road trip while camping

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How to Plan a Camping Road Trip

Hit the open road with these top travel tips

If you want to see the country this summer, the best way to get out on an adventure is to pack up the car and go on a camping road trip. The thrill of hitting the open road and heading where the wind blows is pretty appealing, especially when you'll be camping in the great outdoors to boot. A spontaneous road trip can offer some of the best experiences and memories that you’ll ever have, but a road trip with no plans can also be a disaster. With a little research before you go, however, you'll be able to maximize your time and see some great sights.

Have a Destination in Mind

It's possible that you just want to see where the road takes you, but it doesn't hurt to set your compass towards a great destination. You don't have to have plans entirely set in stone, but a general idea or theme is a great starting point. If you're unsure where you want to go, consider visiting a national park . Often called "America's Best Idea," the U.S. park system preserves the natural splendor of the country and is a must-see for every American. Many parks are close together or surrounded by national forests and wilderness areas that are ideal for camping. Buy a map of the region (it doesn't hurt to have a hard copy as back up) that you want to explore and start doing some research on the top camping areas.

Know When to Go

Once you have a destination in mind, consider the time of year and the seasonal climate of the regions you'll be camping in. Summer months and holiday weekends can be quite busy on the highways and popular campgrounds are usually booked up months in advance. A spontaneous road trip might sound great, but during peak travel times, a trip with no plans can be disastrous.

If you decide to travel outside of the summer, research the weather and average nightly temperatures of your destination during the months you'll be traveling, before deciding whether or not you'll want to spend the night in a tent. For example, even if you're camping in a desert environment like Joshua Tree National Park in sunny Southern California, nighttime temperatures in the winter can drop below freezing.

Consider How Much Time You Have to Travel

The biggest mistake most road trippers make is trying to drive too far in too short a period. Map the mileage of your planned route and consider how many days you’ll have on the road. You don’t want to spend the entire time in your car, so plan your route according to the number of miles you are comfortable driving each day and consider having days without travel so you can relax and take your time at key destinations. Just because you can technically drive hundreds of miles in a single weekend doesn't mean you should!

Notify Your Bank That You Will Be Traveling

Driving hundreds of miles each day, filling up on gas, and buying groceries in different towns can be a red flag to your financial institutions. If you aren’t carrying much cash, the last thing you want to deal with is having your account frozen with no cash in the middle of nowhere. A quick phone call to let your bank know the dates you’ll be traveling will prevent this problem and save you a big headache.

Have Your Car Serviced Before You Hit the Road

Among all the things that could go wrong on a road trip, your car breaking down might be one of the worst possible scenarios. Unfortunately, this does happen with even the most well-maintained vehicles, so a basic tune-up is always a good idea before you go for an extended drive. Always have the oil and filters changed and do a basic service on your vehicle before you hit the road.

You don’t need a lot of gadgets and accessories to have a good road trip. Of course, you'll want your basic camping gear and a few extras to have a good time, but don't overstuff your car with items you don't need. Not only are you weighing it down, which burns gasoline, but trying to find the Frisbee or cookstove in a fully packed car can be difficult and frustrating. Many items you can also pick up on the road somewhere if you decide you really do need them halfway through the trip.

Know the Roads

Though many cars and smartphones have GPS mapping systems, it helps to see the big picture on a real map, so make sure you have the correct maps and that your planned routes are free of major construction or closures. If you're visiting an area that gets a lot of tourists, you can usually find a guidebook or resources online with recommended sights, activities, and informational background on the destination. If you can’t find a guidebook before you go, try to find a visitor's center or regional office where you can get free information on area attractions.

Reserve Campsites in Advance

If you have a detailed route, consider booking campsites before you go. Knowing that you have a place to go each night will help ease the stress of traveling, especially during busy summer months. You don't want to be driving around until midnight looking for an available campsite. If something comes up and you have to find a campsite at the last minute, camping apps can help you find an available campsite and reserve it on the same day.

Rather than stocking up with two weeks' worth of food before you go, pack only the non-perishable essentials like oils, spices, and coffee. For your fresh ingredients, shop at local stores and farmer’s markets near your campsite. One of the best parts of traveling is the regional cuisine and seasonal food that you may not have available where you live. Shopping local also supports the communities in the towns that you visit.

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Planning the Perfect Tent Camping Road Trip

Last Updated on February 17, 2024 by Grant

For me, camping road trips started in college. My first trip to the Florida Keys was a camping trip. My friends and I had a GREAT campground in Key Largo. We spent Spring Break sleeping in a tent just steps from the beach. 

This led to longer camping road trips as I got older. When Bonnie and I started dating, our first big trip together was a camping road trip to Yellowstone National Park. It was that trip that cemented our love for each other and our desire to explore the National Parks. 

It also led to our first month-long trip. That was a camping road trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota and Glacier National Park in Montana. We started to refine our tent camping gear to make it work better for us. 

We took several tent camping road trips together: Texas for Spring Break, Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the fall, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in the summer. 

Eventually, we bought a camper and started the RV lifestyle. But, we have fond memories of the simplicity of our tent camping days. In fact, years after buying an RV, we took a tent camping road trip to Big Bend National Park in West Texas. 

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our  Review Policy   for more information.)

Pros and Cons of a Tent Camping Road Trip

The number one pro to a camping road trip is cost. Tent camping is just cheaper than any other way to stay. Even a really good tent is not that expensive compared to buying or renting an RV or staying in a hotel. 

Read about our cost comparison between different road trip styles here.

The second biggest pro for a tent camping road trip is nimbleness. With a good tent camping setup, you can easily get set it up and take it down. That is really handy when you’re trying to make the most of limited vacation time! 

Once, on the drive home from Yellowstone, we were chased across the plains of South Dakota by a thunderstorm. We just barely managed to get to the campground and get the tent set up before the storm caught up to us! With the camper, that would have taken much longer. Of course, regardless of how you are camping, setting up or taking down in the rain is never fun. But it is part of the outdoor experience.

When we were tent camping, we could be set up in about 10 minutes and gone in about the same amount of time. It is similar to camping with a camper van in terms of being able to just pick up and leave quickly.

Another major boon for tent camping is the availability of tent sites in national and state parks. While there are a few campgrounds for larger RVs in parks, you will find much more availability for tents (or small campers). 

Lastly, a good tent camping setup can fit into just about any vehicle with decent trunk space. A hatchback, SUV or truck makes for easier access and generally more space for gear. Still, I took many camping road trips in my old Mazda 626. 

The single biggest con of a tent camping road trip is exposure to the elements. While tents are great when the weather is good, they can be limiting when the weather is not good. 

In particular, stormy weather can make for some scary moments in a tent. We’ve huddled together in our tent when the wind howled in Texas and a severe thunderstorm pummeled us in Yellowstone. 

The heat is also an issue for tent camping. We have spent some sweltering nights in our tent at various spots throughout the country. While there are some modern devices you and use to mitigate the heat (more on that below), there’s only so much you can do without air conditioning. 

In particular, I remember a very warm morning while we were tent camping in Wall, SD visiting Badlands National Park . The tent heated up very quickly and by 8 a.m., it was downright toasty. I also remember driving a long way across Kansas looking to find any campground with shade, since it was easily 95 degrees outside and the lack of shade was a deal breaker for a lot of would-be campgrounds. 

Another major con is the lack of campgrounds with facilities for tent campers outside of state and national parks. The more we have traveled, the more we have realized campgrounds just do not have much in the way of tent camping sites left anymore, focusing on RVs instead. 

And, while you can take your pet with you, you cannot leave your pet in a tent while you go out and explore. That’s not OK. And, unfortunately, most national parks have very strict rules on where pets can and cannot be.

Lastly, there is an inherent lack of security when tent camping. Honestly, we have never camped anywhere we did not feel safe, at least in terms of humans, in a tent. We have, however, camped with our RV in places I would not necessarily stay in a tent. 

That said, we have also woken up to bison walking by our tent in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. We don’t worry too much about animals bothering us in a tent but the walls of the tent are pretty darn thin!

Tips for Making the Most Out of Your Tent Camping Road Trip

Tip #1: choose your destination based upon the weather.

Seriously, go where the weather is good when you plan on taking your trip. If you want to visit the Southwest, plan on going in the late winter or early spring before temperatures get too hot. When the Rocky Mountains are calling your name, get up there after the snow melts in the early summer. 

If you know when you want to go, research different destinations which are good for that season. 

Tip #2: Don’t Be Afraid to Stay in a Hotel

If we were doing a long driving day on the way to our destination, we would often stay in a hotel that night. While it would increase our costs, it would decrease our fatigue. 

After a long stretch of tent camping in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks , we opted to spend the next few nights staying at a cheap hotel in southern Wyoming. It was much needed!

Tip #3: Gym Memberships and Truck Stops Can Get You a Shower

While many private campgrounds have showers, many national park campgrounds do not. If you’re not too far from a major city, having a nationwide gym membership can get you a shower. Alternately, truck stops like Love’s and Pilot have showers you can pay for. 

Tip #4: Be Prepared for the Weather… All the Weather

Plan for worse weather than you expect… it may be colder, warmer, wetter or drier than you expect. Rarely is the weather exactly what it “should” be.

That said, if you don’t feel like you have everything you need, Walmart is your friend and will have a lot of what you need. In fact, we had to buy an extra blanket when camping in Yellowstone National Park because we were not prepared for the cold weather in the summer.

Tip #5: With a Good Vehicle, You Can Camp in Remote Areas

One of the best things about a tent camping road trip is you can go to some really remote areas where you simply can’t take a camper. We did this in Big Bend National Park, camping along River Road in a remote area of the park . 

Seriously, with a four-wheel drive vehicle and a good tent camping setup, you can access places few people go and stay for as long as you have supplies. This has become a popular pastime, called overlanding. 

How to Pick a Campground for a Camping Road Trip

When it comes time to pick a campground for a tent camping road trip, the single biggest consideration has to be shade. Even up North, highs in the summer can get quite hot. The shade will make a significant difference, even for RV campers. Having shade will make a huge difference in being able to comfortably hang out at your campsite during the day. 

Next, make sure the campground has restroom facilities for tent campers. For example, we stayed at one campground in Key Largo which had very limited restroom facilities. There was one toilet per gender for the entire campground. The shower was attached to the toilet, meaning if someone was taking a shower, no one else could use the toilet. 

From the perspective of the owners, it was no big deal since most of the guests were RV campers with their own bathrooms. From the perspective of the tent campers, it was really frustrating, especially early in the morning! 

Showers for tent campers are another consideration to look for, especially for longer stays in remote areas. As noted previously, many campgrounds in national parks do not have showers. That said, we have seen some that are adding solar shower stalls, like at Rocky Mountain National Park. These allow you some privacy while you use a portable solar shower you let warm up during the day.  

A water spigot to fill up water bottles and a sink to clean dishes are other big things to look for. We got so tired of none of the campgrounds we stayed at having a dishwashing station. So, we bought our own collapsible dishwashing sink . 

That said, we have stayed at more primitive campgrounds which lack those amenities. If you are going to stay at a primitive campground with limited or no facilities, just be sure to bring everything you need with you. 

Gear You Need for a Tent Camping Road Trip

A tent (or two).

The most important thing you need for a tent camping road trip is a good tent! That should seem like a no-brainer but I have seen some tent campers out there using very poor tents for their purpose and struggled with them. 

The first major thing to consider when purchasing a tent for a camping road trip is how much space you need. If it is just going to be two people, a small tent can work. If you are taking a pet or kids with you, your tent needs to grow. 

When I went on my first long tent camping road trip, I had a small dome tent that was barely big enough for two people. While it worked OK while I was in college, any time it rained, I was stuck in a pretty small space with poor ventilation. 

Even when Bonnie and I went on our first camping road trip to Yellowstone, we stayed in a larger, better-ventilated dome tent but I still could not stand up in it and it only had one door, meaning Bonnie had to climb over me to get out to go to the bathroom. 

Still, those tents were easy to put up and take down. 

A Two Tent Set Up

So, when it came time to go on the road for a month-long camping road trip, we took two tents with us. 

We took a large tent, which I could stand up in and allowed us to walk around the mattress. Being able to stand up while changing clothes is really nice! Not having to climb over Bonnie to go to the bathroom is also really nice!

That made a much more comfortable stay when we knew we would be in one place for several days. The tent had a vestibule, allowing us to store gear and duck out of heavy rain with our chairs. It also allowed us to leave the large door flap open, making for plenty of ventilation. 

While this larger tent was great, it struggled in high winds and it took about 20 minutes to fully set up. 

We also took a smaller tent, which had doors on both sides. That allowed for one of us to easily go to the bathroom at night if needed. It was also really quick to set up, allowing us to have it fully set up in less than 10 minutes. It was also lower to the ground, making for a lower profile in high winds. While I could not stand up in it, it was still comfortable for a night or two. 

Tent Recommendations

We got both of these tents at REI , which makes some great outdoor gear. We even kept the smaller of the two tents after we got the camper and used it when we went to Big Bend National Park . Unfortunately, both tents have long been discontinued, so I can’t give you a specific recommendation. 

That said, here is what I would look for in a big tent:

• Can I stand up in it?
• Will it go up and come down easily?
• Does it have a vestibule? Is the vestibule large enough to keep me (and a chair) dry during a rainstorm?
• Is there plenty of room on either side of a mattress for me to walk around?  

Here is what I would look for in a small tent:

• Will it go up quickly?
• Does it have good ventilation?
• Does it have a low profile for rough weather?
• Does it have a large enough width that I can use the same air mattress for both tents?

A Good Air Mattress 

A good air mattress will make all the difference in the world in your night’s sleep. We have had some good ones and bad ones during our time tent camping. I wish I could give you a good recommendation on a specific air mattress but, sadly, our favorite has long since been discontinued. 

Still, get one with a battery-powered air pump. Unless you have an AC plug in your vehicle and an extension cable (or a solar generator… more on that below), you are going to need a battery-powered pump. If you don’t have one, you are gonna be that guy in the bathroom using the one outlet for hundreds of campers to inflate your mattress… if there is an outlet you can get to. Don’t be that guy (or girl)!

The other thing I will say about these mattresses is they will not last forever. Eventually, the seals start to wear out and you start waking up on the ground. Be prepared to replace it fairly often if you use it frequently or store it somewhere without air conditioning. 

Sleeping Bag

If you are camping with a significant other, I cannot recommend highly enough getting a sleeping bag designed for two people , as opposed to two separate sleeping bags. It just makes it more comfortable overall, even better than zipping two sleeping bags together. We had a great one from Coleman we loved. 

If you are going to high elevation, you are going to want supplemental blankets as well. We recently got a Rumpl blanket , which we love and is quite warm. They even have models highlighting various national parks. 

We also recommend getting a couple of good camp pillows. We have used Thermarest and Klymit pillows. Both are compact and comfy. 

Cooking Gear

I highly suggest getting a plastic storage bin and filling it full of your cooking gear. Keeping everything in one bin makes it easy to keep everything together and move it around as needed.

The first thing you need for your bin is a grill that uses the 1 lb. propane canisters from Coleman. Seriously, those green propane canisters are one of the greatest things when it comes to camping. Next, I suggest you get a small stove which uses those canisters as well. Between a single-burner stove and a grill, you can cook a ton of different meals. 

Next, you will want some basic pots and pans. You can get a good nesting set or grab something cheap, either way works. You will also want basic utensils and plates. Paper plates are a good idea anywhere you won’t have good access to water. A collapsible wash b asin is perfect for washing dishes where you can’t find a sink for dishwashing. 

Finally, toss in some generic spices and your cooking bin is set. 

A Solid Cooler

Cooler technology has improved so much since we were tent camping on a regular basis. With the advent of good coolers that will keep ice frozen for days, it makes it a lot easier to keep perishable food and tasty beverages cold. 

YETI , RTIC and several other brands make great coolers that will make camping a lot better and reduce your need for ice. 

One of the things we always looked for in a cooler was a drain plug at the bottom for dumping water out. That said, that drain plug can be a liability and we have ended up with a very wet trunk space when we forgot to close the plug after draining. 

Gear for Hanging Out

Of course, you are gonna want some good, comfy camp chairs to lounge in… We also recommend getting some footstools to go with those chairs to use as footrests… being able to kick up your feet is a great thing.

We also have a great camp table from Alps Mountaineering which has a checkerboard and plenty of cup holders.

Hammocks round out our gear for hanging around the campground. There’s nothing like kicking your feet up in the shade. We have a couple of hammocks we keep in the camper and there are several great brands out there. We have Serac and Wise Owl hammocks and like them a lot. 

If you happen to have a lot of cargo space to work with, like a truck bed, you can upgrade your chairs to these zero G chairs and get yourself an insect screen tent to put up so you can get away from bugs and have some portable shade. 

Gear Recommendations for Helping You Stay Comfortable

Since dealing with the weather is one of the cons of a tent camping road trip, I recommend getting a battery-powered fan to use in your tent. Just having some air circulation will make a huge difference in how well you sleep at night. 

We had a Coleman battery-powered fan which hung from the top of our tent and provided some circulation as well as an overhead light. It made a big difference. Now, they have even longer-lasting better fans, like this one. 

Solar Generator

If you need to power something or keep a bunch of devices charged, we recommend getting a solar generator. The folks at Ecoflow sent us a River solar generator a few years ago and we take that thing with us everywhere now. We even purchased a battery add-on, which doubled its capacity ( basically to a pro model ) and a 110-watt solar panel to charge it.

We use it whenever we are boondocking or dry camping. It can be charged with the truck while driving or we can use the solar panels to power it. It will charge all of our electronics, including laptops, and it will even run Bonnie’s coffee maker! 

Final Thoughts on Tent Camping Road Trips 

With the right gear and planning, you can make a tent camping road trip a VERY cost-effective way to see the country. We explored dozens of park sites while tent camping… and loved every minute of it.

Still, as much as we loved tent camping road trips, there is something to be said for not having to sleep on the ground. Yes, we slept on an air mattress but we still had to get up from the ground every morning and that gets old. It’s also really great to have your own shade and air conditioning, which in turn, allowed us to travel with our cat for years. You can certainly see why we eventually transitioned from tent camping road trips to RV camping!

Still, we often miss tent camping. We miss how nimble we were and how quickly we could move from place to place. We miss the fresh air that comes from sleeping in a tent. Certainly, we miss how cheap it was. And while we still camp, an RV just isn’t the same as a tent.

Travel Resources

What do you use to find a flight.

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start. Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties , so we use the Hilton website . You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express. Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way. Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN , or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them. Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia . Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct . We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper. Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip. Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first. Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J. Click here to get a Good Sam membership. We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there. Click here to get a AAA membership.

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Our Road Trip Camping Essentials (plus Downloadable Checklist)

Published by sarah vaughan on january 16, 2022 january 16, 2022.

As chronic road-trippers and full-time nomads, we spend a ton of time camping. It helps us save money on accommodations and allows us to stay as close as possible to the places we want to explore. Regardless, we’d choose sleeping under the stars and cozying up next to the campfire over a stuffy, boring hotel room any day! But anyone who has camped before knows there is a lot of gear involved and when you live on the road, every square inch of your car is precious. Throughout our time living nomadically and camping frequently, we’ve become experts in how to pack strategically for camping on a road trip – everything that we need, but nothing that we don’t! In this article, we’ll provide you all of our road trip camping essentials, including a downloadable checklist to help you prepare for your camping trip on the road.

Article Contents

• Road Trip Camping Essentials
• Excel Road Trip Camping Essentials Checklist
• Essential Camping Gear

Comfort Items

Cleaning supplies, utensils & tableware, food/kitchen supplies, camping food, entertainment, personal items, tips on organizing the car for camping, other useful resources.

Hi there! We’re Sarah and Matt, two nomads road tripping across the United States with our cat, Fitzgerald, making a new place our home month to month while working full time and adventuring as much as possible. We spend any free time we can get hiking, camping, backpacking, and exploring new places! We hope that our experiences will help you plan for your next adventure and inspire you to be an outlier!

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Overview | Road Trip Camping Essentials

In March of 2021, we got rid of most our belongings, packed up what was left, subleased our apartment in Virginia and hit the road: California bound! We drove from Virginia to St. Louis in one day, then to Denver the next. From Denver, we continued to Southern California and spent the next several months exploring California, southern Utah, Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota, Minnesota… eventually we realized we loved life on the road too much to ever give it up and we made this nomadic lifestyle permanent.

We both secured jobs that would allow us to work remotely full-time during the week (Sarah is a Data Scientist at a medical device company and Matt works for the United Network for Organ Sharing). We settle into a new “home base” each month with space for us both to work, typically in small towns strategically located near beautiful places with abundant opportunities for camping and outdoor adventuring on the weekends.

P.S: You can read more about us here and keep up with our road trip adventures here .

Road Trip Car Camping Essentials

While we’re on the road , we typically spend at least two nights per week camping, either car camping at an established campground, dispersed camping, or backpacking. Our nomadic lifestyle demands that every single item we own fits into our mid-sized Subaru Forester (it’s not a ton of space for 2 people + feline companion).

As such, our road trip camping checklist is a carefully curated collection of only the must-have camping essentials, plus a few items we consider to be “luxuries” but are worth the space! As you’ll find in this list, the key is small and flexible . If it can be used for multiple purposes and is lightweight, collapses down, or packs easily, it makes the cut. If not, it’s probably getting left behind.

We’ve learned a ton about what you really need (and don’t need!) for camping while road tripping, and we hope our experiences will save you a little time and frustration.

Note: We want to point out that we do not have children, so our list of road trip camping essentials is best for couples, solo travelers, or group road trips.

Be confident you have everything you need with our free car camping checklist!

Our interactive excel checklist is complete with all the essentials you need for your road trip camping adventure!

Download our Complete Road Trip Car Camping Essentials Checklist

Car Camping Essentials

In this section, we’ll cover all the camping gear that we consider to be absolutely essentials: think tent, sleeping bag, pillow, etc:

Tent + rainfly + footprint | Mountain Hardwear Aspect 3 + Footprint We use a backpacking tent for both car camping and backpacking. It’s lightweight and compact, which makes it great for road trips, but spacious enough to fit 2 people fairly comfortably.

Sleeping pad | Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite Sleeping Pad I often sleep better on my Them-a-rest sleeping pad than I do in a hotel bed… this thing is so comfy and weighs only 12 ounces! Only downside is that it’s a bit noisy if you tend to move in your sleep a lot. Therm-a-rest also makes a Women’s version .

Sleeping Bag | REI Co-op Women’s Magma 30 / REI Co-op Men’s Magma 30 At this price point, you can’t beat the REI Co-op Magma 30 (Women’s and Men’s). We both use this sleeping bag, and it’s lightweight enough for backpacking without sacrificing on warmth and durability.

Sleeping Bag Liner | Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite Sleeping Bag Liner I’m a very cold sleeper so I often use this Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner, even for summer nights. It’s super cozy, lightweight, adds 8 degrees of warmth, and helps keep your sleeping bag cleaner.

Inflatable Pillow | Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow This Sea to Summit inflatable pillow is super lightweight and packs down tiny (I have actually lost it a few times because it packs down so small), so it’s great for camping and backpacking trips. The best part, it is shockingly comfortable! I am a light sleeper (in a normal bed), so this is huge for me!

Fire supplies | fire starters , lighter , long-burn matches , lighter fluid All essentials for getting your campfire going. Just make sure to check for and adhere to fire restrictions in the area you are camping.

Headlamp | Black Diamond Storm 400 Navigating around a campsite is nearly impossible after dark without a headlamp. We both use Black Diamond Storm 400’s, and we’ve found them to be reliable and long-lasting despite the compact size.

In this section, we’ll cover items that will make you feel more at home at your camp setup, from lounging around in a hammock to cozying up by the campfire. While not absolutely essential, these items make the camping experience more enjoyable!

Camp chairs | REI Flexlite Camp Chair These camp chairs are compact, easy to set up, comfortable, and pack down small, making them great for road trips. Perfect for sitting around the fire!

Camp blanket | Kammock Mountain Blanket As a person who is ALWAYS cold, this blanket has kept me warm and allowed me to enjoy many cold camping nights! With a fleece interior and durable, water-repellent exterior, this blanket is perfect for cozying up next to the campfire. And even better, it can double as a poncho and the stuff sack is fleece allowing it to be used as a pillow if you are in a pinch!

