Just got back from 4 days at Assateague National Seashore in Maryland. I’ve camped here before, and it’s one of my favorite places, but bad weather can make for a terrible trip. This trip however had perfect weather, and went super well! It was so nice to be Oceanside for four days, with sun, even with cold showers and sand in every corner and crevice. I live in a large city, in a small apartment, so it’s so nice to spend time in nature camping. 

I thought I’d share a basic rundown of my packing list for newbies. I’ve been solo camping for about five years, on the east coast, and would say that definitely gives me experience, but I would not consider myself an expert. I’m confident in my abilities and my gear though, so I thought I’d share what works for me. I typically camp with my two dogs, so that definitely adds other things that I’d be happy to share, if someone would like. 

\- Tactical Camping box - recently switched from a plastic tote, and am enjoying this much better, because I feel like O can actually see what I have.   
Includes:  
\-Bug zapper lightbulbs - great for in the tent when the little gnats or extra sneaky mosquitos made it in  
\-kitchen gear cutting board, knife, paper plates and bowls, silverware, spatulas, towels, spices,   
\-Single burner jetboil like stove   
\-lighters, waterproof matches, fire starters  
\-citronella candles  
\-string lights. Two sets, one for the tent and one for the table, plus a small lantern and other light options  
\-two kinds of headlamps   
\-knife and hatchet  
\-stuff-able pillow (I accidentally forget my pillow a lot, so this is a great back up solution for very little space)  
\-dustpan and brush for inside the tent but also for sweeping off the picnic table  
\-allll the carabiners  
\-big spray (deet for me, natural/pet friendly for the dogs)  
\-sticky lint roller (to use post hikes for ticks)  
\-backup tent stakes  
\-lemon packets and olive oil are the only food that live in here, everything else is fresh everytime and goes in a separate container.     
\-trash bags   
\-pack of para cord   
\-smores sticks and tongs for fire  
\-tissues  
\-dr brauners all in one soap

\- Pop up tent. No poles, just unclip, and it springs up. Major game changer for me. My old tent frustrated me a lot, and caused a few trips to be frustrating, so switched to this and LOVE it! So easy for one person. Plus, mine is blackout so helps me sleep in (sometimes). I also have a tarp for under, and an extra just in case. 

\- Foam pads for tent floor. My tent is short so I need to be able to kneel comfortably. Plus, a little more comfortable for my dogs. 

\- Inflatable foam sleeping pad. I’ve gone through about 4 sleeping pads because they all pop, likely due to my dogs being in the tent with me. This one seems a bit stronger and less likely to happen. Hopefully it makes it more than 2 trips unlike every other one. 

\- Battery pack. I lucked into this and found it on the street!!! Insane find, but a total game changer that I would buy again it needed. Makes me able to charge my phone and my fans without having to drive around. It has regular outlets, old USB, new USB, plus a car charger port and a charging pad on top. 

\- Rechargeable fan(s). I cannot sleep without them, especially while sharing a two person tent with two dogs. The one pictured oscillate and is so much better than the stationary ones I had before. I still use those for my dogs though. 

\- I put sheets and use outdoor blankets instead of a sleeping bag most of the time, and prefer that, so ikea bags are super helpful for toting all that bedding, plus dog beds. 

\- I love my Patagonia black hole duffle because it’s small enough to fit in the tent, but can be used as a fan stand inside, plus it tends to keep my stuff dry even with moisture in the air. 

\- I have a cooler, but this is something I’m not great at. Still trying to figure out the right ice ratio and meal prep. However, one trick is buy little shelf stable milks and just add them to the cooler the night before if you need them for breakfast. If you need them for cooking, they don’t need to be refrigerated and then don’t need to take up cooler space.  

\- Eye mask and ear plugs. My tent is blackout but I still bring these as sometimes it’s hot and I need to crack the vents or there is a loud family nearby. 

\- Sweatsuit for campfire. I only do fires at night, This way only one set of clothes gets super smoky and I’m covered from biting bugs. 

\- Download maps (on Google Maps, plus trails on AllTrails). I also put a few Netflix downloads too, in case of bad weather. Plus, music, white noise, and a few audiobooks. I just like to be prepared. 

\- Kindle. I love that I can see it long after the sun goes down and I’m still sitting by the campfire. I also bring it on hikes and tend to kill time at the summit before my decent with reading, since I usually just do one 4ish mile hike a day while on solo camping trips, so can take up more of the day that way. 

\- Other random items:   
\-Quarters and detergent for just in case laundry  
\-Phone backup battery   
\-Uggs for camp  
\-Camp chairs (two even tho I camp solo because it makes it look like someone else is there, but really my dog likes to sit by the fire with me)  
\-collapsible sink and bucket for dishes   
\-windshield sun blocker  
\-binoculars  
\-tripod (for phone to take photos but also doubles as a kindle stand)

I’m sure I’m forgetting some stuff, but hope this can be helpful to someone just starting out! The list varies by whether I’m going beach or mountain camping, but I tried to leave anything specific, like I only need my shibumi shade and beach chairs for beach camping, not mountain camping. Also, happy to answer any questions if I can! 

Packing list post from a non-minimalist after a beach camping trip