Long drives, early starts, and nights that get colder than you expect. A national park road trip asks a lot of your gear, and a good packing list keeps you from a 40-mile detour for a forgotten jacket. Here's what we bring, what we've learned to leave at home, and a few small things that make camp feel like home.
Before you leave
- Check each park's website. Some parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations during busy months, and popular campgrounds can book up months ahead.
- Look into an annual pass. If you're visiting several parks, the America the Beautiful pass often pays for itself.
- Download offline maps. Cell service disappears fast. Save your route, campgrounds and trail maps before you lose signal.
- Tell someone your plan. Share your route and roughly where you'll be each night.
Clothing: think in layers
Mountain and desert parks can swing 30 degrees or more between the afternoon and sunrise. Pack layers you can add and peel off instead of one heavy coat.
- A moisture-wicking base layer and a couple of comfortable tees
- A warm mid layer, like a fleece, crewneck or hoodie, for cold mornings at camp
- A rain shell or windbreaker
- A warm hat, light gloves and a sun hat
- Broken-in hiking shoes, plus camp sandals or slip-ons
- Wool socks (more than you think you need)
Our Home Is Where I Park It Hoodie was made for exactly this: the first cold hour at a pullout before the sun clears the ridge. For the drive itself, a soft tee like the Mountain Sunrise Tee is hard to beat.
Camp kitchen
- A two-burner camp stove or backpacking stove, plus extra fuel
- A lighter and backup matches
- A cooler, and a plan for storing food safely where bear-proof storage is required
- One pot, one pan, a spatula and a sharp knife
- A collapsible sink or bin, biodegradable soap and trash bags (pack it all out)
- A real mug. Coffee tastes better outside, and even better out of a camp mug.
Safety and the stuff people forget
- A headlamp with fresh batteries
- A first aid kit, sunscreen, lip balm and bug spray
- Plenty of water and a refillable bottle, since some parks have long stretches without services
- The paper park map from the entrance station
- Bear spray in parks where it's recommended, and know how to use it
- Car basics: a spare tire, jumper cables, a phone charger and a full tank before long empty stretches
What to skip
- Extra just-in-case outfits. Rewear your layers and plan one laundry stop.
- Bulky gadgets that only do one job. Space in the car goes fast.
- Firewood from home. Many parks restrict outside firewood to stop invasive pests. Buy it near where you'll burn it.
Leave it better than you found it
Stay on the trail, give wildlife plenty of room, and pack out everything you bring in. The parks stay wild because the people who visit take care of them.
Planning a trip this season? Browse our camp and road gear for warm layers, tees and camp mugs made for early mornings.