Free printable camping checklist
Everything for a camping trip in one sheet: a gear checklist by category, a meal plan for each day, and a list of who's bringing what. Mark the must-haves and the sheet tells you if any are still unpacked, so nobody forgets the tent poles or the stove fuel. There's a section for camper and RV setup too.
Pro Want a list that sets quantities from your nights, people and forecast? See Camping Planner Pro →| Category | Item | How many | Who brings | Must have | Packed | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter | Tent with poles and stakes | 1 | Dan | Packed | Count the stakes before you leave | ||
| Shelter | Tent footprint or tarp | 1 | Dan | Packed | |||
| Shelter | Rain fly | 1 | Dan | Packed | |||
| Shelter | Mallet | 1 | Dan | To pack | |||
| Shelter | Extra tarp and rope | 1 | Marcus | To pack | For rain over the picnic table | ||
| Sleeping | Sleeping bags | 4 | Everyone | Must pack | Check the temperature rating | ||
| Sleeping | Sleeping pads or air mattress | 4 | Everyone | Must pack | |||
| Sleeping | Air pump | 1 | Priya | To pack | |||
| Sleeping | Pillows | 4 | Everyone | To pack | |||
| Kitchen | Camp stove | 1 | Marcus | Packed | |||
| Kitchen | Fuel canisters | 2 | Marcus | Must pack | |||
| Kitchen | Lighter and matches | 2 | Marcus | Packed | Keep matches in a zip bag | ||
| Kitchen | Pot, pan and kettle | 1 set | Marcus | Packed | |||
| Kitchen | Plates, bowls, cups and cutlery | 4 sets | Jen | To pack | |||
| Kitchen | Cooking utensils and sharp knife | 1 set | Marcus | Packed | |||
| Kitchen | Cutting board | 1 | Jen | To pack | |||
| Kitchen | Dish tub, sponge and biodegradable soap | 1 | Jen | To pack | |||
| Kitchen | Trash and recycling bags | 6 | Jen | To pack | Pack it in, pack it out | ||
| Kitchen | Paper towels and foil | 1 each | Jen | To pack | |||
| Food storage | Cooler | 2 | Priya | Must pack | |||
| Food storage | Ice or ice packs | 3 bags | Priya | Must pack | Buy on the way | ||
| Food storage | Water jugs | 2 x 5 gal | Dan | Must pack | About a gallon per person per day | ||
| Food storage | Bear-safe container or bag | 1 | Dan | To pack | Check campground rules | ||
| Clothing | Rain jackets | 4 | Everyone | Must pack | |||
| Clothing | Warm layer for night | 4 | Everyone | Must pack | |||
| Clothing | Hiking shoes and camp sandals | 4 pairs | Everyone | To pack | |||
| Clothing | Hats and sunglasses | 4 | Everyone | To pack | |||
| Lighting | Headlamps with spare batteries | 4 | Everyone | Must pack | |||
| Lighting | Lantern | 1 | Priya | Packed | |||
| Tools | Camp chairs | 4 | Everyone | To pack | |||
| Tools | Multi-tool or knife | 1 | Dan | Packed | |||
| Tools | Duct tape | 1 | Dan | Packed | Fixes almost anything | ||
| Tools | Firewood (buy local) | 2 bundles | Marcus | To pack | Many parks ban outside firewood | ||
| Safety | First aid kit | 1 | Priya | Packed | |||
| Safety | Bug spray | 2 | Priya | Must pack | |||
| Safety | Sunscreen | 1 | Priya | Must pack | |||
| Safety | Personal medications | As needed | Everyone | Must pack | |||
| Safety | Map, permits and reservation printout | 1 | Jen | Packed | No cell signal at the site | ||
| Hygiene | Toilet paper and trowel | 2 rolls | Jen | Must pack | |||
| Hygiene | Toothbrushes and toiletries | 4 | Everyone | To pack | |||
| Hygiene | Quick-dry towels | 4 | Everyone | To pack | |||
| Hygiene | Hand sanitizer and wipes | 1 each | Jen | To pack | |||
| Fun | Cards and games | 1 | Jen | To pack | |||
| Fun | S'mores sticks | 4 | Marcus | To pack | |||
| Fun | Bluetooth speaker | 1 | Priya | To pack | Keep it quiet after 10 PM | ||
| Camper and RV setup | Fresh water hose | 1 | Dan | To pack | Only if bringing the camper | ||
| Camper and RV setup | Sewer hose and gloves | 1 | Dan | To pack | |||
| Camper and RV setup | Leveling blocks and wheel chocks | 1 set | Dan | To pack | |||
| Camper and RV setup | Electrical adapter (30/50 amp) | 1 | Dan | To pack | |||
| Camper and RV setup | Water pressure regulator | 1 | Dan | To pack |
| Date | Meal | Menu | Ingredients to bring | Who brings | Cooler | Cost | Packed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2027 | Dinner | Foil packet sausages and veggies | Sausages, peppers, onions, potatoes, foil | Marcus | $32.00 | ||
| Jun 18, 2027 | Dessert | S'mores | Graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows | Jen | $12.00 | ||
| Jun 19, 2027 | Breakfast | Pancakes and bacon | Pancake mix, bacon, syrup, butter, coffee | Priya | $24.00 | ||
| Jun 19, 2027 | Lunch | Wraps and chips | Tortillas, turkey, cheese, lettuce, chips | Jen | $22.00 | ||
| Jun 19, 2027 | Snacks | Trail mix and fruit | Trail mix, apples, granola bars | Dan | $18.00 | ||
| Jun 19, 2027 | Dinner | Campfire chili | Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, cornbread mix | Marcus | $30.00 | ||
| Jun 20, 2027 | Breakfast | Breakfast burritos | Eggs, tortillas, salsa, cheese, coffee | Priya | $20.00 | ||
| Jun 20, 2027 | Lunch | Leftovers before we pack up | Whatever's left | Everyone | $0.00 |
| Person | Gear items | Packed | Left | Must-haves left | Meals | Food cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan | 13 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 | $18.00 |
| Priya | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | $44.00 |
| Marcus | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | $62.00 |
| Jen | 9 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | $34.00 |
| Everyone | 12 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 1 | $0.00 |
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Campground | Pine Lake State Park |
| Site | Loop B, site 14 |
| Arrive | Jun 18, 2027 |
| Nights | 2 |
| Leave | Jun 20, 2027 |
| People | 4 |
| Gear items | 50 |
| Gear packed | 24% |
| Must-haves still to pack | 13 |
| Meals planned | 8 |
| Food packed | 4 of 8 |
| Food cost | $158.00 |
| Food cost per person | $39.50 |
What's inside
- 50 gear items in 11 categories, from shelter and kitchen to safety and hygiene
- Must-have flags, so the sheet warns you about anything essential that isn't packed
- A camper and RV setup section with hoses, leveling blocks and adapters
- A meal plan by day with ingredients, who brings them, cooler items and cost
- A who-brings-what tab with each person's gear left and food cost
- Prints for the garage or works on your phone, in Google Sheets and Excel
How to use it
Download your copy
Click "Free download" to save the .xlsx file. It opens in Excel, or in Google Sheets: open a blank sheet (sheets.new) and choose File, then Import, then Upload.
