Car camping in a Mazda3
No flat bed in the Mazda3, so this tent kit fits its trunk for a couple.
Mazda3 car camping setup and accessories
9 items, ~$938 total. Amazon prices. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.
Tent
Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Tent
- Fits:
- 3 person
- Rating:
- 3-season+
~$299
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Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag
- Rated to:
- 40°F
- Fill:
- Synthetic
~$73 each
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Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad
- Warmth:
- Three seasons (R 4.4)
- Type:
- Inflatable
~$83 each
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Igloo Marine 25-Quart Cooler
- Holds:
- 25 qt
- Keeps ice:
- 2 days
~$32
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MOON LENCE Compact Backpacking Chair
- Packs:
- Compact (backpacking style)
- Supports:
- 330 lbs
~$38 each
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Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)
- Brightness:
- 1000 lumens
~$50
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Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp
- Brightness:
- 300 lumens
- Power:
- Rechargeable
~$10 each
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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 AmazonOne press puts the whole kit in your cart; take out anything you already own there.
Not quite you? Change who is coming, the quality tier or the season - your Mazda3 stays filled in.
What fits in the Mazda3
Roughly 13 cu ft trunk. That is compact-car cargo space, so:
- A tent that packs down to a duffel - no cabin tents.
- A cooler of 35 quarts or less - a family-size cooler does not fit beside the rest of the kit.
- Backpacking-style chairs and air or folding pads, which pack small.
Hatchback variant adds rear cargo room but still tight for two campers with cooking gear.
Sleeping: in the Mazda3, or in a tent?
You cannot lie flat in a Mazda3: the back seat is too short, and folding it opens only a narrow pass-through into a low trunk.
- One person: recline the front passenger seat all the way back.
- One person, flatter: an inflatable back-seat mattress fills the rear footwell into a level bed; a 12V pump does it in a couple of minutes.
- Two people, or anyone over about six feet: a tent beside the car. It goes up in 5 to 10 minutes and the trunk still keeps the kit dry overnight.
Car camping in a Mazda3: common questions
Is the Mazda3 good for car camping?
Yes. It has compact-car cargo space, so a compact camping kit fits without a roof box.
Can you sleep inside a Mazda3?
Not flat. One person under about six feet can recline the front passenger seat or use an inflatable back-seat mattress. For two, or to stretch out, a freestanding tent next to the car keeps the trunk as your dry-storage zone.