Small towel | PackTowl lightweight towel This compact lightweight towel packs down small, making it versatile for both camping and backpacking trips. Use it for drying off after a swim or shower or just cleaning up around camp.

Hammock | Eno Hammock Laying in a hammock with a book and a glass of wine is the perfect way to wind down at camp after a busy day of hiking! P.S. don’t forget you also need a hammock suspension kit to go with the hammock (I made this mistake and was very disappointed the first time I tried to set up my hammock…).

Lantern | MPOWERD Inflatable Solar Lantern This is perhaps my favorite camping gadget. It’s solar-powered so you don’t have to worry about charging it while camping, and it can even be used to charge your phone/other electronics. Plus it’s inflatable so it packs down small for easy storage.

For *attempting* to keep things tidy and staying clean while camping, we use the following items:

Wash bucket | SOL Collapsible Sink A wash bucket makes washing dishes or doing laundry at the campground 100 times easier, and this collapsible sink is perfect for road trips because, you guessed it, it takes up less space!

Biodegradable soap | Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash This environmentally friendly soap serves several purposes – it can’t be used to wash dishes, laundry or yourself! 3 in 1 = our kind of camping gear.

Clothesline | Sea to Summit Lite Line If you’re camping for a few days, you may want to freshen up your clothes along the way. This laundry line can be wrapped around a tree, and it’s so tiny that it’s worth bringing along just in case.

Travel laundry detergent | Sea to Summit Pocket Soaps These tiny little detergent tabs come in handy if you’re on the road for a few days with no access to a washing machine. Fill up your wash bucket, toss in your clothes, and let them soak.

Bug Spray | Nothing quite ruins a nice night under the stars like pesky mosquitoes and no bug spray to defend yourself. If you don’t have bug spray, you may find yourself seeking relief in your tent, and you don’t want to miss out on quality time in the great outdoors.

Sunscreen and Chapstick | Second perhaps only to bug bites for “how to put a damper on a night at the campground” is a bad sunburn or chapped lips.

Bathing wipes | For the days between showers, these come in handy to freshen up.

First-aid-kit | It’s always good to have basic first aid gear in case of an emergency, especially if you are camping in remote areas.

Toiletry bag | Sea to Summit’s Hanging Toiletry Bag Packed with the usual essentials (toothbrush + toothpaste, deodorant, contact case and solution, etc) these toiletry bags are compact but have plenty of internal pockets for all the essentials.

Toilet Paper & Plastic Bag | Don’t forget to bring your own toilet paper if you are dispersed camping (no bathrooms), and a sealable plastic bag to pack out your trash. If you are camping somewhere where you must pack out human waste, these Biffy Bags will do the trick .

Kitchen & Cooking Gear

Campstove | Jetboil Flash When a campfire isn’t possible (due to fire bans, unexpected rain, etc), our go-to backup plan is usually some type of pasta (ramen, mac-and-cheese, etc) cooked with the Jetboil. We also use it for making coffee in the morning, when speed is key. This thing is crazy fast at boiling water and super easy to use – it has more than covered its cost in the time it has saved for us.

Extra Fuel | Jetboil Jetpower Fuel It’s always a good idea to keep extra Jetboil fuel on hand for the inevitable moment that you’re attempting to make some hot coffee on a cold morning and the flame goes out.

Coffee Filter | Sea to Summit Collapsible Coffee Filter If you’re a coffee snob (like me…) who needs *real* coffee in the morning, even in the backcountry, the compact Sea to Summit collapsible filter makes it easy. Pair with the Jetboil Flash and Sea to Summit cups and you’ll have your cup of joe in no time!

Cast-iron pan | Lodge 12 Inch Cooking over the campfire is one of my favorite things about camping, and this cast-iron helps me make delicious meals that soak up all that smoky campfire flavor.

Cutting Board + Knife | Miyabi Evolution Chef’s Knife We love to cook so having a cutting board and good quality knife is important to us – it’s great for cutting anything and everything (slicing meats, dicing veggies, etc).

Tongs + Metal Spatula | Some “must-haves” for cooking with the cast iron over the fire.

Potholders | Again, essential for cooking with the cast iron over the fire. A towel can also do the trick.

Kitchen towels | Nice to have for cleaning up messes, wiping off dishes and handling hot pans (we typically use them as potholders too).

Fire roasting stick | For toasting marshmallows or cooking hotdogs over the fire, of course!

Cooler | When camping, it’s important to have a high quality cooler that can keep your food cold for the entire day (or multiple days). We could not car camp without our Yeti Tundra 35 . It’s the perfect size – large enough to store food for a few days, but doesn’t take up too much space in the car.

Camping plates & bowls | Sea to Summit Delta Plates & Bowls For plates and bowls we use Sea to Summit’s Delta collection – these are cheap, durable and the thumb grip makes them great for eating around the campfire. Plus, they are lightweight enough to take on backpacking trips.

Utensils | sporks You may be noticing a theme to our camping checklist: items with multiple uses. More utility, less space in the car (or backpack) is always the aim and the spork does just that.

Cups | Sea to Summit Collapsible Cups Sea to Summit makes our favorite lightweight camping and backpacking gear, and these cups are no different! They are lightweight, durable, and pack down small. We take two on every packing trip and always keep them in the car for camping. We often use them as bowls as well. Just make sure you clean them out after dinner. It’s no fun to be sipping coffee with a hint of last night’s dinner!

Extra water | Be sure to check whether the campground you’re staying at has running water. If it doesn’t, or you’re dispersed camping, make sure you pack all the extra water you will need. We originally purchased these 2-liter Platypus bottles to carry extra water backpacking in the desert, but they’re also great for storing water while car camping.

Additional nice-to-haves

These are tableware items that certainly aren’t essential but make our lives easier while camping:

• Bottle opener | For cracking a beer or popping open a bottle of wine to wind down.
• Coffee Mugs | To keep your cup of joe piping hot on a cold morning.
• Reusable water bottle | The easiest way to make sure you stay hydrated while camping is to keep a water handy.
• Coozies | For keeping that beer cold when you’re hanging out by the campfire.
• Collapsible wine “glass” | This is a totally a “luxury” camping item but I love my folding wine “glass” (it’s actually plastic so no concerns about breaking).

Below are some other miscellaneous kitchen supplies to make sure you pack for your camping road trip :

• Dish sponges
• Paper towels
• Reusable sandwich bags | Help the environment and save money on plastic bags = win, win!
• Trash bags | To keep your campsite tidy (be sure to store it in the car or bear lockers if camping in bear territory).
• Coffee filters | I typically use standard coffee filters with my Collapsible Filter because I find it makes the coffee less grainy.

In this section, we’ll cover the staple food items that are always in our camping pantry .

For me, nothing quite beats a cup of coffee and a warm bowl of oatmeal on a cool morning. If you are short on time, try a Clif bar (cool mint is our favorite), Stroopwaffle , or bagel .

For lunch, we typically pack something that’s easy to put together in the car, lasts for several hours unrefrigerated while hiking, and can be reused for multiple meals. Here are a few ideas:

• PB&J (on an English muffin/bagel) | A classic, simple and easy. To spice it up a bit, use an English muffin or bagel instead of 2 slices of bread.
• Turkey & Cheese (with ranch or avocado) | Also easy because all you need to keep cold is turkey meat and cheese, and you can make several sandwiches with one pack. Add ranch or fresh slices of avocado to spice it up!
• Chicken Pouches | Stock up on some Starkist chicken and bread and you have yourself a halfway decent lunch. They make a bunch of different flavors (my favorite is buffalo) available at all grocery stores. Best part is that the pouches don’t need to be refrigerated and pack some good protein.

We love cooking over the fire while camping whenever we can, but we also have a few go-to backup options when cooking over a fire isn’t possible:

• African Peanut Stew | This stew takes a little more work, but it’s so delicious we promise its worth the effort! Try to prep your veggies before you leave on your trip to save you time cutting them at the campsite!
• Barbecue Chicken Quesadillas | Pre-cook the chicken ahead of time and these are a super easy and tasty campfire meal!
• Jalapeno Cheddar Turkey Burgers | A fun twist on a campfire classic, these spicy, cheesy burgers make the perfect camp dinner.
• Ramen | When fire is not an option or we know we won’t have the time/energy to start a campfire , our go-to meal with the Jetboil is Ramen noodles, spiced up with some fresh veggies (bell peppers or green onions), chili paste, peanuts, and soy sauce.
• Annie’s Mac & Cheese | Another go-to option for a quick and easy meal when fire is not an option.

When we’re camping, we typically spend most the day hiking, so calorie-dense and tasty snacks are key. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Cheese-It’s | Cheesy. Crunchy. Crispy. The best.
• Cheese, Salami and Cracked Blacked Pepper Wheat Things | After a busy day of hiking, we always crave protein so some very basic charcuterie really hits the spot! (P.S. Cracked Black Pepper Wheat Thins also amazing)
• Peanut M&M’s | Great for camping because they don’t melt like other chocolate candies do!
• Bottle of red wine | For winding down after a long day of hiking, red wine is perfect because you don’t have to keep it cold. Just open and enjoy!

• Games | It’s great to have a few games to play for when you’re finally settled down next to the campfire. We love card games, like Thinking and Drinking that give you a random topic to prompt new and fun conversations.
• Journaling | When we’re traveling, we love to write about our experiences while they are fresh in our minds and keeping a journal is the perfect way to wind down by the campfire.
• Portable speakers | Just make sure you are respectful of your neighbors.
• Books | Physical books take up a lot of space in the car, so I typically load up my Kindle with a good book for camping trips on the road.
• Music | We never hit the road for a camping trip without a new Spotify playlist lined up! Check out our top 59 favorite songs about travel and adventure for inspiration!
• Cell phone + charger
• Power banks | For charging phones and other electronics
• Campground reservation (if needed)
• Driver’s license
• Your itinerary left with an emergency contact | This is especially important if you are off-roading or dispersed camping, in the off chance that something goes wrong.

We know that keeping a neat car while camping can be a serious challenge. And searching through endless piles of stuff in the car when you’re looking for matches to get your fire started can be incredibly frustrating. In this section, we give you our best tips for keeping the car organized while camping on a road trip.

Invest in a quality car top carrier

To fit all the essentials and avoid having to play Tetris to pack the car for camping every time, a good quality hardshell rooftop carrier is 100% worth the investment. For our mid-size Subaru Forester, we use a Medium Thule Pulse Hardshell and it has made our lives so much easier!

Before switching to our Thule Pulse, we had a cheap softshell carrier and had all sorts of problems with it, from fighting to install it to wind-torn straps to wet stuff. Our Thule has been a game changer – lightweight and aerodynamic (better for gas mileage), easy to install and pack, built-in lock and key, and reliably waterproof. If you don’t already have crossbars on your car, you’ll also need to purchase a set of crossbars (these go perpendicular to the roof rack) and rail feet , to which the crossbars will be attached.

Use plastic drawers to keep your stuff organized and easy to access

We have a set of cheap large plastic drawers that we keep in the car for storing our car camping gear. We use one drawer for cooking supplies, one for camping essentials, and one for hiking gear. Being able to easily access our most important gear has made car camping so much smoother.

We also have two sets of smaller plastics drawers for storing little items that tend to get lost easily – think utensils, matches and fire starters, scissors, first-aid supplies, etc. No more searching through every nook and cranny in the car for those matches!

Planning a camping trip in the U.S.? Check out these resources for inspiration to plan your trip:

• Road trip | 59 Best Songs About Travel and Adventure
• Road trip | The Ultimate Packing List for Road Trips
• Road trip | Top Highlights & Lowlights of Our Western USA Road Trip
• Travel Inspiration | 59 Best Songs about Travel & Adventure
• Camping | How to Plan the Perfect Camping Trip in the Alabama Hills
• Camping | Complete Guide to Hiking and Camping in the Smoky Mountains

What gear would you add to our list of road trip camping essentials? Let us know in the comments section below!

You may also like

Sarah Vaughan

Hello! I'm Sarah, one half of the couple behind Two Outliers! In 2023, I quit my job as a Data Scientist to travel around the world on an epic 15-month journey in search of the world's greatest hikes and outdoor adventures. Matt and I started Two Outliers in 2021 as a place for visitors to find concise, accurate, and honest information to plan their own adventures. We hope our experiences inspire you to hit the trail! Happy Hiking! Sarah

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Maps Over Coffee

How To Camp – The Ultimate Guide to Car Camping for Beginners

Car Camping for Beginners

When planning a road trip, one of the most important questions is “Where do I stay on a road trip?”

As you know, the options are almost endless. The beauty of road trips is that you don’t have to choose just one. Some of our favorite trips have been some combination of camping, backpacking, glamping, and Airbnb.

When it comes to accommodations, you have a virtual smorgasbord of options. In this series, we will cover each one in depth. Then, choose which one or combination suits you best.

Let’s start with road trip car camping.

The Difference Between Car Camping and RV Camping

#vanlife is a growing trend across social media. It seems a new generation has discovered the old freedom once known only to a small community of retirees.

However, you don’t need to own a special vehicle to sleep under the open sky. And you may find that you don’t have to wait until your 401k matures to answer the call of the open road.

While much of this article will apply equally to RV travel , the focus is on car and tent camping in its various forms. Look for a rundown on RVing and Overlanding in a future post.

And don’t worry if you aren’t the rugged outdoorsy type . You may be surprised at all of the options where you can find yourself sleeping comfortably under the stars.

Some of these options may not appeal to you now. But hopefully this post will help you to appreciate the reason why someone else would choose this kind of accommodation. 

If pitching a tent and cooking for yourself are too big of a leap , keep reading for advice on transitional camping. (Check out glamping and tentalows for example)

Glossary of Terms

• In your car – includes everything from a quick nap in a parking lot to turning your SUV into something of a cabin.
• On your car – includes tents that go on top of your car, truck, or SUV
• Near your car – includes traditional camp grounds where you pitch a tent within a short distance from your car
• Glamping: A luxury form of camping. Generally a tent is set up with normal household furnishings and ranges in amenities from a traditional Bed and Breakfast to an all-inclusive experience.
• Tentalow: Very similar to Glamping. The word is a mix of tent and bungalow. It generally describes the structure of a large canvas tent. At times these are on a raised platform, attached to a solid structure, and some have electricity and even plumbing.

Believe it or not, camping can be even more luxurious than some of the most posh spas you have ever seen. But I digress. We will get to that soon enough. 

Distinguishing Road Trip Car Camping From Backpacking

Similarly, there is a lot of cross-over between car camping and backpacking. And certainly, the two can combine into an amazing trip.

However, by starting off with car camping we can induct the uninitiated to the world of camping without the overwhelm of specialty equipment. Car camping is generally a good introduction to camping. Plus it transitions nicely into back country camping.

As mentioned before, the best road trips include several options in accommodations. Car camping is a great way to explore the outdoors while saving some money. In later posts we will show you where you can spend the extra savings if you should choose to splurge.

Later on we will deep dive into both RV travel and backpacking. 

 For now, let’s get started on the everything you need to know about car camping.

Camping for Beginners – The Essentials

I decided to start with car camping as this is probably the most accessible to the majority. Most already have a car, or at least they plan on renting one . 

And this tends to have a lower entry point from the financial standpoint. Backpacking takes specialty equipment that sacrifices size, weight, or creature comforts depending on your ambition level.

Car camping is the middle ground between roughing it in the backcountry and the plentitude of comforts from an RV. As mentioned, we will discuss the pros and cons of each in future articles. 

Using your car as a basecamp and sherpa can also be a gateway to taking the adventure to the next level. Whether that is backpacking or opting for more amenities. 

Tip! Buy a backpacking tent if:

• You may find this is the only tent you need. Or you may decide that you want more space on car camping trips. In that case, you can upgrade later to a larger tent and use the backpacking tent for the backcountry.
• With baggage restrictions you will find that having a backpack rig ready to go will be the cheapest means of flying with all of your camping gear. And often you are renting a car with an incredibly small trunk. Or boot as the case may be. 

So, once you have settled on a destination, it’s time to pick out a place to pitch your tent. Whether you are looking for a campground as your destination or one just for a night or two on your way there, you will want to find a place to stay. 

Tip! Start local.

If you have not camped before or you want to try out new equipment, find a local campground to test everything out. Or camp out in the backyard.

Doing so will help you to test your setup. It’s much easier to assess what you may or may not actually need for camping on a road trip. 

 You may even discover one of your favorite campsites. 

We used to live about 3.5 miles away from a reservoir. It became one of our top choices because it was so accessible. In 30 minutes we could be from our driveway to a fully set up site. That’s less time than watching one episode of The Office.

Car Camping in Campgrounds – A Beginner’s Guide

One of the most satisfying sounds in the world is the crunch of pea gravel beneath your hiking boots. 

Especially after a long day behind the wheel. The hum of the highway and the whistling of the wind are the welcome consonance of the road.

But when you pull off of the highway and into the campground, all of that is drowned by the gentle quiet of the woods.

And then you finally step out of the car, and stretch the miles off. One of the first sounds to welcome you to tranquility is made by your own foot. 

With the satisfying grind of gravel beneath your hiking boots, each step becomes the percussion of an unwinding soundtrack . As you scurry off to the bathroom.

The only question remains is, Where do you want to camp?

Of course, there are names synonymous with campgrounds. Each may have a different appeal. 

For example, campgrounds like KOA or Jellystone cater to families. They offer a lot more activities that kids might like.

From arcades to waterparks , they try to bridge a gap by exposing a new generation to some good old fun.

Others are designed more for RV’s that offer amenities like utility hookups.

The drawback for both of these is that they tend to get crowded. And loud. 

“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” Yogi Berra

If that’s not your gig, no problem. There are plenty of other places you can camp. Below are some links to more information on where to camp , where to get permits , and other helpful information. 

If you would like an aggregated list of all of these, see our list of recommended apps that simplifies the search process. 

Campground Resources

National Parks

The National Parks main page has an interactive map that will take you to the individual Park’s website. There you can narrow down your search and find other useful information such as camping and entrance fees, facilities available and highlights of each park.

National forests   (It takes a little navigating compared to Dyrt app)(choose state > choose park > choose camping > choose type of camping)

You will find options for:

• Cabin Rentals
• Campground Camping
• Dispersed Camping
• Group Camping

For the other federal lands camping including on 

• National Park Service
• U.S. Forest Service
• U.S. Fish and W ildlife Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Rec lamation
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Go to the r ecreation.gov site. It is a bit cumbersome to navigate. We will cover some apps that are a better option. 

State Parks

Chain Campgrounds Koa, J ellystone

Private Hipcamp, The Dyrt, The Outbound Collective

Glamping Glampinghub, Booking.com,   Hipcamp , Glamping.com

A note on camping at national and state parks: Camping fees generally do not include park entry fees. Find more information on the individual park’s website. 

There are a variety of styles of car camping. At most of the national and state parks you can choose between designated camping sites that you can drive or walk to. Or you can discover dispersed camping where you can pitch your tent in the great wide open, usually for free.

So, whatever your style of camping, there is something for everyone. But as you can see, there are a ton of resources to comb through.

 Fortunately, there’s an app for that. 

The following apps have been designed to curate a lot of this information for you. From gas prices, traffic, to camp sites, these are the best ones to help you plan and execute your trip successfully. 

 Or to see what is around you in case you want to be spontaneous.  

Helpful camping apps

The dyrt ( ios ) ( android ).

What we love about this app:

• It covers an expansive variety of camping. A one stop shop for all of the styles of camping we list in this post. 
• It is a community based app. Post, rate and review each campsite you have been to. This helps other campers in the future. 
• It is constantly improving with each passing year. And they incentivize the users with some sweet contests for some (I would assume) sponsored prizes. 
• Customer relations. While the reviews are largely positive, I think reading some of the lower ratings can give a little insight. I love that they respond to every comment and address any technical issues. 
• The pro version has even more features that allow you to plan out your route and download to Google maps. Pretty cool!

Hipcamp ( ios ) ( Android )

• Find unique places to stay on private land. Think Airbnb for camping
• It also covers tent camping, RV sites, glamping, (more on that in a minute), cabins and even treehouses!
• Real time availability and last minute booking. This is important to keeping a road trip flexible and spontaneous.

Recreation.gov ( iOS ) ( Android )

• A dedicated app for camping, RV, and other activities on federal lands.
• Can sign up for lottery campsites.
• Book campsites ahead of time, or choose your camp site and pay through a QR code for first come first serve sites.
• Real-time availability – keeping your road trip adaptable.

There are other camping apps available , but with mixed reviews. Later we will have a roundup with a comparison of the most popular ones.

However, I wanted to include these apps as part of the overall road trip experience. Honestly, besides the obvious usefulness as a trip planner, these apps make excellent inspiration boards. 

But where they really shine is for finding last minute places to stay. The value of which can’t

be overstated.

Other Helpful Apps:

Gasbuddy (ios) (android).

Why we like this app:

• Again, another community based app. Find the cheapest gas prices along your route. See it cheaper? Report it to help other drivers out.
• You can Pay with GasBuddy. Not only that, but it applies a discount of a few cents per gallon and is accepted at most gas stations.

Waze (ios) (android)

• Waze tends to be more up-to-date than Google Maps. Since it is crowdsourced, it is constantly updated.
• It’s great at avoiding traffic

An ideal app would integrate the best of all three of these (Waze, Dyrt, and GasBuddy). I wouldn’t be surprised if someone comes up with something like that soon.

Guru Maps (ios) (a ndroid)

• A great all-in-one offline map for driving or hiking anywhere in the world
• Download your destination without huge files on your device

Read a full review of Guru Maps for offline navigation by our friends at For Something More

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of available apps. However, based on reviews and personal experience we feel comfortable recommending these.

A word of warning about apps when camping: 

Your device is a useful tool for getting you to your campground. The whole point of getting away is to unplug and look around at something to look around at. That something being nature. And wow! Is it something to look at.

So do yourself and everyone else a favor. Put your phone down and look up. Recharge your own batteries. 

Unplug to unwind. Disconnect to be connected.

4 Options For Road Trip Car Camping

The best way to describe car camping is to break it down into 4 different types:

• In your car – exactly what is sounds like
• Tent camping – not including RV
• Near your car – aka basecamp
• On your car – …you’ll see

1. Camping In Your Car

First off, let’s differentiate sleeping in your car from camping in your car. One is a great way to enhance your road trip and be one of the memories you hold onto forever.

The other is at times a necessary evil that you will not quickly forget either.

Sleeping in your car is defined as simply pulling over and laying the seat back for a quick rest.

If you hate a good night’s sleep and have always wanted to know what it will feel like to wake up every morning when you are 80+ years old, try sleeping in your car for a night.

Seriously, I have rolled a car and slept in a car. I felt roughly the same afterward.

Generally, this is only a good idea if you need to catch some z’s for a few hours. It is a much better idea than driving tired. Or avoiding some shady characters at a city park that may or may not allow camping anyway. (Remind me to tell you about that time in Maui.) But a worse idea than most anything else. 

However, if you must sleep in your car there are limitless options.

Parking lots, truck stops, and rest areas all come to mind. However, some are better than others.

 Of all of the places that we have slept in the car, we have reluctantly settled on Walmart parking lots as the choice with the least drawbacks. 

First of all, the culture. Walmart at night is a side of Americana rarely glimpsed anywhere else.  

Just like a rest area, you have 24 hour bathrooms and snacks. But the security cameras in the Wally World parking lots deter most of the serial killers you encounter at rest stops. 

However, there is a better alternative . While pulling off for a few hours technically isn’t camping, there are accessories for actually extending the use of your car into a tent. 

Camping in your car is defined as adding an accessory to turn your car into a temporary RV.

Bonus: How to Choose the Best Camping Fridge

There are a number of ways to accomplish this, depending on the model of vehicle that you have and your ambition.

For example, sleeping in the bed of a truck can be as simple as putting a sleeping mat down. Or, you can add a camper shell and build a full kitchen inside.

The same goes for an SUV. The bigger ones can be slept in by folding down some seats . Or some custom modifications can expand the use of your cargo space into a comfortable fort.

Then there is the cargo tent. These tents attach to a truck or SUV to extend the living space of your vehicle.

