How to Car Camp on Any Budget: A Complete Guide for Every Setup

Car camping is exactly what it sounds like. You sleep in your car instead of a tent, using it as your shelter and home base. It’s one of the easiest, most low-stress ways to get outside, and you don’t need a ton of gear or a big budget to make it happen.

For this month’s edition of the Luno Journal, we’re going to help you learn how to car camp no matter your budget. That’s right: we’re talking money like Warren Buffett. That is, if Warren Buffett packed upper-decker Zyns, tied his own flies, and drove a ‘15 Tacoma with 200K miles, an elevated intake, and upgraded tires and suspension that made creek crossings feel like hopping up a curb.

All jokes aside, there’s a common misconception that car camping is expensive. Sure, if you want to go all out, invest in the best camping gear, and drive a brand-new, head-turning, off-road-ready rig to match, car camping is undoubtedly a pricey pastime. But there are also hundreds of tricks and tips that help beginners enjoy the great outdoors without torpedoing their credit score. 

In this article, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about car camping based on your budget. To do so, we’ll focus on three tiers of car camping budgets. First, we’ll speak to budget campers who want the most bang for their buck. Next, we’ll focus on mid-tier campers who are happy to splurge here and there but still are conscientious of spending habits. Lastly, we’ll touch on boujee, balling campers who don’t care about paying top dollar so long as their gear is top-tier and their rig gets double-takes in trailhead parking lots. 

For each of these budgets, we’ll talk about the types of campers who fit into each category, what vehicle you might be driving, tips on where to splurge and where to save, car camping hacks that are most relevant to your budget, essential gear, and more. Long story short, consider this article a detailed guide to car camping that places special emphasis on dolla dolla bills, yall.

In this guide you will learn about:

• What is Car Camping?
• How to Car Camp (Step-by-Step)
• Budget Car Camping Setup
• Mid-Range Setup
• Luxury Car Camping Setup
• Free vs Paid Camping
• Essential Gear Checklist
• Tips for Sleeping in Your Car

How to Car Camp on Any Budget: What You Actually Need

If you're new to car camping, the good news is you don’t need much to get started. After years of sleeping in everything from beater rigs to fully built-out setups, we’ve learned that a simple, thoughtful setup beats an overcomplicated one every time.

Whether you're planning your first night sleeping in your car or refining your car camping setup, here’s what really matters.

If you want to go deeper, check out our guides on:

• how to find free car camping
• the best car camping apps
• the best vehicles for car camping

Car Camping Essentials (Any Budget)

• A place to sleep: A flat surface, whether that’s folded seats, a sleeping pad, or a full mattress
• Warmth: Blankets, sleeping bags, or comforters depending on the season
• Water: Always bring more than you think you’ll need
• Food setup: A simple camp stove or no-cook meals
• Lighting: Headlamp, flashlight, or lantern

Nice-to-Have Car Camping Gear

• Camp chairs
• Cooler for food storage
• Window covers for privacy
• Portable fan for airflow

Budget Alternatives That Work

• Household blankets instead of sleeping bags
• Backpacks or duffels instead of storage systems
• Coolers instead of powered fridges

The bottom line? The best car camping gear is the gear you already have. You can always upgrade your vehicle camping setup over time.

How Do You Car Camp on a Budget?

If you’re trying car camping for beginners or just want to keep costs low, you don’t need to overthink it. In our experience, some of the best trips come from the simplest setups.

The key is focusing on function over fancy gear—especially when you’re just getting started with sleeping in your car.

Budget #1: How To Car Camp on a Shoestring Budget

First up, let’s talk budget car campers. Now, there’s no shame in camping on a budget. We’ve been there, done that. Many of our favorite camp memories involve ramen noodles, cars crammed with friends all pitching in for gas, and secondhand gear. 

In fact, Luno’s founder, Pete Ducato, got the idea to start Luno after tossing and turning on a flimsy backpacking sleeping pad in the back of his Subaru on a fateful snowboard trip to Mammoth. In part, he chose to camp in his car because slopeside hotels were ridiculously overpriced. All that to say, we get it. Whether you’re completely new to car camping and money is tight, or you’re an experienced outdoor enthusiast who simply prefers to live frugally, car camping is one hundred percent for you. Don’t let anyone ever tell you differently. 

Who fits in the budget category? 

Keep in mind, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are a few types of folks who might self-identify as budget car campers. 

• First-timers: If it’s your first time trying a new activity, there’s no need to go on a crazy spending spree. Get the bare minimum equipment to camp safely, see if car camping is up your alley, then invest more as time goes on. 

