Camping Checklist – How to get going!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #GoldPeakLattes #CollectiveBias

My sister is often the unsung hero. If you’re reading this you already know that a great camping trip requires great planning. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a last-minute, impromptu, let’s throw the tent in the truck and go camping weekend. But forget the coffee, the sleeping pad, or even toilet paper and your idea of an amazing camping trip can quickly turn bad. That’s where planning comes in. That’s where your camping checklist comes in. And it’s where my sister shines.

Fall camping season is one of my favorite times of the year (you already know this if you’ve read this post about it.) The days are filled with bright sunshine, beautiful temperatures, and the refreshing smell of fall. The evenings are cool and crisp and create the perfect campfire setting. Yes, fall camping is camping at its finest.

About the only drawback to fall camping is that with those glorious days and spectacular nights comes fewer daylight hours. So you’ve gotta make the most of it. That means hitting the road with a fully stocked and ready to go RV or camper as the sun is barely peeking over the horizon. All the planning in the world doesn’t help get you going on those dim mornings. But Gold Peak® Teas and Lattes do! Yay!! And they should be at the top of your camping checklist!

These Gold Peak Teas and Lattes are the perfect way to get your camping trip off to a great start. All the planning, purchasing, prepping, and packing (you should all be so lucky to have a sister like mine who does all that! I’ll get to her checklist in a minute.) is exhausting. Gold Peak Teas and Lattes to the rescue (I love that they’re made with 100% Arabica beans, real cream and real sugar) – they give us that extra boost of energy we need when we’re finally ready to hit the road. Plus they come in four awesome flavors so everyone is happy! My favorites are the Gold Peak Salted Caramel Coffee Drink and the Gold Peak Almond Toffee Coffee Drink, but if tea is more your thing, grab the Gold Peak Chai Tea Latte or the Gold Peak Vanilla Chai Tea Latte. There’s something for everyone! And it couldn’t be easier – just grab one and go! No need to go to an expensive coffee shop anymore! Just pop into your local Walmart store and find them in a refrigerated cooler!  

Now that you know what you’re going to do after you get all the prepping and planning done, let’s get to that camping checklist to make all that work easier! My sister creates a list for every camping trip we plan. She thinks of everything. Each list is different depending on the number and ages of people coming, but the basics are usually the same. This camping checklist should give you a running start on everything you need. Modify it for your specific needs like she does with each trip.

Camping Checklist – The Essentials

• Tent (if using)
• Bedding for each person (sleeping bags, sleeping pads, pillows, etc.)
• Lanterns (we use LED ones now – they’re light, bright, and inexpensive)
• Shade structure (we like the lighted one)
• Camp chairs
• Folding camp tables
• Camping tablecloth comes in handy
• Firewood
• Fire starters and lighters/clickers
• Plenty of ice (read this for one of my favorite camping ice strategies)
• Coolers – one for food and one for drinks
• Drinks, drinks and more drinks! (Don’t forget the Gold Peak Teas and Lattes – especially for the day you have to pack up and leave 🙁  It will make your morning easier and give you the energy needed for that unpleasant task!)
• Lots of drinking water if it won’t be available at the campsite
• Paper plates/bowls/utensils for each meal planned
• Napkins/paper towels
• Camp friendly dish soap
• Camp friendly shampoo/body wash
• Wet wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper (and plastic baggies if you’re camping out in the woods)
• Any pots and pans that are needed for the meal plan
• Can opener
• Wine opener (that’s for me!)
• Bottle opener (we actually have flip-flops that have one built in! Genius!)
• Source for cooking heat (portable grill, charcoal for camping grill, etc)
• Trash bags
• Bug repellant
• Sunscreen!!!!
• Games (playing games like Bocce Ball and board games is one of our favorite things about camping!)
• Guitar for singing songs by the campfire (ok, I’m kind of kidding about this one, but if you’ve got someone who can play, that would be awesome!)
• Food plan/menu/ingredients (This is where I come in! Of course you can get all kinds of great ideas for that right here on TheSpicyApron.com! Click here for my top ten camping kitchen must haves.)
• Aluminum foil
• Zip top bags
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board (if preparing some of the food at the campsite)
• Warm outer clothing for the cool fall nights
• Flashlights
• Quick dry towels
• Toiletries
• Map of the area
• Books/eReader

Well, that list ought to get you started! Yeah…. I handle the food. My sister handles the rest. Pretty sweet! You can see why we need our quick and easy jump start the morning we head out! Now we can just grab our favorite Gold Peak Tea or Latte and a protein bar and hit the road! Great camping trips don’t just happen. My sister works non-stop the days ahead of the trip to make sure we have everything we need and then some! Our camping trips are relaxing, fun, awesome family time, reinvigorating, and have created some of the best memories of our lives, My sister is largely responsible for all of that! Her list is a great starting point for anyone’s trip. Use it and enjoy it!