First Time Camping Solo: Basic Gear and Packing List

tent in woods, first time camping solo — This tent design is a miracle. One solid shake and it's almost up.

I've been camping since I was a kid.

Not interior, backcountry, or wild camping. I've been car camping. For decades I've enjoyed living in the fresh air of provincial and state parks where there are amenities but also forests and some distance between campsites.

For the last six weeks, A Road Trip Alone: Top 10 Tips to Prepare has shot up to the number one post being read on Solo Traveler. It got me thinking. Cars will be the primary transportation this summer but where will people stay?

Whether you're going for an outdoor or urban experience, camping is a great option for solo travelers. But for those who have never done it, your first time camping solo may sound complicated.

Let's simplify things.

view from tent, first time camping solo — Camping can take you to places of serenity. Photo by Dominik Jirovský on Unsplash

Table of Contents

Basic Gear for Your First Time Camping Solo

There are five basic pieces of gear that you need to car camp in a tent.

Your packing list is, naturally, longer than these five items but this is the gear that you likely don't have if you've never camped before. There's much more that you could buy but this gives you the fundamentals for a great trip. Below you'll find the camping packing list.

Tent

This is a brilliant tent for a first-time camper.

This tent is similar to the one in the photo at the top of this post. It's large enough for you and your gear inside and fits a queen size air mattress.

What's amazing about it? The hydraulic mechanism makes it super easy to put together. The poles are part of the tent so a few clicks and it's up or down. Comes with a small fly and ground sheet. The downside: you can't stand up in the tent. It's 52″ high.

MOON LENCE Instant Pop Up Tent: Less than $100 on Amazon.

Sleeping Bag

A basic, warm weather sleeping bag.

The Coleman Palmetto Regular Warm Weather Sleeping Bag is good for 40-60 °F . If you tend to get cold, go for the Coleman Palmetto Cool Weather Sleeping Bag. Same price.

Want more room? Buy two bags and zip them together.

Available on Amazon for about $30

Air Mattress

Balancing comfort and price in an air mattress.

After watching many reviews of multiple air mattresses, I concluded that the Exped SynMat XP 7 Insulated Sleeping Pad was the best option for the new camper. However, it is expensive.

The orange one is $140. The blue one is $26.

Pots, Pans, Cutlery

Basic pots, plates, cups, and cutlery.

You don't want to take your pots and dishes from your home kitchen. Here's a simple kit for the first-time camper which you may want to augment with a few items.

This kit goes for about $32 on Amazon.

Stove

A one-burner stove.

A simple single burner stove that is tried and true. Don't forget to buy the fuel. You can also cook over a fire.

Available on Amazon for about $30.

urban street, first time camping solo — Camping can be your accommodation near a city as well.

No to a Tent? No Budget for an RV?

For your first time camping solo, if a tent is not for you and you have an SUV, minivan, or van, you can sleep in your vehicle with a mattress like this. Don't forget to put your food box and cooler on the front seat at night. Available on Amazon for about $70.

Your Camping Packing List

Think about packing like you think about your home. Pack by kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and entertainment room. Some of these items I've given links for but some you can take right from your home.

The Kitchen Packing List

Stove – as above
Pots & dishes – as above
Cooler – with wheels on one side and a handle on the other, this cooler is easy to transport. Between $60 and $99 depending on sales.
Tarp for over your table – not a necessity but recommended for protection from sun and rain.
Plastic table cloth $3.89
Can opener
Cork screw
Paring knife
Cutting board
Collapsible colander – $4.99
And, of course, your food.