Gift Guide: 2024 Holiday Gifts for Car Campers, Vanlifers, and Road Trippers
Holiday shopping is a lot like road-tripping: you can navigate solo, but having a solid map makes the journey smoother. To guide you this season, we turned to our team of car camping pros for their top gear picks. Below, you’ll find 23 gift ideas perfect for car campers, vanlifers, road trippers, and adventurers alike!
Stocking Stuffers ($25 and under)
For the Coffee Lover: Campers Blend Instant Craft Coffee ($17.99)
Meet your new adventure fuel: the Luno x Doma Campers Blend Instant Craft Coffee. Small in size but big on taste and convenience, this travel-friendly coffee is the perfect companion for life on the go. Every sip delivers rich notes of brown sugar, dark chocolate, and caramel. No need for a grinder—just mix with 10 oz of hot or cold water and enjoy an instant craft coffee experience, anywhere, anytime. It's sweet, smooth, and balanced, great on its own or with a splash of cream.
For the Casual Sipper: HydroFlask 6 oz Mug ($22.95)
The Hydro Flask 6 oz insulated stainless steel mug is designed for the perfect pour. With a closeable, splash-resistant lid, it keeps your drink hot for hours, making it ideal for those cozy sips by the campfire or on the go.
For the Night Navigator: Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp (19.95)
Compact and lightweight, the Astro 300 is a handy light to have for unexpected situations, whether it's navigating dark trails or making your way down a surprise rappel. With 300 lumens of brightness, it provides reliable lighting without weighing you down.
For the Classic Sock Gift: Darn Tough Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock ($25)
Socks are a staple of any holiday gift-giving experience – buy your person socks they’ll actually use for a lifetime of adventure. Trusted by countless thru-hikers year after year, this rugged sock is designed to withstand the toughest trails, and even if they don’t, Darn Tough socks come with an unconditional lifetime guarantee that covers free replacements for socks that rip, tear, lose their fit, or are not the most comfortable, durable, or best-fitting socks you've ever owned.
Radical–and Reasonably Priced–Car Camping Accessories ($25-$50)
For the Camp Vibes: Camping String Lights ($39.99)
Illuminate your adventures with our versatile LED Camping String Lights, designed to cozy up your nights outside. Featuring seven variable light modes and adjustable brightness, you can create the perfect ambiance for any occasion. This kit includes a rechargeable USB-C battery pack that provides eight hours of continuous use, a translucent storage bag that doubles as a lantern, and suction cups if you want to hang the lights on your adventure rig.
For the Breeze Chaser: Luno Screen for Car Windows ($50)
Everyone loves to sleep in their car with the windows open, but no one wants to turn into a mosquito buffet. We get it. Luckily, there’s a solution to the problem: our Car Window Screens. These mesh, stretchy screens are easy to pop into place over a car door frame. Once installed, you can roll the windows down without fearing that hordes of buzzing bloodsuckers will storm your campground castle. Not only do these screens allow you to enjoy nature’s AC (read: the breeze), but they also block sunshine and, perhaps even more annoying than incessant mosquitos, the gaze of nosey neighbors.
For the Black Hole Back Seat: Headrest Organizer ($39.99):
Transform the back of your seat into an organization station in seconds with our easy-to-install Headrest Organizer. Featuring five compartments and a removable pouch, it's perfect for keeping small essentials tidy and within reach on the road. Two integrated pockets (one large, one small) handle the basics, while the removable pouch adds a spacious main pocket, an internal mesh pocket, and an external mesh pocket for extra versatility.
For the Eco-minded: Medium Outdoor Ground Mat ($39.99):
Upcycled from old mattresses, our new, eco-friendly Medium Outdoor Ground Mat is perfect for those who like to keep their space clean. Same construction but as our best-selling Large Outdoor Ground Mat but with a smaller footprint, this multi-purpose medium mat adds a durable layer of separation between you and dirt or dust, sand or snow, gravel or granite.
For those Who Love A Tidy Campground: Gear and Shoe Storage Bag ($49.99):
The Luno Gear and Shoe Storage Bag is the perfect companion for your travels, offering a waterproof, easily accessible storage solution. It’s great for keeping shoes tidy or doubling as a small trash bin. Made with water-resistant fabric and scratch-free magnets, this versatile bag helps you stay organized and ready for anything.
Car Camping Extras Every Road Tripper Will Love ($50-$150)
For the Creature Comforts: Packable pillow ($69.99):
Revolutionize your camping sleep experience with the Luno Packable Camp Pillow. Combining portability with luxury, it offers the comfort of your home pillow in a compact design. With a plush fabric cover and memory foam filling, this pillow ensures you’ll wake up well-rested, no matter where your adventures take you.
