Great Car Camping Tips to Celebrate National Campfire Day

Aug 10, 2025

This has been the summer of appreciating national and state parks, and of course, their campsites! And what better way to say farewell tos ummer than with one last camping trip. Since today is National Campfire Day, we’re highlighting our picks for some great easy travel camping gear, campfire tips, and great camp-friendly recipes. No matter if you’re just taking a little nap on the side of the highway on an epic road trip, or you’ve made plans for a wilderness adventure as a weekend getaway, you’ll find lots of useful content on today’s blog.

Car Camping: Budget Friendly and Adventure Ready Accomodations

You don’t need any fancy camping equipment to have a great time at a campsite! Car camping is a great, budget friendly way to travel and experience the great outdoors. Here’s some tips to get you started:

Make sure the space you choose for your car campout is a legal parking area; some spaces may require temporary passes, permits, or registration. Remember to adhere to posted signage! Some places do not allow “boondocking” in your car, so please check reservation requirements. You’ll want to select a flat, shaded area so your car will be stable and cool, and make sure the parking brake is engaged to avoid accidents or injury. Heed locally posted warnings for roving wildlife, natural disaster prone areas, areas available to hunters/bowmen, etc. You must properly stow your food and beverage to prevent animals from taking an interest in your vehicle.

Charge your electronics while you’re driving or at rest stops, and ensure they’re fully powered before you turn in for the night. Otherwise, choose a portable solar charger or battery pack for your car and electronics. Hang a battery operated headlamp or battery operated lantern nearby for safety especially in case you need to take a bathroom break, check on your pets or human companions, or just do a little late night reading.

Give a trusted friend or family member your location beforehand, or via digital pin while traveling, just in case of emergencies. It’s best to set a check-in before you turn in for the night and upon waking.

As you prepare for the evening and sleep, there’s a few things to keep in mind. Have adequate fresh water ready overnight, and make sure you and your animals have a bathroom break in a safe area to avoid wildlife encounters late at night. Ensure your windows are open enough to provide proper ventilation and air circulation; the temperature can rise quite quickly in a vehicle, even if it seems like the outside air is breezy or cool. Sleep with your head to the front of your car for the most room and comfort; especially if your vehicle is parked at an angle make sure your head is above your feet.

Comfortable Camping Gear For Your Car

If your vehicle doesn’t have room for an inflatable mattress, you’ll want to make sure you at least have a comfy sleeping bag. The REI Co-op Trailmade 20, Siesta Hooded 20 Sleeping Bag, and for kids the Kindercone 25 Sleeping Bag is a top notch choice.

A solid camping stove is going to come in handy for cooking meals if you’re doing a little more off-grid choice in a campsite and find yourself without fire pits or grill facilities. The Cascade Classic Camp Stove, Coleman Xcursion 1-Burner Butane Stove, or the Jetboil HalfGen Base Camp Cooking System would work perfectly. And of course, you’ll want a trusty cast-iron skillet and cast-iron dutch oven! They’re an all purpose cooking tool that can be used while camping and at home. You can use them directly in a campfire or on a grill, and even to boil water and keep it heated for awhile.

Of course, a comfy camping chair that packs up light and easy like the REI Co-Op Flexlite Camp Chair or Helinox Chair Zero are nice options.