35 Camping Hacks That Actually Work (Food, Tent, Rain, Sleep and Budget)

The best camping hacks are small and cheap, and you only notice them when something goes wrong. Here are 35 camping hacks that actually work, grouped by the problem they solve.

Food and Cooler Hacks

Food is where most camping trips get stressful, so start here. For a full setup, see our camp kitchen setup guide.

1. Pre-chill your cooler. Fill it with ice or cold water the night before you leave.
2. Use block ice, not just cubes. Blocks melt far more slowly. Freeze water in old juice jugs or loaf pans and you also get cold drinking water as they thaw.
3. Freeze your food. Frozen meat, chili and soups act as extra ice packs and are thawed by day two or three.
4. Run two coolers. One for drinks, which gets opened constantly, and one for food, which stays shut. Our best camping cooler roundup covers sizes.
5. Pack in reverse order. Put the last day's meals at the bottom and tonight's dinner on top so you aren't digging with the lid open.
6. Pre-crack eggs into a bottle. A clean water bottle holds a dozen cracked eggs with no shells to break or carry out.
7. Pre-mix pancake batter in a squeeze bottle. Squeeze it straight onto the griddle with no bowl to wash.
8. Use a pill organizer as a spice kit. Each compartment holds a pinch of salt, pepper, garlic or chili flakes.
9. Bring two wash basins. One for soapy water, one for rinsing.
10. Cook simple foil-packet meals. See our campfire cooking guide for ideas.

Tent and Campsite Hacks

A good site setup makes the whole trip easier. If you're new to pitching, read how to set up a tent first.

11. Do a practice pitch at home. You find missing stakes and torn mesh in your backyard instead of at dusk.
12. Put pool noodle pieces on guylines. Slit a short section and slide it over the line so nobody trips at night.
13. Lay foam floor tiles inside the tent. Interlocking gym tiles add cushion and insulation.
14. Bring a doormat or a cheap rug. Shoes come off on it.
15. Use a headlamp as a lantern. Strap your headlamp around a gallon water jug with the light facing in. The water spreads the beam into a soft glow that lights the whole table.
16. Hang a shoe organizer on a tree or tent pole. The pockets hold utensils, sunscreen, bug spray and lighters where you can find them.
17. Carry carabiners. Clip lanterns, mugs, trash bags and wet socks to guylines or a clothesline.
18. Mark tent stakes with bright tape. Neon tape on each stake top makes them easy to spot when you pack up.

Car Camping Hacks

Car camping gives you room to bring a little more comfort. Our car camping essentials list covers the core gear.

19. Pack in clear bins by category. Kitchen, sleep, lights and tools each get one labeled bin.
20. Use window screens or mesh socks over doors if you sleep in the car. You get airflow without mosquitoes.
21. Keep a "first-night bag" with headlamps, a tarp, a lighter and dinner on top.
22. Bring a power bank or a car inverter to charge phones and headlamps without draining the battery overnight.

Rain Hacks

Rain doesn't have to end a trip. Our full guide to camping in the rain goes deeper.

23. Keep the ground sheet smaller than the tent floor. If it sticks out, it catches rain and channels water under you. Tuck the edges in.
24. Pitch a tarp first and set up the tent under it when it's already raining.
25. Pack clothes in zip bags or dry bags. Even if your pack gets soaked, tomorrow's socks stay dry.
26. Bring dryer lint or cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly as fire starters. They light even when everything else is damp. Here's how to start a campfire in tough conditions.
27. Choose higher ground. Never pitch in a dip or dry wash.

Sleep and Warmth Hacks

Cold nights are the most common reason beginners give up on camping. For a full breakdown, see how to stay warm camping.

28. Make a hot water bottle. Fill a bottle rated for boiling water, close it tight, put it in a sock and toss it in your sleeping bag.
29. Insulate from the ground. A sleeping pad matters as much as the bag. Most of the cold comes from below.
30. Change into dry clothes before bed.
31. Eat a snack before sleeping. Your body burns calories to stay warm through the night.
32. Stuff tomorrow's clothes into the bottom of your bag. They fill dead air and are warm when you get dressed.

Budget and Dollar Store Camping Hacks

You don't need to spend much. These cheap camping hacks use items you can find at any dollar store:

33. Shower caddies carry toiletries to the bathhouse and dry fast.
34. Glow sticks mark tent lines and keep track of kids after dark.
35. Ice cube trays and muffin tins make a serving tray for toppings, condiments or a s'mores bar.

Recommended Gear

A few pieces of gear make many of these hacks work better:

• Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp. A bright, rechargeable headlamp you can strap to a water jug for the lantern hack.
• Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove. Two burners let you cook pancakes and boil coffee water at the same time. See our best camping stove guide for alternatives.
• Coleman Sundome Camping Tent. An affordable, easy-to-pitch tent with a rainfly that works well with the rain hacks above.

Final Tips

Pick three or four of these camping hacks for your next trip instead of trying them all at once. If you're just getting started, our camping tips for beginners and the camping checklist will cover the rest.