The pros of camping in your car:

• You have access to all of the amenities of your car. Plug-ins, air conditioning, heat, and lights.
• You can sleep off of the ground. This is especially beneficial in cooler camping conditions.
• You gain extra space. By combining, your living space is bigger than both your tent or your vehicle.

The cons of camping in your car:

• You can easily run down the battery if you are depending on your car’s accessories.
• Your car becomes immobile until you dismantle the whole thing.

If you are looking for portable power, check out these portable generators by Jackery. They have a variety of sizes and even solar panels.

And in case you do run your battery down, Antigravity makes a portable jump starter. I have used this one and can’t believe how powerful this tiny thing is.

Not only can you jump start your car, it has usb charging ports for all of your devices as well. Here is a Cnet comparison report.

3. Camping Near Your Car

Camping near your car can be as simple as traditional camping. It’s what your parents learned from your grandparents:

Drive to a campsite. Pull out the tent and all of the camping equipment. Set up your tent. Light a campfire.

Tip! If you only buy one tent buy this one:

REI Halfdome 2 Plus

I have no affiliation with them. I don’t get paid to say this. This is an honest conclusion after owning both the original Halfdome 2 and now the Halfdome 2 Plus. There is always a trade-off of weight for features and, for us anyway, this nails it.

For less than the cost of a night or two at an average hotel, we bought the original REI Halfdome 2. For the next 15 years we had a tent with 2 entries with extra large vestibules. It is one of the easiest tents to put up. You simply cross two poles and clip the body to it. In about 2 minutes you can be moving in. 

We camped everywhere between Mauii and Iceland. Including backpacking and car camping. We have even camped on jobsites when working long days. 

The only gripe with it was that it got very hot in the summer since the bottom didn’t allow a lot of air movement. And while comfortable and easy enough to carry, we could always use a little more space. 

Somehow REI managed to address both of those issues when they came out with the Halfdome 2 Plus. Not only does it have proper ventilation, but they made it wider and longer. We can, and have actually, fit a queen size tri fold memory foam mattress topper inside. It is shamefully glorious. 

The only downside is it takes an extra minute or two to set up. But well worth the trade-off IMO.

The pros of camping near your car are:

• You can still use your car without dismantling your tent.
• You can bring more creature comforts than sleeping in your car or backpacking.
• More easily accessible than backpacking.
• You don’t need anything fancy. Even the cheapest tent from Target will do the trick. 

The cons of camping near your car are:

• You lack the accessories like heat and power from your car.
• Generally you are sleeping on the ground as opposed to camping in your car.
• You can’t explore nearly as far as backpacking.

Box: Essential tips for setting up camp

• Look for a flat, smooth spot. Remove any rocks or sticks that might be under your tent. If you can find a spot covered with pine needles, that is a bonus! Pine needles are the tatami mats of the outdoors.
• Find the highest spot. Whenever you set up your tent, there is rarely a perfectly level site. That’s ok. Just make sure your head is higher than your feet. Sleeping upside down will give you the worst headache. Unless you are a bat.
• In dispersed campsites, avoid setting up your campsite in dry creek beds. Dry creek beds quickly turn into wet creek beds just before becoming plain old creek beds. And your tent is not a boat.
• Watch out for the wind. Stake down your tent and guy lines well. Find some trees to act as a windbreak. And yes, breaking wind is not only acceptable when camping. It’s encouraged. 
• Now watch out for the guy lines. Especially going to or from the bathroom in the middle of the night. I don’t know why I included this. It’s completely unpreventable. Forget I said anything.

Alternatively, camping near your car can blow away almost everything you know about camping.

Glamping – Luxury camping near your car

There are more ways of camping near your car than packing your own tent. The following is a primer on glamping and tentalows.

We cover them here since they fall under the category “car camping.”

Glamping is the Airbnb of camping . The word glamping is a tragic portmanteau of the word “glamorous” and “camping” . Which makes sense since it is a more luxurious way to camp. 

The experience is a mash-up of camping and a bed-and-breakfast. The sky’s the limit on just how posh it can be. 

Glamping combines all of the comforts of home with the tranquility of sleeping outside. With a descriptive word that appeals to nobody. Glamping?

There are a wide variety of glamping sites. 

A rare type of glamping is another terrible assemblage of two words: tentalows. Tentalows may be a combination of the words “tent” and “bungalow”.

As in…

“Yeah, the back of the roadhouse they got some tentalows…” Jim Morrison

Maybe not. More likely it is a succinct version of “the in tent ion was to come up with better word than tent alow .”

Tentalow – an unfortunate name for a fortunate experience

But don’t let the name put you off from trying this out. We have stayed in tentalows in both Hawaii and on safari in Masai Mara.  

Our first tentalow experience was when staying in Molokai, H I for a night on the beach. 

Most of our nights in Hawaii were spent in our own tent on the island of Maui. But we spent one night in the now defunct Molokai Ranch. 

The tentalows were these outdoor living spaces walled in by a privacy fence. 

When you walk up to them, you are taken down the beach and to a path that leads to your own private retreat.

Inside was a deck with a separate open roof bathroom with endless solar hot water. And a large, well apportioned tent served as the bedroom. 

We enjoyed an amazing dinner on the beach as part of the all-inclusive experience.

Our second tentalow was on the serengeti in Kenya. That one was a complex of safari tents attached to stone bathrooms. 

Again, the tent was set up as luxuriant as any high end place we have stayed. They each had electricity and running water. 

And frankly, the comfort of being surrounded by other people feels a little more comfortable when surrounded by lions.  

Other Glamping Resources

There are many other ways to “glamp”. When we were in Volcano Huts in Iceland , we opted for camping in our own tents. 

But they also offer glamping and the eponymous huts for those traveling without a tent. 

Either way, you have access to the facilities and some of the most beautiful hikes in your life. Look for a review and guide coming soon. 

(If you want to know when the latest blog comes out, sign up for our newsletter. I don’t know how to spam, but I know they are annoying.  So I can promise not to fill your inbox with useless stuff.)

In the meantime, Honeytrek is the authority since they wrote the book on glamping , literally. 

The pros of glamping are:

• If you have not reached the comfort level of camping , yet you love the idea of sleeping outside. Glamping offers a taste of both camping and luxury.
• On a long camping trip, it is nice to splurge on a little pampering. 

The cons of glamping are:

• The cost is quite a bit more than a campsite. At times even more than an entire campground.
• You have to say the word “glamping”. 

Camping On Your Car

Rooftop camping is one of those things that you may immediately dismiss as a gimmick. But just as quickly realize the genius of it: A treehouse for your car! 

On the surface, this seems like a transition from tent camping to RV camping . But I’m not sure that either accepts them as equals. It’s like the odd older brother of car camping and the annoying little sister of RV travel.  

Likewise, I’m not sure which end of a campsite these would fit in. Maybe that’s why most of the advertisements show these rooftop tents all by themselves in desolate locations. 

The pros of sleeping on your car, truck, or SUV:

• Space – You can pack out your trunk, or cargo space without giving up valuable real estate for sleeping.
• When camping on rocky ground, you will have a flat surface to sleep on.
• A way to bring your car into the “camping with vehicle” conversation.

In reality, it’s the hermit crab of the RV world . I can imagine a mixer with a bunch of sea creatures. The other crabs think that hermits are just trying to get attention. But the snails recognize it as pretentiousness.

The cons of sleeping on your car, truck, or SUV:

• The set up and tear down is usually a little more work than a standard tent. 
• As with other tents attached to vehicles, your car is stationary until you break down the tent.
• You become the target of lightening, mountain goats, and other camper’s jokes.

When camping in mountains or deserts, it can get surprisingly cold at night. Make sure you pack accordingly. These are the 2 things we always take camping with us:

We discovered this the hard way during an April camping trip through Utah. 

• Always pack a sleeping pad. Appropriately named because you will not be able to sleep without it. We both have this one which works for backpacking too.
• Wool or fleece hat and socks

You lose 90% of your body heat through your head. A ski cap can make all the difference in a good night’s sleep. And if you can keep your feet warm, all the better.

Ready to hit the road?

So there you have it. A brief primer on road trip car camping.

As you can imagine, we have only touched briefly on each of these forms of road trip car camping. There are dozens of ways that we could cover this subject, but hopefully this gets you started on planning your own road trip.

If you’re ready to gear up, you’ll need something to keep the food cool. Check out our guide to budget coolers, where you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for a decent camping cooler.

Or splurge on a camping fridge. Here is our complete overview of the best camping fridges for all styles of camping. We don’t just pick the best camping fridge, we explain the difference to help you choose for yourself.

And of course, you can’t camp without coffee. Here are all of the ways to make coffee while camping – a full baker’s dozen to make camp coffee.

If car camping doesn’t appeal to you, look for future articles in this series. Coming soon:

• Backpacking
• RV/Overlanding
• Vacation Rentals
• Hotels/motels

In the meantime, check out our post on the 7 Best Road Trips in America (When We Get Back To Traveling) for a little inspiration.

I hope you find some useful information from this article. The intention is to make planning your own camping trip as seamless as possible.

But if there are any questions we left unanswered, please let us know. You can leave a comment or feel free to send an email.

Speaking of questions, have you seen the 5 Frequently Asked Questions To Consider When Planning a Road Trip?

Where is your favorite place to stay on a road trip?

Leave a comment below or sign up for our newsletter.

The road begins where the driveway ends. We’ll see you on it!

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Steve is an outdoor enthusiast intent on traveling the world. He is exploring the little things that make these trips just a little better. His favorite things are: a good cup of coffee, moments of solitude in beautiful surroundings, Nordic spas, and a good rope swing. He shares practical advice on traveling on a budget, without sacrificing the greatest experiences each destination has to offer.

Big News! My Green Form is now Maps Over Coffee!

21+ Camping Road Trip Essentials (Checklist Inlcuded)

Are you getting ready for camping and road trip season, but not sure what to pack? We’ve listed all of our camping road trip essentials. It’s a great family camping gear list to get you started.

We’ve been doing multiple road trips since our kids were babies, from short weekend getaways to long cross-country road trips. Plus, we’ve been tent camping and camping in our converted van quite a few times.

Disclaimer: Just a heads up, this free article contains affiliate links . If you purchase after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost . Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue to provide helpful and free content for you .

The Camping Road Trip Essentials: The Sleeping Basics

There are several essential items to add to your camping and road trip packing list. The following items are not a luxury or nice-to-have items. They are all camping must-have gear. Those camping and road trip essentials will ensure your trip is an enjoyable success rather than a stressful failure.

You can also download our detailed car camping road trip packing list to ensure you don’t forget anything.

An Easy Setup Tent

A quick and easy tent to set up (and pack away) will save valuable time and stress on a camping trip. When making a camping road trip, there are good chances that you’ll be moving around often, changing locations almost every day (maybe every two days).

The last thing you want is a tent that is hard to set up.

And trust me, I’ve been there on a solo camping trip with my kids. I just wasn’t able to set the tent (and the kids couldn’t/woundn’t help me). I ended up renting one of their yurts.

Also, ideally, choose a tent with a flysheet and groundsheet. It will protect you from the rain and cold, and don’t forget to practice putting the tent up before embarking on your trip. We have the Decathlon Arpenaz 4.2 Tent , which is perfect for families, but not really easy to set up.

Decathlon has many options for easy-to-set tents. The Quechua pop-up tent is perfect for a small family.

You can compare Decathlon tents here .

Otherwise, Crua Outdoors designs great quality tents that are easy to set up and lightweight.

Camping Sleeping Pads & Mattresses

Camping and road trip adventures with kids can be exhausting. A good night’s sleep is essential, which means your sleeping pads or mattress our one of the camping must-haves.

Depending on the type of camping you’re doing (tent camping or car camping), you’ll need different types of camping sleeping pads and mattresses.

I recommend camping sleeping pads that are self-inflating. Those self-inflation camping sleeping pads don’t require a pump or electricity. But they are usually thinner than big double camping sleeping pads.

The Decathlon 2-person self-inflating camping mattress is perfect when camping in a tent.

You could also opt for air mattresses. But make sure to add an electric air pump to speed up the blowing process.

Compact Camping Sleeping Bags

Mummy-shaped, tapered camping sleeping bags provide the best warmth . But try to choose a sleeping bag with a compression sack. These sacks have compression straps that enable the sleeping bag to be squashed into a small, compact size.

The Hiking Sleeping Bag 5°C – MT 500 from Decathlon is a good option. It shouldn’t be too warm in the summer (depending on where you camp, of course), but it should also be comfortable for fall and spring camping.

You can find more camping sleeping bags at Decathlon , REI (USA only) and MEC (Canada only) .

Kids can also have their sleeping bags. Decathlon has a nice model as well as MEC . Our own kids don’t really like sleeping bags. They prefer soft blankets, so we also pack a few soft blankets from home.

Camping blankets like the Rumpl puffy blankets are also great. They are lightweight and small when stored, but still keep you warm.

Car Camping Road Trip Essentials

If you are planning on a car camping road trip, there here are a few extra items you should plan for:

Car Camping Sleeping Pad

You’ll need a mattress if you plan on sleeping in your car. While you can use a standard air mattress or regular camping sleeping pads, some options are explicitly made for car camping.

For example, Luno has a car camping air mattress available in multiple size configurations to fit over 1,800 vehicle types. HeyTrip also sells a model of car camping air mattresses on Amazon. It’s supposed to work on most SUVs.

Car Window Curtains

If you are converting the back of your car into a bed, you’ll want to have some window curtains for cars. It will make sure the car is in dark early in the morning. It’s also great for intimacy.

You can use reflective aluminum sheets that you cut to the windows’ size. This is what we did for our converted campervan. We can buy a roll on Amazon or any hardware store.

You can get a car privacy curtain if you want to add some privacy. Luno has a model of car privacy curtain specifically made for car camping.

Screen Windows for Cars

If you’re looking for window curtains that are specifically made for your car, Luno offers an excellent option for screen windows for car . It’s a good alternative if you need to open the windows overnight. They do not provide the same blackout effect as reel car window curtains, but it still works great, especially if you stay in the woods with lots of mosquitos.

Kitchen Camping Road Trip Must-Haves

There is a wide variety of camping cooking products on the market to make camping trips with kids easier and more organized. These are the basic essentials to bring on every camping adventure.

Camping Stove

One of the biggest advantages to camping while road-tripping is cooking your meals. Not only is it a lot of fun, but it also helps you save money when travelling . Plus, it allows you to stop where you want to when you want to.

A classic propane stove, like the Coleman stove we are using, is always useful when camping with kids. Having two burners is ideal. Don’t forget to pack a lighter and extra propane cylinder.

Otherwise, the BioLite Campstove is a good alternative. This camping stove captures and stores electricity from the burning wood scraps or pellets used in your cooking. This is a helpful feature when camping off-grid.

Then, for a small and quick option, the JetBoil cooking jet is great , especially if you do lots of backpacking and hiking. This cooking set is really small and can fit in your backpack. You can find the JetBoil cooking jet at REI or on Amazon .

Camping Cooking Set and Cutlery

Make sure you bring a complete camping cooking set with the following

• cooking utensils
• pots and pans
• cutting boards and knives
• salt and pepper
• bowl, cloth and soap for washing up.

Pro-Tip: Save time by creating a camping cooking box to store at home so you won’t have to pack a new box for each trip.

HydroFlask has a great camping cookwear kit . Decathlon also have a nice cooking set for beginners.

An electric cooler will keep food and drinks cold on extended trips but require a power source. A non-electric cooler that uses ice packs or frozen water bottles to stay cool works best for short trips.

There are also hybrid coolers. Those coolers can charge from your car battery whilst driving but do not need a power source at your destination. You can simply add some ice to it.

The YETI 125-liter hard cooler is amazing. It’s big enough for a family long road trip and it stayy cold for a while.

When we camping, we use this 45-liter electric cooler I got on Amazon. It has a 12V car charger as well as a 120V charger. But we often use it with ice when we don’t have electricity. It’s a good cooler, but of on long road trip, it could be nice to have a little more space.

Other Kitchen Camping Must-Have

Camping Dishcloths

You can use any type of dishcloths for camping, using old ones you have from home.

But we love using the Tru Earth swedish cloths . Swedish cloths are perfect for camping because they dry very quickly. When doing a camping road trip, you’ll be on the go a lot and might not have time to let dish towel dry before packing up in the morning.

Swedish cloths are thus perfect. You can check ou to Tru Earth Swedish Cloths , otherwise there are a few options on Amazon with 6-pack Swedish cloths with cute design .

We are a coffee family 😉 And there is nothing better than waking up from a camping night and prepare a good coffee cup.

Camping French Press or “Pour Over coffee maker” are best when camping and road tripping. Of course if you’re traveling in an RV, you can use a regular coffee maker, but you’ll need to rely on electricity.

The Stanley French Press is perfect for camping. It’s made in stainless steel so less fragile than the ones in glass. Plus, it double vacuum insulation allows you to prepare your coffee and drink it later, which is ideal when in a hurry in the morning.

We also love using the WildLand Coffee bags . It’s the same principle of a tea bag, but it’s made from fresh coffee grinds. It’s delicious and you only need to have boiling water.

Other Camping Road Trip Essentials

When you have packed your sleeping, cooking and kids essentials, you need to think about safety and hygiene essentials for your camping road trip.

Fold-up Camping Chairs

Add comfort to your camping trip by packing a few fold-up camping chairs. You will be glad of it after a long, tiring day of driving. They don’t take up too much space and can be used at the campsite, at the beach and in any park.

Portable Toilet

A portable toilet is a must-have item when camping, especially if you are planning on doing random camping (dispersed camping). Portable camping toilets can be as simple as a seat over a bag or a more familiar compact chemical unit with its own flush. Purchase a pop-up toilet tent to avoid having the toilet in your sleeping tent.

We use the Serene Life Portable Toilet . It comes with a water tank and a transportation bag. It’s ideal for road trips and pretty useful in our small converted van. It’s pretty simple to clean.

REI also sells a portable toilet with a 5-gallon waste tank .

Portable Charging Station

The ability to charge devices makes life easier but can also save your life in an emergency. The Jackery Explorer 500 is a compact portable charging station. Still, it is powerful enough to run a mini-fridge or even a T.V. There are many other options, such as Bluetti Power and EcoFlow .

🤔 Not sure which portable charging station to get? 🤔 Read our article on the best camping portable charging station .

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are essential for road trips as they keep belongings compact and organized in small spaces. Buy different coloured cubes for each family member so you can easily identify each other’s belongings.

First Aid Kit

We have had to use a First Aid Kit on several trips and consider this an essential item for any family camping checklist. This stylish Adventure Medical Kit is designed by a travelling family for travelling families and contains all the essential things you might need.

The Adventure Medical Kit is also a great one to have. It’s perfect for camping and hiking.

Insect bites can ruin a family camping trip, so don’t forget to pack bug spray. We tried a few different ones, but prefer natural bug repellent over stronger ones.

Cleaning Wipes

Cleaning wipes help you stay clean and fresh whilst camping and are useful when staying off-grid. Choose sustainable, biodegradable wipes .

Quick-Drying Towel

Quick-drying microfiber towels are the perfect type to pack on a camping trip. They are compact and dry fast. We have a set for swimming/water fun and shower time.

Decathlon has different options for microfibre towels , from tiny hand towels to XL shower towels. We use that model in multiple colours.

When camping, it’s essential to bring some light. Plus, it’s always nice to decorate a little campsite or car for a cozy evening.

There are a few options for lighting and camping, but here are the 3 types of lights we always bring with us during camping and road trip adventures.

A wind-up lantern is helpful to any camping road trip essentials list. It is a durable, sustainable product and is easy for kids to use at bedtime.

We don’t recommend using propane or gas lanterns in your tent and car. We prefer using battery-powered lanterns such as the BioLite A s p e n 5 Amazon BioLite - Lantern Amazon BioLite - Lantern Lantern or the Decathlon Lantern .

We own a few of the Decathlon Lanterns .

Headlamps are also a must-have when camping. They are so compact and easy to carry. A hands-free lamp is another camping road trip camping essential.

You can keep your headlamp in the glove compartment for road trips emergency use or when you arrive at your camping spot in the dark.

We always bring our headlamps The kids love walking around with headlamps. Plus, it’s perfect for extra lighting for reading by the fire.

Decorative Lights

Now, decorative lights are NOT essentials, but they do create a fun atmosphere at night when camping. There are many options on Amazon , dollar stores or any hardware stores.

Hammocks are always fun when camping. It’s a great alternative to packing chairs for each family member.

And enjoyable campsite accessories. I LOVE lying down on our hammock at the end of the day, reading a book while the kids are having fun searching for bugs. I rarely have time (or take the time, I should say) to read at home, but I love it when we camp.

We love the UNI Gear double hammock . It’s sold on Amazon . A double hammock is ideal when camping with kids.

Decathlon also sells a 2-person hammock .

Picnic Blanket

Choose a picnic blanket with a waterproof base and ideally one that secures when folded or rolled. Most campsites have picnic tables, but with a picnic blanket, you’ll have more freedom to eat on the go.

We have the Decathlon Picnic Blanket that we bring everywhere, but Crua Outdoors also have a good option.

Camping Road Trip Essentials for Kids

Camping with kids is rewarding, but it can be challenging and exhausting. Make life a little easier by including the following items on your family car camping checklist.

For specific kids’ camping gear and apparel, check out this article .

13. Baby /Toddler Carrier

A carrier is essential if you plan on hiking or sightseeing in places with limited accessibility. The fabric-based Tula baby carrier offers multiple carry positions with adjustable head and neck support. Ergobaby also provides excellent options.

We always carry our Tula carriers . They are great because they don’t take up much space and can be carried in a day backpack. Plus, Tula offers a toddler size that holds up to 60 lbs

🤔 Wondering which baby carrier is the best for hiking? 🤔 Check out our post, where we show the best carriers depending on your child’s age .

Kids Camping High Chair

Feeding a baby on your lap is not easy and can result in your meal going cold. Pack a portable, foldable, camping highchai r but make sure your highchair is stable, adaptable to rough terrain and easy to clean.

Entertainment Box

Fill a lidded box with games and toys for the kids. Pack lightweight items such as a pack of cards, Aqua draw or puzzles. An ‘I Spy Camping’ book is a fun addition for younger kids. Avoid things that require power or can damage your tent, such as felt tip pens.

For more inspiration, check out our article on road trip games for kids .

Final Thoughts: Our Favorite Camping Road Trip Essentials

You now know what to bring when camping in the woods. I hope this camping must-haves trip will help you prepare for your family camping trips, so you don’t forget anything.

With this list, you should have a good base for planning your next family camping and road trip adventure. You’ll need to find some clothes, pack the car and hit the road.

You can also download our detailed car-camping road trip packing list to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.

Tent Camping Road Trip: Your Guide for the Ultimate Adventure

Table of Contents

Imagine hitting the open road, with your camping gear tucked in the back and an itinerary filled with fascinating natural beauty spots and campgrounds. This is exactly what a tent camping road trip entails. Dating back to the glory days of Route 66, road trips have always held the promise of adventure and allure. Combine this with the primal appeal of camping, and you get a fascinating blend of exploration, freedom, and a deeper connection with nature.

The Appeal of Tent Camping Road Trips

Tent camping road trips invite us to explore the world around us in unhurried strides. You’re not restricted by flight schedules or hotel check-ins. Instead, it’s just you, your tent, and the open road. This freedom to explore amplifies the appeal of camping road trips many folds.

Coupled with the freedom, the undeniable allure of a road trip tent camping is the deep connection it fosters with nature. There’s a unique tranquillity in setting up a tent amidst the sprawling vistas of nature, hearing the night’s silence only interrupted by the crackling fire or a distant owl.

One cannot ignore the bliss of being unplugged from our tech-dominated world during such trips. Surrounded by nature, you escape from Wi-Fi signals, telecommuting, and digital noise – a retreat that revitalizes your body and soul.

What’s more, a tent camping road trip is surprisingly cost-effective compared to a standard vacation. All you need is your vehicle, essential camping gear, and a willingness to embrace the adventure.

Planning Your Tent Camping Road Trip

Choosing your route.

Determining your route is an integral part of the preparation process. When selecting your itinerary, consider the natural attractions you want to explore, the distance between each destination, and the travel time. A balanced mix of coastal drives, mountainous terrains, and desert plains can truly enhance your road trip experience.

