Camping Trip Planning Checklist

By G.A. Anderson (Gus), on November 28th, 2010

Planning A Camping Trip…

Check and Double-check...

Planning for your outdoor camping trip involves a lot more than just picking a date and campsite.

Too often critical decisions and details that should be considered first – are just taken for granted, which makes it too easy for simple little things to be forgotten or overlooked.

This camping checklist should be the first one you start with, and the last one in your hand as you get in the car!

Note: This checklist follows the discussion about planning your camping trip in this Camping Tips post: Planning your Camping trip.

*Links to a printer-friendly page-formatted copy of this list are included below.

Planning a Camping Trip Checklist:
_____________________________________________

__ Permits/Fees/Reservations
    *Does your camping destination require reservations?
     Are there extra fees for the activities you want to do?
     Do any of your planned activities require permits?
__ Seasonal Restrictions
    *Are there any seasonal or time restrictions on any
     of your planned activities?
__ Site Access
    * Can you drive up to the site with your car/truck?
     Access/Departure restricted by operating hours?
    __ Water Activities
    __ Hiking/Woodscraft facilities
    __ Tours
__ Facilities, Services, Resources
    * What will be available to you?
     __ Water                     __ Electric
     __ Bathrooms              __ Showers
     __ Laundry                  __ Fire-rings/Grills
     __ Trash Disposal        __ Sewage
     __ Gazebos/Pavilions/Shelters
     __ Camp Store/Retail Store
     __ On-site attendants
     __ Medical
__ Food/Cooking
    * Do you need to bring everything you will need?
     __ Campfires allowed
     __ Fire rings on site
     __ Picnic grills on site
     __ Firewood available
__ Weather Forecast - What is typical for planned date?
__ Insect/Wildlife Issues
__ Animal/Pet Care Arrangements

__ Trip Meal Plans
__ Camp Food Supply List
__ Cooking Gear/Camp Kitchen Checklist
__ Group Campsite Camping Gear Checklist
__ Activities Gear Checklists
__ Personal Gear Checklist
__ Propane/Butane/Fuel/Battery Supplies
__ Medications Checklist
__ Camp Safety/First Aid Gear Checklist

Departure:
__ Inform Neighbor/Friend of Trip details
*where/expected return/emergency contact
__ Permits/Reservation & Fee Confirmation in-hand
__ All Camping Checklists Completed
__ Final House Walk-through
__ No Boxes, Bags, or gear left behind
__ All appliances/lights turned off
__ Thermostats set
__ Doors/Windows locked

Preview and print page-formatted checklist:
Micorsoft Word doc or PDF File

More camping checklist resources: