Gear Gadget

Car Camping in a Sedan

You do not need an SUV. A 12-16 cubic foot trunk takes a full kit for two, as long as each piece is the compact version. Here it is.

The kit that fits a sedan trunk

9 picks · ~$938

Two people, warm weather, cooking. Essential tier, Amazon prices. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.

Different car or group? Adjust this kit →

Tent

Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Tent

Fits:
3 person
Rating:
3-season+

~$299

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Sleeping Bag (x2)

Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag

Rated to:
40°F
Fill:
Synthetic

~$73 each

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Sleeping Pad (x2)

Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad

Warmth:
Three seasons (R 4.4)
Type:
Inflatable

~$83 each

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Cooler

Igloo Marine 25-Quart Cooler

Holds:
25 qt
Keeps ice:
2 days

~$32

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Camp Chair (x2)

MOON LENCE Compact Backpacking Chair

Packs:
Compact (backpacking style)
Supports:
330 lbs

~$38 each

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Camp Lighting

Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)

Brightness:
1000 lumens

~$50

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Headlamp (x2)

Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp

Brightness:
300 lumens
Power:
Rechargeable

~$10 each

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Camp Stove

Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove

Burners:
2
Fuel:
Propane

~$84

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Cook Set

Fire-Maple Feast 12-Piece Camp Cookware Set

Pieces:
12
Surface:
Steel

~$65

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Add all 9 to Amazon cart

One press puts the whole kit in your cart; take out anything you already own there.

Open this kit in the builder - or the same kit as Starter (~$423) or Premium (~$2,048) .

What does not fit, and what the kit uses instead

  • Cabin tents (bag 28 in or longer) - instead, a dome tent that packs to about 20 in.
  • Rolled foam pads (a 20 x 8 in tube each) - instead, air pads (11 x 4 in packed) or a folding foam pad.
  • Standard quad chairs (35 in folded) - instead, backpacking-style chairs, 14 in packed.
  • Coolers over 35 quarts (the biggest box in the trunk) - instead, a 25-quart cooler in a corner.

Need more room? A rooftop cargo bag ($40-80) adds 10-15 cubic feet, straps through the door frames and needs no rack. Soft, light things go up top; the heavy things stay in the trunk.

Five packing tips

  1. 1 Sleeping bags go in loose, not in stuff sacks: they fill the gaps around everything else.
  2. 2 The cooler goes in last. It is the most rigid thing; pack around the space it needs.
  3. 3 The back-seat floor is free space: chairs, shoes and small bags.
  4. 4 No rear passengers? Fold one or both rear seats and the trunk opens into the cabin.
  5. 5 Wear the bulky layers on the drive - the jacket and boots do not need trunk space.

Common questions

Can you really go car camping with a sedan?
Yes. Two people camp comfortably out of a Civic, Corolla or Jetta with compact gear: a packable tent, air or folding pads instead of rolled foam, backpacking-style chairs. Less room for extras, but everything essential fits.
What camping gear fits in a sedan trunk?
A 12-16 cubic foot trunk takes a compact tent, two sleeping bags, two packed pads, a 25-quart cooler, two compact chairs and a lantern. Pack the bags and pads loose to fill the gaps.
What size cooler fits in a sedan?
35 quarts or less. The kit's 25-quart handles a weekend for two; over 35 it starts fighting the rest of the gear for the trunk. Soft-sided coolers pack around things.
Does a sedan kit cost more?
No: at Essential the sedan kit is $938 against $965 for the same two people in a midsize SUV, using listed Amazon prices. Compact is the same quality packed smaller, not a pricier tier.
Can a family of 4 camp out of a sedan?
Barely. Four bags, four pads, four chairs, a family tent and a bigger cooler will not fit most sedan trunks; a family wants an SUV, a wagon or at least a rooftop bag. A couple or a solo camper is the sedan sweet spot.

Camping alone, or in the cold?

Your small car is filled in. Adjust the group, season and quality tier.

Build my sedan kit →