10 Car Camping Hacks for Beginners

New to car camping? First and foremost, welcome to the party! You’re not alone. Outdoor enthusiasts of all creeds are embracing the car camping movement these days, enticed by the freedom, comfort, ease, and security that come from snoozing in your vehicle. And, if we may humbly add, you’re in the right place, too. Here at Luno, we’re a crew of adventure-loving car campers obsessed with crafting the best car camping mattresses and accessories on the market. Below, our car camping experts break down ten tips to help you make the most of your first car camping adventures. 

1. How To Dial In Your Sleep Setup

Sleepless nights can ruin even the most epic camping trips. That’s why we believe your sleep setup is the most critical piece of the car camping puzzle–and why we generally prefer car camping over tent camping in the first place. Forget sleeping on bumpy, uneven ground–when camping in your car, you have a flat sleeping platform as soon as you fold down the back seats. And compared to a flimsy, nylon-walled tent, a lockable, metal car offers better protection from the elements, camp crime, and critters, giving car campers sleep-enhancing peace of mind.

If you decide to try car camping, we highly recommend checking out a durable, well-made, meticulously designed Luno mattress. We have several mattress styles and configurations, most of which are designed to fit flawlessly inside a specific vehicle type. Among them? Our flagship, award-winning AIR Mattress for SUVs and Hatchbacks, our AIR Truck Bed Mattress for off-road-ready rigs, and our revolutionary AIR Van Front Cab Mattress, which turns the front seats of popular van models into a guest room for pets, kids, and adults under 5’7”. We even offer an AIR Mattress specifically for 4Runners, and an ultra-rugged XRD 4Runner option that’s optimized for overlanding.

If you want the flexibility to camp anywhere, our new ground-breaking AIR+FOAM Mattress has your name on it. First off, this mattress boasts our comfiest construction ever–a magical mix of supportive air channeling and ultra-cushy foam padding. But it’s also our most versatile mattress, designed for vehicle camping–and everything else, too. The rectangular shape is perfect for rooftop tents, trailer camping, your friend’s living room floor, or a traditional tent. Plus, if you’re hoping to chuck the mattress in your hatchback or SUV, it comes with a proprietary Head Support Bridge Attachment that turns your vehicle backseat into a bed in seconds.

Once you have your mattress dialed, a few more elements will help you customize the sleep setup of your dreams. Soft, stretchy fitted sheets boost comfort and help protect your mattress from wear and tear. Our award-winning Packable Camp Pillow is another pro move–it’s slightly smaller and much more compressible than a standard pillow, with adjustable firmness and a two-sided pillow case that campers love. Finally, check the forecast and use sleeping bags or a combo of blankets and comforters to dial in your sleep setup for the temperatures at hand.  

2. Pack Smart and Compartmentalize Your Gear

Visual learner? Watch our Car Camping 101 episode on gear storage solutions

The best packing advice we can give you is to compartmentalize your gear ahead of your trip. What does that mean? Simple. Separate your kitchen supplies, clothes, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etcetera–this will make it much easier to find what you’re looking for on the road.

You likely have storage solutions that’ll help you do just that lying around the house. Car campers can use anything from milk crates to bins, cargo tubs to duffels. Clear plastic bins are always a smart play, as you’ll be able to easily find whatever you’re looking for.

However, if you want purpose-built gear designed specifically for car camping, check out our adventure-ready accessories. 

• Our nifty Cargo Hammock turns unused ceiling space into invaluable storage real estate. 
• Our Gear & Shoe Storage Bags attach to the outside of your vehicle using microfiber-lined magnets, freeing up space inside your sleeping quarters. They also have mesh bottoms that allow stinky shoes and damp gear to drip dry and air out. 
• Our durable, open-topped, upcycled 50-Liter Gear Tote can stash everything from your favorite snacks to your climbing rack. 
• Our new Headrest Organizer and tried-and-true Seatback Organizer transform the back of your seats into compartmentalized storage, replete with pockets and pouches for smaller, easy-to-lose essentials like headlamps, bug spray, chargers, and more. 

While smart storage solutions and an intentional pack job are a tremendous start, it’s important to continue compartmentalizing gear while you’re on the road. For instance, if you use your headlamp, make sure you put it back where it belongs. Otherwise, you’ll quickly lose track of it. 

3. Free Up Space In Your Car

One of our favorite aspects of car camping is that you have much more hauling capacity than you do while, say, backpacking. We’re not ultralight gram counters by any means, and we love to bring everything from fishing gear and camp chairs to coolers packed with fresh produce and cold beers. However, it doesn’t hurt to invest in gear that’s compact, space-efficient, or multi-purpose to help free up space in the car for road trip buddies or more toys. Here are a few examples to keep on your radar:

• Rumpl’s Puffy Blankets are the perfect way to pack a cozy punch. They’re durable enough for off-road adventures, warm enough for moderately cold nights, and pack down into an included stuff sack for noteworthy portability. Plus, they’re much better for cuddling couples than single sleeping bags. 
• Leave your pillow at home and bring our Packable Camp Pillow. It’s smaller and more compressible than a standard pillow, and you can add or remove the shredded memory foam filler to fine-tune firmness to your liking. 
• Try out the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair for a durable, comfortable seat wherever you go. It’s lightweight, reliable, and collapses to minimize packed volume.
• Collapsible Water Jugs are another way to save space on the road. That said, unless you’re certain that you’re camping near a potable water source, we always like to bring a water filter, too.  
• A multi-tool, like a Leatherman, can help you tackle a ton of camp tasks, ranging from fixing gear to chopping veggies. 

4. Stay Cool And Beat The Heat

Worried about extreme temps? Don’t sweat it–just watch our Car Camping 101 episode for more hot- and cold-weather camping tips. 

