Camping trips are a fun way to get out into the outdoors and leave the stress of everyday life behind. To help make your camping trip more enjoyable, remember to pack the following items:
Matches or a lighter. Even if you plan on camping where there are gas fire pits, you should still take a way to start a fire. If you become lost, you can use the matches or lighter to cook food, stay warm and signal your position to rescuers.
Layers of clothing and good shoes. The temperature in many wilderness areas, particularly those in mountain areas, can range from swelteringly hot to freezing cold within a 24 hour period. Layering clothing is the best way to prepare for such temperature variances. Your top layer should be waterproof, providing protection against sudden rainstorms. When hiking, tie the layers you do not presently need to your waist or your pack, giving you quick access to them later.
Extra food and water. You never know when an emergency could keep you in the wilderness for longer than you were originally planning. Cars break down, bad weather can suddenly roll in, rock slides can close off roads or you might even become lost in the wilderness. With extra food and water you will stay in good health until help can come to you.
A way to clean your dishes. Many people pack dishes to both prepare and eat their food while camping, but they forget that they need to clean those dishes. You should pack plenty of extra water, a large tub to place the dirty dishes in, a scrub brush and dish soap.
Flashlights and lanterns. In the wilderness there are no streetlights or other sources of light usually found in suburban or urban areas. Lanterns provide great lighting for a camp area or a tent, shining light in every direction. Small flashlights give you a way to see when you are walking around in the dark, like if you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Everyone should keep a small flashlight with them, including children, since it also helps signal for help if someone gets lost.
A good knife. You do not need to be a hunter to carry a good knife with you. You should carry a knife that has a fixed or locking blade that is at least two inches long. Such a knife can come in handy in the event you need to free someone from a rope in a hurry while hiking or doing any water activities. Use the knife to shave off small particles from wood, helping you start a fire more easily. The knife can also help you cut clothing into strips to create splints for first aid. While not as likely, you might also need the knife to defend your or others with you against predator attacks.
Hand cleanser. In many camp sites there are no sinks, but you still need to wash your hands. As you are touching rocks, wood and other objects outside, washing your hands might even be more necessary than at home. Carry a small bottle of hand cleanser with you, which you can use periodically before eating a snack or meal.
Maps of the area. You might look up the area on your computer or phone before leaving on your trip, but cell phone service could be spotty or non-existent where you are camping. Take a paper copy of a map with you, even if you print one out, so you always have a way to look at the surrounding area and roads. Keep the map in your pocket in case you become lost.
A tent with a rain fly, stakes and a tarp. Most tents come with ground stakes and a rain fly. The stakes anchor the tent to the ground, keeping it from blowing away in a wind storm. The rain fly attaches to the roof of the tent, keeping precipitation from entering and soaking you while you sleep. Most people forget to bring a tarp that is bigger than the tent's footprint, as well as stakes to secure the tarp to the ground. The tarp puts a waterproof barrier between your tent floor and the ground, so water does not run into your tent during or after a storm.