Fill in the trip
On Trip Summary, type the campground, arrival date, nights and number of people. The meal dates follow your arrival date.
Trim the gear list
Delete what you won't need, like the camper section for a tent trip. Add anything special, such as kayaks or fishing gear.
Split it up
Put a name in Who brings for each item and meal. Use Everyone for things each person packs for themselves. Share the sheet so the whole group can see it.
Plan the meals
Write each meal with its ingredients. Tick Cooler for anything that needs to stay cold, so you know how much ice to buy.
Pack and check
Tick Packed as things go in the car. Before you leave, look at Must-haves still to pack on the Trip Summary. It should be zero.
Tips
Set up the tent at home first
A quick test in the yard shows missing stakes, a torn fly or a broken pole while you can still fix it.
Pack by category in bins
Kitchen in one bin, lighting and tools in another. Keep the bins packed between trips and you only have to restock.
Check the campground rules
Many parks ban outside firewood, need bear-safe food storage or have fire bans in dry weather. Check the park's website the week before.
Plan a no-cook backup
Rain or a dead stove happens. A box of sandwiches, cereal or wraps means nobody goes hungry.
Questions
What should be on a camping checklist?
Shelter, sleeping gear, a stove and fuel, cookware, food and water, a cooler, clothes for rain and cold nights, lighting, a first aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen, toilet paper and your reservation details. This template has 50 items to start from.
Can I print this camping checklist?
Yes. In Google Sheets choose File > Print and pick the Gear Checklist tab. Or download the Excel file and print it. Many people print it and tick items off as they load the car.
Is there a checklist for a camper or RV?
Yes. The Camper and RV setup section covers the fresh water hose, sewer hose, leveling blocks, wheel chocks, power adapter and water pressure regulator. Delete it for a tent trip.
How do I plan meals for camping?
Use the Meal Plan tab. Write one row per meal with the ingredients and who brings them. The Cooler checkbox helps you plan ice, and the cost column shows the food bill per person.
How does who brings what work?
Put a name in the Who brings column on the gear and meal tabs. The Who Brings What tab counts each person's items, what they've packed and their share of the food cost.
Is it free?
Yes. Download the .xlsx file and open it in Excel or Google Sheets. No sign-up.
Pro version
Camping Planner Pro
Set the nights, the people and the forecast once, and the gear list, quantities, meals, cooler list and cost split all follow.
A gear list that fits the trip
About 65 items, each marked for when it's needed: always, cold nights, rain, kids, a dog, hiking in or driving in. Items that don't apply turn grey on their own.
The right amount of everything
Quantities follow the trip: one sleeping bag each, a fuel can a night, a tent per four people, socks per person per day. Change the headcount and the numbers change.
Meals become a shopping list
Plan each meal, then list ingredients per person. Amounts scale with your group, cooler items are flagged, and water, cooler space and ice are worked out.
No more four tents and no stove
Give every shared item one person. Who Brings shows each camper's list, what's packed and the weight they're carrying.
Split the costs fairly
Add the campsite, firewood and fuel, and the food each person bought. It works out each fair share, with kids at half, and who owes whom.
Remember what you forgot
The Trip Log keeps what you forgot and what to change, and the Dashboard shows those lessons before your next trip.
| Free | Pro |
|---|---|
| Gear checklist by category | Gear that switches on for cold, rain, kids or hiking in |
| Type how many | Quantities from nights and people |
| Meal plan | Meals with a scaled food list and cooler list |
| Who brings what | Per-person lists, packed progress and weight |
| · | Water, cooler size and ice worked out |
| · | Fair cost split and who owes whom |
| · | Printable checklist for each person |
| · | Trip log with lessons for next time |
$19 one-time
9 tabs: Start Here, Dashboard, Gear, Meals, Food, Who Brings, Checklist, Trip Log and Setup. You get two copies: one filled in with a sample family weekend so you can see it working, and a blank one with the full gear list ready for your own trip.
Get Camping Planner Pro for $19- Instant download after checkout
- Works in Google Sheets and Excel
- Yours to keep and reuse every year