Weekend camping
Two nights at a campsite: shelter and sleep, a camp kitchen, light, water, and the small things that make camp easy.
Amounts below are for 4 people, 3 days. They are planning estimates; change any of them on your list.
Saves the 17 must-haves, 7 easy-to-forget items and 3 things to do to a list on this device. Upgrades are up to you. Then shop the list item by item and tick things off.
At a glance
- 🛒 Tent1 tent
- 🛒 Sleeping bags4 sleeping bags
- 🔎 Sleeping pads4 pads
- 🔎 Pillows4 pillows
- 🛒 Headlamps4 headlamps
- 🛒 Lantern2 lanterns
- 🛒 Camp stove1 stove
- 🔎 Propane canisters2 canisters
- 🔎 Camp cookware set1 set
- 🛒 Cooler1 cooler
- 🔎 Ice12 pounds
- 🔎 Camp water jug1 jug
- 🔎 Lighter or matches2 lighters
- 🛒 Camp chairs4 chairs
- 🛒 First aid kit1 kit
- 🛒 Bug spray1 can
- 🔎 Trash bags6 bags
🛒 9 exact products we picked · 🔎 8 Amazon searches, so you choose the brand and size.
Must-haves (17)
- Must-haveOur pick
Tent
Coleman Sundome 4-person tent
A simple dome tent with a rainfly.
Good for: Family camping
Get about 1 tent
4 people × 0.25 = 1 tent
Our rule: one 4-person tent per four people.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
Sleeping bags
Coleman Brazos 20°F sleeping bag
A machine-washable bag rated to 20°F.
Good for: Spring and fall camping
Get about 4 sleeping bags
4 people × 1 = 4 sleeping bags
Check the temperature rating for your nights.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Sleeping pads
Get about 4 pads
4 people × 1 = 4 pads
Amazon search: “camping sleeping pad”
Pillows
Get about 4 pillows
4 people × 1 = 4 pillows
Amazon search: “camping pillow”
- Our pick
Headlamps
Energizer LED Headlamp PRO, 2-pack
Light where you look, and batteries included.
Good for: Outages and camping
Get about 4 headlamps (2 × 2-pack)
4 people × 1 = 4 headlamps
- Upgrade: Black Diamond Spot 400 headlamp ↗Brighter and waterproof, from an outdoor brand.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Lantern
Etekcity CL10 LED lanterns, 4-pack
Four battery lanterns for shared rooms. Batteries included.
Good for: Outages
Get about 2 lanterns
2 lanterns for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Camp stove
Coleman Classic 2-burner propane stove
Two burners on standard 16-ounce propane cylinders. Outdoors only.
Good for: Camping
Get about 1 stove
1 stove for the group
Use outdoors only. Never cook with fuel indoors.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Propane canisters
Get about 2 canisters
2 canisters for the group
Amazon search: “1 lb propane cylinder”
Camp cookware set
Get about 1 set
1 set for the group
Amazon search: “camping cookware set”
- Must-haveOur pick
Cooler
Coleman 62-quart wheeled cooler
A big wheeled cooler for camp, games and outages.
Good for: Camping and outages
Get about 1 cooler
4 people × 0.15 = 1 cooler (rounded up)
Our rule: one large cooler for every six or seven people.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Ice
Our rule: about a pound per person per day for drinks; more if the cooler holds food.
Get about 12 pounds
4 people × 3 days × 1 = 12 pounds
Amazon search: “bagged ice”
Camp water jug
One refillable jug for washing and cooking.
Get about 1 jug
1 jug for the group
Amazon search: “camping water jug with spigot”
- Must-have
Lighter or matches
Keep them dry. Ready.gov lists waterproof matches.
Get about 2 lighters
2 lighters for the group
Amazon search: “waterproof matches”
- Our pick
Camp chairs
Coleman quad chair with 4-can cooler
A padded folding chair with a cooler in the arm.
Good for: Sidelines and camp
Get about 4 chairs
4 people × 1 = 4 chairs
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
First aid kit
First Aid Only 298-piece all-purpose kit
A stocked kit to start from. Add your own medicines.
Good for: Home and car
Get about 1 kit
1 kit for the group
- Upgrade: Surviveware comprehensive first aid kit ↗A bigger, organized kit in a tough bag.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Bug spray
Sawyer 20% picaridin insect repellent
A picaridin spray for mosquitoes and ticks.
Good for: Camping and the yard
Get about 1 can
4 people × 0.25 = 1 can
Our rule: one can for about four people.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-have
Trash bags
Our rule: half a bag per person per day; at least one per day.
Get about 6 bags (1 × 50-pack)
4 people × 3 days × 0.5 = 6 bags
Amazon search: “heavy duty trash bags”
Easy to forget (7)
S'mores supplies
Two each: crackers, chocolate and marshmallows.
Get about 8 s'mores
4 people × 2 = 8 s'mores
Amazon search: “smores kit”
Marshmallow roasting sticks
Get about 4 sticks
4 people × 1 = 4 sticks
Tarp
Get about 1 tarp
1 tarp for the group
Amazon search: “waterproof tarp”
Rain ponchos
Get about 4 ponchos
4 people × 1 = 4 ponchos
- Our pick
Multi-tool
Gerber Suspension NXT multi-tool
Pliers, a knife and drivers in one pocket tool.
Good for: Go-bag and car
Get about 1 multi-tool
1 multi-tool for the group
Ready.gov lists a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Fire starters
Get about 1 pack
1 pack for the group
Biodegradable soap
Get about 1 bottle
1 bottle for the group
Upgrades (5)
Camping cot
Get about 2 cots
4 people × 0.5 = 2 cots
Tent footprint
Get about 1 footprint
4 people × 0.25 = 1 footprint
Camp kitchen organizer
Get about 1 organizer
1 organizer for the group
Amazon search: “camp kitchen”
Camping hammock
Get about 2 hammocks
4 people × 0.5 = 2 hammocks
- Budget pick
Portable power station
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus
Runs phones, lights and a small fan. Light enough to carry.
Good for: Short outages
Get about 1 station
1 station for the group
- Upgrade: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 ↗A large battery for small appliances in longer outages.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Spend less (1)
Instead of camping cot:
Sleeping pads
Get about 4 pads
4 people × 1 = 4 pads
Amazon search: “camping sleeping pad”
Things to do (3)
- ✅ Campsite reservation and rules checkCheck fire bans, quiet hours and check-in times.
- ✅ Check the weather forecast
- ✅ Tell someone your routeLeave your route and expected return time with someone at home.
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General planning information, not professional or medical advice. A list does not guarantee anyone’s safety. In any emergency, call your local emergency number and follow official guidance from local authorities.
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