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These camping organization ideas will be so incredibly helpful as you sort through all of your camping gear and prepare for the best trip ever!
After you find the perfect campsite set up, choose new hiking trails, and stock up on all the bug spray, the last thing you want to do is open up your car trunk to a disorganized mess. Having a tidy setup means you will be able to easily access your camping gear and you can spend more time enjoying the great outdoors than rummaging through your things.
This list will give you all the best efficient storage solutions for camping to ensure you have a clutter-free home base while you create all the best memories.
This post is all about the best camping organization ideas.
Important camping organization and storage reminders
Take off the pressure to buy a bunch of new stuff for your camping trip. Start with what you already own and make good use of it.
This is not only great for your budget but also for the planet.
When embarking on a new endeavor it can be easy to fill our carts with things we may need for those just in case the sky falls moments. But ultimately it is good to keep things simple. The less you bring, the less you have to organize.
If you realize you don’t have certain items, consider checking out your local thrift store or online thrift stores. You may be surprised at all of the camping gear that is lightly used that is there.
Creating new products uses a lot of resources and if gone unused can add to the increase of waste in landfills. Purchasing or borrowing things that already exist is a great small choice that can positively impact the environment.
You can find most of the items on this list second-hand. You may just have to start searching a couple of months in advance of your camping trip so you have plenty of time to find the hidden gems.
I will have links throughout this post for sustainable camping gear if I can find it. If you know of any sustainable camping gear brands please let us know in the comments below so we can support earth-friendly companies!
The Best Camping Organization Ideas
1. Packing cubes, plastic containers & shoe organizer
These will be your best friends when organizing clothing and shoes. Just like you would pack for a flight away, use those packing cubes to distinguish your undergarments from your outerwear and everything else in between.
Everyone has specific preferences when it comes to sorting their clothing so organize it in a way that works best for your brain. Just be sure to choose some kind of system rather than stuffing them away!
Here are some other tips for storing things on your camping trip:
- Label every box (with duct tape or a label maker) so you don’t have to rummage through things.
- Clear bins work best so that you can see exactly what is in each box. But these bins made out of recycled plastic are another great option and are better for the environment as well.
- Ensure that boxes holding food or good-smelling toiletries are sealed tightly to deter animals
- Opt for larger storage containers so that you can layer things or use dividers (cardboard works great!) to keep things tidy
2. Keep emergency items together and ensure they are easily accessible
Here are a few essential items that you should have easy access to at all times:
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Life straw personal water filter
- Extra water jugs for fires/burns etc.
- Emergency thermal blanket
- Extra rain ponchos
- Granola bars for an emergency snack
- Back up flashlight
- Survival whistle and compass
- Whatever else you need for the specific climate you’re in.
Another great benefit to staying organized is when there is an emergency you will quickly be able to find exactly what you need.
3. Maintain a well-kept tent
A tent box can be a really helpful way to maintain some order in a chaotic tent. You can simply use an extra plastic bin to throw in extra clutter as needed or try out one of these recycled plastic bins.
Here are a few quick rules for keeping a well-kept tent:
- Leave shoes outside of your tent or inside and near the entrance. This will minimize dirt from getting to your sleeping area
- If you have hooks in your tent, use the vertical space to hang items
- Place toiletries upright in shower caddies or a small box
- String up a clothing line to hang up clothing to maximize space in your tent and to air out any sweaty, wet, or dirty clothing/socks/bathing suits, etc.
- During the day open up vents (keep the bug screen on) to air out your tent and let sunlight in
- Incorporate plastic bins, storage drawers, and packing cubes
- Fold up your sleeping bag when not in use
- If you have a large family, encourage everyone to keep their personal items in their duffle bag and line it on the inside of the tent or in the car.
4. Use life jackets, pillows, toilet paper (in a sealed bag), and sleeping bags as cushion
Once you have your car all packed up with the bulky items (heaviest stuff on the bottom) you can throw in these softer items around the boxes to keep your goods safe.
Since they are a bit more malleable they can easily be squicshed in between stuff.
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5. Use water bottles as ice cubes
To keep your water bottles from rolling around in your car, be sure to freeze the water in them the night before and use them as big ice cubes in your cooler.
Be mindful of the type of water bottle you use so the frozen water doesn’t break your bottle.
It is always important to have enough water when camping. Aside from the water bottles you use to hydrate yourself on the way to the campsite, these bottles will be great as backup water.
On the way home you can also use the water bottles themselves as storage for smaller items as long as the mouthpiece is large enough to put things in it.
6. Storing kitchen utensils
I really love these little zero-waste kit utensil things. Each camper can get their own set and you can even label each pouch with their names.
There is no need to bring a huge basket of silverware. It can be thoroughly washed and placed in the bags for the next meal. This will keep them from floating around, getting lost, or having any bugs crawling on them. Yuck!
You can also just use silverware from home and wrap them in cloths and a rubberband for a similar DIY utensil kit.
7. Cooking gear, proper food storage and organizing your camp kitchen
This may seem painfully obvious but you need to separate your cooking gear, dry food, and wet food. You don’t want to end up with soggy crackers or sticky utensils.
I suggest using plastic bins for storing food while camping so you can keep all of the critters away. You can even add your towels over the food to keep out direct sunlight.
The plastic bins must seal well. If you use plastic bins you have had for years, make sure there are no holes or cracks in them. Try to keep your cooking gear on a spare picnic table rather than sitting on the ground as it is more easily accessible to bugs.
Be mindful of how much cookware and utensils you actually need to bring. You can always wash things at your campsite!
In the dry food container, you can place your main meals on the bottom and lighter or breakable items on top. Also keeping snack foods on top and easily accessible is key.
Depending on how many people are camping you could even separate breakfast, lunch, and dinner items into separate bins. It will depend on how much storage space you have but try to map this out in advance. I promise finding a smooth system will make meal times a breeze.
Any sauces and spices can be stored in reusable bags or boxes to catch any leakage and keep them upright. If you are really worried about anything spilling you can use a bit of tape to further secure the lids.
You may also consider not bringing the full bottle of your favorite sauce. Meal planning for camping is so important so measuring out little spice packets could help to lighten the load and chaos.
Nothing ruins a camping trip like animals getting to your food. Try to leave your food in your car to minimize the chance of inviting furry friends to your campsite.
8. Storing trash
Aside from relieving some stress, keeping an organized campsite is great for the environment.
Rather than having food wrappers or empty toiletry bottles turn into litter, be sure to have a plan for disposing of your trash.
Some campsites will of course have trash cans to use. If not you will need to bring extra trash bags and containers to store your trash and recycling in. Here are some great eco friendly trash bags to pack with your camping gear!
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9. Reusable bags to store clothes rather than plastic bags
When I was a Girl Scout my mom would give me a gallon-size ziplock bag to store an outfit for each day of the week when camping. It kept my clothes dry and organized. Be sure to squish the air from the bag to save space.
That being said, Stasher bags are very versatile. They can be used to store anything from wet bathing suits to food or even period products. The seal is nice and tight and you can write on them just like a classic Ziploc bag.
Organizing your camping gear after camping
When you get home you absolutely need to clean your gear thoroughly & store it properly so it is ready for your next trip. Wash off all that grime, leftover food, and air out your stuff from any surprise rain showers.
I honestly think Castille soap, water, and the sun can do wonders on almost all camping gear.
Scrub your tent, shoes, organization bins etc. thoroughly. Let it sit in the sun to dry and kill off some germs. When everything is completely dry you can wrap it up and store it neatly for your next big adventure! You will thank yourself in the future.
Storing your camping gear properly ensures that it lasts a long time and you don’t have to replace things as often. This is great for your wallet and the planet!
How do you plan to organize your camping gear for your next camping trip? Let us know in the comments below! It’s always nice to learn more hacks for a simplified campsite.
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Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about the best camping organization and storage ideas.
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