Camping is all fun and s’mores until you’re fumbling with a tangled tent or realizing you forgot the bug spray. These 21 genius camping hacks will save your trip and make you look like an outdoor pro. From simple camping ideas from the Dollar Store to clever packing tips, these hacks will prove that camping beats glamping any day of the week and twice on the weekends.
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Summer Camping Hacks
A few simple things can make the difference between a camping trip where you’re really roughing it, and one that is comfortably wild.
For $20, you can get the basics from this list of camping hacks, and for $50, you’ll be well-outfitted.
Especially if you camp with kids, take a closer look at camping tips 10, 11, and 17.
And don’t leave home without #18, unless you want to take the risk of a miserable, complaint-ridden camping trip where you cut the trip short and leave the next morning to watch a movie in the city instead (ask me how I know).
Related post: 7 Pre-Made Camping Meals for People Who Don’t Want to Cook Outside Forever
1. Cutting boards
One of our camping hacks is to have a separate cutting board that we keep just for camping.
At home we use wooden cutting boards, but it’s plastic all the way for camping trips.
You might not have the luxury of washing your cutting board as squeaky clean as you do at home, and plastic in this case is more food safe than wood.
So I feel better having a separate cutting board for camping.
2. Plastic table cloth – Essential camping hack if you have kids
This is something we never buy or use, except for camping.
We have come across way too many gross picnic tables at campsites over the years, with squashed bugs and bird poop all over them.
Especially if you camp with little kids who put their hands in everything, a plastic table cloth at campsites is one of the best camping supplies.
Throw it over top of a picnic table and voila – clean surface to eat off of – yay!
3. Toilet paper
Many campgrounds with flush toilets or outhouses do have toilet paper.
But we have on occasion come across ones that aren’t stocked and you don’t want to be caught with your pants down and no t.p. in those cases.
Bring a few rolls; there is enough room in the car and you’ll be glad you did.
4. One of the best camping hacks for everyone: Long lighters
I’ve just discovered how useful these are.
This is one of our camping hacks that I love the most – use long lighters for camping instead of matches.
When it’s wet or windy out, it’s so easy to start a fire with one of these lighters.
The long ones are handy for not getting your hands burned.
5. Essential camping hack: Flip flops!
(Or as my daughter used to call them, flip floppers)
This is one of my favorite frugal camping hacks.
If you are camping in an RV with a shower then maybe flip flops aren’t totally necessary, but if you will have to use a campground shower, GET YOURSELF A PAIR OF CAMPING FLIP FLOPS!
Yup, all caps, it’s that important.
Campground showers are not known for being the cleanest, most sparkling place you could have a shower.
Your feet will thank you when you wear an inexpensive pair of flip flops in the shower.
I keep a separate pair just for traveling.
6. Camping hack for those who like to be organized: Plastic totes
Plastic totes are so useful to keep things organized when you’re camping.
I keep a tote with our basic camping supplies in our basement year-round.
That way we’re not hunting around each spring and stocking the exact same things up every year from around the house.
It’s easier if they just stay in the bin and we add what we’ve run out of and we’re ready to go.
7. Aluminum foil
Tin foil is amazing for cooking when you’re camping.
Throw some veggies or fish or sausages or whatever in tin foil, wrap it up in a packet, and cook over a fire.
You can eat right out of the aluminum foil, making clean up a breeze.
Check out these easy camping recipes here.
Related post: Best Cheap Ways to Travel If You Have Big Wanderlust (But a Small Budget).
8. Flatware
We have a separate set of cutlery for camping.
It cuts down on the amount of waste we produce since we’re not using plastic cutlery for each meal.
We also don’t use our main cutlery set from home.
You never know when you might misplace some when you’re away and I want to keep out main cutlery set intact.
A cheaper set for camping works well for us.
9. Small containers
We use these little containers for salad dressings, jam, butter, any extras you might want with your food on your camping trip.
We also try to remember to bring a plastic container to keep our bar of soap.
Makes it a lot tidier than throwing the soap into a plastic shopping bag after it’s wet.
10. Camping Hack: Lanterns/lights for the tent
Don’t just rely on flashlights for camping.
Camping lights that you can hang up or clip on are great for tents if you want to read before bed.
You can also bring these with you to the washroom or outhouse if you gotta go after the sun has gone down.
11. Fun camping hack for kids of all ages: Glow sticks!
No these don’t need to be for an impromptu dance party in the woods with your kids (though that sounds fun).
Glow sticks are one of the best camping hacks when kids are in the mix.
You can get glow bracelets and necklaces and it will help with seeing your kids when you’re all still moving around after the sun goes down.
It helps for safety when walking to washrooms/outhouses.