Selecting Your Tent Camping Spots

After outlining your route, identify the campgrounds or campsites where you’ll set up for the night. When researching camping spots, consider factors such as availability, permitted camping times, and the amenities they offer. Accessibility and proximity to your travel route are important considerations too.

Preparing Your Camping Gear

Accumulating your camping gear is where the exciting reality of your road trip sets in. The list would typically include a durable weather-resistant tent, comfortable sleeping bags, easy-to-use cooking equipment, and basic survival gear. Ensure your gear is compact and portable for easy setup and breakdown.

Things to Remember

Before hitting the road, check your vehicle for necessary maintenance, such as tire pressure, oil changes, and a full gas tank. Also, share your itinerary details with a loved one and keep emergency contact information handy. Lastly, don’t forget to check the weather forecast for your chosen destinations.

Mastering the Art of Road Trip Camping

Setting up your tent site.

When you arrive at your camping site, choose a level ground to set up your tent. Remember to steer clear of low-hanging branches and position your tent away from the fire pit. And don’t forget to apply insect repellent!

Road Trip Food and Cooking

When it comes to cooking on the road, easy-to-prepare foods are your best friends. Pre-cooked meals, canned foods, or easy to grill items not only save time but also reduces cleanup.

Road Trip Activities

After setting up camp, immerse yourself in the surrounding nature. Go for an adventurous nature walk, engage in outdoor games, or simply relax, enjoying the serenity the starlit sky offers.

Camping Road Trip Lessons and Takeaways

Just as any journey, a tent camping road trip can have its challenges, like sudden weather changes, campsite fails, or forgotten items. Yet, it’s these unexpected twists that form enduring memories and impart valuable lessons in adaptability and resilience.

The unique benefits of this road trip camping experience surpass the traditional excursion routines. The sheer joy of exploring, the freedom of movement, the connection with nature, and the simplicity of living outdoors are unparalleled experiences that elevate tent road trips above other recreations.

A tent camping road trip is more than just a getaway—it’s an enriching journey that instills life skills, emotional resilience, and a profound appreciation for nature. With these strategies, you are ready to embark on your own road trip adventure. All that’s left to ask is, “When are you hitting the road?”

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Written by Niche Website • April 14, 2021 • 5:49 pm • Guides

The Ultimate RV Road Trip Guide

Introduction

Road trips are fundamental to the American spirit. The people you love all gathered together, heading from home on a journey of discovery.

In a very real sense, it harks back to the founding of the nation, to journeys made by ancestors, or journeys made by pioneers who paved the way.

The RV is our modern equivalent of a Conestoga wagon in more ways than one.

• Everybody’s onboard in one vehicle.
• We take lots of our home comforts with us along for the ride.
• We’re masters of our destiny – free to eat on board or not. Free to sit and watch the stars if we want to.
• And not to put too fine a point on it, it’s cheaper than hoteling and moteling it every step of the way. You also feel more like a citizen of a great land when you’re RVing it, rather than a tourist in your own country when hoteling and moteling.

So, what makes the ultimate RV road trip? Let’s load up and find out.

Why Road Trip In An RV Rather Than A Car?

Road trips in a car are fine as far as they go. But there are several disadvantages, which the RV neatly negates for all on board.

You Can Travel More. Road trips in a car mean whoever is doing the driving can’t ever get any real rest. 

You can take it in turns, yes, but with sleeping in the passenger seat and getting all kinds of uncomfortable the only option, the likelihood of real rest is slim.

What’s more, if the person who has been driving is now napping, trying to recharge their batteries, everybody in the car has to be quiet. That’s nigh on impossible if there are children in the car.

With an RV, a quick change of driver means the person whose shift has ended can go behind, stretch out in a real bed and get some proper rest. And any children can still be children, without disturbing the sleeper. 

The result is the potential for much longer journeys, and much bigger adventures further away from home.

Then there’s the question of bathroom breaks.

In a car, every child – and every adult too, come to that – is at the mercy of their bladder. Every time someone needs a rest stop, you’re more or less obliged to find somewhere civilized to take them. 

That means pulling in to a rest stop regularly, and having to re-acquaint yourself with the road again afterward, cutting into the time you spend traveling.

In an RV, if you need to go, there are onboard conveniences, so you go, do what you need to do, and the wheels just keep on turning, adding miles to your journey.

The same sort of thing applies to the cramped conditions in the back of a car, compared to the ability to go and sit, stretched out in comfort in an RV. 

Easing that discomfort means easing the boredom of children, which in turn leads to fewer rest stops based on sheer exasperation and boredom. And the miles keep rolling away behind you.

Any which way you look at it, the RV, rather than the car, is the right way to make a road trip if you want to get further from home and have those bigger adventures with a different sky.

You Spend Less

This should be self-evident, but fewer stops for bathroom breaks, comfortable naps, or simply a distraction from cramp and boredom means you spend less en route.

You’re not required to make a rest stop, only to fill up again on coffee and soda pop at chain store prices. The more prepared you are in advance, the less you need to spend at premium, on the road, prices.

It’s also true that when you sleep on your RV at night, you’re not paying hotel or motel prices for an experience you can have right there on the vehicle.

You Can Prepare Your Own Food in An RV

Sure, part of the adventure of a road trip is to see new places, experience new things, and maybe eat different foods from across the country.

And that’s fine when it comes to destinations – places you’re aiming to get to and see. 

But during the getting-there, why would you want to spend money for uncertain food that might for all you know be filled with additives and preservatives and anything else you care to name?

Part of the point of an RV is that it comes with at least a galley kitchen. That means you can fix your own meals and snacks while the miles run away from you.

That’s not only cheaper, it can also be reassuring for children. Children have different modes of thinking. They can be On An Adventure, and they can be Traveling. 

If you encourage them to think that the traveling part is what happens before the adventure, they won’t feel the need to be eating Adventure-Food until you actually arrive somewhere, and will be comforted by the tastes of the familiar to pass the time while they’re traveling.  

You Get Your Own (Clean) Bedroom And Bathroom

Let’s be clear here. 

There’s no disrespect intended to the owners of America’s fine network of hotel and motel chains, or its Mom & Pop establishments offering beds for the night.

But let’s remember we’ve just experienced a pandemic viral infection. One of the key strategies for limiting infection during that pandemic was for families to ‘bubble’ together – to keep to their own as much as was humanly possible.

In hotels and motels off the highways of the nation, people sometimes stay for only one night, and sometimes for longer. 

There’s often a quick turnaround to get the next guests in. Who knows if maybe the cleaning regime is overworked (especially given the Covid restrictions on working and travel).

With an RV, you know what you’re eating, you have your own bathroom for the ‘bubble’ of your family, and you bring your own sheets, pillows, and bed linen. 

As much as a precaution for anyone else as for your own family, staying in an RV means you’re doing the socially responsible thing and keeping everyone safe.

There’s The Mindset

As we mentioned, in an RV, there’s a sense of adventure baked right in – all traveling together, with the potential to sleep, eat healthy food, and play without driving anyone else into a rage. 

It’s a harmonious way for a family to travel into new territory and feel the spirit of exploration.  In a car, it feels like a Monday morning commute that goes on for miles, and miles, and miles, and…

So, hands down, an RV is the best option when it comes to having the ultimate road trip across America. Cars are great, but for the ultimate road trip, they just don’t cut it.

Planning A Successful RV Road Trip

That’s not to say everything’s free and easy in an RV. If you’re going to have the ultimate adventure, you need to plan quite a lot of the trip ahead.

Because an RV is a very particular type of vehicle. You can’t legally just park it up on the side of the road. You have to book campsites to house it overnight. 

You have to be sure there’s legal RV parking at the places you want to include on your adventure.

You have to make sure that the route you take is RV-friendly, rather than just car-friendly. 

And again, you have to make sure you have the budget to complete the trip comfortably (which means building in some contingency for frivolity. Possibly quite a lot of frivolity where children are involved).

So – to the Planmobile!

Make A Plan That Matches Your Budget

When taking a road trip by RV, there are three major sources of expense.

• Campsite fees.

You know yourself how much money you have to dedicate to your RV adventure.

The trick is working out how to hit all the spots you want to hit, see all the things you want to see, and get all the way back again, on the money you have available.

There are several factors that account for how much gas you need.

• Size and year of your RV
• Speed of travel (the slower you drive, the less gas you’ll burn in the same period. This also correlates to less distance travelled).
• Price of gas when you set out.

There are any number of handy calculators to help you get numbers on this. One of the simplest, assuming you know your average vehicle mileage per gallon of gas is the KOA calculator . 

Whatever else is true in this world, you can take it as fact that RVs will cost you more at the pump than regular cars. On average, RVs get about 6 to 18 mpg, depending on the size and model, whereas cars average about 24 mpg.

So, work out how far you want to go, your RV’s mileage per gallon, and the price of gas per gallon, and you should have a rough figure for your gas costs. 

Then add more on top for off-ramping, driving from interstates to campsites, driving to any particular attractions you (or your kids) mark as a must-see while you’re on the trip, etc.

Campsite Fees

There is of course no standard campsite fee in America. You pay more or less from season to season, and from location to location, so how much you pay per night depends on where you go and what you want to see when you wake up.

Got a national park on your itinerary? The National Parks Service runs official RV campsites at most national parks, and prices vary from $15-25 per night at the Grand Canyon park to $120-125 per night at Colter Bay in the Grand Teton park.

It’s also worth knowing that while the National Parks Service keeps its prices as low as possible, there are sometimes private park owners within the same park whose prices can be substantially higher. 

For example, at the Grand Canyon, a non-NPS site can cost you between $49-62 per night.

Across the country and outside of national parks, prices also vary considerably, so it’s worth planning out a route that’s friendly both for your RV and for your bank account.

To find RV campgrounds across the country, try:

• Kampgrounds Of America
• Recreation.gov
• The Bureau of Land Management
• United States Geological Survey for a National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass
• And Roverpass

Food and drink are primary expenses on a road trip, not least because it’s probably relatively rare that a family eats all its meals together in day-to-day life – children at school, parents at work. 

On a road trip, the likelihood is that most meals will be eaten together, and must be planned or paid for out of a holiday budget.

To some extent, the cost of this can be mitigated by careful planning before the trip. 

Simple family meals involving pasta, beans, rice, etc mean the bulk of the food can be bought at least one monthly budget ahead and stored in the RV ready for the trip. 

Some of the rest of the equation will depend on the size of your RV’s kitchen, and what size refrigerator it has, for the storage of meats, cold drinks, etc.

Expect to take a lot of non-perishable snack foods for kids made ravenous by adventure and new locations. If you’re going to be doing a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, budget for high-energy slow-release foods too. 

And include a larger budget for eating out at least some nights on your adventure, so as to add a sparkle to the eye and give a break from travel-food.

It’s been suggested by guides that $10 per person per day is a reasonable budget if the food is bought and cooked in the RV. 

So if you use that as your guide, and then add extra for site-specific snacks and any food eaten in diners, restaurants, etc, you should be about right.

Admissions, Events, Etc

Remember to budget for entry into any events, attractions, and the like. Want to visit an alligator farm in Arkansas , it’ll cost you $9 per adult and $7 per child under 12. 

Want to marvel at the weird and wonderful roadside attractions of America ? No charge but the gas to get there. Budget accordingly and get your mind a little blown so you remember the trip forever.

Book Campsites In Advance If Possible

Campsites can be competitive, and they are a naturally finite resource – once they’re full, they’re full.  Booking your spaces as far in advance as possible means your spot is secured, so you’re not forcing yourself to drive on through the night to another location.

It also means you won’t be forced by necessity out of cheaper campsites into more expensive, more run-for-profit campsites, eating into your road trip budget.

Apart from relieving any issues of not getting in somewhere, the further in advance you plan and book your campsite reservations, the less financial pressure there is on you in the immediate run-up to the road trip.

Book and pay for a night or two out of each paycheck for a few months ahead of time, and you won’t have to take a big hit in real-time when the road trip arrives. That will leave you free to enjoy more of your time without that extra burden.

And in addition to all that, having designated places to get to each night helps keep you on your route. 

Sure, the biggest ball of twine in the world may be fascinating, looked at from a simple “Who thinks to do this?” angle, but if you don’t get to your campsite by nightfall, you’ll miss the slot you paid for…

Plan An RV-Friendly Route

Now – there are lots of people who feel the freedom of the open road is tied up with taking winding little detours wherever the next dirt road takes them.

All power to them, but that’s not practical with an RV.

As we mentioned at the start, an RV is a different class of vehicle altogether to a Nissan family-wagon. It’s taller, wider, slower, and often falls under restrictions that you might not ordinarily think about.

You’re going to need to think about them.  Plan your route with regard to low clearances, propane-restricted bridges and tunnels. 

Research tough gradients and switchback corners along your proposed route, and cut them the heck out, because getting an RV caught in a tight bend is like trapping a walrus in a washtub – it’s loud, it’s messy, it causes undue panic to everyone, and it just isn’t pretty.

Also, map your route according to RV-friendly gas stations. No , not all gas stations are RV-friendly. Fortunately, you don’t need to get out your dowsing rods to mystically find RV-friendly gas. 

There are plenty of apps and map-overlays now that will take the heartache out of this element of your route-planning, including everything from Google Maps to the Gasbuddy app.

Research RV Parking In Advance

Similarly, it’s an RV rookie who rolls up to an event or location and just expects to be OK to park an RV there.  If there are definite places you want to hit on your trip, make yourself a list and do the research – online first, phone second, just to confirm that you’re OK to park your RV at the venue.

Is this taking the spirit of adventure out of RV road-tripping?  No, it’s proper planning to avoid disappointment, unnecessary difficulties, and looking unprepared in the eyes of your family.

Sure, there’s still room for the unexpected detour to see something cool – but ideally, as soon as it’s mentioned, check your Google Maps overlay or ask the digital butler that lives in your phone whether you’re OK to park an RV there.

Adjust Your Estimated Time Of Arrival

We need you to do something.

We need you to calculate how long it would normally take you to get from point A to Point B in the family car. Write it down for us on a piece of paper.

Now, very carefully, tear that piece of paper in half, lengthwise. And then do it again. And again. And then throw it in the garbage.

That right there is the experience of time planning with an RV.

You’re not in a family car anymore. You’re in a road warrior. A Conestoga wagon with a lot of modern conveniences. You don’t fit your beds in your family car. You don’t fit a refrigerator or an oven. Whole. Different. Ballgame.

Sure, the engine in your RV is larger too. 

But with the route planning to avoid frightened bridges, the avoidance of some more direct routes because of their gradients and zig-zags, the detours for RV-friendly gas, and the occasional reductions in speed so as not to, for instance, hurl all the crockery out of cupboards, you’re going to be slower than you think you will if you base your calculations on standard car speed and progress.

Why is this important?

Remember that thing where you have to get to your campsite each night? Yeah, that. 

Considerations of RV speed should never be allowed to get in the way of your adventure, but it’s worth factoring into your route-planning when it comes to how many miles you think you’re likely to realistically cover each day.

Road Trip Essentials Checklist

So you’re all ready to hit the road? Got your route planned, your budget fixed, your sights to see, and an empty RV?

Great – now all you need to do is fill that puppy up and you’ll be ready to go.

It’s not that easy remembering all the things that really should go in an RV when you’re embarking on a road trip though. 

That’s why we’ve put together a ready reckoner for you, so you can check off what you’re taking along for the ride.

Sure, you’re going away on a great adventure. Great adventures take paperwork these days.

License and Registration For Your Vehicle

We’re sure you drive like a dream, but in the event that a cop is curious about your RV and its route into the road trip of a lifetime, these are the documents they will always ask for, to make sure that a) you are you, and b) you own the vehicle. 

Take them with you, leave them in the glove compartment the whole time, remember to bring them back inside the house when you get home ­ – at least until you next use the RV.

Insurance Documents and Relevant Numbers

As with the license and registration, you probably won’t need these on your road trip, but if you do need them, you’ll really need them. Dig them out, put them alongside the license and registration documents.

The Hard Copy Manual For Your Vehicle

More and more often, the manual comes as a downloadable document. By all means, have that to hand on a phone or e-reader of your choice. Carry the hard copy version too. 

Because the world is such that the moment you need it, your battery will die, that’s why. Again, store it with the license and registration documents in the glove compartment.

Passports – Optional

Unless you’re planning to cross a border, or you feel like the urge might suddenly come upon you, you’re probably safe to leave your passports at home. 

If you are likely to be going close to a border and might decide to hop over for an afternoon, take them with you.

Ideally, don’t keep these with your car’s documents, but in somewhere secure within the RV. Just in case.

Medical Details, including Insurance Documents And Numbers – Optional

This is only really necessary if you have an ongoing chronic condition, and may need, for instance, to prove you a) need the medications you’re carrying, or b) need some more of them, and are insured to receive them.

Spare Tires

Again, there’s very little likelihood that you’ll need a spare tire, let alone two.

But if and when you do need them, you’d better believe you’re really going to need them. 

If you’re rolling down the road and a tire bursts, it’s going to put a serious crimp in your adventure, to say nothing of your schedule, to have to wait till a local garage can get to you – and that’s if they have a spare for your particular RV.

Carry at least one spare tire on a road trip. Two for preference, just to give yourself twice the odds.

Roadside Emergency Kit

You need one of these so that if something goes wrong with your RV while you’re on the road, you’re not simply lost and floundering with an outsize vehicle on your hands, going nowhere. 

A standard roadside emergency kit will include:

• Battery booster cables
• At least two light sticks
• A reflective vest, so people can see you working
• And emergency rain poncho, because immediately you break down, it will start to rain on you
• A warning triangle
• A tire pressure gauge, to confirm what you already know in your heart
• A window breaker, because yes, it will absolutely come to that

A Domestic Tool Kit

You’re essentially taking a mini-version of your home away with you. Anything that can go wrong in the full-sized version can go wrong in the mini-version too. Take:

• At least one sledgehammer or mallet
• Several screwdrivers – cross-cut and flat-head – of various sizes
• Ideally a multi-wrench
• A highly portable multi-tool
• At least one flashlight and batteries to power it
• Because you’re carrying your own plumbing, one plunger

Medications And First Aid

There are two levels of medication you might need on a road trip.

First, if you take any ongoing medication for a chronic condition, remember to pack enough of it for the whole trip PLUS two days, in case of complications en route.

Obviously, store all prescription medications out of the reach of children – even if they are prescription medications for the children. 

But if you’re diabetic, asthmatic, have ADHD or anxiety, there’s no way you want to be 200 miles from home when you realize your medication’s in the cabinet at home.

Apart from the potentially serious side effects of missed doses, you really don’t want to have to spend money on replacement meds while you have them sitting at home. 

That will make you feel like a diagnosed dumbass. Also, a lot poorer than you thought you were.

And second, there’s first aid. Anything can happen on a road trip. If you’re taking a road trip with children, anything is almost clinically guaranteed to happen. 

Headaches, coughs, poison ivy, scraped knees, you name it – it’s probably out there waiting with your child’s name on it. 

Take a reasonable first aid kit for the region you’re heading into – including sunscreen, bug spray, and calamine lotion if you’re going to enjoy some sun. Sure, they say a parent’s kiss can cure a thousand ills.

Take the lotion anyway.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

If you’re going to be cooking, eating, and washing up after your meals on board the RV, you’re going to need to bring everything necessary with you.

Kitchen Checklist - Serving

• At least two size-appropriate plates for every family member
• Potentially, one bowl for every family member
• Two items of each type of cutlery per family member – forks, spoons, knives
• Two mugs per adult
• One juice glass per family member
• One wine glass/beer glass per adult, as required

Kitchen Checklist – Cooking

• Three deep pans, various sizes – think pasta, sauce, vegetable
• One frying pan
• At least one wooden spoon
• At least one silicone spatula
• At least one slotted spoon
• At least one drainer, suitable for pasta, vegetables, etc
• At least three sharp knives – meat prep, vegetable prep, one spare as needed
• One can opener, minimum. Two for safety
• Cheese grater – simply because you’ll realize how much you miss it when you don’t have one

Kitchen Checklist – Washing

• Dishwashing soap
• Utensil of choice for cleaning dishes
• Dish drying towel, if usual

We’ve mentioned this previously, and the exact make-up of what you take on your adventure will be up to you.

We suggest lots of long-life products, like pasta, rice, beans, etc. 

Lots of snack foods to avoid the need to cook full meals to kill a hunger-pang. Canned products as appropriate. 

Limit the fresh and refrigerated to absolute must-haves, to save space. Take enough to allow for a certain spirit of adventurous gluttony.

Good intentions and back-up plans are the order of the day when packing clothes for a road trip.

Ideally, take enough casual clothing so there is at least one outfit per family member per day.

One slightly more formal outfit per family member, in case of dining out.

Significant extra socks and underwear, because they are prone to accidents, from stepping in big puddles and soaking through the shoes to finding a muddy spot and sitting in it, accidents will happen, and when they do, the last thing anyone wants is to be sitting around in squelchy socks or muddy underwear.

Also, include appropriate weather gear – sun hats, rain ponchos, wellington boots, earmuffs – you know the terrain you’re going into. Pack accordingly for the most likely weather.

If you’re aiming to get out in nature and do some hiking, add appropriate footwear for all the family.

Aside from clothes for the family, it’s always a good idea to put fresh bed linen on the beds when you start out on a new road trip. 

It helps deliver that feeling of being both away from home, and yet connected to all the good things that home provides, while you’re off on your adventure.

Toiletries & Personal Care

From nail files to toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss, you’d be amazed what you forget when you leave the day-to-day world of home life behind.  Remember to take enough toilet tissue to last you the whole trip – you never know when you might need it, even outside the vehicle (not all restrooms are necessarily adequately provided!).

Take towels, wash cloths, potentially razors or shavers, perfume, cologne, nail clippers, mouthwash, acne cream, tampons – you name it, you go through your bathroom at home and make sure to duplicate on a smaller scale. 

There’s no reason why each family member shouldn’t have their own small toiletries bag to keep separately.

Navigation Aids

We all know we live in an age of navigation on our phones – but the navigation signal receiver in your average smartphone is the size of a paperclip, trying to receive and interpret an already weak signal coming from satellites in low-earth orbit.

Just saying. Take some paper maps and route-planners, too.

Individual Bags

If you’re aiming to get out into nature and do some hiking, it would be useful for each family member to have a bag or rucksack appropriate to their size. 

When getting on board the RV, this could be filled with their own personal choice of amusements – from e-readers, a couple of good (paper) books, packs of cards, etc, to miniature game consoles, every doll ever made, or a handful of action figures.

These could then be each person’s travel diversion bags, but when needed for hiking, could be filled with more appropriate things like energy bars, water supplies, and the like.

In addition to this, games that can be played as a family are always good on a road trip. They can bring everyone back together after a day of traveling, seeing new things, and adventuring.

Every USB Charger Known To Man

Yes, the point of a great RV road trip adventure is to get out into the country, spend time together, reconnect with one another and the world around you. But on the other hand, if your phone battery dies, you’re as good as dead.

Take at least one charger per personal device, be it a laptop, a games console, an MP3 player, a phone. You need to be able to charge all these – more or less simultaneously.

In fact, you could do worse than also investing in a solar power station, which converts the sun’s energy into usable, device-charging power without it costing you any additional cash.

An Awesome Playlist

It’s not a real road trip without an awesome playlist.

In fact, and this will be controversial with most adults, everybody should make their own awesome playlist. 

So while Mom and Dad crank out their road classics from an age gone by, the kids too have a chance to educate their parents on what Real Music is.

It’s possible no adult reading this will ever tell their children about the suggestion. That’s on you – we’ve done our due diligence by the next generation.

While talking about playlists, it’s also an idea to load up your phone with a couple of kid-friendly audiobooks for the journey too, for a change of pace, a calming influence, and even an aid to sleep of an evening.

Other Technology

It’s worth investing in a Bluetooth headset for your phone, because it is of course illegal to answer a phone by hand while driving. 

You might also invest in a portable wi-fi hub, because this is the 21 st century, and even adventures are made better by the ability to stay connected with friends, family, the news, and the ever-crucial socials.

Taking a road trip in an RV is a great opportunity to get away from the day-to-day and experience new things. It can be an experience that makes memories for everyone on the RV, including some that will last for decades. 