• College students and young professionals: Pursestrings can be tight if you’re still in school or just getting your feet underneath you after graduating. While many outdoor activities can be prohibitively expensive, car camping can be a cheap, easy, and fun way to get outside. 

• Families: In today’s world, doing virtually anything with a family is expensive. But unlike notoriously expensive outdoor activities like skiing, car camping with a family can be relatively reasonable, provided you are discerning and strategic with gear acquisition (more tips on this below).

• Gear-rich, cash-poor outdoor enthusiasts: You’ve already spent all of your money on touring skis, carbon mountain bikes, that sexy climbing rack… and now there’s no money leftover to spend on a fancy tents. We get it. Car camping is a fantastic way to save dough so you can spend it on the gear you need once you arrive at your campground of choice!

Basic Tips to Save Money While Car Camping:   

If you want to save money on your next camping trip, the tips below are worth their weight in gold. 

• Sleep in your car: We’re a little biased around here—we’re a car camping brand, after all—but one of our favorite ways to save money on adventures is to camp in your car. If you’re camping inside your car, you don’t need to invest in an expensive waterproof tent, as your car is already leakproof and ready to weather any storm. Another huge benefit of camping in your car? You can pick up a warm sleeping bag for cheap. Backpackers need to invest in expensive, lightweight sleeping bags because they carry gear on their backs. Since car campers aren’t hiking with gear on their backs, we don’t worry about sleeping bag weight and can nab a toasty, comfy sleeping bag for a quarter of the price. 

• Never pay for campgrounds: If you’re pitching a tent, chances are you’re going to have to pay for campgrounds, at least some of the time. However, when you’re sleeping inside your vehicle, you’re much less conspicuous, and you can get away with sleeping in highway rest stops, Walmart parking lots, and more. Of course, our favorite places to camp for free are far from civilization in Bureau of Land Management land. Read our comprehensive guide to finding free car camping here to learn more tricks of the trade!

• Buy used gear: One of the best ways to save money while camping is to buy used gear. Not only is this a smart play financially, but it’s a win for the environment, too, as you’re keeping unloved gear out of the landfill! If you don’t have a local used gear shop, check out geartrade.com. Did you know you can also find pre-owned Luno mattresses and accessories in our outlet for up to 50 percent off? 

• Use household items: When it comes to affordable adventure, the best gear is the gear you already own. For instance, don’t splurge on titanium sporks, just raid the cutlery drawer and borrow some forks and knives. Same goes for bedding. Because you’re car camping, you don’t need to invest in fancy sleeping bags. Just grab some sheets and a comforter, and you’re good to go. (This last tip is actually one of the reasons we love car camping in the first place. No need to overheat in a sleeping bag—just luxuriate in sheets and blankets like you would at home!)

Budget Rigs We Love: 

• The car in your driveway: You know how we said the best gear is the gear you already own? Same goes for your vehicle. The best car camping rig is the one you already drive every day. Unless it’s a sedan—it’s pretty hard to sleep comfortably in one of those. In fact, we’ve actually written an entire article about why the best adventure rig is the one that’s parked in your driveway.

• Beater rigs: We’re talking 2002 Honda CR-Vs. 2001 Ford Explorers. Late 90s Nissan Xterras. You get the picture. The more miles on the odometer, the merrier. We love car camping in these types of rigs because they’re still kicking for a reason (they’re reliable AF) and who cares if you scratch a little paint? 

• Rentals from Budget: Maybe you own a sedan, or you don’t own a car at all. No problem. You can always rent a car (from Budget or otherwise). Just make sure to specify that you’re looking for an SUV, and be sure to research the make and model to confirm that you can fold the back seats flat. We’ve done this trick on many international adventures, too!

Essential gear: 

• The AIR Mattress: Our most affordable car camping mattress, the Luno AIR BASE Vehicle Mattress is a sleek sleep system that gives budget road trippers unbeatable bang for buck. It’s comfy, supportive, and compatible with hundreds of makes and models, not to mention easy to inflate and deflate at camp. 

• Coleman Classic Propane Gas Camping Stove: A classic two-burner camp stove that’s been at the heart of good times and good grub for generations, this Coleman Classic is exceptionally tough and as cheap as it gets. 

• Water Jug: We’ve covered the most important part of your sleep setup (your mattress) and the keystone of your camp kitchen (your campstove). One more thing you literally can’t live without? Water. Stay hydrated no matter where you roam by filling these handy, military-style five-gallon jugs up with potable H2O before you depart.  

Extras We Don’t Like to Camp Without:

• Camp Chair: We’ve got no beef with stumps, rocks, or logs. But sometimes, it’s a treat to take a load off and plunk down in a comfy camp chair. These chairs from Bass Pro Shops cost less than a burrito and are trusted by thousands of campers the world over.  

