Car camping in a Subaru Forester
Sleeps two inside - no tent needed.
Forester car camping setup and accessories
8 items, ~$666 total. Amazon prices. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.
Sleeping Bag (x2)
Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag
- Rated to:
- 40°F
- Fill:
- Synthetic
~$73 each
Check price on AmazonSleeping Pad (x2)
Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad
- Warmth:
- Three seasons (R 4.4)
- Type:
- Inflatable
~$83 each
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
~$40 each
Check price on AmazonCamp Lighting
Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)
- Brightness:
- 1000 lumens
~$50
Check price on AmazonHeadlamp (x2)
Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp
- Brightness:
- 300 lumens
- Power:
- Rechargeable
~$10 each
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 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 Forester stays filled in.
What fits in the Forester
Midsize-SUV cargo space, so:
- Any cooler up to the 52-quart family size fits.
- Compact or standard quad chairs - nothing oversized.
Taller roof than the Outback gives you sit-up headroom inside. About 74-76 cu ft seats down (74 on the 2025-on redesign). Strong choice for tall campers.
Sleeping inside the Forester
With the rear seats folded, the Subaru Forester is the bed.
- On the cargo floor: the kit's pads, or swap them for a 4-inch SUV air mattress that fills the floor.
- For regular trips, a low plywood platform makes it a real bed with storage underneath.
- Hybrid trims: leave it running in park with the climate on (about half a gallon to a gallon a night, open air only). Other trims: crack the rear windows behind Subaru Forester window rain guards and run a small fan to stop condensation.
Car camping in a Subaru Forester: common questions
Is the Subaru Forester good for car camping?
Yes. It has midsize-SUV cargo space, so a standard camping kit fits without a roof box. It sleeps two inside with the seats folded.
Can you sleep inside a Subaru Forester?
With the rear seats folded, yes: two adults fit on sleeping pads, diagonally if not straight.