller 3-person tent backpacking since it’s light enough to carry.

Sleeping Pad

Over the years, I’ve learned that a good sleeping pad is worth splurging on! It really makes all the difference when you’re camping. I started with a 3-inch REI Camp Bed that I used for years before recently upgrading to the Exped MegaMat.

The REI pad served me well, but I wanted something a thicker for my hips as I’m a side sleeper. Since we don’t have to worry as much about weight or space, a thicker sleeping pad is one of those upgrades that’s absolutely worth it. I have a seperate sleeping bag for backpacking that’s small to pack up.

Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags really depend on where you’re camping and what the weather is like. In Colorado, I always used a 0-degree sleeping bag for those cold summer nights at higher elevations. I’m always chilly, regardless of the temperature! I’ve had a NEMO women’s sleeping bag on my wish list for years!

Now that we’re back in North Carolina, I’m looking at getting a 40-degree bag since it’s much hotter and more humid here.

I’ve always used the same sleeping bag for backpacking and car camping, but sometimes I’ll just bring a comforter when we’re car camping.

Down Booties

Shade Tent

We never started with a shade tent, but after one trip to Walmart in the middle of a camping trip, we always make sure it’s on the packing list. We got one with a bug net so if the bugs were bad or if it was raining, we could just pull the sides down for extra protection.

I wouldn’t say ours is the most durable in the wind and crazy weather, but it’s big and easy to setup and has held up pretty well over the years.

Camp Kitchen & Cooking Gear

Camping Stove

Having a camping stove makes it so much fun to cook gourmet meals while camping! It’s especially nice in Colorado when there are fire bans and we can’t cook over a campfire. We have a Coleman camping stove and usually bring our cast iron skillet and a pot, depending on what we’re making.

Camp Cooking Setup

We keep most of our cooking essentials together in a camp kitchen bin, which makes packing for camping trips so much easier. Along with our stove, we bring the basics for cooking, eating, and cleaning up after meals.

What we keep in our camp kitchen bin:

• Plates, bowls, and utensils
• Cutting board and knife
• Cooking utensils
• Dish soap, sponge, and towels
• Trash bags
• Seasonings and cooking oil
• Coffee

Coffee Setup

Coffee while camping is essential and really elevates the experience! We have a French press for making coffee but will sometimes use instant coffee when we’re in a pinch. I love Café Bustelo instant coffee and always keep a big container in our camp kitchen bin.

RTIC Cooler

We went with an RTIC cooler on wheels, and it’s been perfect for car camping! Having wheels makes it so much easier to move around, especially when it’s packed with food and drinks.

Table for kitchen

We usually keep our Coleman stove and water on a separate camping table, which makes cooking and cleaning up so much easier. It’s a simple addition, but having a dedicated space for our camp kitchen really helps keep everything organized.

Camp Accessories

Camping Chairs

We have the REI camp chairs, but have been looking to upgrade. If you have a Murdocks near you, their padded camp chairs are so nice and cozy, Kelty has a two person camp chair, perfect for couples, or lets be real, for your dog. I’ve wanted to add a reclining one for stargazing, but I’ve heard mixed messages about the swing chairs as you can fall back

Lantern

A lantern is an essential, but bonus points if it can also charge your phone. We have one for the kitchen table and one that hangs up in our tent.

Portable Fire Pit

If you’re in an area like that frequently has fire bans like Colorado or California, having a portable fire pit with an on/off switch is so nice to have! I was a little against this at first as it didn’t feel like an authentic camping expereince, but after summers in Colorado without fires, it was the next best thing.

Hammock

Probably my second favorite thing on the list! I set my hammock up pretty much anytime we go camping, in the backyard or wherever you are with a couple of trees. I’ve had the Eno hammock for years and absolutly love it! Keep in mind, you’ll have to buy both the hammock and the straps. It easily ties up to two trees and you can set it up within a minute.

Bluetooth Speaker

If you like a little entertainment while camping, a bluetooth speaker is nice to have! We have the TurtleBox.

Camping Tools & Essentials

Water Storage

We have 2 7-gallon containers for water. 1 we keep on the table for refills and cleaning. The second one we usually keep in the car as a backup and great for putting the fire out.

Headlamps

Headlamps are essential and makes it so much easier vs carrying a flashlight.

Portable Phone Charger

We always make sure to have a charged portable phone charger to charge all of our devices.

Hatchet

We have a hatchet for splitting firewood and kindeling.

Shovel

Depending on where we’re camping, we’ll bring a shovel for digging catholes.

Car Camping Emergency Kit

These aren’t the most exciting things on our camping gear list, but they’re important! We always keep a few emergency essentials in the car, especially when we’re camping somewhere remote.

• Jumper cables – Always good to have in case of a dead car battery.
• Portable car battery jump starter – Especially helpful when there’s nobody around to give you a jump.
• Extra phone charging cords – We keep a few in the car so we’re never without one.
• First aid kit – For minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and other unexpected injuries.
• Flashlight or headlamp – Essential when you’re trying to find something in the dark.
• Emergency blanket – A lightweight backup in case temperatures drop or you’re stuck somewhere overnight.