Camping is one of life’s great pleasures. Spending time with loved ones, reconnecting with nature, engaging in age old pleasures of campfire stories and toasted marshmallows by a bonfire…not much can be better. I cherish these moments and am thankful my family has discovered the benefits of this time together. That being said, we by no means rough it. We like to enjoy the great outdoors in comfort and camp in our Class A RV. I am sharing with you my camping essentials you never knew you needed to give you the best camping experience! Clickable images to check out products with ease.
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Camping Essentials for Epic Family Vacations
We have enjoyed the adventures afforded to us through camping. As we enter into our 5th year of RV’ing, we recommend it as a past time for anyone who asks. We have learned a lot about what works and what does not in our time camping. The products below are our favorites to make your adventures epic! Most are geared toward camping in an RV, but some for those brave souls who tent camp too!
Counter-top Ice Maker
I am starting with my favorite camping essential…a counter-top ice maker. Ice is a necessity when camping. From coolers to beverages, you can never have too much ice. With freezer real estate being a commodity, using up space for a bag of ice is not ideal. The counter-top ice maker is so easy to use…fill it up, plug it in, and leave it. It makes a batch of ice in just a few minutes! They are a great size, small enough to pop into a bottle of water. It was one of our best purchases for our camper.
Unbreakable Wine Goblets
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere. When happy hour begins, do it with style! We love anything unbreakable and vino in a plastic red Solo cup is no good. In our family, we have a variety of tastes when it comes to cocktails and there are so many great products out there for the drink of your liking. Our favorites are these unbreakable wine glasses and insulated tumblers for mixed drinks.
Interested in eco-friendly camping essentials? Check out Eco-Friendly Products for Camping.
YETI Rambler Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Colster
Speaking from experience, beer gets warm quickly when you are on the beach. Cozies do nothing to keep them cold. Yeti has the BEST products when it comes to keeping hot things hot and cold things cold. This insulated colster keeps brews ice cold!
COSORI Electric Kettle Glass Boiler Hot Water & Tea Heater
The cook-top in our camper has a counter overlay, to maximize counter space when not cooking. It is a great feature, but when I want to make a quick cup of tea, moving everything to uncover the stove dissuades me from making it. A little hot pot that boils up a quick cup of water for tea in just minutes is perfect for that afternoon cup of tea. This brand also comes in a Stainless steel option, but I like the glass option as it has less plastic the comes in contact with the hot water.
BELLA Electric Skillet
Camping vacations should be all about easy. I love my electric skillet, giving me the freedom to fry up some bacon while enjoying my coffee outside in the morning. The skillet makes meal preparation easy as pie. It is so versatile, from making eggs and bacon to pancakes to pasta skillet meals to tacos. Clean up is easy which is a must for those tiny camper sinks.
Dashboard Camera
Installing a dash cam is a recommended safety practice. Driving a big rig RV or pulling a trailer can be anxiety provoking. If you have ever driven Interstate 95 through Florida, you can acknowledge how difficult it can be to navigate the traffic and crazy drivers. A dash cam offers some piece of mind in recording the events on the road, protecting you in litigation if you are in a accident.
Solar Power Bank
Being on the go often, we are commonly away from a power supply for most of the day. This solar charging power bank is great for staying powered up when hiking or fishing. This brand has a built in light and 3 USB charging ports. It can charge smart phones multiple times.
Power Bank
This Power Bank also has 3 USB charging ports and a flashlight built in. It has the capacity to charge smart phones multiple times when fully charged. This Power Bank does not have the solar charging option as the previous power bank, however we like this option just as much. It certainly comes in handy on the road.
USB Wall Charger with Night Light
While camping is a time to recharge ourselves in nature, charging everything else is necessary as well. Outlets are always in short supply on campers, so we love these USB outlet plug-ins. Without losing an outlet, you can charge two USB devices at the same time. With tablets, phones, and cameras you can never have too many places to plug in. These have a nightlight as well, which is a great feature to make it easier to navigate the camper at night.
DeWalt Compact Blower Kit
Tiny spaces get dirty quickly! The DeWalt compact blower is a great resources to have. It makes cleaning off your outdoor rug a breeze to prevent dirt and sand from getting tracked inside. Purchasing the kit with the rechargeable battery is recommended.
NOAA Emergency Weather Alert Radio
While family vacations are focused mostly on the fun to be had, it is also essential to be prepared for emergencies. We love to travel far and wide, thus can travel into uncertain weather. A NOAA emergency weather radio is an essential item to have. You will be alerted to inclement weather to help keep your family and property safe. Many an awning has been lost to pop-up thunderstorms, don’t get caught unprepared!
First Aid Kit with Eye Wash
Traveling with kids is apt to come with boo-boos. We like to be prepared with a fully stocked first aid kit with an eye wash kit. An emergency room visit for sand in eye is a bummer for sure (been there).
Streamlight Rechargeable Flashlight
Being prepared is the ultimate camping essential! A good flashlight is a necessity. Streamlight is the creme de la creme of flashlights. It is rechargeable and incredibly bright. There is a strobe option as well, for emergencies.
Folding Beach Wagon
We love the beach! We have three kids under the age of 10, so getting to the beach is a production. Shovels, towels, beach toys, boogie boards, beach chairs, and snacks. It not easy to manage. Having a good beach cart makes life so much easier. The wagon is really versatile hauling campfire wood and other necessities. There are variety of different styles of beach carts, so find the one that meets your family’s needs for your list of camping essentials.
Sun Canopy
We love having a sun canopy. Typically we don’t haul it to the beach, as it is always a toss up how long our kids want to stay. However, we really like using our sun canopy at our camp site. It increases the outdoor living capacity, providing cover if it rains and shade from the sun. Purchase one that is an easy pop up so messing around with tent poles doesn’t waste your precious vacation time.
Sun Canopy Anchor Weights
Anchor weights are necessary for a canopy tents. We are cautious about leaving our awning out when there is even a little wind, so we like having a sun canopy up at our site as well. These anchor weights are awesome and should go on your camping essentials shopping list. Fill them with sand and then they velcro around the legs of the canopy. No need to hammer in stakes!
Bocce Ball Set
Many of my most treasured memories were created on camping vacations. Camping involves activities centered around being together and disconnected from technological distractions. Sitting around the campfire, pool time, splashing on the beach, and games. Ensuring that you add fun games to your list of camping essentials is a must! We love Uno championships on rainy days and lawn games in fair weather. Bocce is easily transported and a great beach activity. Connecting with one another through the memories made while camping are invaluable.
Life is spent minute by minute. Make each one memorable. Find a means to slow down time and be present in the joys of time with your loved ones. Camping is quality time spent together, making memories to last a lifetime. Finding camping essentials that meet your needs help ensure an epic family vacation.
Wander well…