• Cargo Hammock: Our Cargo Hammock is no cut-rate camping accessory, but we’re including this stretchy shelf as an optional extra for budget campers because it’s cheaper than a roof rack and turns unused ceiling space into invaluable storage. One of the biggest challenges of car camping is staying organized, and the Cargo Hammock helps you do just that. 

Vehicle Mods and Maintenance: 

• Preventative Vehicle Maintenance: We’re not expecting budget campers to make aftermarket vehicle modifications or invest in pricey racks and overlanding accessories. However, this one piece of advice goes a long way: invest in preventative maintenance. Get your vehicle checked out before car camping excursions, so you’re less likely to run into costly, trip-ruining mechanical issues on the road.

Budget #2: How To Car Camp on A Mid-Range Budget

If bona fide dirtbags are on one side of the car camping spectrum and loaded Land Rover-piloting overlanders are on the other, the majority of campers fall somewhere in the middle. If you have some disposable income to splurge on car camping gear but still appreciate deals and discounts and monitor your road trip spending, this section is for you. 

Who fits in the mid-range budget? 

• Calculated splurgers: You splurge, but only on certain pieces of gear and only when the time is right. You might be content to buy a used touring setup from your local ski swap, or pick up last season’s outerwear for pennies on the dollar, but also have no problem investing in your dream mountain bike, a spiffy, sparkling climbing rack, or a masterfully crafted fly rod. 

• Multi-sport mavericks: Several Luno team members fall into this camp. We have mountain bikes that cost more than the Subies we haul ‘em with. We’ve got outrageously priced ultralight carbon skis and splitboards, but couldn’t care less about a scratched bumper or broken seat warmer. If you prioritize your adventure gear over your adventure rig, we’re talking to you. 

• Reformed dirtbags: This one’s for the ski bums and crag addicts who hung it up and got adult jobs. We see you. We are you. If you’re a weekend warrior who works a nine-to-five but you’re still a dirtbag at heart, car camping is a beautiful way to keep the dream alive.

When to Upgrade Your Gear and When Not To

• Think through your purchases: This one’s a no-brainer, but worth noting nonetheless. Don’t make impulsive purchases. Think big acquisitions through. Ask yourself if you’ll regret that purchase when the credit card bill arrives. In that same vein, it’s a smart idea to consider used gear, stay tuned to holiday sales cycles, and shop accordingly. 

• Pay for campgrounds (in certain circumstances): We’re huge proponents of free car camping. Car campers can bunk down where tent campers can’t, like quiet neighborhoods, highway rest stops, so on and so forth. However, it’s worth splurging on a paid campground during busy holiday weekends or if you’re visiting a popular national park. We’ll also happily book campgrounds if there are amenities like hot showers, restrooms, etcetera. Lastly, we’ll pay for campgrounds in areas that feel sketchy, as it can’t hurt to have a camp host or ranger to watch your back. 

• Use apps to your advantage: Don’t get us wrong, we love to unplug. That said, our smartphones are loaded with apps that help us save money while car camping. We’ll use Gas Buddy to find the cheapest gas, The Dyrt or iOverlander to find free campsites, and more. Check out more of our favorite car camping apps here.

A Few of Our Favorite Mid-Range Vehicles:

• Stock Subarus: Perhaps the most classic car camping rig of all time? A stock Subie. Enough said. 

• Used Toyotas And Similar Cult Classics: Nothing says car camping like a well-loved Yota. We’re cracking a virtual cold one for these classics (and its many imitators).

• CR-Vs, Rav-4’s, and Crossover SUVs: Maybe you’re a soccer mom midweek and camp counselor over the weekend. Or you’re a practical professional who owns a daily commuter that doubles as an adventure rig. Regardless, we’re here for it, and we salute you. Get it!

Essential Gear: 

• Luno AIR Pro: Our mid-tier camping mattress, the Luno AIR Pro, is lighter, more packable, and more durable than our BASE mattress. It also features a zipper that allows you to leave half of the mattress at home on solo adventures. Last but not least, the SUV and hatchback version comes with our Head Support Bridge Attachments, which secure to the back of the front seats to create a stable, level sleeping platform. You can also nab an Air PRO mattress that’s purpose-built for 4Runners, Bronco's and Jeeps. 

• Camp Chef Everest 2 Stove: If you’re looking for a durable, fuel-efficient camp stove with stellar simmer controls, Camp Chef’s Everest 2 is hard to beat. 

