How Much Does Car Camping Gear Cost?

A complete kit for two - tent, bags, pads, cooler, chairs, a lantern and two headlamps - is about $359 to $1,477 using listed Amazon prices, depending on quality. Cooking adds a stove ($84) and a cook set ($65).

Three quality tiers, for a couple

Starter

~$359

Solo ~$261 · family of 4 ~$642

The cheapest gear that does the job: foam pads, a 30-quart cooler, basic folding chairs.

One or two trips a year, summer only.

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Essential · recommended

~$816

Solo ~$410 · family of 4 ~$1,109

Lighter, better-made gear: insulated air pads (R 4.4), a 52-quart cooler.

Three or more trips a year. The biggest quality jump per dollar.

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Premium

~$1,477

Solo ~$834 · family of 4 ~$2,393

Built to last: self-inflating pads (R 6), a 45-quart cooler.

Year-round camping, or buying once.

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Midsize SUV, warm weather, no cooking.

The Essential kit, item by item

7 picks · ~$816

Midsize SUV, warm weather, no 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

Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler

Holds:: 52 qt
Keeps ice:: 3 days

~$55

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Camp Chair (x2)

Coleman Cooler Quad Chair

Packs:: Standard quad
Supports:: 325 lbs
Seat:: Padded

~$40 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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Add all 7 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 (~$359) or Premium (~$1,477) .

Five ways to spend less

1
Skip the stove on the first trip. Sandwiches are fine; add cooking gear once you know you like camping.
2
Essential tent and bags, Starter everything else. A good tent with cheap chairs beats the reverse every time.
3
Camp in warm weather first. Summer gear is cheaper and smaller than cold-rated bags and pads.
4
Use the cooler you own. Any insulated cooler works unless it is broken or too small.
5
Buy at end-of-season clearance. September and October discounts buy next year's kit at this year's prices.

Common questions

Can you go car camping for under $300?

Solo, yes: a complete Starter kit - tent, bag, pad, cooler, chair, lantern and headlamp - runs $260-360 for one using listed Amazon prices, $350-490 for two (the bags, pads and chairs double).

What is the most expensive piece of camping gear?

The tent: about $50 at Starter, $299 at Essential, $329 at Premium using listed prices. Then the cooler and the sleeping bags.

How much does camping gear cost for a family of 4?

$640-900 at Starter, $1,000-1,260 at Essential and $1,930-2,970 at Premium, using listed Amazon prices. Four bags, four pads and four chairs, plus a 4-person tent, is why it climbs.

What camping gear is worth spending more on?

Tent and sleeping bags. A better tent sets up faster, keeps rain out and lasts; a better bag means you sleep. Chairs and lighting can be cheap.

How long does budget camping gear last?

Budget gear shows wear after 10-20 trips (zippers, seams and pole joints go first). Mid-range lasts 3-5 years of regular use; quality gear a decade with care.

Your group, your car, your total

Start with a complete kit, then adjust it to see your total.

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