My camping list seems to last forever! Who doesn’t love to go camping? Lying under the stars listening to the sound of nature all around you, building a fire out of nothing but sticks to keep you warm. Getting in touch with nature is the best satisfaction of going camping, but the camping list of things to pack seems endless.

Some campers have gotten the packing down to a science on what they can leave behind and what they can’t do without. How long will you be gone is the most important question you need to ask yourself before going on a camping trip. This will allow you to know how much food to take as well as staple supplies.

Length of stay is a major factor when going camping. After you decide how long you will be away from home you can then decide how many meals you are planning on cooking and how elaborate you plan on making them. Most families that go camping just have sandwiches that make everything seem easy. A cooler, ice, sandwich meat, condiments such as mustard or mayonnaise, paper plates and drinks is about all you need for this feat.

Many avid campers go and camp just as if they were at home. They will pack pans to wash dishes in, dish soap, cutting boards and pots and pans just as if they were home. When we go camping we usually fix sandwiches for lunch and regular meals for breakfast and dinner. Preparing these items will make your list grow but really is no different than preparing them at home.

A few more items that you will need to pack is a grill, tarp, tent, blankets, pillows, snack items, toiletry items and possibly bug spray if you have trouble with bugs and mosquitoes.  If you want more luxury, throw in a camping cot for a good night’s sleep.

Camping is an experience that the whole family can do any age and any sex. You can pack everything except the kitchen sink but after you camp a few times you will find yourself weeding things out and realizing that you don’t need everything after all.