Great Gear for Your Next Camping Road Trip

Jul 6, 2025

We may be in the middle of prime Beach Day time, but there’s nothing like a late summer campout to really kick back and relax. Get prepped now so you’re ready to go when swim season winds down. Today on the blog, we’re sharing some great gear for the perfect road trip and car campout experience. We’ve gathered the best portable creature comforts to ensure you have a home away from home, even if you’re back country camping!

First up we have the Compressible Pillow Cinch, designed to pack up small and be light weight to transport from site to site even while hiking. With three different sizes and patterns to choose from, we adore this option from Therm-a-Rest. It’s also a great airport travel choice for those late night flights. Priced under $40 at REI.

The Kelty Catena 30 Sleeping Bag comes in two color options and is rated to keep you cozy down to 30 degrees, perfect for late summer campouts before the weather dips too chilly. At just under 4lbs, this is also a breeze to carry in its easy to sling Stuff Sack! Priced under $60 at REI.

The REI Co-Op Trailmade 20 Sleeping Bag comes in 6 different sizes/width combos and two different colors! It’s also portable, packable, and comfortable for end of summer, early fall nights in the mountains. It’s easy to carry and comes in a convenient stuff-sack for portability. Priced under $100 at REI.

You and your pals, be they human or four-legged furry ones, will have a very comfortable, safe sleep in the Skylodge 4-Person Instant Camping Tent by Coleman! It sets up in minutes and offers ample room to stretch out, plenty of storage space, an option to hang a lamp from the center, and packs up easily for portability from site to site. The polyester and fiberglass construction means it’s durable and water resistant, and metal framing means it can withstand up to 35mph winds. Plus, it’s got enough room to fit a queen size inflatable mattress – great even for a little luxury solo camp! Priced under $250 at REI.

This comfy Parks Project portable chair is not only comfortable, portable, and convenient, it’s for a good cause! The foldable chair sets up in minutes, and features stylish artwork by Caroline Clark. Plus, the funds from each sale go towards preserving our National Park lands! Priced under $100 on Parks Project site.

This cushion is not only stylish and comfortable but it’s handmade and supports indie makers and our national parks! Created especially for Parks Project, this cushion is perfect for traveling and road tripping, featuring durable fabric and cotton webbing for easy transport. Priced under $100 on Parks Project.

The Lowdown Couch by Kelty is a top of the line camping couch. With room for 3 people, or 2 humans and 1 needy dog with a lack of personal space, this couch is meant for relaxation. Have a lie down and chill with your cup of coffee to watch the sunrise, or curl up at night next to the fire for a cozy s’mores date. It’s easy to pack, easy to carry, and surprisingly comfortable. Comes in two colors and is priced under $180 at REI.

YETI’s 700 portable power generator is a must-have for those who prefer to live off-grid on their road trips and campsites. It’s a plug-and-play option with solar powered charging, so you’ll never have to worry about carrying containers of fuel around. It powers everything from laptops to tablets to gaming devices and phones, as well as featuring wall outlet options for lights and small cooking appliances. Works in weather conditions as chilly as 32º or as warm as 104º! Priced just under $700 on REI, perfect for off-grid travelers.