It’s a way of connecting to the great pioneering spirit of America, while being always firmly rooted in the 21 st century.

It takes proper planning and some budgeting to pilot a modern RV, but the preparation, the planning, the pre-booking, and the parking checks will all ultimately reward you with a smooth trip, hopefully filled with shared laughter, new experiences, and an infusion of wonder that will keep the smile alive inside you for years to come.

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50+ Car Camping & Road Trip Essentials

By: Author Robyn Robledo

Posted on Last updated: March 3, 2024

While our family of seven loves to road trip in our RV, we often just pack up the car or truck or load up our backpacks and fly to amazing destinations to go car camping.

We’ve gone car camping in Norway, Ireland, Germany, Hawaii, Bali, New Zealand and all over the USA. Knowing what to pack makes the experience easy, fun, and stress-free.

Besides traveling light, car camping also allows you to travel on a much smaller budget. Here is what to pack for your next car camping vacation. These are also a lot of the essentials we keep in our RV for travel too!

Table of Contents

Things To Pack For Sleeping Comfortably While Car Camping

Sleeping in a tent while car camping.

We’ve tried a variety of tents over the years. If we are trying to bring our tents as carry-on luggage, then we bring two  REI half-dome  tents. I like that the REI half domes are quick to assemble, however, they aren’t comfortable to “hang out” in.

We’ve also used this Alps Mountaineering tent on many trips abroad. It is very durable and has a little more headroom for moving around inside.

Also, I recommend treating tents with  tent sealant  before you travel because one of ours leaked badly when we were camping in Hawaii but the sealant helped a lot once we found some. (Watch that video here on YouTube)

Sleep Pad For Car Camping

A comfortable sleep pad can make all the difference. Unless I’m backpacking , I always bring my REI’s camp bed for car camping.

Related Blog : Best Sleep Pad for Each Type of Adventure

Staying Cozy and warm While Car Camping

Blankets / Sleeping Bag s – Make sure everyone has something to stay warm like a sleeping bag or comforter. The options are endless for blankets and a lot of it depends on your road trip style.

Shop bestselling NEMO sleeping bags on REI

Pillow – While not essential, it’s nice to have your pillow while you road trip. You can go for a regular pillow if you have the room or if you’re crunched for space you can use a packable backpacking/travel pillow .

Clothes to Pack For Car Camping

Rain Jacket – If you will be doing a lot of sightseeing in cities, an umbrella will make it so that the weather doesn’t interfere with your travel plans. If you will be doing a lot of hiking, then a packable rain jacket is a great idea. A good rain jacket packs down and keeps you dry.

Shop REI’s Xero-Dry Rain Jackets

Packable Warm Jacket – Depending on where you are traveling to will decide what type of jacket you will need for warmth. Our go-to jackets are our Patagonia Down Sweaters & Nano Puff Jackets. It’s pretty crazy that these are the only jackets we’ve needed for 7+ years of adventure travel.

I love that they are easy to pack down to take on hikes and still keep us very warm. They’re also super durable. Unfortunately, the kid’s version of these jackets isn’t packable so we use compression bags with them.

Shop the Women’s Down Sweater at Patagonia & shop the men’s Down Sweater at Patagonia

Base Layer – If you are going to be car camping in colder destinations, you want to have base layers to sleep in.

Sunglasses – Whether you are adventuring in nature or checking out the city a nice pair of shades is awesome. For us, they need to be light, stay on your face when you are playing, and they should also look great.

Shop for Maui Jim Sunglasses at REI

Socks – What feels better than having some cozy socks for when you’re chilling in your tent/hotel/RV/car after your latest adventure? One of the best ways to enjoy your outdoor experience is to invest in a high-quality pair of socks. We love our Stance socks! They are comfortable, wick sweat away, and look great. Don’t forget a pair of wool socks too.

Buy Stance Socks at REI

Sandals – Nothing stinks more than having to put on your hiking shoes and tie up your laces at 1 am to go to the bathroom because you forgot your sandals.

A nice pair of sandals gives you an option to get out of your hiking boots and give you something you can wear at a restaurant. These Olukai sandals are super comfortable and look great.

Shop Olukai

Versatile Pants/Shorts – What you pack is slightly dependent on the season, but we always pack a pair of climbing pants, leggings, and shorts .

Hoodie/Shirts – Nothing says you are living life on your terms like some of our merchandise. We always have our “Defy The Norm” hoodies, tanks, and tees packed to represent.

Shop for all our “Defy the Norm” store

Clothes For Car Camping Checklist

• Patagonia Nano Puff or Down Sweater 
• Packable rain jacket 
• Kuhl hiking pants or cargo shorts
• Lulu lemon running shorts & Hylete leggings for the girls
• Socks plus a pair of Wool Socks
• Defy the Norm T-shirts, Tank Tops, or Hoodies
• Base Layer to sleep in or when it’s really cold
• Essentials like underwear, bras, and sports bras
• Hiking Shoes + Flip Flops
• Hats & Sunglasses
• Swimming Suits and Board Shorts

Vehicle Essentials For Car Camping

Spare Tire + Jack – We’ve blown enough flats to know you always carry a spare and a jack . You might also want to know how to access the spare. Once it took us over an hour to figure out how to lower the spare under our fifth-wheel trailer!

Jumper Cables – The last thing you want is to be stuck on the side of the road because you forgot to turn your lights off on your car while you were heading out on your next 6-hour hike. Having a good set of jumper cables is great but these have batteries so you are always ready to give yourself a “jump”.

Car Manual + Registration + Insurance – These things are so small to pack and in the right situation can make things a lot easier.

(Optional) Snow Chains – If you are planning a trip anywhere close to wintertime, make sure you pack chains!

Tech + Entertainment for Car Camping

Cards + Board Game – Our favorite card game for plane travel is Monopoly Deal and our 3 favorite family board games are Settlers of Catan , Ticket to Ride , and Codenames . We love app games too like Psych, Head’s Up, and Wordraw with generate to play Pictionary with that paper and pencil you brought along.

Books + Magazine s – If you plan on having a lot of free time on your road trip bring plenty of entertainment and a nice variety. If you are driving a lot bring books on CD, audible books, or download our podcasts ahead of time.

Related: 25 Books That Will Change Your Life

Pens + Pencils + Paper – You never know when you’ll need a pen or paper. Maybe you felt like doodling something or you need to write down directions. Paper, tape, and scissors provide hours of entertainment for our youngest, Tatiana. You can also pass the magazines down to the kids for arts and crafts after you’ve read them. I also save all the recyclables and boxes from Trader Joe’s or Costco for toys for her to play with when we are at campgrounds.

Phone/Kindle Chargers + Car adapter – Make sure you have the chargers for all devices including cameras, GoPro, and computers. Most new cars come with USB chargers built into them but if your car isn’t brand new you’re going to need a car adapter. It’s nice having a car adapter for multiple USB’s .

Aux Cord/Bluetooth – Music is a MUST on a road trip. It makes it SO much more enjoyable and it’s very entertaining for the entire group in the car to sing along to whatever music is playing in the car. Most cars nowadays have Bluetooth but if not, beside to pack an aux cord.

Speaker – It’s also nice to have a Bluetooth speaker while we are hanging out in the campground or cooking food while car camping. We have a few of these, but our Altec Lansing Life Jacket seems to have the best sound and battery.

Extra portable power bank battery – While you are driving, charge up an extra battery pack so you can charge your phone while you are out exploring the outdoors or cities. We like these Goal Zero Portable Battery Packs because of their great battery life and how lightweight they are.

If you’re going to be camping (or even hiking), we prefer carrying an MPOWERd Luci Lantern with a USB port. The Luci is lightweight, can be charged via USB or its built-in solar panel, and it’s also an inflatable lantern.

Protective Phone Case – The last thing you want is to take a photo of a scenic overlook, drop your phone on the concrete, and shatter your phone screen, or worse, break your phone entirely. Please get a protective phone case so you won’t have to deal with buying a new one or getting it repaired while you’re trying to have a relaxing, epic road trip. After making this mistake about a dozen times, I finally caved and bought a Lifeproof case. I’m very impressed with it and so far it’s been LifeProof through all my adventures.

Headlamp s – We love the BioLite headlamps because they have multiple settings, are super bright, and have a long battery life. I also love that they are rechargeable and I can plug them into a USB port while we are driving.

Click here to check out BioLite systems.

Essential Apps

Music (AKA: A Killer Playlist) – Whether you use Spotify, iTunes, or YouTube RED, be sure to download your music ahead of time. Download our Epic Road Trip Playlist here!

Google Maps – Navigation is essential on a road trip of course. The most important part of a navigation app is downloading Offline Maps. If you’re doing it right, your road trip will take you through scenic drives and off-the-beaten-path places where cell service can be limited. Google Maps makes getting offline navigation super simple. If you don’t know how to download offline maps, read our blog How To Use Your Phone As A GPS.

Related Blog: How to Find Free Camping in the USA

Gas Buddy – Who hates it when they are driving and they stop for expensive gas fearing there won’t be any other stops for a while only to see there was gas WAY cheaper up ahead? With Gas Buddy, you won’t have to worry. It will tell you exactly where you will find the cheapest gas prices. Get the app now.

AllStays – AllStays has been a lifesaver for us on many occasions especially considering how often we boondocks. This app will tell you where all the campgrounds, rest areas, truckstops, and BLMs are. AllStays is one of our top methods on How to Find Free Camping. There’s even an AllStays rooms app to find hotels. Get the app now.

Toiletries To Pack For Car Camping

Quick Dry towels – Quick dry towels are AWESOME to have on a road trip! while not necessary if you’re headed to a hotel, quick towels are a must if you’re car, tent, or RV camping. Perfect for showering, a dip in an alpine lake, or for cooking. I like keeping an extra one to clean our feet before going to bed and they make great kitchen towels if you are cooking outdoors (but don’t mix them up). I like the Matador quick dry towels because they pack so small but these Ranleaf ones are much cheaper and almost as high of quality.

Hair Brush/Hair Ties – For some reason this is one thing that’s so easily forgotten. Whether you are a girl or a man bun dude, it sucks to have knotty hair all in your face. 

Toothbrush + Toothpaste –  Obviously

Chap Stick & Lotion – So necessary if you are heading somewhere hot or dry.  We love AllGood skin products. They’re all natural and feel so good for your skin.

Deodorant + Essential Oils – You don’t want to be prancing around the city for a nice dinner all smelly. Pack some all-natural deodorant along with some nice-smelling essential oils .

Nail clippers – It’s kind of unnecessary unless you rock climb, but it’s a nice thing to have on the road to clean up your nails.

Shampoo/Conditioner – On top of bringing a brush and hair ties, bring shampoo and conditioner so you can wash your hair too (WHAT! What is washing hair??)

Baby Wipes/Facial wipes – Wipes are a nice little luxury while you’re on the road. Not only are they good for cleaning up your hands after cooking or wiping off food that the kids spilled on the seats, but they’re also really great just to keep your skin feeling fresh. Also good for camping and you need a baby wipe shower.

First Aid Kit – Just a basic first aid kit with bandaids, ibuprofen or Tylenol, Benadryl, Neosporin, and hydrocortisone is essential to have your road trip for common, minor injuries.

Tissues – Whether you have allergies or catch a cold, it’s nice to plan and pack some tissues so you don’t have to stop at a restroom every half hour to blow your nose.

Melatonin – If you are worried about not being able to sleep it’s a good idea to pack some melatonin to help you relax if you’re new to tent camping, drown out the noises, or lack thereof, or to help adjust to the time change.

Razor + shaving cream – A personal preference for men and women

What To Pack For Car Camping With Kids

Tips for car camping with kids.

When we first started doing this, our youngest was 5 years old and the oldest was 14. I was worried about keeping my kids safe, comfortable, and entertained. It’s one thing to be single and “wing it” but to sit in a car for long drives, smooshed with so many people and so much stuff you have to sit on your bags (true story in Norway) it’s a different story. So here are a few things I’ve learned from doing this type of travel so often.

Bring them their device. I resisted this because I wanted them to take in the sights and not be staring down at a screen, but there were many times we had to spend driving long hours, sitting in airports, or killing time. After all, when you are long-term traveling, you’re usually pretty time-rich, and having some downtime from your kids is vital to your sanity.

Include them in the planning . I think a lot of people worry or feel bad about pulling their kids away from their friends, sports, and activities, but honestly, you shouldn’t. Travel is the best gift you can give your kids and they are capable of way more than you think. Include them in the research and the decision-making every step of the way.

I always ask each kid, what they want to see and what they feel is too much for them. We try to align our travels with compromise and understanding with each person’s desires and comfort zone in mind.

Remind them to practice gratitude.  Sometimes long drives can be hard. I try to engage my kids as much as possible and have healthy snacks but often, kids are just tired and cranky from sitting still so long.

Practicing mindfulness will help them endure a little hardship and make them appreciate the fun destinations you stay at while car camping.

DVD player (+DVDs) or Tablet – I know…who even owns DVDs anymore? I always rather my kids watch movies on their DVD player rather than use my laptop while on a long drive because if it breaks it’s much cheaper and I usually need my computer to work off. Remember. to download apps ahead of time and don’t forget headphones .

Or maybe go tech-free on this road trip and instead sing, talk, and play games while you drive .

And if you feel brave, we travel with a Ukulele for the kids to play when we are car camping. It’s so fun by the campfire!

Books – If you are going tech-free, maybe pack some fun workbooks like these. or other books, magazines, or arts and crafts to keep them entertained.

Treats – While I recommend keeping healthy foods accessible so you don’t have to deal with hangry kids (or adults), having a few special treats handy is great for desperate times when you just need something to keep you hyped up before your next destination. Treats can also be nice purely for the sake of road trip fun!

Related Blog: Healthy Hiking Snacks that are also great for car camping road trips

Baby supplies – If you have really little kids, you will need a whole other list to pack for them. And since it’s been a while since I had to pack for babies, ill leave this list for another blog.

What To Pack For Your Car Camping Kitchen

Kuju Coffee Pocket Pourover + Jetboil – Not even kidding, this an essential for us. It may seem like a lot of hassle for some coffee but I can’t stand gas station coffee.

Travel Mug – After brewing a cup of Joe on the side of the road, I like having a travel mug so I can hit the road again right away.

Camp cooking system – While not necessary for the Air Bnbers or RV travelers, car and tent campers will need a good camp cooking setup. We love traveling with the lightweight packable Bugaboo System (pictured above) along with MSR pocket rocket burners. They come in a variety of size assortments. Big pots for big groups or small pots for solo travelers.

Emergen-C Packets – I LOVE these vitamin C drink packets. It’s to let yourself get dehydrated on the road and these yummy, single-serving packets of Vitamin C include a healthy dose of electrolytes and keep you energized. I also bring these along on any active adventures I’ll be doing on my trip. You can buy these in bulk at Costco or online at Amazon .

Baggies/food wrap – I try to support zero-waste as much as possible by using wax food wraps but every once in a while, baggies are so much more useful. Whether you are willing to use plastic or not, either of these are great for leftovers or diving-up snack foods to the people sitting in the back row.

Trash Bag – You will be much more comfortable driving if your car is clean. Put a trash bag in the car so you don’t have trash everywhere from previous snacks

Napkins, Paper Towels, or Baby Wipes – I like to keep some in the car at all times. You never know when someone will spill their drink on the road. This is the one thing we always overlook and regret not having.

Multiple Purpose Knife – I never leave the house on a road trip without a pocket knife. They’re great for use around a campsite but also for chopping up food for a picnic or splitting a pastry in the car.

Wine/Bottle Opener – There’s good wine everywhere you go. Make sure you bring one on your trip so you are always ready to pop open a bottle 😉

Paper Bowls + Plates – It sucks to have to prepare food in the car with no bowls or plates. Stop by the store on the way out so you have the option to make food in the car.

Water Bottle – Remember to pack your water bottles! As mentioned before, it’s easy to get dehydrated on the road. Plus, if you have a water bottle that you can refill you won’t have to purchase single used plastic water bottles.

Cooler – Unless you’re traveling in an RV, having a cooler is a necessity for your road trip. It makes it much easier to eat healthy on the road because you can cook whole foods ahead of time like salads instead of snacking on junk food all day.

Bonus Items For An Even More Amazing Car Camping Experience!

Hammock – You never know when you will come across a perfect tree for a hammock and hammocks are THE BEST.

Picnic Blanket – Sometimes the best part of road trips is the spontaneous picnics at scenic stops. Grab yourself a comfy blanket like the super packable Matador Pocket Blanket or a big, beautiful Ecuadane blanket.

Outdoor Rug/Tarp – An outdoor rug makes camping in dirt MUCH more enjoyable. Unlike a picnic blanket, a tarp just needs to cover the maximum amount of space possible so you can set up an outdoor kitchen, walk around barefoot, or take a seat on the floor.

Clothesline – Always be prepared if there will be no laundromats. Pack a clothesline and maybe some basic bar soap so you can hand wash and dry your clothes if you get desperate.

Folding chairs – Again, you might come across somewhere amazing to take in the views and you didn’t pack anywhere to sit down to enjoy them

Folding Table – Same as the reason above if you want to have lunch somewhere stop to play a board game

Firewood/hatchet/fire starter – Campfires make any trip better. Coffee Wick is awesome for this and has some super efficient and Eco-Friendly fire starters.

Gear – Last of all, don’t forget your gear and toys! Surfboards, skis, climbing gear, bikes, or more.

I hope this helps you know what to pack for an amazing road trip. If you have any questions or if we missed anything, please let us know in the comments section below! Happy travels!

Want to the checklist? Click here and download the 50 road trip essential pack list to make sure you don’t forget anything!

Related Blogs You May Also Like:

• Hawaii Pack List
• Ski Trip Pack List
• Backpacking Pack List
• 10 West Coast Road Trips You’re Sure to Love

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5 Great RV Road Trip Routes in the United States

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

RV camping is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to explore the United States. Few modes of transport allow travelers to cover so much distance for little money while coming face-to-face with the nation's natural treasures.

We've come up with five route suggestions for folks looking to hit the road and tour America's most beautiful natural preserves.

» Learn more: The beginner’s guide to renting an RV

California loop

Distance: 2,226 miles

California offers a cornucopia of natural beauty, from towering redwood forests to dusty deserts to breathtaking seascapes and shorelines. This 14-destination loop will take RV travelers across the entire state. While we start our journey just northeast of San Diego and go in a clockwise loop, you can use any location as your starting point. We've highlighted some of the top nature and camping destinations across California, but feel free to improvise as there is no shortage of parks and preserves in the Golden State.

A. Anza-Borrego State Park

B. Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park.

C. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

D. Big Basin Redwoods State Park

E. Point Reyes.

F. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

G. Klamath National Forest.

H. Shasta National Forest.

I. Lake Tahoe.

J. Grover Hot Springs.

K. Yosemite National Park.

L. John Muir Wilderness.

M. Death Valley.

N. Joshua Tree National Park.

Rocky Mountains

Distance: 2,826 miles

The Rocky Mountains stretch over 3,000 miles from New Mexico to British Columbia and offer a life's worth of exploration opportunities. You could spend weeks at Yellowstone and Grand Teton alone. We've chosen just a few of the more popular destinations and suggest you set aside a hefty chunk of time for this trip. Again, the locations are ordered clockwise, but you can jump in at the most convenient destination. We begin in southern Idaho.

A. Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho.

B. Craters of the Moon Monument, Idaho.

C. National Elk Refuge, Wyo.

D. Grand Teton National Park, Wyo.

E. Yellowstone National Park, Mont.

F. Glacier National Park, Mont.

G. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Mont.

H. Devil's Tower National Monument, Wyo.

I. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo.

J. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colo.

K. Mesa Verde National Park, Colo.

L. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colo.

Distance: 2,332 miles

The classic American road trip, Route 66 spans from Chicago to Los Angeles. Unlike the other trips we list here, Route 66 is less a nature excursion and more a nostalgic cruise along a collection of museums, diners and roadside attractions. Route 66 has hundreds of potential stops; we've chosen just a few. If you plan on taking Route 66 both away from home and back toward it, remember to leave plenty of attractions for the return trip.

A. Chicago, Ill.

B. Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum, Ill.

C. Lincoln's Tomb, Ill.

D. St. Louis, Mo.

E. Mark Twain National Forest, Mo.

F. Galena Mining and Historical Museum, Kan.

G. Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum, Okla.

H. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Okla.

I. Palo Duro State Park, Texas

J. Cadillac Ranch, Texas

K. Route 66 Auto Museum, N.M.

L. Red Rock State Park, N.M.

M. Petrified Forest National Park, Ariz.

N. Meteor Crater, Ariz.

O. The Grand Canyon, Ariz.

P. Los Angeles, Calif.

New England loop

Distance: 1,515 miles

A road trip around New England offers a balanced blend of verdant forests, rocky seascapes, colonial history and gorgeous seaside towns. We start our loop in upstate New York, heading east and north into the parks of upper New England. After Acadia, head south along the coast for breathtaking ocean views. A collection of historic New England towns (Salem, Cape Cod and more) will provide a break from the greenery and a lesson in American history. Pick up the route at the location closest to you.

A. Adirondack State Park, N.Y.

B. Green Mountain National Forest, Vt.

C. White Mountain National Forest, N.H.

D. Allagash Wilderness Waterway State Park, Maine

E. Acadia National Park, Maine

F. Minute Man National Historic Park, Mass.

G. Salem, Mass.

H. Boston, Mass.

I. Cape Cod, Mass.

J. Jamestown, R.I.

K. Fort Adams State Park, R.I.

L. Mystic Seaport, Conn.

M. Hammonasset State Park, Conn.

N. Fort Hale Park, Conn.

O. Ferris Lake, N.Y.

Distance: 5,776 miles

The Southern states have plenty to offer in terms of nature, culture and relaxation. A satisfying southern RV expedition will sample forests, beaches and everything in between. This loop starts in historic Savannah, drops down into Florida and meanders along the Southern coast before launching back east into Tennessee and Virginia. The last leg of the journey comprises a series of beaches for a proper cool down at the end of a long journey. Of course, you can begin anywhere along the route and eventually end up back where you started.

A. Savannah, Ga.

B. Ocala National Forest, Fla.

C. Big Cypress National Preserve, Fla.

D. Everglades National Park, Fla.

E. Apalachicola National Forest, Fla.

F. Blackwater River State Park, Fla.

G. De Soto National Forest, Fla.

H. New Orleans, La.

I. Kisatchie National Forest, La.

J. Houston, Texas

K. Sam Houston National Forest, Texas

L. Ouachita National Forest, Ark.

M. Ozark National Forest, Ark.

N. Memphis, Tenn.

O. Nashville, Tenn.

P. Cherokee National Forest, Tenn.

Q. Chattahoochee National Forest, Ga.

R. George Washington National Forest, Va.

S. Virginia Beach, Va.

T. Myrtle Beach, S.C.

U. Hilton Head, S.C.

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Travel Tips  

How to find the best camping spots on a road trip.

Prepared By:

Danella myers.

Adventurer & Photographer

PHOTO CREDIT: Keenan Barber

Camp on public lands, forest service & blm campgrounds.

For those that prefer an established campground, US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campgrounds are excellent options. These campgrounds are usually located in incredibly scenic areas, and are sometimes quite close to national parks. Of course, most national parks have campgrounds too, but many of them can be quite busy and may require reservations months in advance to get a spot. Some of my favorite campsites have been at Forest Service and BLM campgrounds. The sites at these campgrounds are often quite spacious, giving you some privacy. Plus, it’s usually very affordable to camp at BLM and Forest Service campgrounds—sometimes less than $10 per night! Now that’s money well spent. These campsites usually have basic amenities including vault toilets, fire rings, and potable water. Reservations are NOT accepted at some of these campgrounds, and campsites are available on a first come first served basis. This can be a good thing if you’re on a road trip and haven’t planned exactly where you’ll be each day and made reservations ahead of time.

