Vehicle guide
Car camping in a Mazda CX-50
Sleeps two inside - no tent needed. Here is the kit: $632, in stock on Amazon today.
The kit: 8 items, ~$632
Sized for a midsize SUV or wagon sleeping on the folded seats: no tent, the 52-quart family cooler and standard quad chairs. Amazon prices, checked daily. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.
No tent in this kit: the CX-50 sleeps two on the folded seats. Prefer a tent? Build the tent version.
Sleeping Bag (x2)
Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag
- Comfort to:
- 40°F
- Fill:
- Synthetic
~$80 each (x2)
Check price on AmazonSleeping Pad (x2)
Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad
- Warmth:
- Cool nights (R 4.4)
- Type:
- Inflatable
~$73 each (x2)
Check price on AmazonCooler
Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler
- Holds:
- 52 qt
- Keeps ice:
- 3 days
~$55
Check price on AmazonCamp Chair (x2)
Coleman Cooler Quad Chair
- Packs:
- Standard quad
- Supports:
- 325 lbs
- Seat:
- Padded
~$35 each (x2) last checked Jan 30
Check price on AmazonCamp Lighting
Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)
- Brightness:
- 1000 lumens
~$43
Check price on AmazonHeadlamp
Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp
- Brightness:
- 300 lumens
- Power:
- Rechargeable
~$10
Check price on AmazonCamp Stove
Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove
- Burners:
- 2
- Fuel:
- Propane
~$84
Check price on AmazonCook Set
Fire-Maple Feast 12-Piece Camp Cookware Set
- Pieces:
- 12
- Surface:
- Steel
~$65
Check price on AmazonStock and prices checked daily (how we pick).
Not quite you? Change who is coming, the quality tier or the season - your CX-50 stays filled in.
Why the CX-50 changes the kit
About 56 cu ft with the seats down - a midsize SUV or wagon. So:
- No tent: two sleep on the folded seats, and the money goes to a better pad.
- Room for the 52-quart family cooler.
- Standard quad chairs, which pack to a 36-inch bag each.
About 56 cu ft with the seats down and a flat floor; Mazda sells it on outdoor use and it has the ground clearance for forest roads. A hybrid trim arrived for 2025.
Sleeping inside the vehicle
With the rear seats folded, the Mazda CX-50 gives you a usable flat platform. Most owners use a 2.5-inch self-inflating pad or a 4-inch air mattress on top of the cargo floor. If you camp in it often, a simple plywood-and-2x4 platform with drawers underneath turns the cargo area into a real bed plus dedicated gear storage. On the hybrid trims, overnight climate is the easy part: leave the car in Ready mode with the heat or A/C set, and the gas engine cycles on for a few minutes at a time to keep the battery topped up while the cabin holds temperature. Owners report roughly half a gallon to a gallon of fuel a night. Park in the open air, never in a garage, and set the fan to draw fresh air so condensation is handled too. On a non-hybrid trim, crack the rear windows with rain deflectors and a 12V fan moves enough air to stop condensation overnight.
Two things this setup needs that the kit does not carry, because they are sized to the car: a 4-inch SUV air mattress for the cargo floor, and Mazda CX-50 window rain guards so the windows can stay cracked in the rain. Both on Amazon.
Common questions
Is the Mazda CX-50 good for car camping?
Yes. It is a midsize SUV or wagon, so a standard car-camping kit fits without a roof box. It sleeps two inside with the seats folded.
Can you sleep inside a Mazda CX-50?
With the rear seats folded, yes. The cargo area is long enough for a sleeping pad and most adults can stretch out diagonally if not straight. A simple plywood platform turns it into a real bed with under-storage.
What gear should I pack?
The kit above: no tent, the 52-quart family cooler and standard quad chairs. Change the group, budget or season and it rebuilds.