• Fitted Sleeping Bag Comforter: Step up your snooze game with our Fitted Sleeping Bag Comforter. The warm, plush, cozy, duvet-style sleep system pairs perfectly with Luno mattresses, and it’s so snuggly that getting out of bed in the morning requires monumental mental fortitude. 

• Rtic Cooler: Rtic’s hard-sided coolers feature a similar rotomolded construction as industry-leading Yeti coolers, but they’re much more affordable, making them our top value pick. 

Extras We Don’t Like To Camp Without:

• Helinox Beach Chair: Thanks to a low-slung, lounge-like backrest and a built-in headrest, Helinox’s Beach Chair is one of our all-time favorite pieces of camp furniture. You can find camp chairs that are cheaper, but it’s tough to find a comfier one. 

• Car Camping Fan and Window Screens: When you’re car camping on a muggy, buggy night, airflow is everything. Our mesh Window Screens enable campers to roll down the windows without letting in any unwanted mosquitos, while the nifty Car Camping Fan generates a welcome breeze on otherwise still and stifling nights. 

• Camping String Lights: Bring a little shimmer to your campsite with our twinkling string lights. Whether you string these bad boys up in your vehicle or drape them across tree branches, they add a touch of ambience that makes the wilderness feel like home. 

Vehicle Mods and Maintenance:

• An Emergency Tool Kit: If you’re venturing deep into the wilderness, it’s a smart idea to pack an emergency tool kit (and know how to use it). We like to fill a tool roll with all the requisite wrenches as well as miscellaneous repair items like duct tape, zip ties, and more.

• A Solid Spare Tire: A donut might get the job done, but if you’re replacing a flat tire miles from civilization, a high-quality spare is a valuable asset.

• Racks Galore: Smart car campers utilize the exterior of the vehicle for hauling bikes, skis, fly rods, and more. We love to deck our rigs out with racks galore, roof boxes, you name it!

Budget #3: How To Camp Like a Pro

When we use the words “baller” and “boujee,” we’re not talking about multi-million-dollar mansions or bottles of Cristal. We’re simply shouting out the car campers who place a premium on comfort, convenience, and the best damn gear money can buy. If that sounds like you, keep reading. 

Who fits in this baller budget? 

• “Money is no object” campers: When you’re shopping for gear, do you obsess over technical specs and hardly ever glance at the price tag? Well, if you love top-of-the-line gear and value a high-performance or even luxury vehicle, you might just be a baller when it comes to car camping. 

• Dedicated car campers: Maybe you’re not made of money, but you spend enough time car camping to know what you want and need. If you’re a dedicated weekend warrior or a road trip regular, investing in premium gear is well worth the spend. 

• Full-time overlanders:  If you’re a full-time overlander and home is truly where you park it, you have the perfect excuse to ball out on car camping gear. 

Tips for Campers Who Need the Best:

• Buy nice or buy twice: Have you ever heard the saying “buy nice or buy twice?” Cheap gear is often cheaply made. Invest in proven, durable gear from tried-and-true outfitters,  and chances are it will last for decades to come. 

• Don’t bring the kitchen sink: Just because you have the budget to buy every piece of gear on the planet doesn’t mean you should. Less is sometimes more. Remember that everything you bring car camping is taking up trunk space, and while you have plenty of room to pack the essentials and the extras, too, smart car campers are judicious and discerning. This piece of advice is less about what you can afford to buy and more about what you can afford to pack. 

A Few of Our Favorite Dream-Level Rigs:

• Toyota 4Runners: The Brad Pitt of adventure rigs, the bees’ knobby knees, the pride of Japan, and an absolute dynamo of the desert, the 4Runner is a dream to drive and a nightmare to pay off in full. (Shoutout to the Luno team members crushing those monthly payments!) Jokes aside, we love the 4Runner, so much so that we designed a mattress and window screen specifically for this legendary rig. 

• Rivian R1S and R2S: The Rivian R1S and R2S are electric in more ways than one. Easy on the eyes—and the environment—these EVs are comfortable and capable when it counts. Again, we love these rigs so much that we designed an R1S mattress and R2S mattress, both in our award-winning, premium AIR+FOAM PRO construction. 

• Jeep Wrangler: If you’ve got ducks on your dashboard, check out our special edition AIR+FOAM PRO mattress that’s designed to fit perfectly in 2018+ Wranglers.

