The Best Car-Camping Gear for Families
These auto- and boat-friendly luxuries are your ticket to outdoor family fun.
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When you’re going to a developed campground with family or friends, there’s no need to pack the lightest gear. In fact, sometimes, it’s better to go big and enjoy the extra comfort of a big tent, a full kitchen kit, and a well-built camp chair. Prep for the front country with our favorite car-camping gear.
REI Co-op Kingdom 6
With no weight limit, there’s no reason to squeeze into a cramped shelter. The Kingdom 6 offers a ton of roam-around room, thanks to double doors, vertical walls, and an 83-square-foot floor that fits six standard-width sleeping pads. Buy REI Co-op Kingdom 6 now/Read the full review
Stanley Adventure Full Kitchen Base Camp Cook Set
This kitchen set offers the complete package at a great price. It includes a 3.5-liter pot, a frying pan, a plastic cutting board, a serving spoon, spatula, four plates, bowls, and sporks, and even a dish-drying rack. Buy Stanley Adventure Cook Set Now/Read the full review
NEMO Stargaze Recliner Luxury Chair
There are cheaper ways to lounge around camp, but this swinging chair is worth the splurge. Buy NEMO Stargaze Recliner Luxury Chair now/Read the full review
Eureka! Ignite
The market for affordable camp stoves is crowded, but the Ignite stands out. “It has the best simmer control I’ve used,” one tester says. Buy Eureka! Ignite now/ Read the full review
Exped MegaMat Duo 10 LW
This pad is as close as you can get to sleeping on your bed at home. Its 52-inch width—just smaller than a full-size mattress—and 3.9-inch thickness created a cozy nest for two testers and their toddler on a cold evening in Bryce Canyon National Park. Buy Exped MegaMat Duo 10 LW now/Read the full review
OtterBox Venture 65
Superior insulation is the first thing we look for in a cooler, and the Venture delivers: Thanks to 2 inches of refrigerator-grade foam and a silicone seal, one tester returned to her vehicle after six days in the New Mexico backcountry in May to find her juice still icy cold. Buy OtterBox Venture 65 now/Read the full review