Dispersed Camping

Once you try dispersed camping, you may never go back to a developed campground ever again. Sure, sometimes the amenities at those campgrounds are nice. But, does it compare to the incredible experience of having a campsite with spectacular views and no other people in sight? If you’re not familiar, ‘dispersed camping’ is camping on public lands outside of established campground areas. This type of camping is available on both US Forest Service and BLM land. It’s a fantastic option for those seeking secluded camping experiences. So, how do you find dispersed sites? For US Forest Service land, the motor vehicle use maps are one of the best ways to find out where the dispersed camping areas are. Apps can also be a helpful tool. You’ll find more details on those methods later in this article. On BLM land, you can camp in most areas that are not posted as ‘closed to camping.’ The dispersed sites may not be marked, but are located along most secondary roads. Whether on US Forest Service or BLM land, use pre-existing campsites when possible. Look for signs (flattened/disturbed area, fire pit, etc.) someone has camped in that spot before. As always, we encourage you to respect these amazing public lands. Don’t leave trash or disturb the wildlife, be responsible with campfires, and follow any rules and guidelines provided by the organizations that manage the land.

PHOTO CREDIT: Tobey Schmidt

Use maps for finding the best camping spots.

This might seem obvious, but sometimes maps are a very underutilized tool for finding the best camping spots. Here are a few tips for how to use maps when looking for places to camp. 

Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps

The US Forest Service provides motor vehicle use maps, and they are an incredibly useful resource in finding secluded areas in beautiful places that are suitable for camping. These maps show forest service roads where public motorized vehicle use is allowed. Dispersed camping areas, Forest Service campgrounds, picnic areas, and motorized trailheads are also indicated on these maps. You can find links to motor vehicle use maps for specific national forests (sorted by state) on  this page of the US Forest Service website . For some helpful information about using these maps, check out their  MVUM FAQ page .

Google Maps Satellite View And Google Earth

If you’ve never used  Google Maps  in satellite mode or  Google Earth , you should. Especially when it comes to choosing the best camping spots. If you know the general vicinity of where you might want to camp, do a little exploring via these Google tools. You’ll get a pretty good idea of what the surroundings of a particular camping area might be—the topography, how many trees there are, and what other structures might be nearby. A couple other really cool features of Google Earth that might be beneficial as you search for places to camp:

• Enable photos—in the Google Earth settings, you can enable photos which displays photos of specific locations from other users. This can give you a better feel for the area and its surroundings.
• ‘Street View’ mode—even for some remote locations you can do ‘street view’ by dragging the person icon onto the map. This is an awesome way to digitally explore and immerse yourself. Check out this Google Earth screenshot from the   Wind River Mountains   in Wyoming to see this feature in action.

Use Google Maps satellite mode and/or Google Earth in conjunction with motor vehicle use maps and information you get from apps or other sources. If you find the GPS coordinates for a potential camping spot and do a search with these Google tools, you can see if it looks like the type of place you’d like to camp.

PHOTO CREDIT: Derek Johnson

PHOTO CREDIT: Jeremy Bishop

Use apps to find the best camping spots.

A quick search of the app store for ‘camping’ brings up several results. Many of these apps are designed to make it easier to find and/or reserve campsites. I have an entire folder full of camping apps on my phone and I’ve tried most of them. These are a few of my favorites:

Recreation.gov

This app is a database of campgrounds and other unique lodging options compiled from their partners including Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, US Forest Service and others. If you want to find more information (availability, amenities, etc.) or reserve a campsite at a developed campground managed by the US Forest Service, BLM or National Park Service, this is the  app  for that.

Ultimate CG

This is the camping app I use most frequently. While this may not be the most visually appealing app you’ve ever used, it’s certainly very functional. With  Ultimate CG , you can find campgrounds managed by a variety of organizations including US Forest Service, BLM, National Park, State, City and many more. One of the reasons I find this app so useful is the filtering capability. Some of the filtering options include:

• Reservations
• Water availability
• Open year round
• Type of campground (tent, RV, dispersed, formal, etc.)

Other helpful information provided for camping areas includes GPS coordinates, number of sites (for developed campgrounds), Forest Service road number (for dispersed camping), months the camping area is open, and road maintenance level.

AllStays Camp & RV

The  AllStays Camp & RV app  is geared toward people with trailer campers and RVs. In addition to camping areas, you can also find RV-related businesses and services, free parking areas (stores, rest areas, etc.), road grade information, and runaway ramps. Another potentially handy option with this app is to display low clearance areas. So, if you’re driving a really big rig, you can see certain places you may need to avoid.

Ask Locals About The Best Camping Spots

Even with all the apps and other internet tools we have these days, sometimes the best way to find out about cool places to camp is to ask a real person. Maybe check with someone working at the local outdoor sports store or coffee shop. Or, stop at a ranger station or visitor center and ask. However you find it, we hope you discover the perfect camping spot so amazing you want to keep it all to yourself. Want more camping hacks? Check out  this article  for some of our best eco camping tips!

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23 Incredible RV Vacations: Scenic RV Road Trips You Need to Take

Posted on Published: July 7, 2023  - Last updated: February 26, 2024

If you’re seeking the perfect blend of adventure and comfort, an RV road trip may be the perfect getaway! From awe-inspiring national parks to quaint coastal towns and everything in between, the USA offers an incredible array of destinations to explore from the comfort of your home on wheels. Here are the best RV vacations in the USA!

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, see my  disclosures .

Start packing up the RV (and the family) now! You’re going to love these RV trips all across the country. Whether you’re looking for a route that’s in your home state, or you’re traveling and then renting an RV, this list has something for everyone!

This list goes beyond somewhere to sit your RV – each destination in this guide is an RV road trip with beautiful landscapes, fun national parks to explore, vibrant cities or wide open spaces.

👉Don’t have time to read the whole article? Get the complete Organize Your RV Like a Pro Guide for brilliant organization RV hacks before you go!

Many of these RV routes are best one in the summer months when the weather is (typically) most predictable and reasonable in the USA. But each of these RV vacations below share the best time of year for that particular adventure.

Whether this is your first RV road trip or you’ve been packing up your motorhome or travel trailer for years, these epic destinations are going to blow you away!

Must-see video: RV vacations

RV road trips map

This list covers the best RV trips in the west, east and a bunch of amazing routes in between.  Each pin on this map marks a stop on one of the very best RV routes in the US .

Because I haven’t’ been everywhere in the US in my RV (yet), I’ve asked some of my fellow travel writers to help compile this list of the best RV travel USA ideas! Enjoy!

Epic RV vacations

Get ready to hit the open road and discover some truly unbelievable RV road trips that will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Let’s dive in!

1. Great Smoky Mountains: Asheville to Gatlinburg

• Distance: 85 miles
• Recommended time: 2-3 days
• Best time of year: Spring or Fall

If you’re looking for a fun getaway in your RV, then look no further than the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee! One of the best RV vacations in the US, the drive from Asheville North Carolina to Gatlinburg, Tennessee is simply gorgeous.

The Smoky Mountains are stunning year-round, though it’s best to avoid this road trip in winter. The National Park Service often closes the road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.

This route can technically be done in an afternoon, but you’ll want to spend a day or two on either side of the road trip, at minimum!

While in Asheville, be sure to visit the botanical gardens and the River Arts District. And of course, one of the best attractions in town is the Biltmore Estate . Visit the estate to see the massive 175,000+ square feet of space on 8,000 acres. It’s spectacular!

The drive west towards Tennessee is beautiful, and the Smoky Mountains make their presence known with the hazy-looking views. Stay on Highway 19 until you get to Cherokee, North Carolina. It’s a great spot to grab lunch, a souvenir and check out the cornmeal and grits mill – Saunooke’s Mill .

Next, get ready for an incredibly scenic drive through US Highway 441 (AKA Newfound Gap Road) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This scenic road is RV-friendly, although it does have some steep grades so be prepared as you drive through the mountains.

You’ll want to stop at Clingmans Dome for 360-degree views of the Smokies. It requires a 0.5 mile (paved) hike with a steep incline, but is well worth it.

Pro tip: don’t miss the turn to Clingman’s Dome! There’s RV-friendly parking at the parking lot, but turning around on 441 will be difficult in an RV if you miss the turn.

Gap Overlook and Ben Morton Overlook are other stops worth the view, if the parking situation isn’t too full when you’re driving through. Of course, there’s various hiking trails along the scenic route as well.

Gatlinburg is the official end of this RV road trip. It’s quite the touristy town, and parking is not RV-friendly at all. Instead, you can stay at Elkmont Campground inside the national park or Greenbrier Campground just outside of Gatlinburg. As with most national park campgrounds, be sure to book it well in advance to reserve your spot.

If you have a day or two to explore the park, you’ll want to check out the fabulous waterfalls, which are most impressive in the springtime. Laurel Falls Trail , Grotto Falls and Abrams Falls Trail are really popular hikes, although if you have a vehicle you’re towing it’s easier to access Grotto Falls and Abrams Falls as they’re located on narrow roads.

This is one of the best RV vacations that’s great for beginner RVers or those based in the Eastern USA and looking for a quicker weekend adventure.

Recommended by me – Nikki of Inspired Routes

2. Alaska RV road trip

• Distance: 1,200 miles
• Recommended time: 10 days
• Best time of year : June, July and August

Alaska is a fantastic state for a scenic and remote RV vacation. An RV road trip through the rugged 49th state allows you to see mountains, glaciers, forests, panoramic coastline, wildflowers, and plentiful wildlife.

Although driving your RV to Alaska is possible, another popular option is to fly into Anchorage and rent an RV. Either way, you should book your campsites as early as possible . Summer is the busy season in Alaska and the good campsites are often booked out months in advance.

The best  10-day Alaska road trip itinerary  will take you to see the diverse beauty of the inland mountains as well as the coastline. But, make sure to plan for at least 10 days to complete this 1,200-mile RV road trip. Alaska is a huge state and you will need to do a lot of driving to see the highlights.

Starting in the city of Anchorage, head north to Denali National Park for a few nights. After Denali, return south to Anchorage for a night and then keep going south to Seward. 

After spending several nights in Seward, drive to the Kenai River Region for a night or two, and then to Homer for your last few nights.  You’ll end your trip by returning north back to Anchorage.

Highlights of the route include Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park, as well as some epic scenic overlooks and state parks along the way.

Two of the best campsites in Alaska for RV camping are Denali Grizzly Bear Resort near Denali National Park and Miller’s Landing in Seward. 

An RV road trip through Alaska will be an incredible and memorable experience!

Recommended by Diane of Travels with Eli

3. Milwaukee to Ludington (an underrated RV vacation idea in the USA)

• Distance: 148 miles by car ferry or 341 miles driving
• Recommended time: 3-4 days
• Best time of year: Mid-May to October, and this small beach town offers amazing outdoor activities. Hence, you want to visit during sunny spring and summer weather to truly enjoy this natural landscape.

Traveling from Wisconsin to Michigan is a unique road trip with an RV, as you can take the S.S. Badger Car Ferry (even for RVs) and enjoy the ride! 

While onboard, you can shop, watch a movie in the movie theater or simply lounge inside. They also have an outside deck with live music, where you can stroll along the deck, play a board game, or even test your luck at the famous Badger Bingo. Kids will enjoy the toddler play area or the kid’s port play area.

If you do not want to take the ferry, you can also easily drive to Ludington. The drive time varies based on traffic, but it is about 4 hours from Chicago, 4 hours from Detroit, and 5.5 hours from Milwaukee.

There are plenty of  things to do in Ludington , including exploring the natural beauty of the region at Ludington State Park. It’s an outdoor enthusiasts paradise with natural beauty from lakes and rivers, forests, and unique sand dunes.

Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, camping, and even bird-watching in Ludington State Park. Located on Hamlin Lake, RVers will enjoy boating, fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Lastly, don’t forget to climb and explore the unique Hamlin Lake Sand dunes that give you a scenic view of Lake Michigan, Hamlin Lake, and Big Sable Point Lighthouse.

This is one of the best and most unique RV road trips in the US, and one worth adding to your must-do list!

Recommended by Hannah of Getting Stamped

4. Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon and Page Arizona (one of the most scenic RV road trips)

• Distance: 478 miles (one way)
• Recommended time: 5-6 Days

There are so many amazing places to visit within driving distance from Phoenix. On this RV road trip, you will visit 3 of the most iconic destinations in Arizona , Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Page, Arizona.

Start in Phoenix and make your way to Sedona, one of the prettiest places in the world. There are a ton of places in Sedona to see incredible views or go on a  Sedona sunrise hike  to see the gorgeous red rocks illuminated in bright orange and red colors.

One of the best campgrounds to stay at in Sedona is Pine Flat Campground located on the scenic byway 89a. You’ll combine scenic accommodations with tone of the most gorgeous RV vacations in the USA!

After spending 1-2 days exploring Sedona, it’s time to head to the Grand Canyon, which is only 110 miles north. The Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic national parks in the United States, and it’s easy to see why.

Rent some electric bikes and bike along the rim to Hermits Rest and enjoy stopping off and seeing all the incredible views of the canyon.

The best place to stay near the Grand Canyon is at Mather Campground located inside the park. Advanced reservations are required to get a spot at this campground as it’s super popular.

After spending a day exploring the Grand Canyon, head 132 miles north to Page, Arizona. Once in Page, make a reservation to visit the incredible Antelope Canyon which is one of the prettiest slot canyons in the world.

You can also do the 1.5 mile round trip hike to Horseshoe Bend.

The best campground to stay at in Page is The Canyons , which is located only 10 minutes to Antelope Canyon and 10 minutes to Horseshoe Bend.

As one of the best RV vacation ideas, consider taking this road trip in either the spring or fall as the summer in Arizona can get really hot and be super crowded. 

Recommended by Jessica of Unearth the Voyage

5. San Francisco to Lake Tahoe

• Distance: 200 miles
• Recommended time: 3+ days
• Best time of year: summer or early fall

Hands down, one of the best RV vacations is a road trip from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe. With so much to do at the starting point, stopping point and in between, you could easily spend a week or more exploring this route. You’ll want a minimum of 3 days to see the highlights!

Starting in San Francisco, this is a great road trip for those based in northern California or southern Oregon. While driving an RV in San Francisco isn’t the most fun thing in the world, I can say it’s pretty spectacular driving across the Golden Gate Bridge in a motorhome (or travel trailer) !

You can spend a day (or more) exploring the sights in San Francisco; visit Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Island, Exploratorium and more. If you’re towing a vehicle, I’d recommend to leave your RV at your campsite and get a ride share around San Francisco.

From there, make your way northeast to Sacramento . Make a quick gas or food stop, or spend a day or more in the fun city. Highlights include the Capitol Building, Old Sacramento Waterfront, the Old Sugar Mill or do a wine tour.

Next, Lake Tahoe is big! So deciding whether to see (and camp) on the north or south side is important, as you’ll take 2 different routes out of Sacramento. Both areas are wonderful for RV travel, and each has unique experiences.

In north Lake Tahoe, see the incredible views of the lake at Sand Harbor State Park, go swimming, mountain biking or hiking. Furthermore, this dog-friendly destination is great for summertime swimming for your furry friends, too.

In South Lake Tahoe, a must-do is a sightseeing cruise of Emerald Bay. Of course there’s more hiking, paddleboarding and kayaking opportunities, not to mention Van Sickle Bi-State Park.

For camping in North Tahoe, try the Tahoe State Recreation Area or the Alpine Meadow Campground. In South Tahoe, consider the Campground by the Lake or Fallen Leaf Campground . As with most other RV vacations on this list, be sure to book your campground far in advance to ensure a spot.

While Lake Tahoe is a year-round destination, the winter driving in an RV (not to mention freezing temperatures) can create challenges. Summer is the best time for this road trip!

6. Santa Fe to White Sands National Park (one of the most underrated RV trips on this list)

• Distance: 397 miles
• Recommended time: 1 week
• Best time of year: late spring

Travel through the heart of New Mexico on an unforgettable Santa Fe to White Sands RV road trip. It’s a perfect route for RVs as the roads are largely flat with incredible views . Even in the areas where the roads turn hilly, it’s nothing that the average rig can’t handle!

Start your adventures in historic Santa Fe, the nation’s oldest capital city. Explore the Plaza and the oldest church in America before settling into your RV spot at the welcoming Santa Fe KOA.

Next, head over to Albuquerque, where you can tour the Old Town, hike in nearby Petroglyph National Monument, or experience the awe-inspiring Albuquerque Balloon Festival. 

Head south to the quirky Roswell, New Mexico, to uncover what happened in this town in 1947. Even if you don’t believe in alien encounters, the town’s extraterrestrial theming is out of this world.

Finally, complete the last leg of your New Mexico RV road trip by heading over the Sacramento Mountains into Alamogordo.

Camp at the Alamogordo/White Sands KOA, which offers free coffee in the morning, pedal bike rentals, a pool, a big game room, and a playground. You can also rent saucers for your White Sands National Park sledding from the front desk.

In Alamogordo, you can take a photo with the world’s largest pistachio at McGinn’s Pistachioland –don’t miss out on their homemade pistachio ice cream!

The New Mexico Museum of Space History is also an excellent way to spend several hours in Alamogordo. You can even visit the grave of the Ham, the famed monkey who flew to space and back in 1961.

The real gem in Alamogordo is White Sands National Park, which is about 15 minutes west of Alamogordo. Plan to spend at least  one day in White Sands  in order to get the most of the sledding, Dunes Drive, Junior Ranger program and more.

Recommended by Natalie of Camping Kiddos

7. Las Vegas to Zion plus the Grand Canyon

• Distance: 425 miles
• Recommended time: 5-10 days

Ready to go on one of the most scenic RV road trips in the USA?  Start your adventure by flying (or driving) into Las Vegas and picking up your RV.

After your RV is ready to go, set out from Las Vegas making your way to Springdale, Utah – the gateway to Zion National Park.

Springdale is the closest town to Zion with plenty of restaurants and RV parks. Watchman Campground, with both campsites and RV hookups, is one of the best places to stay in the area.

Along the way to Zion, there are several different stops along I15 for more sightseeing and breaks from the road, including Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon.

Zion is one of the most scenic national parks, home to the red cliffs of Zion Canyon, forested trails, waterfalls, and the Emerald Pools. There are lots of hiking trails, including the famous Angel’s Landing.

Next, hit the road towards Grand Canyon National Park. You can stop at Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, or the town of Page along the way.

After exploring the Grand Canyon, start making your way back to Vegas. Along the way, visit the Route 66 Museum in Kingman, visit the “living ghost town” of Chloride, or make a pitstop at the Hoover Dam before arriving back in Las Vegas.

Once your road trip is over, spend a few days in Las Vegas unwinding at the pool and exploring one of the USA’s most fun cities.

Recommended by Sydney of A World in Reach

Best RV trips in the west

The west coast of the USA is full of dramatic landscapes, curvy roads and scenic views that honestly just seem impossible. Some of my favorite RV trips have been along the west coast.

Let’s keep this list going…

8. Sequoia National Park to Monterey via Big Sur (a personal favorite on this RV vacations list!)

• Distance: 300+ miles
• Recommended time: 3-5 days
• Best time of year: Spring, summer or fall

If you’re looking for the best RV vacations, then this incredibly scenic drive is it! You’ll see the giant Sequoia trees, California’s stunning coastline through Big Sur and the charming town of Monterey.

You’ll want to spend 1-2 days visiting Sequoia National Park , where you can see the General Sherman Tree – the world’s largest tree by volume! Fun hikes like Congress Trail and Moro Rock will help you fall in love with this fun park.

Note: some roads in the park are quite narrow and depending on the size of your RV, you’ll need – or maybe want – to take the park shuttle .

At Sequoia, there’s the Dorst Creek Campground, perfect for RVs inside the park. Alternatively, the Sequoia Resort and RV Park is near the park entrance.

From Sequoia National Park, you’ll actually head southwest, even though Monterey is slightly north.

Drive through Visalia (a great spot to grab gas) and continue southwest to the s mall town of Cambria, California. Stretch your legs on the boardwalk trail along the beach or shop and dine in the charming downtown.

North of Cambria, you’ll take the incredibly scenic California Highway 1, or the Pacific Coast Highway. While there are too many things to do in Big Sur to mention here, a few RV-friendly highlights include the Sand Dollar Beach, McWay Falls and the Bixby Creek Bridge.

If you’re looking to stay in Big Sur and enjoy a few days exploring the area, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a great spot for RV camping in the heart of Big Sur.

Ending your trip in Monterey, you’ll want to check out the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row . It’s such a fun city, I’d recommend spending 1-2 days exploring the sights.

9. Glacier to Yellowstone National Park

• Distance: 420 miles
• Recommended time: 7.5-hour drive
• Best time of year: Summer and Fall

There’s just something about the American West that is freeing and magical. It feels like home when you’re out on the open road without a care in the world. 

This is what you get as you road trip between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. But, thankfully, there’s much more to do in this road trip than just gazing out at the vast landscapes. It’s one of the best RV road trips in the west!

You can start your trip in either direction, but for this one, we’ll begin in Glacier and head south to Yellowstone .

At Glacier, you’ll be home to arguably the best views of any National Park in America. With towering peaks cut by glaciers, turquoise waters with glacier silt, and wildlife galore, it’s a mesmerizing experience. 

Do note that you need reservations to enter most of Glacier’s top spots, such as Many Glacier or Going to the Sun Road, or be willing to wake up before 6 am to beat the crowds. 

I suggest spending at least five days in Glacier to see both sides. Your best places to visit are Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg, Hidden and Two Medicine Lakes. 

If you’re curious how long you should allocate for each destination, I’d recommend spending 67% of your time in Glacier – it’s that good!

As for the specific driving portion of it, there’s little to see between the two famous national parks. I suggest cruising through the heartland and getting to Yellowstone quickly. 

Once in Yellowstone, make sure to hit the classics: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Morning Glory, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. You can see a lot of the park in just two days, allowing you to keep this  epic road trip  to a reasonable length. 

Recommended by Alec of Explore with Alec

10. Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Park (one of the most interesting RV routes in the US)

Distance: 577 miles (if starting and ending in Los Angeles) Recommended time: 5 Days Best time of year: Fall to Spring

A  Joshua Tree and Death Valley road trip  is the ultimate Southern California experience! Los Angeles makes for an easy starting point, but you can also choose to start in Las Vegas . This whole RV road trip is around 600 miles and you will want to plan a minimum of 5 days.

Spend at least one full day in Joshua Tree, visiting all of the best hikes including the Cholla Cactus Garden, Arch Rock, Barker Dam and Hidden Valley. Joshua Tree is also an amazing spot to stargaze if the weather is clear.

Staying in the park will allow you to make the most of your trip, so reserve your campground in advance!

After having your fill of Joshua Tree, drive up to Death Valley National Park to continue on with one of the best RV vacations.

There are a few reservable campsites in Death Valley, but if you do not get one, there is also a large first-come, first-served campground near Furnace Creek .

In Death Valley, you do not want to miss spots like the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Zabriskie Point, and Gold Canyon.

Make sure to stop at the lowest point in North America- Badwater Basin Salt Flats!

Keep in mind some side roads are restricted to vehicles under 25 feet long like Artist Palette Drive, but the majority of the popular spots are accessible.

Plan this trip when it is not too hot out, as Death Valley has the hottest recorded temperature on Earth! Fall and Spring are the best time to visit.

The desert temperatures can drop at night and it can get very windy, so this makes a perfect RV road trip, as you can shelter from the elements.

Recommended by Val of Voyages with Val

11. Ashland to Crater Lake National Park

• Distance: 92 miles
• Recommended time: 1-2 days
• Best time of year : July – September (These are often the only months the roads are not closed due to snow!)

Oregon is a state full of beautiful scenery, and makes for one of the best RV trips west coast. Perhaps one of the most beautiful spots is Crater Lake.

This natural lake is the deepest in the United States and one of the most pure. From the blue water to the fresh, clean air, an RV vacation from Ashland to Crater Lake National Park will not disappoint.

Visitors can explore the rim of the lake on a variety of hiking trails. Boats even take visitors to Wizard Island to get a unique view of the stunning scenery. 

The RV road trip from Ashland to Crater Lake is beautiful in its own right. Highway 62 often travels along the Rogue River. You’ll pass through little towns with charming names like Shady Cove and Prospect. 

As you get closer to the lake, watch for bald eagles flying overhead or nesting on top of trees. But the highlight of the day will be cresting the final ridge and getting your first glimpse of the lake . It’s truly breathtaking.

There is one campground nearby that allows RVs. Mazuma Campground is seven miles from the Rim Village Visitor Center .

