What to bring on a weekend camping trip: a packing list that fits one bag
Most packing lists are alphabetical, which is why people arrive with everything and can find nothing. Pack by the order you will need things instead.
This is a two-night, car-based list for three-season conditions.
Arrival: the first thirty minutes
Pitching happens before anything else, often in fading light and sometimes in rain. Everything needed for it should come out of the car first and go back in last.
- Tent, poles, pegs, mallet and a repair sleeve
- Groundsheet or footprint
- Headtorch, already charged, in a pocket rather than a bag
- A waterproof layer packed on top, not underneath
Evening: cooking and sitting
Prep at home. Chopped vegetables in a box, spices pre-mixed, meat frozen flat so it thaws by dinner. A one-pot meal you have cooked before beats anything ambitious.
- Stove, gas, lighter and a backup lighter
- One pot, one pan, a knife, a board, cutlery, mugs
- Four litres of water per person per day
- Lantern, bin bags, a cloth and a small bottle of washing-up liquid
Night: warmth is a system
Sleeping pad, bag, and a dedicated set of dry clothes for sleeping — never the ones you wore all day, which hold moisture. A hat makes a bigger difference than another layer on your body.
- Pad with an R-value suited to the season
- Sleeping bag plus a liner if nights are cold
- Dry sleep layers kept sealed in a dry bag
- Power bank in the bag with you overnight
Morning and packing out
Everything is damp at 7am, including things you were sure you put away. Bring a spare dry bag for the tent so a wet flysheet does not soak the clothes on the drive home, and a towel for condensation.
Leave the pitch cleaner than you found it. Carry out everything, including food scraps and bag ties.
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Last updated September 10, 2026. Questions or a correction? Get in touch.