The glow sticks can also help little kids feel braver that might be apprehensive about the dark/different sounds when you’re camping outside.
12. Water bottles
I always make sure we have a LOT of water bottles when we go on any road trip or camping trip.
We don’t like buying bottled water so we make sure to bring several BPA-free water bottles.
We bring more than one water bottle each – two or three large water bottles per person.
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13. Mesh bags
Another of the best dollar store camping hacks is to pick up a bunch of mesh bags for your camping trip.
Mesh laundry bags are so handy for keeping dirty laundry (so it gets a chance to air out if it is days away from when you can wash it!)
We also like mesh bags to organize clothing, like clean socks in one, all my 9-year-old’s t-shirts in another, etc.
It cuts down on hunting around when you’re living in a small space for a while.
14. Hand wipes
Access to a sink with running water might not always be an option when you’re camping.
Picking up a package of hand wipes is a useful frugal camping hack for cleaning up before or after eating, or even wiping off sunblock at the end of the day so you don’t feel like a greasy mess as you climb into your sleeping bag.
15. First aid kit
Of course you always hope that you won’t need to use it, but it’s important to be prepared.
Bandaids, antiseptic wipes, gauze, cotton balls, are some of the first aid basics you should have.
We also always make sure we have tweezers, just in case we get bitten by a tic and have to remove it (ew ew ew, they creep me out so much!!!)
16. Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is cheap at your local dollar store, and something I always bring into an outhouse.
Many of them are not stocked regularly with hand sanitizer, so bring your own (once in a while I splurge on that one, because mint).
17. Plastic Rain Poncho
Pack rain ponchos for everyone.
Just having rain ponchos available will appease the rain gods so you will probably have beautiful weather for your camping experience.
And if it does rain, throw on those cheap ponchos when you have to go use the bathroom.
You can also buy extra and use them to let your kids splash in rainy puddles.
There is only so much tent time kids can have on a rainy camping trip!
18. Bug Spray
I am not someone who uses bug spray a lot. I find the chemicals in it icky, and the smell too.
However:
Bug spray can be a huge lifesaver on a camping trip if the bugs are eating you alive.
I don’t mind using it a little bit, a few times a year.
If you want a more natural bug spray, this one is DEET-free.
19. Solar Stake Lights
Pick up a few solar lights for your next camping trip.
It’s nice to have battery-free light around your campsite.
20. Shower Caddy
Picking up an inexpensive shower caddy is a great idea for those less-than-clean campground showers.
There are not always convenient hooks for your towel, and a shower organizer will keep things like your toothbrush or razer off of dirty counters or the shower floor.
Well worth bringing!
21. Ice Packs
Pick up some ice packs for the cooler to keep your camping food fresh.
Related post: 25 Best Camping Quotes that Will Make You Want to Pitch a Tent
DIY Camping Hacks
Here are five clever DIY camping hacks to make your trip easier and more fun:
1. DIY Fire Starter
Stuff a toilet paper roll with dryer lint and wrap it in wax paper for an easy, lightweight fire starter.
Just light the wax paper, and you’re good to go!
2. DIY Lantern
Strap a headlamp around a gallon jug of water (facing inward) to create a soft, glowing lantern that lights up your whole tent.
3. Frozen Water Jugs for Cooler
Instead of ice packs, freeze gallon jugs of water.
They keep your food cold without melting into a watery mess, and once they melt, you have extra drinking water.
4. Portable Handwashing Station
Attach a spigot to a large water jug and tie a bar of soap in a stocking to the handle.
Instant handwashing station for a cleaner campsite!
This feels great after a day of just using hand sanitizer, and is well worth the small amount of prep for this DIY camping hack.
5. Spice Kit in a Straw
Cut plastic straws into small sections, fill them with your favorite spices, and seal the ends with a lighter for a tiny, mess-free spice kit.
All you have to do is pinch one of the ends of the straw, and hold a lighter near the pinched end for a second or two until it melts and seals shut.
Grab this to help you create your camping meal plan easily:
Camping Hacks for Kids
One of the best parts of camping is getting kids interacting with the natural world.
Pick up a few new outdoorsy-related toys for your kids before your camping trip.
One of camping items that my daughter LOVES is a simple plastic magnifying glass.
She loves looking at leaves and flowers and dirt under the magnifying glass when we’re out for a hike.
Other thrifty camping ideas for kids are pails, nets, scoops, diggers.
You don’t need fancy when you are camping.
It’s also a good idea to have a game you can play inside the tent or camper if you’re having a rain day.
We like the basics:
They’re good camping games for kids of all ages (and adults of all ages).
Check out 25 of the best camping quotes to get you excited about your next camping trip!
Related post: Camping Checklist: The Best Things to Take (and 3 Things to Leave At Home)
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