It’s a beautifully maintained campground and very popular. Be sure to make reservations in advance to secure your spot.

The road trip from Ashland to Crater Lake is short enough for a day trip, but one day may not be long enough to get your fill of the astounding beauty.

Recommended by Sherry of  Digital Nomad and a Dog

12. Highway 395, California (another stunning route on the RV vacations list)

• Distance : 201 miles
• Recommended time: 7 days
• Best time of year: Spring or fall

The entire length of Highway 395 is gorgeous, but its southern portion, from Bridgeport, California to Death Valley National Park is next-level epic . It’ll surely be one of your most memorable RV trips on the West Coast (maybe even the whole USA!)

You can even drive along this route as part of a longer trip, such as from Yosemite National Park, whose Tioga Pass entrance is right by Bridgeport (note that this is only accessible from mid-summer through mid-fall).

You’ll drive along the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains the entire time —not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the drive is an RVer’s paradise, with tons of campgrounds and dispersed camping along the way.

Start in the charming town of Bridgeport, where you’ll find the under-the-radar  Buckeye Hot Springs  and Travertine Hot Springs. As an added bonus, there’s lots of dispersed camping spots right by Buckeye in Stanislaus National Forest!

Continue on to Mono Lake , one of the oldest in the United States at over one million years old. The lake is famous for its tufas, unique spires that are a byproduct of calcium carbonate. 

The ski town of Mammoth Lakes is your next stop on one of the best RV road trips in the US. If you visit in the spring, there’s a good chance you’ll still be able to enjoy the fresh powder on Mammoth Mountain , one of the best ski resorts in the country. This area is actually one of the best snowy winter vacations in USA !

During the spring, there’s plenty of natural hot springs to enjoy in Mammoth Lakes as well. 

Next up is Alabama Hills , which looks like something from another planet, with enormous monzogranite boulders scattered across the desert floor and the towering peaks of the Sierras in the background.

Score a spot at the Tuttle Creek Campground to have this scenery as your backyard for a night.

Finally, Death Valley National Park will be the endpoint of your visit. This park is one of the most dynamic in the national park system, offering colorful badlands, sand dunes, salt flats and towering mountains.

If you’re interested in doing more than quickly driving through the park, plan your road trip in either early spring or late fall—it’s famously sweltering in the summer months!

This is easily one of the best RV vacations for those based in or near California.

Recommended by Jessica of Uprooted Traveler

13. Los Angeles to San Diego

• Distance: 120 miles
• Recommended time: 3 days
• Best time of year : Late spring or early fall

A RV road trip from Los Angeles to San Diego is magical. The 110 mile-drive is filled with scenic sights, beaches, and parks.

If driving straight through, expect it to take right around 2 hours, but I highly recommend at least 3 days to ensure you have time to see everything.

The most popular route (and the most scenic of them all) is the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). It is also known as Highway 1. It offers the stunning views of the California coastline.

While driving, make sure to take the exit 62 to Las Pulgas Road because it offers an oceanic panoramic view that can take your breath away.

After continuing down Highway 1 on one of the best RV trips west coast, you will pass by Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach . They are some of the most popular beach towns in California. If you have time, they would be a good place to stop for brunch, swimming, or just to soak up the sun.

It’s no secret that California is home to some busy roads! The best time of the day to start this road trip is before morning rush hour to avoid the congestion. If you do not make stops along the way, you could even make it all the way to San Diego without any traffic issues!

Finally, after arriving in San Diego you can check out the exciting theme parks such as Seaworld, Disneyland, or Legoland. There’s so many things to do in San Diego with kids , it makes for a great family RV vacation for the whole family!

No matter how you choose to spend your time in California , it will surely be one of your most beloved RV vacations!

Recommended by Ossama of Awesome Traveler

RV road trips in the east

Traditionally the western part of the USA is known for its outdoor adventure, and a great spot for RVers. However, the eastern part of the US has some pretty spectacular RV vacation ideas too. Check these out!

14. Florida’s A1A

• Distance: 338.7 miles
• Recommended time: 6-8 days
• Best time of year: Winter

Hop in the RV and fire up the AC for a scenic trip along Florida’s A1A. This State Road runs from Fernandina Beach, just south of Georgia on Amelia Island, to the lively Key West , south of the Sunshine State. It’s one of the very best RV vacation ideas in the USA.

While the drive is pretty, there’s plenty of opportunity to get off the route to see Florida’s coastal cities.

Visit some of the “oldest” streets and buildings in the country at  St. Augustine , spend the day at the beach in Flagler, or watch the fast cars of Daytona.

Continue along the road and be sure to climb the stairs at Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse in New Smyrna, go shopping at West Palm Beach and admire the Art Deco in Miami Beach.

Finally, you’ll get to drive over the famous Seven Miles Bridge to the Florida Keys.

According to Google Maps , doing the route with no stops would take just over nine hours. However, many locations featured in the trip are notorious for traffic, so factor this time in. 

Obviously, you’ll want to make stops at attractions, how many will be dictated by your set vacation time! 

There are plenty of options for RVs to camp along the route, such as the Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort, which has Atlantic Ocean views. Bliss. 

The best time to visit the East Coast of Florida depends on hurricane patterns, with the season running from June until November.

Also, the summer months might be too humid for out-of-staters. While winter is too cold for locals, visitors enjoy the warm temperatures, relatively crowd-free beaches, and the chance to see manatees!  

Recommended by Amanda of Hey! East Coast USA

15. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park (a great RV vacation for fall colors!)

• Distance: Skyline Drive is 105 miles from Waynesboro to Front Royal, Virginia. 
• Recommended time: 3 hours to drive this 35-mph road, but you’ll want to stop and stay in one or two of the campgrounds. 
• Best time of year: October is the perfect time to take in the fall colors and enjoy cooler weather. 

If you’re looking for one of the most beautiful RV routes in the United States, then Skyline Drive is a must-do! Spanning 105 miles of gorgeous mountain scenery in Shenandoah National Park, this picturesque roadway is perfect for RV travelers.

It traverses the entire length of the park and offers easy access to all the amenities and activities the park has to offer.

Although you can drive the entire length of Skyline Drive in just a few hours, you won’t want to leave that soon. And with four  campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park , you don’t have to either!

All of the campgrounds have plenty of pull-thru and back-in sites for all sizes of RVs. There aren’t any hookups (water, power, or sewer), but they do have bathrooms, showers, and dump stations. They are seasonal with a range of operation between March and November each year. 

The drive is home to 61 overlooks allowing your ample opportunity to stop and take in the views of the Shenandoah Valley and the Massunutten mountains.

If you want to experience more of the park on foot, be sure to enjoy some of its 500 miles of trails, including some of the most beautiful waterfalls you’ll experience on the east coast. 

One caution for RVers is the low clearance Mary’s Rock Tunnel near Thorton Gap at mile 32. The clearance is only 12’8”, but there are four entrances to Skyline Drive so if your RV is higher than that, you can access it via one of the other points. 

This fun drive is by far one of the best RV trips in the US, and one worthy of putting on your bucket list!

Recommended by Julie of Chickery’s Travels 

16. Boston to Portland

• Distance: 110 miles
• Recommended time: 2-5 days
• Best time of year: Summer or Fall

Making a trip from Boston, MA to Portland, ME can be a fun and easy road trip for those who are looking for a short but beautiful RV route.

Normally the drive is just two hours long (110 miles) on I-95, but if you can spare some extra time there are plenty of scenic stops and charming seaside towns to extend your drive. 

Start your journey in Boston, Massachusetts which is a fun city to explore in itself. If you have a day or two, be sure to check out these date ideas in Boston if you’re on this road trip as a duo!

Don’t forget to stop at world-famous Fenway Park (Go Sox!). Check out the Freedom Trail and join a guided walking tour of some of the city’s most iconic historic sites.

Continue your journey in Salem, Massachusetts and explore the history of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. If you’re visiting in October, there are specialized tours like Hocus Pocus and ghost tours that will help you get in spooky mood!

Head north to the charming seaside town of Ogunquit, Maine for a quintessential  New England beach town . This picturesque town is only four miles long and boasts stunning ocean views as well as a quaint town center. Dont forget to grab a lobster roll!

Cape Elizabeth Maine is a perfect stop to see some quintessential New England lighthouses. There are three main lighthouses – Portland Head Light, Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, and Bug Light. 

Finally, end your trip in the city of Portland. It is a hub for art and culture, with plenty of food and drink spots to explore. It’s a fun town to explore, and a perfect stopping point for one of the best RV vacations routes in America.

Visit local breweries like Allagash or Moon Dog Craft Brewery, or take a ferry out to Peaks Island to explore the seashore. 

Optional: you could even take the road trip a step farther and go north to Acadia National Park or Bar Harbor. Maine has so many destinations to offer visitors but a Portland RV road trip is a must!

Recommended by Sierra of Your Guide to Wandering

17. Miami to Islamorada (top routes for RV travel USA)

Distance: 90 miles Recommended time: 2 – 3 days Best time of year: Winter and Spring

Traveling to the Florida Keys with your family or friends is an exciting RV road trip. While Key West is the most well-known island to visit, traveling to Islamorada is even better.

Islamorada’s waters are famous for their clarity and rich marine life , earning the title of “Sport Fishing Capital of the World.” Legends like Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway used to frequent the area to catch big game fish.

It’s situated about 80 miles southwest of Miami, and the driving distance between the two destinations typically covers around 90 miles, depending on the route. Depending on traffic and route selection, it usually takes between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours to reach Islamorada. However, you’ll want to spend time in Miami and Islamorada to enjoy the destination.

The best time of year to visit Islamorada is during the winter and spring months, specifically from December to April. This period is characterized by warm and pleasant weather, making it ideal for outdoor activities and water sports. 

The average temperatures range from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (24-29 degrees Celsius), providing comfortable conditions for exploring the area.

Additionally, visiting during this time allows you to avoid the peak tourist season, which occurs during the summer months when temperatures are hotter and the area can be more crowded.

You’ll definitely want to stay at least 2 days in Islamorada if not 3. This is a great, relaxing drive allows you to get in touch with marine life and nature, and is by far one of the best RV road trips.

While in Islamorada, be sure to visit Olive Morada , which is a local shop that has delicious olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which you can do a free tasting. Plus, it’s a great shop if you are in need of souvenirs that are not cheesy.

A stay at Tavernier Elks Lodge makes this one of the best RV vacations in the USA. Just be sure to reserve your campsite early as space is limited!

Islamorada is a great RV road trip because it is gorgeous, relaxing, and allows you to reconnect with nature and loved ones.

Recommended by Fuse of Fuse Travels

More RV vacations in the US

Rounding out this list are a few of my personal favorites. From the incredible dramatic landscapes of Utah, the underrated Midwest and the beachy coasts, let’s finish out this guide to the best RV routes in the US!

18. Utah’s Mighty 5 (another favorite on this list of RV road trips)

• Distance: 362 miles
• Recommended time: 6-10 days
• Best time of year: spring or fall

This is it! One of the very best RV vacations in the United States, and it’s sooo good! This Utah national parks road trip covers a lot of ground, and some truly spectacular sights.

Starting in Moab, Utah, you’ll discover two nearby national parks. There are many things to do in Moab and you’ll want to spend at least two days there. A great RV campground between Arches and Canyonlands is Sun Outdoors Canyonlands Gateway.

Spend a day exploring Arches National Park. Hike to the famous Delicate Arch and see The Windows area , where there’s several arches within a few minutes walk from the parking lot.

In Canyonlands National Park, be sure to visit the Grand View Point Overlook, Green River Overlook and Mesa Arch. The canyon is beyond impressive! And with fewer visitors than Arches, you may even get a break from the crowds!

Between Moab and Capitol Reef National Park, enjoy the incredible Utah Scenic Byway 24 in your RV . In Capitol Reef, visit the Fruita Historic District and the orchards, and hike the Hickman Bridge Trail . On your way to the next park, stay in Wonderland RV Park .

A personal favorite along this incredible RV road trip is the Scenic Byway 12 between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon. The views are out of this world – and just continue as you see the famous hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Bryce Point and Inspriration Point offer amazing views of the park. And if you’re up for a hike, check out the popular Queens Garden Trail and Navajo Loop to hike down into the canyon through the funky rock formations. So fun!

Your last stop on this RV vacation is Zion National Park. Home to an amazing canyon, this park is often a bucket list check for travelers. The Zion Canyon Campground just outside the park or Watchman Campground inside the park are both great for RVs.

Hike the Canyon Overlook Trail or The Narrows for incredible views of Zion. And regardless of whether you’re traveling to Zion with kids in the RV or not, this will be a highlight of your trip!

Pro tip: When you’re driving through Zion, the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is tricky to navigate. You’ll pay a separate fee to drive an RV through the tunnel, and you’ll want to time it right to arrive during business hours because the NPS will actually block off traffic to allow your RV to drive down the center of the road. It’s quite the experience!

When you’re thinking about RV travel USA, the Mighty 5 in Utah is the perfect adventure!

19. Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway Trail

• Distance: 293 miles
• Recommended time: 2+ days
• Best time of year: summer

This is truly a hidden gem in the US, and one of the best RV vacation ideas if you live in the Midwest . It connects Toledo with Conneaut, hitting major towns like Sandusky and Cleveland. It’s RV-friendly and offers a ton of outdoor recreation along the way.

The Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway Trail is located along Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes in the northern US. Although you could technically drive this in one day in an RV, it’s much more exciting to stop at the many adventures along the way.

Starting at the west end of the trail in Toledo, check out the botanical gardens, museums, zoo and restaurants. Just near Toledo is a fun Ohio pumpkin farm , Fleitz Pumpkin Farm. In Port Clinton, be sure to enjoy a meal in the adorable downtown. Afterwards, head to the beach at Waterworks Park and the Port Clinton Lighthouse.

One of my favorite stops along this route is the Marblehead Lighthouse. This free attraction is also the most photographed spot on Lake Erie. It just screams summer on the lake vibes!

There’s also so many things to do in Sandusky Ohio , nearby. Get your thrills at Cedar Point, the 2nd oldest amusement park in America. And bonus: it has RV-friendly parking.

Further along the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway Trail is Cleveland, the home of rock and roll. Enjoy the North Coast Harbor, the Great Lakes Science Center and of course, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The next stop in your RV should be Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor. This gem includes a natural, mile-long beach perfect for relaxing. A perfect addition to one of the best RV trips in the Midwest!

Lastly, Conneaut Township Park is a fun spot to see on the far eastern end of the scenic trail. If you’re a history buff, you won’t want to miss the D-Day reenactment at the park each year.

Other outdoor adventures along the route include hiking, biking and a plethora of water sports. There’s also so much wildlife to be seen, especially in the active summer months. This underrated and scenic RV vacation is one of the best in the Midwest!

20. Denver to Santa Fe (another underrated spot on this list of RV vacation ideas)

• Distance: The easiest and quickest route from Denver, CO to Santa Fe, NM is 392 miles.
• Recommended time: This drive could easily be done in one day or could be drawn out over 3-4 days.
• Best time of year: Fall is one of the best times to take this road trip because of the moderate temperatures and fall foliage that you get to experience along the way.

A road trip from Denver to Santa Fe must be on your bucket list as one of the best RV vacations to embark on throughout the United States. This trip takes about 6 hours in length, making it the perfect road trip to take in one day or to spread out over 3-4 days! 

As you make your way from Denver towards Santa Fe, you will pass through an abundance of beautiful terrain and popular towns. 

About an hour and a half into the drive, you will pass through the marvelous town of Colorado Springs!

For those looking to catch some tremendous views of the surrounding mountains and red rock formations, be sure to stop by the Garden of the Gods . This is the perfect stop for those looking to stretch their legs for a bit and take in the beautiful Colorado landscape. The Siamese Twins Garden of the Gods hike is perfect for a quick adventure!

For those looking to extend their stay in the area, the Garden of the Gods RV Resort is the perfect destination to stop for a night or two along the way. 

After visiting Colorado Springs, we recommend continuing your drive one of the best RV road trips, south through several smaller towns and along I-25 until you arrive at the charming city of Santa Fe so that you can spend as much time exploring this marvelous town as possible. 

We recommend staying for a minimum of 72 hours in Santa Fe so that you can take in the immense history, culture, and cuisine that this delightful city has to offer!

Recommended by Abby of Trekking Price’s

Related read: Denver to Albuquerque Drive: 10 Scenic Stops You Can’t Miss

21. Austin to Corpus Christi

• Distance: 217 miles
• Best time of year: December – May

This fun and unique RV vacation idea for those located in or near Texas! Because of the extreme heat in Texas, this road trip would be best done in the winter or spring. Just make sure your RV is set up for freezing temperatures as that can sometimes in the deep of winter too.

Start this adventure in the lively town of Austin . With a plethora of street art, live music, good food and entertainment, spend a day (or 2) in Austin.

For outdoor adventures, go hiking in McKinney Falls State Park or check out the views from the top of Mount Bonnell. There are plenty of Austin campgrounds for RVs, too.

From Austin, drive southwest to San Antonio. Visit the famous San Antonio River Walk for entertainment and restaurants. For some thrilling entertainment, visit Six Flags Fiesta Texas, which is open year-round.

Check out The Alamo and the Historic Market Square to round out your time in San Antonio. The KOA in San Antonio puts you in a good position for hopping on and off the main roads while putting you close to the action.

After leaving San Antonio, head south to Corpus Christi. This Texas town has some fun things to do including museums, shopping and restaurants. But the star of the area is the beach-camping in your RV!

Just southeast of Corpus Christi are a few RV parks where you can camp on the beach. Wake up to the sound of the ocean from your RV – so fun! The Port Aransas area is lots of fun, and is home to On the Beach RV Park, which offers a great stay. Book in advance to get a good spot!

For an off-the-grid adventure, you can camp, hike and enjoy water activities at Padre Island National Seashore. There’s no RV hook-ups, but there is water and a dump station in the park.

If you’re looking for the best RV travel USA, this road trip is certainly a fun one, and unique because of beach camping.

22. New Orleans to Panama City (another gorgeous route on this list of best RV vacations)

• Distance: New Orleans to Panama City: 327 miles (via I-10 E), 386 miles (via I-10 E and US-98 E)
• Recommended time : 1-2 days  
• Best time of year: May – October 

An RV road trip is one of the best ways to explore a new part of the country. With the freedom to pull off or take a detour on a whim, road trips always make for memorable adventures. The stretch of road between New Orleans to Panama City offers a great RV vacation experience. 

Travelers should begin their road trip in New Orleans, home of jazz, voodoo history, riverboat adventures, and so much more. Make sure to take a  New Orleans food tour or cemetery tour before continuing on toward Panama City. 

Travelers who want to travel efficiently and stick to the shortest route won’t run into any exceptionally fun cities or attractions, except for Mobile, Alabama. But, those who have a bit more time to work with might enjoy slight detours to Biloxi, Mississippi, and Pensacola, Florida. 

There are some amazing beaches to explore along this route if schedules allow for a detour to the coast. Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach are just some of the picturesque places travelers can visit along their way to Panama City.   

Travelers who avoid the coastal detour will also be able to enjoy the beach upon arrival in Panama City. Panama City Beach is a wonderful place to spend some time in the sun as well as St. Andrews State Park. 

Spring through early Fall is the best time of year to take this road trip. Here’s to wonderful RV adventures! 

Recommended by Candice of Exploring the Gulf

23. Badlands to Theodore Roosevelt National Park (get ready for beautiful landscapes on this RV road trip)

• Distance: 338 miles
• Recommended time: 3 – 4 days
• Best time of year: spring, summer or fall

An all-American road trip, this scenic route has surprisingly dramatic landscapes! This is one of the most underrated RV vacations on this list, but is sure to be a fun one.

Starting in Rapid City or Wall, South Dakota, head to Badlands National Park. You’ll want to spend a full day here to see the highlights. Drive the scenic loop, with 16 overlooks in just 39 miles, it’s RV-friendly. The Notch Trail is a must-do if you love hiking, and Pinnacles Overlook is one of the best with ample parking.

From there, take a slight detour before heading to North Dakota to see Mount Rushmore , one of the most famous South Dakota landmarks .

An American classic, this presidential tribute is a fun attraction for all ages to visit. Completed in 1941, Mount Rushmore welcomes over 3 million visitors – almost 3x the amount of the nearby national park!

Rapid City is a great spot to set up camp for the night. Or, there’s plenty of campgrounds near Sturgis, South Dakota as well. And if you’re in the off-season, stop in town and pick up a souvenir on your road trip!

Pro tip: summer is a great time for this RV road trip, but I’d suggest avoiding late July and early August. This region in South Dakota is extremely congested with the annual Sturgis event, making it extremely difficult to find a campground and a dramatic increase in traffic to the area.

From Sturgis, it’s about 3.5 hours north to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. To see the highlights of this park, you’ll want 2 full days. There are 3 distinct areas of the park: South Unit, North Unit, and Elkhorn Ranch. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit is partially unpaved, and not very RV-friendly so we’ll skip that in this guide.

The South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is by far the most visited area . Drive the Wildlife Loop Road, where visitors can often see bison, elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn. Hike the 1-mile Painted Canyon Nature Trail or Buck Hill, which is barely more than a walk to an overlook rather than a hike.

The North Unit feels much more deserted versus the southern area of the park, yet offers expansive views. Take the scenic drive in hopes of seeing mule deer, coyote, pronghorn and even beavers! The Little Mo Trail is a crowd favorite, coming in at less than a mile and paved.

If you want to get campground reservations for your RV, plan your trip in advance as they sell out quickly, especially in the summer months.

So the next time you think about RV travel USA, consider the Dakotas a great spot for a vacation!

RV vacations recap

What an epic list of RV vacations to take in the United States! From fan-favorites, to underrate gems, the options are truly endless! Where will your home on wheels take you next?

Here’s a quick recap of the best RV trips from the above list!

Best RV routes

• Great Smoky Mountains: Asheville to Gatlinburg
• Alaska RV road trip
• Milwaukee to Ludington
• Phoenix to Page, Arizona
• San Francisco to Lake Tahoe
• Santa Fe to White Sands National Park
• Las Vegas to Zion plus the Grand Canyon
• Sequoia National Park to Monterey via Big Sur
• Glacier to Yellowstone National Park
• Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Park
• Ashland to Crater Lake National Park
• Highway 395, California
• Los Angeles to San Diego
• Florida’s A1A
• Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park
• Boston to Portland
• Miami to Islamorada
• Utah’s Mighty 5
• Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway Trail
• Denver to Santa Fe
• Austin to Corpus Christi
• New Orleans to Panama City
• Badlands to Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Related content to read next: 30 Gorgeous West Coast Road Trip Routes You Gotta See to Believe 29 Amazing Road Trips USA: Scenic (& Underrated) Routes You’ll Love 26 Absolute Best (and Underrated) Fall Drives in the US You’ve Gotta See to Believe

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Sunday 9th of July 2023

Yeeees Nikki!

You choose the best trips as you are so good at including gorgeous natural sights and hikes along the way! The Alaska trip looks like a dream! I am also looking forward to your post after your next Canadian Rockies trip. :)

Monday 10th of July 2023

Thanks so much Josy! Your comment was so nice! Yes, I can't wait for new adventures taking the RV into Canada, too!💙

Anna Schaeffer

Saturday 8th of July 2023

I'm hoping to get a five wheeler in the next year or two! Pinning this for later. Great post!

Oh yay Anna! This would be great inspiration for a new RV!!

I don’t own a RV but this article makes me want to rent one and try these trips! Great roundup.

Oh Terri that's a fabulous idea! You could literally go anywhere on this list too - just fly into the nearest airport, rent an RV and hit the road!

Top Reviewers

Pro Tips For Your Car Camping Adventure

Explore America like you haven't before.

While regular camping is more common, car camping in your SUV has been trending now more than ever. People are making summer travel plans around road trips and avoiding airplanes due to the pandemic and continuing to flatten the curve. If you’re planning a road trip, consider car camping. Benefits include saving time (you’re not pitching a tent at every stop), avoiding hotel rooms, and being able to store your belongings right in your car. If you’re experienced or if it’s your first time, here’s what you should know before you go on a car camping adventure.

Choosing the right vehicle is everything.