Essential Gear: 

• Luno AIR+FOAM PRO: We’ve mentioned our AIR+FOAM PRO construction already, but let’s take a quick second to break it down. Our most comfortable and technologically advanced construction to date, our alchemical AIR+FOAM PRO formula features open-cell foam sandwiched between durable, protective fabrics. We’ve tapped our inflatable expertise, too, so you can fine-tune mattress firmness to your liking, but the ultra-cushy foam is what makes the AIR+FOAM PRO as comfy as your bed at home. Our AIR+FOAM PRO mattresses are available in precisely contoured versions for SUVs and hatchbacks as well as purpose-built designs for Rivians and Jeep Wranglers. Plus, we even have a rectangular Camping Mattress ideal for single sleepers. The Camping Mattress is designed to be at home in both vehicles and traditional tents, making it our most versatile mattress to date.

• Rooftop Tent: If you have a family of four or love to camp with friends, it can be fun to add a rooftop tent as a guest bedroom. Two campers can bunk down in the vehicle thanks to Luno’s car camping mattresses, while two or more campers can snooze comfortably in a rooftop tent. Be wary, ballers: these car camping castles don’t come cheap. 

• Front Cab Mattress: Here’s a hot take for you: Vanlife is really just a boujier version of sleeping in your car. If you’re a van camper, check out our innovative AIR Pro Front Cab Mattress. It’s a durable, inflatable camp bed that turns the front seats of Sprinters, ProMasters, and other popular vans into a comfy sleeping platform that accommodates shorter adults, kids, and even pets. 

• Yeti Cooler: If you want a cooler that will outlast a Chernobylesque nuclear meltdown, go with a Yeti. They’re pricey, but you get what you pay for. 

• Jetboil Genesis: Jetboil’s two-burner Genesis is significantly pricier than the other campstoves we’ve mentioned in this car camping guide. How come? In a word, it’s collapsible. This brilliantly designed stove folds up into a much more manageable bundle, saving car campers valuable trunk space and facilitating pain-free hauling from trunk to cook station. 

Extras We Don’t Like To Camp Without

• Power Stations: Again, we love to unplug while we’re camping, but power stations let you charge up essentials like your phone, camera, headlamps, GoPro, you name it. Bigger power banks, like this Yeti 1500 from Goal Zero, cost a pretty penny, but they can be literal lifesavers in a pinch. 

• Solar Panels: When you combine high-quality solar panels like this portable Nomad 200 from Goal Zero with a power station, you essentially have a never-ending supply of power. For digital nomads, outdoor photographers, and the like, a setup like this one is a complete gamechanger that can make longer dream adventures turn into reality. 

Vehicle Mods and Maintenance

• Lifted Suspension: There’s a decent chance that if you’re a balling car camper, your vehicle isn’t stock. Common upgrades include lifted suspension, supersized tires, skid plates, elevated air intakes—the list goes on. 

• Overlanding Accessories: As notable poet, overlanding icon, and certified baller Tyga rapped in 2012: “Rack city, b*tch. Rack rack city, b*tch.” This heartfelt, glowing example of 21st-century balladry is apt when discussing the exterior of a boujee car camping rig. We’re talking rack city, with everything from bike racks and fly rod holders to overlanding-specific accessories mounted willy-nilly like jerry cans, traction boards, shovels and axes, you name it.

• Lights: Another practical aftermarket upgrade common on boujee car camping rigs? Lights. From light bars to hood-mounted flood lights, those extra lumens go a long way (literally, beaming hundreds of feet into the darkness) when you’re on a midnight adventure.

Car Camping FAQ

Is it legal to sleep in your car?

It depends on where you are. Many public lands allow free dispersed camping, while cities and private lots may have restrictions. Always check local regulations before you park for the night.

Where can you car camp for free?

Free car camping is often available on public lands like Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas and national forests. Apps and guides can help you find safe, legal spots.

What’s the best vehicle for car camping?

The best vehicle for car camping is the one you already own. SUVs, crossovers, and hatchbacks tend to work best for sleeping in your car, but nearly any vehicle can be adapted.

How do you stay warm while sleeping in your car?

Layering is key. Use blankets or sleeping bags, wear warm clothing, and insulate your sleeping surface. Proper ventilation also helps prevent condensation and keeps things comfortable.

Is car camping safe?

Car camping is generally safe if you choose your locations carefully, stay aware of your surroundings, and follow basic safety precautions like locking your doors and keeping valuables out of sight.

No Matter Your Budget, We Hope You Enjoy Your Next Adventure! 🏕️🚙

We’re well aware that budgeting for car camping is a personal journey, and it’s tricky to address all campers in this admittedly simplified article. Regardless, we hope that this guide helps you navigate the car camping landscape like a pro and crush your next trip. 

If you’re looking to learn more, don’t forget to explore the rest of the Luno Journal, as we’re constantly adding blog posts and content designed to make your life outdoors better than ever.

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

–The Luno Crew