Staying cool while car camping can be a challenge, especially in the summer. But if you prepare accordingly, it’s a breeze–pun intended. 

There are two main strategies we like to deploy to stay cool while car camping. The first is smart trip planning. Research your destination of choice before your trip. Is it outrageously hot in summer? Maybe save it for a spring or fall expedition. Also, check the weather forecast leading up to your trip to ensure you’re not barrelling headlong into a heat wave. An added benefit of car camping is that you’re usually not tied to an itinerary, so if the weather seems uncomfortably warm or dangerously hot, pivot your trip and pick a more amenable destination. During the warmer months, we like to car camp on the cooler coast or high in the alpine to beat the heat.

The second strategy is generating airflow, which helps us stay cool and sleep much better while camping in the heat. Here are three key pieces of gear to maximize airflow:

• Our mesh Car Window Screens stretch over your car doors, allowing you to roll down the windows and enjoy the breeze without letting in pesky mosquitos. 
• Our new mesh Sunroof Window Screen snaps over the sunroof thanks to integrated magnets along the perimeter. Like the original Window Screens, it lets in a welcome breeze but stops gnats at the door. 
• Our Car Camping Fan is a powerful, compact, USB-powered fan replete with an articulating ball mount and versatile suction cup. We love to use this fan whenever it’s warm out, but it’s nothing short of a trip-saver on still, muggy summer nights. 

Separately, the Car Window Screens, Sunroof Window Screen, and Fan are immensely useful, but together, they’re game-changing, producing sleep-improving airflow campers will appreciate.

Looking for more summer car camping tips? Check out our guide to staying cool while car camping here. 

5. Smart Meal Planning And Prep

Overwhelmed by camp cuisine? Watch our Car Camping 101 episode on camp cooking–it’s like the Cooking Channel, but for road trippers and car campers. 

Some outdoor enthusiasts love cooking elaborate meals at camp. Others, not so much. Either way, it’s a smart play to plan and prep meals before you head out. 

On the planning front, figure out what recipe or dish you’re going to make ahead of time. Read the recipe carefully, and make sure you don’t skimp on protein–if you’re hiking, biking, or enjoying another high-output outdoor activity, chances are you’ll need all the calories you can get. 

As far as prep goes, don’t stress trying to pack individual spices or dry ingredients. You can pre-mix and pre-portion ingredients for easy packing and quick cooking. Making pancakes? Bring a pre-mixed package with all of your dry ingredients. Making tacos? Put your taco seasoning in a reusable container pre-portioned. Sizzling up a stir-fry? Chop veggies at home and pack them in your cooler. 

If you want to minimize your camp kitchen time even more, you can whip up entire meals at home so all you need to do is reheat them at camp. 

6. Get Foldable Furniture For Comfortable Chilling And Easy Camp Cooking

You’ll often find picnic tables at designated campgrounds, but a major benefit of car camping is that you can find free camping almost anywhere. If you are camping in the middle of nowhere, a portable table and chairs (and maybe even a hammock) improve your camp life tremendously. 

Our advice? Invest in an easy-to-clean collapsible camp table for a cooking workspace on the go. Don’t forget foldable chairs so you have a comfy seat to enjoy your morning coffee, tuck into a well-earned dinner, or just hang out around the campfire. If you love to read, nap, or just chill and cuddle with your significant other, a hammock is the move.

7. Portable Camping Stoves Are Your New Best Friend

Cooking over an open fire is a blast, but chances are that many car camping destinations have fire bans as the weather gets warmer. The right stove will help you cook efficiently regardless of fire bans. 

A Jetboil integrated canister stove is ideal for quick boiling, but they aren’t much help if you want to simmer and sauté an elaborate camp meal. If you plan to do more camp cooking, we highly recommend a two-burner stove. Some campers will choose to bring both, using the Jetboil for cranking out coffee and tea and the two-burner for bacon and eggs. No matter what type of stove you bring, make sure you have the right fuel and a spare lighter or box of matches.

8. Light Up Your Campsite

A headlamp is an absolute essential and one we won’t camp without. However, it’s not the only way to light up your site. Battery-powered lanterns, like these ones from BioLite, are the perfect way to brighten up your campsite and keep yourself from stubbing your toe at night. Some campers will even deploy camping string lights to set the vibe. 

Pro Tip: If you’re using solar-powered lights, like these ones from Luminaid, or charging electronics via a solar panel, position them first thing in the morning and let them charge until the sun goes down. Adjust the positioning throughout the day to maximize sun exposure. 

9. Always Carry Cash

Carrying cash isn’t super common these days, but most of our state and federal campground systems are still old school. You don’t want to pull up to a remote campground and not be able to pay for a campsite. Chances are there’s probably not an ATM around the block, so be sure to have cash on hand. Also, you might find yourself at a roadside restaurant that doesn’t accept credit cards, so it can’t hurt to have cash stashed. 

10. Stay Connected 

The best car camping can often be found in BLM land, National Forests, or other wilderness areas. What do these zones all have in common? They’re often remote, beautiful, and far from the realm of cell service. 

For safety’s sake, we highly suggest downloading offline maps on an app like OnX or Gaia to help track your positioning. Furthermore, invest in a satellite communication device, like this one from Garmin, to stay in touch with friends and family or call emergency services.

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Remember To Enjoy The Journey

We’re stoked you’re joining the car camping community, and we hope these tips, tricks, and gear recommendations help you get out and get after it. That said, no car camping trip is without bumps in the road–those are to be expected. Just remember: the more you explore, the easier car camping will get. And if you’re looking to learn more, stay tuned to the Luno Journal, where we regularly post articles on all things car camping.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you on the road,

The Luno Crew