When you choose a vehicle for your car camping adventure, you’re not just picking a car—this is going to be your home. There won’t be any fancy hotels or cabins to unpack everything in, this is it. I’d recommend going big, ideally a larger SUV. It gives you plenty of room to store all of your essentials, bigger living space, and the ability to take on rockier terrains in remote areas.

Sleep with your head toward the front of the car.

Depending where you are, it might be difficult to find a spot to park overnight that is completely flat. Even if you find flat terrain, it’s important to sleep with your head toward the front of the car. Make sure that your feet are always below your head (there’s way more room at the front). The last thing you’d want is an uncomfortable night’s sleep ahead of a full day of adventuring.

Get creative (like an outdoor movie theater).

Immersed in the outdoors, some nights after a long day on the road might make for a nice movie. Don’t watch it on the small screen of your phone—get creative and make your very own outdoor movie theater with a portable projector, bluetooth speaker (the LG portable Bluetooth speaker is perfect for surround sound) and a blanket! As long as you aren’t disrupting your neighbors, this is a perfect break from venturing. Look out for free WiFi on certain campground areas too.

Keep these camping essentials handy on your journey.

It may vary depending on the needs of your trip, but it’s safe to say that these essentials should be packed in your car for any excursion:

Navigation: map, compass, altimeter and GPS device.

Headlamp : don't forget extra batteries.

Sun protection: sunglasses, sun-protective clothes and sunscreen.

First aid: including foot care and insect repellent.

Knife: plus a gear repair kit .

Fire: matches, lighter, tinder and/or stove. They’re tools of survival for any situation you may find yourself in. Especially if it’s your first time camping, become knowledgeable on tips from the experts so you’re ready to take on the wild while staying safe.

Go fancy with your bed.

The luxury of car camping is that you don’t need to carry all of your gear with you on your back. Take advantage of this and get a good bed with comfortable mats, pillows, and blankets. Insulated blankets are suggested because cars can get just as cold as tents at nighttime. We recommend an insulated sleeping pad as your base (in full or REI's twin size ). Splurge on the bed and make it just as nice as your bed back home, because a good night’s sleep will lead to a great day of adventuring.

Open the windows at night for ventilation.

Always keep your car ventilated by opening your windows just a touch. Don’t leave them wide open—we don’t want any animals finding their way into your car overnight. To combat the bugs, REI suggests cutting some mesh to cover the opening of the windows. If there’s not any ventilation, your windows will fog up and you’ll collect moisture in unwanted places.

Find alternatives for staying clean (without water).

Taking a shower is definitely not the easiest thing to do while car camping, but it can be doable. Find alternative products to bring along like no-rinse shampoo and hand sanitizer with a fully stocked toiletry bag of supplies. While water might be hard to come by, with these products you can still smell good and keep your hygiene above average.

Don’t park overnight illegally.

If you didn’t already know, you can’t just park anywhere you want overnight. Trust me, you don’t want a police officer knocking on your window at 7 a.m. to give you a fine. To help plan your trip, some useful apps include AllStays and Hipcamp . On them you can find free and paid locations where it’s totally legal to park overnight to sleep. Another option is the US Forest Service , where their roads are open to overnight parking. You might need specific required permits or passes, so make sure to do your check with them beforehand.

Bring a solar panel to charge your devices.

Keeping all of your electronics charged can be a major task—especially when you’re car camping with a companion. From your phone to camera, it’s a lot of necessary essentials. You might not realize it at first, but charging your devices overnight isn’t a possibility because the car is off (you can only charge your devices when the car is on). That’s why I would recommend a solar panel to charge up. There are various solar panels that can sit on your dashboard to make sure you’re never out of power for your electronic essentials.

Whether you’re traveling solo, your dog , with a friend or a significant other, this trip will be one to remember. Stay safe and bring a map just in case you lose service. After being quarantined for months, we can’t take travel for granted anymore so get out there, go off the grid and have an epic adventure to make up for lost time.

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10 Best Camping Apps to Download Before Your Next Trip

That camping trip you’ve been dreaming of —  It’s not going to plan itself!

And while I can do everything in my power to help you along the way, these road trip and camping apps are real lifesavers. I’m declaring these the 10 most important apps to download before your next camping road trip.

They’re the apps I use the most when I’m planning a camping road trip, and also when I’m in the middle of a road trip. 

If you’re a planner, you likely get the most use out of these apps during the planning stages, but you’ll want to access all those plans en route as well.

If you are more of a spontaneous road-tripper, then you’ll find these apps irreplaceable for finding campgrounds, hikes, and cool attractions on the fly. 

This overview assumes you already have your map app of choice.

We love Google Maps for planning miles and times and creating loose overviews of where we’re going, but we actually like Apple Maps better when we’re driving. We have them both – just in case.

These are the Best Camping Apps Out There!

No matter what type of road tripper or camper you are, I guarantee that you will use these awesome camping apps. Most of the apps that I’m recommending are free, providing immeasurable benefits for the cost of your time to download and learn the app.

A few of them offer a premium subscription with additional benefits. If I think it’s worth the upgrade, I’ll let you know. 

Best Camping Apps: Quick Facts

The dyrt: find the best camping spots for your road trip.

Cost: Free/$35.99 per year

Average rating: 4.8 out of 74.7K reviews

Availability:   iOS   and  Android

Eric and I have been using the Dyrt camping app since it came out in 2018, and it’s been incredibly useful for finding decent campgrounds when we’re traveling. This is hands-down one of the best camping apps to download before your next trip and our favorite app on this list.

The Dyrt is the most comprehensive campground search and review app out there, and it’s also the most used, with over a million user-generated reviews, updates, and photographs of campgrounds and campsites throughout the United States.

Using the map or the search feature on The Dyrt, you can find public and private campsites, read reviews, and get contact info for booking.

The free app is plenty for most people, including us, but the pro version lets you access reviews and maps offline so you’re not gobbling up your data. The Dyrt Pro also lets you set up alerts for sold-out campgrounds so that when a spot opens up, you’re the first to know.

We purchase The Dyrt Pro for big road trips (more than a couple weeks in length), but otherwise, we make do with the free version.

Read about how to use The Dyrt app to find awesome campgrounds or head straight to thedyrt.com to create your free account. 

Roadtrippers: The Perfect App for Planning Your Next Adventure

Cost: Free/$ 35.99 per year or $49.99 when you get it with Roadpass, which includes Campendium.

Average rating: 4.7 stars out of 55.6K reviews

Before I used the Roadtrippers app, I fell in love with the Roadtrippers website .

The Roadtrippers digital magazine is chock-full of cool articles on every type of road trip stop you can imagine, from quirky hotels and historic sites to amazing parks, scenic areas, and campgrounds.

I often get lost on the Roadtrippers website, spending way too many hours planning trips that I’ll likely never take. Hey, you never know!

You’ll be happy to know that the app is a bit more streamlined, and while it’s still a comprehensive database of amazing places, it’s easy to use on the go.

The free Roadtrippers app allows you to create an itinerary with up to five stops.

I HIGHLY recommend upgrading to Roadtrippers Plus so that your itinerary and corresponding map can be as long and detailed as you want it to be.

You can even download your map so it takes you where you want to go when you don’t have cell service. 

Read our post about how to use Roadtrippers to plan your next camping road trip , or head straight to Roadtrippers.com to sign up for your free account. Bonus: Save $5 on your Roadtrippers Plus subscription by using the code BTR5QTP.

Hipcamp: Find Cool Campsites on Private Land

  Cost: Free

Average rating: 4.8 stars out of 74.7K reviews

Similar to Airbnb, Hipcamp is entirely dedicated to camping and glamping, and they’ve got lots of amazing private campsites that you won’t find anywhere else. This is one of the best camping apps we’ve seen for finding camping and glamping spots on private land.

We use Hipcamp when we are road-tripping and we want a bit more privacy or public campgrounds are booked. We have stayed in geodesic domes, open-air cabins, and lots of yurts, but we’ve also pitched our tents in fields and forests that were totally secluded from any other humans.

Sign up for a free account on the Hicamp website and then download the free app to get started searching for your perfect camping or glamping spot.

Never used Hipcamp before? Use our referral link to get a $10 Hipcamp credit and we’ll get one too!

Recreation.gov: Reserve Public Campsites at State and National Parks

Average rating: 4.9 stars out of 165K reviews

Availability: iOS   and  Android

Another camping database that is worth having at your fingertips, Recreation.gov allows you to search for and book campsites at thousands of federally run destinations, including national parks, Army Corps of Engineers sites, national forests, and national recreation areas. 

With Recreation.gov, you can also enter lotteries for permits and purchase tour tickets to federal historic sites. 

Not only can you easily use the map feature to find available campsites and cabins near you, but when you sign up for an account, you will have access to all of your upcoming camping reservations, plus reservations for trail permits and tours.

While we don’t use Recreation.gov on every road trip, we’ve found it extremely useful when traveling through areas with an abundance of federal lands.

ReserveAmerica (RA Camping): Book State and Private Campgrounds Near You

Cost: $84.15 per year

Average rating: 4.8 stars out of 33.9K reviews

ReserveAmerica is the proprietary app used by most state parks, as well as several private campgrounds. Use the mobile app to search for available camp and RV sites, yurts, cabins, and more in state and private parks and campgrounds across the United States.

With the app, you can easily search by location, date, or amenities, and display search results on a map so you never have to worry about where you’re going to sleep. You can also view campground details, read reviews, and look at photos so that you always know what to expect.

Harvest Hosts: Find Camping at Wineries, Breweries, and Farms

Cost: $85.15 per year

Average rating: 4.8 stars out of 37.1K reviews

Harvest Hosts is a membership-based program that allows campers with self-contained units (bathrooms and kitchens) to find free spots to spend the night at local wineries, breweries, and farms. There are currently more than 4,600 participating businesses across the United States.

Membership to Harvest Hosts starts at $85.15 per year, but you can also combine your membership with one to Boondockers Welcome for access to more than 7,000 properties.

Once you find the perfect location to spend the night, you request a stay. Once approved, you can park for one or two nights before moving on to your next location. Harvest Hosts request that you support each business by making a purchase onsite.

For those with self-contained camping vehicles, this is an awesome way to explore more affordably.

FreeRoam: Free Boondocking Across the United States

Average rating: 4.9 stars out of 39.5K reviews

Availability:

• 2024 update: The FreeRoad app is no longer available on the App Store, but you can still use the website on your browser to find dispersed camping throughout the United States.

FreeRoam is a completely free app that allows you to search for dispersed camping (also called boondocking) across the US. In most cases, these camping spots won’t have any amenities, so you’ll have to be totally self-sufficient, but the benefit is that these spots are free to use.

The FreeRoam map overlays are incredibly helpful for finding your next camping spot. You can toggle on layers for fire smoke/hazards, cell service, and more. FreeRoam includes overlays for BLM and USFS land, which is usually a premium feature on other apps.

When you click on a campground, you can easily scroll through user ratings and reviews, as well as an up-to-date weather forecast.

Once you find the perfect camping spot, you can build an itinerary by creating a route and adding all of your desired campsites to your map.

FreeRoam is 100% free to use, but there’s a button to donate if you choose.

Alltrails: GPS App and Trail Finder

Cost: Free/ $35.99 a year

Average rating: 4.9 stars out of 794K reviews

Availability: iOS and Android

If you enjoy hiking when camping, then you won’t want to head out without first downloading the Alltrails app.

With AllTrails, you can search for hiking trails, read reviews, and check out trail maps so you’re prepared for any adventure. You can even add trailhead information to your itinerary on Roadtrippers. 

Once you’re at the trailhead, use AllTrails to stay on course by navigating with the built-in GPS feature. After your hike, rate your experience and add photos so that others know what to expect on the trail.

Whether you hike, bike, run, or walk, AllTrails is your companion and guide to the outdoors.

The free Alltrails app is great for finding hiking trails and getting directions to the trailhead and is perfectly fine for casual hikers.

If you want to have access to offline maps, record your tracks for future use, or collect statistics on your hikes, you will want to purchase Alltrails+ , which is $35.99 for an annual subscription. 

RV LIFE: An RV-Friendly GPS App

Cost: Free/ $59 a year

Average rating: 4.6 stars out of 27K reviews

RV LIFE is a community-driven GPS navigational app that provides RV-safe routes specific to your RV’s height, length, & weight. This is one of the best camping apps for RVers — no more worrying about low clearances or being routed over an unsafe mountain pass.

The premium version of the GPS includes turn-by-turn directions (works offline) with voice navigation, lane guidance, & real-time traffic.

RV LIFE also includes a campground locator which contains over 10 million data points covering over 20,000 campgrounds, RV parks, & RV resorts.

You can filter to see only highly rated campgrounds and sort by the number of reviews to see the most popular. Search for campgrounds by type such as national parks, state parks, KOA campgrounds, BLM campgrounds, or even find ones that are big-rig friendly.

The RV Trip Wizard Integration allows you to plan out itineraries with attractions and campgrounds, and then safely navigate to your next destination.

The free version of RV LIFE has very limited functionality, but if you’re looking for GPS navigation for your RV, RV LIFE premium is a wonderful tool to have.

Campendium: Find public and private campgrounds and read reviews

Cost: Free/ $49.99 a year

Average rating: 4.8 stars out of 16.1K reviews

Created by campers for campers, Campendium has tens of thousands of places to camp, from swanky RV parks to free remote destinations, vetted by a team of full-time travelers and reviewed by 750,000 plus members.

Campendium features map overlays for cell coverage as well as public lands so you can always find the perfect campsite. Scroll the app to find the best camping near you, read reviews, and check out photos.

The Campendium app is very similar to The Dyrt app, and I don’t think you need them both. Campendium can be purchased in conjunction with a Roadpass Pro membership for $49.99 a year, which includes Roadtrippers Plus.

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Tara is a freelance writer and travel blogger with a passion for outdoor adventures. She is the co-author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont and currently blogs at Back Road Ramblers and Vermont Explored , where she shares travel tips, adventure destinations, and vacation ideas for the wanderer in everyone.

How to Sleep Comfortably in a Car While Car-Camping

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Sleeping in a car never sounded comfortable to me, but I realized how comfortable it could be once I tried it. All you need to actually enjoy car camping, are a few comfort items, some common sense, and a great overnight parking spot.

I learned so much about car camping after a 3-month solo cross-country car-camping road trip . I lived out of my car for weeks and enjoyed the ease and freedom of car camping. Car camping is a great way to see the country while saving a TON of money. Whether you are going on a cross-country road trip or only a few hours from home, sleeping in a car can be a comfortable experience as long as you know what to do.

Here are nine tips to help you get the best night’s rest while sleeping in a car.

Table of Contents: Jump to

Build a Comfortable Sleeping Platform

One of the most important things when sleeping in a car comfortably is choosing the best sleeping setup. Options include car-top pop-up tents, sleeping platforms, or padded mattresses. A quick internet search will reveal many possibilities for setting up a car for car camping and sleeping.

I built a wood platform to set on top of my folded-down seats to make my sleeping space level. I drew out a plan, measured twice, and used 3/4 inch plywood, screws, and a hinge from Home Depot to build the sleeping platform. My platform was about 30″ wide and long enough for me to stretch out flat. I’m only 5’3″, so I didn’t need too much length. I can’t imagine sleeping in my car for weeks at a time if I couldn’t completely stretch out. To gain a few more inches, move the front seats all the way forward when you are sleeping.

In addition to the actual sleeping space, you need the right mattress and linens to sleep in a car comfortably. There are many types of mattresses to choose from, from blow-up to roll-up and foldable memory foam. I bought a foldable memory foam mattress with a removable zipper cover from Amazon that I love. Memory foam is perfect for cutting down to size, which I had to do.

I used a sleeping bag and summer weight comforter, which kept me warm on 20 degree nights or below. I also love pillows and brought two feather pillows that made sleeping in a car that much more comfortable!

Use Window Coverings for Privacy

Window coverings are a must when sleeping in a car. They give you privacy, help regulate air temperatures and block outside light. I made mine from roll-up insulation, black spray paint, and duct tape. I painted one side with black spray paint to cover up the reflective insulation and not draw attention to my car. Ideally, if the reflective side points to the sun, it’s supposed to reflect heat and keep your car cooler. Likewise, when the black side is toward the sun, the heat inside the car is supposed to reflect and keep the car warmer.

I definitely feel they kept my car cooler, but I am not sure about warmer. I left my window coverings up during the day when I was gone for long periods of time. They work well to prevent car peepers, block out light, and add privacy to a car camping setup. I would not go car camping without them!

If you are not a DIY-er, Weathertech makes custom coverings for about $60-$200 for virtually every model of car out there. It’s a great investment if you are an avid car camper.

Drown out Noise and Light

I am a super light sleeper, so one of the biggest issues sleeping in my car was drowning out noise and light pollution. Of course, parking off-grid would be the best way to avoid noise and light, but if you don’t have 4-wheel drive or aren’t comfortable in the back-country, a public lot may be your only option. Unfortunately, many public parking lots are heavily lit up; although great for safety, lights can prevent you from sleeping well. Also, most legal overnight car camping spots are near highways or shared with semi-trucks and motor homes whose generators are not kind on the ears. Hence, it’s important to come prepared.

My window coverings did a great job blocking out light, but a sleep mask was beneficial too. Of course, by the time I woke up, my mask wasn’t on my face anymore, but it always helped get me to sleep.

Road noise was a bit harder to avoid. During my first trip, I listened intently for voices or cars approaching mine during the night. Once I got more comfortable car camping, the road noise became more of a nuisance. I started listening to music and podcasts on earphones before bed or used a white noise or meditation app that helped drown out the noise (I used calm or white noise apps). I was surprised at how well it worked.

Find Some Fresh Air

If you want to sleep in a car comfortably, fresh air is necessary. You shouldn’t leave your car idling for long periods of time, so when you are parked and the air conditioner is off, getting a soft breeze and fresh air is imperative to sleep soundly.

At first, I used a magnetic mesh net to cover my open sunroof at night. It works well on cool nights and prevents bugs from flying in, but you still have to watch out for rain. On warmer nights, I really didn’t get as much of a breeze from my sunroof as I did from my windows being down. Many companies offer mesh window coverings and rain guards for windows which are great to use while car camping but better for more secluded parking areas. In public lots, rolling down a window increases roadside noise which isn’t a good exchange for fresh air in my book.

A portable fan was the best thing to increase airflow when I couldn’t roll the windows down. This fan really pulls its weight when sleeping in a car in temperatures above 70. Although this exact one is not perfect (the battery doesn’t last too long, and the airflow doesn’t go very far), something like this is all you need for a comfortable night’s rest while sleeping in a car.

Always Have a Reliable Power Source

One item I am so glad I spent the money on is the Jackery portable power station . It is a handy system for car camping. I almost left home without it, but now I am so glad I didn’t. Its size fits perfectly in my car without taking up a lot of space, and the Jackery was a champ at charging phones, laptops, and cameras all at the same time, which made my car camping experience all the better.

At first, I thought my car battery and two-car outlets would be enough to charge what I needed while driving, but everything charged so slowly off my car battery. The Jackery 500 kept its charge (didn’t go lower than 20%) for at least a solid week with multiple phones and laptop chargers, which gave me peace of mind knowing I wouldn’t have to scramble to charge a device if needed. I charged up the Jackey during my hotel and family stays which worked out perfectly, but the Jackery comes with a car charger as well.

I also purchased the SolarSaga100w solar panels to recharge my Jackery system on the road but never used them. I moved around too much and was only parked for long periods to sleep or hike. If you are backcountry camping in open areas with ample sunlight and hanging out near your car, it could be a great system to charge up your power source if you have no other charging options, but I wouldn’t spend the extra money on the solar charger otherwise.

Take a Hot Shower

If it is one thing that helps me sleep better, it is that fresh, clean, showered feeling! At the most, I went 3 days without showering during cooler temps, but daily showers were a must when the temperatures got warmer.

I began planning out route stops near Flying J truck stops , YMCA centers, gyms, and campsites that had pay for showers. I paid $3-$15 for a shower at each location. Some provided towels and toiletries, and others were merely a concrete box with a cold water spigot, but I was happy as long as the water was clean. Flying J Truck Stops showers were the most expensive and the nicest, with Italian marble bathrooms, hot water, fresh towels, and toiletries.

If I couldn’t get a shower, I’d use body wipes and I would always wash my face and brush my teeth with my Rinse Kit at least 2x a day. Without feeling clean, it would be tough for me to sleep comfortably in a car.

UPDATE: After my first few road trips I decided to get the Black Card membership to Planet Fitness which means you have access to any of their clubs across the country. I was traveling in areas where there was a Planet Fitness nearby so it worked out perfectly to take hot showers at the gym rather than at travel centers. The black card is about $23 dollars a month and $50 a year. It is a great idea to help save money as Travel Center showers can cost $20 per shower. Having 24/7 gym access also helped keep me in shape on the road!

Always Keep Enough Water

Water is so important on any road trip, but more so when sleeping in your car. Aside from a 5-gallon jug of drinking water, I used a 2-gallon Rinse Kit Plus to wash my face and brush my teeth, at least 2x a day every day during my 12-week road trip. As I said before, I can’t sleep without that fresh, clean feeling, so extra water is a must for washing up and the Rinse Kit makes pressurized water on the go so easy!

A Rinse Kit is a great system for washing dishes, washing hands, rinsing feet and great for pets.

Go to the Bathroom Right Before Bed

Waking up in the middle of the night is definitely not something you want to be doing if sleeping comfortably in a car is what you are after. At first, I was so concerned about using the restroom while car camping I brought trowel, Go Anywhere Kits, a collapsible portable potty, and absorbent toilet bags to make sure I was prepared. It turns out there wasn’t anything to worry about. I only ended up using a few absorbent toilet bags the whole trip. Public toilets are pretty common in the US and weren’t hard to find along most state roads and interstates.

The only problem is finding one that is open when you need it.

I parked where I knew there would be a restroom until late (usually 10 pm or 11 pm) at a grocery store, Walmart parking lot, or 24-hour casino. I made sure to use the restroom right before bed, and I stopped drinking liquids 2-3 hours before that to avoid waking up in the middle of the night. I also had my front seat cleared off just in case I needed to pop a squat during the night in one of the absorbent toilet bags. If I made it through the night, I usually didn’t have to go until 5am at the earliest and always headed to a Starbucks since most locations open between 5 and 5:30 am.

Find a Safe Place to Sleep

I didn’t think about how important this would be to getting a good night’s rest while sleeping in a car but choosing a safe place at night is the number one thing you should do.

Knowing you are in a safe place and not parked illegally, helps eliminate any anticipation of a knock on your door in the middle of the night, which could ruin a good night’s sleep. It took me a few nights to get comfortable and stop listening for voices or cars approaching, which always kept me on edge, but once I relaxed a bit, knowing I was in a legal overnight parking spot helped me sleep more soundly at night.

I definitely recommend using a reliable car camping app (iOverlander, HipCamp, Dyrt, Free Roam), reading reviews, asking locals, and doing your homework on the area you want to sleep in to ensure you are parked legally. I always slept more soundly if I paid for a spot at a campground or was in a parking lot with other campers rather than chancing it alone on a roadside pull-off.

Sleeping in a car is not for everyone, but it’s an experience everyone should try once in their lives. I hope these tips will help you on your first (or next) car camping adventure. In addition to sleeping well, you should know what gear to bring , have a car emergency kit and familiarize yourself with these car camping safety tips to ensure you have the best experience while out on the road.

More To Read:

• How to Plan a Cross-Country Car Camping Road Trip
• The 15 most popular car camping questions answere s
• 13 Important Car Camping Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers
• 13 Practical items don’t want to car-camp without (+FREE Checklist )
• 49 Essentials for your road trip packing list you can’t travel without (+FREE Checklist)

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Meet Sam, a fearless wanderer and avid solo traveler who has made the world her home. Through cross country road trips, car camping in her SUV and solo adventures to far corners of the globe, she has become an expert in crafting itineraries that balance adventure and self-discovery. Through her insightful tales and practical tips, Sam inspires others to embrace the unknown, break free from conventional boundaries, and embrace the beauty of solo exploration.

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Thanks for the great tips and suggestions!

thank you for the article

Great advice Thank you 😊💓

thank you very much . hello from İstanbul / TÜRKİYE

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