Canadian Rocky Mountains reflection of mountain on a lake

Summer Camping Packing List (RV and Tenting)

December 12, 20233 min read

A summer camping packing list with all essential items to bring on a 3-5 day camping trip. This will help you prepare if you are tenting or travelling in an RV.

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Photo of Kananskis Upper Lake, Alberta Canada. There is a mountain in the background and pine trees in the foreground. The mountain is reflection is visible in the lake.

Essential items for a three to five day camping trip

Summer Camping Packing List (RV and tenting)

Summer camping packing list with all of the essential items you will need for a 3-5 day RV or tenting camping trip.

Clothing & Shoes

  • 3-5 Shorts
  • 5-6 T-shirts or tanktops
  • 2-5 Long sleeve shirts
  • 3-5 Pants, jeans or capris
  • 5 Underwear (1-2 bras)
  • 3-5 Socks
  • 1 Pajamas
  • 1 Swimsuit
A camp cooker with a 2 foot long handle and square metal plates. This is a tool used to cook food over an open fire.
Camp Cooker
  • 1 Wind or rain jacket
  • 1 Warmer coat or sweater
  • 1-2 lighter jackets or fleece coats/sweaters
  • Slides/Flipflops
  • Runners/walking shoes
  • Hiking boots
  • Toque & gloves (night)
  • Sun hat
  • Dirty laundry bag
  • Sunglasses
  • Eyeglasses
A brown grizzly bear surrounded by tall grass and shrubs.
Illuminated experiences logo

Dishes & Cooking

  • Drinking water container
  • Dishes – mugs, cups, bowls, plates, silverware, steak knives
  • Sharp knife & utensils (flippers, tongs, big spoons, bbq utensils. etc.)
  • Cutting board
  • Large bowl
  • Can opener
  • Scissors
  • Cheese grater
  • Coffee maker and kettle to boil water
  • 2-4 fry pans & pots
  • Wash bucket & rack
  • 3 Dishcloths/dish towels, dish soap, & metal pan scrubber
  • Napkins, paper plates & plastic cups
  • Tinfoil, plastic wrap, & ziploc bags (large and small)

Miscellaneous

Medicines

  • Prescriptions
  • First aid kit
  • Bandaids
  • Advil/Tylenol
  • Cold medicine
  • Throat losenges
  • Benadryl
  • Afterbite
  • Polysporin
  • Penatan Cream
  • Gravol
  • Peptobismal
  • Vitamins
20 foot grey with blue and black stripe recreational vehicle at a campsite surrounded by pine trees. A firepit, camping chairs and picnic table with an awning covering it are in the picture.

Toiletries

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Soap/bodywash
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Mouthwash
  • Deodorant
  • Extra contact lenses
  • Contact lense solution
  • Sunblock (face/body)
  • Solarcaine
  • After Sun Lotion
  • Off/bug spray
  • Face/eye serum
  • Night cream
  • Body lotion
  • Qtips
  • Small mirror
  • Razors/hair removal
  • Nail clippers/nail file
  • small scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Hair products
  • Combs & brushes
  • Hair dryer
  • Makeup & brushes
  • Makeup Eraser or washcloths
  • Towels
  • Wash basin/bucket
A tent with a blow up mattress covered by a fleece blanket with a moose, bear, and pine trees decorating it.

Tenting

RV Camping

About the author
Jen

Jen is the author of the Illuminated Experiences blog which offers tailored content for midlife travellers seeking adventure and new experiences. She lives in Calgary and has been exploring the Canadian Rocky Mountains for over 30 years.

An avid world traveler, she has visited more than 25 countries across five continents and is always on the lookout for her next exciting destination. Her mission is to inspire by sharing memorable experiences, at an exceptional value, and to be your go to resource for informative and practical travel advice.

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