Embrace Adventure: 6 Simple Tips for Car Camping
- Jan 14
- 2 min read
When you're overlanding or car camping, your vehicle is more than just a ride. It becomes your kitchen, bedroom, and basecamp. Because you have more storage space than a backpacker, you have a unique opportunity to stay organized and minimize your impact on the land.
Here are 6 Simple Tips for Car Camping to hopefully improve your next vehicle-based adventure:
1. Master the "Tetris" Pack
To avoid digging through your trunk or truck bed in the dark, pack in reverse order of need. Your sleep system and tent should be the last things in, while the heavy kitchen bins and recovery gear go at the bottom. Use clear bins so you can identify contents at a glance without dumping everything on the ground, or use a clear labeling system.
2. The Spare Wheel Trash Bag
Don't let trash sit inside your vehicle and attract critters (or smells). Attach a heavy-duty trash bag to your exterior spare tire, hung off your tailgate or even strap it off your roof rack while stationary. It keeps the mess outside, makes it easy to toss waste into while you’re camping, and ensures you "pack it out" without sacrificing interior space.
3. Build out purposeful totes/boxes for Efficiency
Consolidate your entire kitchen, stove, fuel, spices, and utensils all into one dedicated tote or drawer system. This prevents "site creep," where kitchen gear slowly spreads across the entire picnic table or ground. When you're done cooking, everything goes back into one box, keeping the site tidy for the next person.
4. Tread Lightly on the Trails
When overlanding, your vehicle’s weight can easily damage fragile ecosystems. Stick to established tracks and avoid "braiding" (creating new paths around obstacles). If a trail is too muddy or blocked, it's better to turn back than to create a new scar on the landscape that might take decades to heal.
5. Conserve Water with a Spigot Jug
Instead of using dozens of single-use plastic bottles, invest in a large 5-gallon water jug with a spigot. Set it up at the edge of your tailgate, or rear hatch as a central hydration and washing station. It reduces plastic waste and makes it easier to keep track of your water levels in remote areas.
6. Dim the Lights After Dark
High-output LED bars and bright campsite floodlights are great for setting up, but they can be a nuisance to neighbors and disruptive to local wildlife. Once you’re settled, switch to "camp mode" by using warm-toned lanterns or amber lights. Keeping your light footprint small preserves the "dark sky" experience for everyone and makes for better stargazing.
We hope one or all of these tips are found to be useful to you. If you have further suggestions of your own, please add a comment down below to share with the community!
The get the most out of your adventure!
*This is not a sponsored post.
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