What Is Car Camping? (And How to Do It)

A lot of people hear the term "car camping" and they assume it's camping in their car. I can see why people think this, but that's not exactly what car camping is. So what is car camping?

Car camping is defined as driving your car to a campground to camp. This is one of the easiest and most popular types of camping. The main benefit of car camping is that it doesn't require any hiking, is great for families, and allows you to easily pack gear.

And yes, we also have a guide on how to go camping without a car.

The Benefits of Car Camping

Car camping is one of the easiest ways to go camping. Unlike backpacking, where you hike to a site overnight, car camping allows you to pack all the gear you want that your vehicle can fit. This means you can bring gear that wouldn't normally be possible, such as grills, air mattresses, and firewood.

Car camping allows for beginner campers to safely camp and still have fun. All you pretty much need is a tent, sleeping bags or blankets, and mattress or sleeping pad, and lots of yummy food.

The main benefit of car camping is that it's much easier. Along with bringing all the gear you want, campgrounds typically have bathrooms, showers, water fountains, and designated campsites with firepits. Heck, some campsites even have wifi. You can often bring your own firewood and even grills.

If you are looking for even more accommodations, camping in a cabin or yurt camping (see the guide to yurt camping) is also an option. The benefits of camping in a cabin is that you don't need to bring as much gear. You can still get the camping experience without all the hassle, even if you have reasons to hate camping.

You may also like Sleeping In Your Car At A Campground

Getting Started Car Camping

If you have never gone car camping before, it might seem a little intimidating at first. But don't worry, it's not too difficult with the right planning.

Here's how you can get started going car camping:

1. First thing is to plan your trip. This means picking a date you want to camp, finding a campground (usually with Google), and reserving your site. Make sure you plan ahead as campgrounds can fill up quickly during the summer.
2. Next, take inventory of all your gear. Do you have a tent? Do you have a sleeping bag or blankets? What about a sleeping pad or air mattress?
3. Plan your camping meals. I like to have each meal planned on. This means I know what I'll be eating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and on what days. I like to keep perishables in a big cooler.
4. Now that everything is planned, make sure you arrive at your campsite early. You don't want to get to your campsite too late since it might be harder to set up in the dark and the weather can change.

Essential Car Camping Gear Checklist

Because you're not counting grams the way a backpacker has to, car camping lets you bring the stuff that actually makes a weekend comfortable. Here's the short list I stick to every trip:

• Shelter: a tent at least one person bigger than your group (a "4-person" tent really fits 2 with gear comfortably).
• Sleep system: sleeping bag rated 10°F cooler than the forecast low, plus a sleeping pad or air mattress. Our write-up on cot vs sleeping pad covers the trade-offs.
• Kitchen: 2-burner propane stove, cast-iron skillet, wind-shield, fuel, lighter + backup matches, cooler with ice, 5-gallon water jug, dish tub, biodegradable soap.
• Seating + shade: two folding camp chairs, a cheap pop-up tarp for rain or sun.
• Lighting: one headlamp per person plus a lantern for the picnic table.
• Safety: first-aid kit, bear spray if you're in bear country, a printed map (cell signal is never reliable), pocket knife or multitool.

The rule I use: if it wouldn't fit in a backpack, car camping is the only way you're bringing it.

Car Camping Meals That Don't Suck

Meal planning is the single biggest upgrade most people can make to their car camping trips. Three meals a day, prepped at home, in labeled ziplock bags:

• Breakfast: instant oats with dried fruit + instant coffee, or pre-cracked eggs in a bottle with bacon and tortillas for breakfast burritos.
• Lunch: cold stuff. Tortilla wraps with deli meat, cheese and mustard travel better than sandwiches because they don't get crushed.
• Dinner: one-pot meals. Foil-packet fish, sausage and peppers over rice, or a proper camp chili. If you want to go fancy, learn to cook damper (Australian camp bread) in the coals.
• Snacks: trail mix, jerky, chocolate, an orange per person per day (scurvy's no joke on long trips — and they're great campfire treats wrapped in foil).

Picking a Car Camping Site

Not every campground is equal. A few things to check before you book:

• Drive-in vs walk-in: true car campsites let you park on the pad. "Walk-in" sites are usually 50–200 feet from parking, which turns every trip to the car into a chore.
• Shade: tent in full sun by 10am becomes a pizza oven. Book sites with tree cover if possible.
• Proximity to bathrooms: close enough to walk to at 2am, not so close that you hear the door slam all night. Middle of the loop is the sweet spot.
• Noise: avoid sites near the main road or group camping areas unless you're bringing kids yourself.
• Water access: a spigot within 100 feet means one less jug to haul.

Reservations for popular National Park and State Park campgrounds open months in advance — Yosemite's fill within minutes of the release. For last-minute trips, look at National Forest dispersed camping (free, first-come, no amenities) or private campgrounds, which rarely sell out.

Car Camping vs Backpacking vs Glamping

These three get lumped together, but they're really different experiences:

• Car camping: drive to a designated site, pitch your own tent, cook your own food. Middle-ground effort and cost.
• Backpacking: hike to a remote site carrying everything on your back. Highest effort, lowest cost per night, biggest reward for people who want solitude.
• Glamping / cabin / yurt camping: somebody else already set up the shelter. Highest comfort, highest cost, least "real" camping feel. Our guide to yurt camping covers this one in depth.

Start with car camping if you've never camped before. It gets you used to sleeping in a tent, cooking outside, and dealing with weather, without committing to carrying 40 pounds uphill for 6 miles.

Car Camping FAQ

Can you car camp anywhere?

No — most designated campgrounds require a reservation or walk-up fee, and sleeping in a car on public streets is illegal in most US towns. On National Forest and BLM land, dispersed camping is usually legal and free for up to 14 days. Always check local rules before you park overnight.

Do you actually sleep in the car?

You can, but most car campers pitch a tent next to the car and just use the vehicle for gear storage. If you do want to sleep inside the car, we cover that in Sleeping in Your Car at a Campground.

How much does car camping cost?

Expect $15–$40 per night at state and national park campgrounds, $0–$10 for most National Forest sites, and $40–$80 for private campgrounds with full hookups. Gear-wise, you can get fully kitted out for under $400 if you stick to basics — see our beginner budget guide for the full breakdown.

Is car camping safe?

At an established campground, yes — rangers patrol, other campers are around, and there's cell reception in most places. Store food in bear-proof containers or the car (never the tent) in bear country, and lock valuables out of sight before bed. Dispersed camping on public land carries slightly more risk; park somewhere with other campers visible if you're new to it.