For the Fireside Gatherer: Solo Stove Mesa ($79.99):
Bring cozy vibes to your table with the Solo Stove Mesa, a sleek tabletop fire pit that elevates any space. With Dual Fuel capability and Signature 360° Airflow, it’s easy to ignite and enjoy a smokeless fire, perfect for setting the mood indoors or out.
For the Birdwatcher, Wave-Chaser, Climber, Etc.: Nocs Binoculars ($95)
Binocs aren’t just for birdwatching. A solid pair of binoculars is an underrated road trip and camping essential. Scope wildlife, climbing routes, surf breaks, ski lines, and more with these affordable yet high-performance binoculars from Nocs Provisions. We love the wide field of view, simple controls, and compact design–they can easily stash in your console or Seatback Organizer until you need them.
For the Cuddle Bugs: Kelty Low Loveseat ($125.95)
The ultimate campfire cuddle spot! Kelty’s double chair seats two and comes with adjustable arms and dual beverage holders. Get cozy and enjoy the great outdoors together.
For the Stylish: Glerups Slippers ($135)
Are $135 slippers necessary? No. Are they worth it? Absolutely. Glerups wool slippers are arguably the coziest footwear on the planet. In fact, we’re wearing them right now as we write this holiday gift guide, while snow falls outside and the fire crackles… you get the picture. A staple on winter mornings, these slippers are crafted from thick, warm, 100% pure wool twill. The slip-on style enables hands-free entry, while the padded rubber sole allows you to take the dog for a quick walk or toss the trash out if needed.
Game-Changing Gifts for Car Campers and Vanlifers ($150+)
For the Gearhead: Devos Lightranger 1200 ($175.00)
Devos created the Lightranger to be a high-powered, rechargeable LED lantern comes with a telescoping pole, tripod, and ground stake. It delivers powerful overhead lighting for camping, backyard gatherings, power outages, or even home improvement projects.
For the Storage Fiend: Rux 70L Gear Storage Container ($199.99)
Meet the ultimate gear hauler. With 70 liters of capacity, the Rux container packs like a gear box, carries like a tote or backpack, and collapses flat when not in use. It’s weatherproof, field-repairable, and built to last a lifetime, so your gear stays safe, dry, and organized on every adventure.
For the Ourdoor Dining Enthusiast: Dometic GO Compact Camp Table ($199.99)
Maximize your camp space with Dometic’s versatile GO Compact Camp Table. Adjustable to three heights, it suits all your camping needs—whether prepping meals at standard height, giving kids their own dining spot, or dropping it down to coffee table level for snack time.
For the Culinary Explorer: Gerber ComplEAT 16-piece Cookset ($200.00)
The 16-piece ComplEAT Cook Set has everything you need to easily feed a group of hungry campers. This camping cookware set features a stock pot and sauté pan with generous cooking surfaces and 3-ply base construction for even heat distribution. The tableware set assists during prep work and makes room for generous portions once the meal is ready. When campers are full, everything packs together in the storage bag for safe and compact storage between trips.
For the Bold Brewers: VSSL Nest Pour Over Kit + Java G25 Coffee Grinder Bundle ($225.00)
The most integrated adventure-brewing system now comes with the world’s most rugged and refined hand coffee grinder, enabling you to brew the finest cup of pour over coffee -anywhere and everywhere. The VSSL Nest Pour Over Kit + Java G25 Grinder allows you to enjoy a premium cup of coffee anywhere. The set’s 80% recycled stainless steel construction features a 6-piece system that nests together into a compact unit. Inside, you’ll find two double-walled mugs, a splashproof lid, and the Java G25 grinder for freshly brewed perfection on the go.
For the Camp Chef: Messermeister Adventure Chef 6-Piece Summit Set ($250)
For the camp cook in your life, there’s no better gift than this Messermeister Adventure Chef 6-Piece Summit Set. This California-based, German-inspired, female-owned brand isn’t known for its adventure gear–it’s known for its high-quality cutlery. The Summit Set takes that history of hammering out chef-approved stainless steel blades and slims it down into a camp-ready, compact package. The highlight of the set is a folding 6” chef’s knife that’s so well-made we sometimes use it at home, too. What’s more, the kit includes a folding 6” fillet knife (perfect for preparing the catch of the day), a folding utensil set, a folding peeler & parer with fish scaler, and a folding cutting board, all housed in a rugged, handsome waxed canvas case. For lovers of good grub and the great outdoors, this gift earns two Michelin stars and four Michelin tires.
For the Seasoned Camper: Luno AIR+FOAM Pro Vehicle Mattress ($499.99)
Sleep like a pro with our comfiest sleep system yet. The AIR+FOAM construction offers plush, pillow-like support, ensuring restful nights wherever you travel. Designed to fit around vehicle wheel wells, the Luno AIR+FOAM Pro Vehicle Mattress maximizes your sleeping area with precision. For solo trips, a center zipper allows you to remove half of the mattress, saving space and weight while freeing up room in your vehicle.