$100 can go a long way into turning a run-of-the-mill camping trip into a relaxing weekend you'll remember forever. (Getty)(Getty)
Camper vans have been having a moment — and by "moment," I mean a years-long parade of Instagram posts showcasing tiny stoves, hidden toilets and fairy lights that somehow make sleeping in a parking lot look magical (I've done it. It's not). These builds are beautiful. They're also wildly expensive. Some cost as much as an actual house.
Van life used to be for people who were down on their luck. Now it's aspirational. But here's the thing no influencer tells you: At some point, you're going to wake up at 2 am and desperately need a bathroom. Good luck with that.
So no, I'm not converting my everyday cars into full-time campers. They carry groceries, car seats, friends, family and my dog. There's no room for a built-in bed or a tiny farmhouse sink. Instead, we've landed on a way to camp in the car for under 100 bucks. There are no cedar-paneled ceilings, but we sleep just fine, and in the morning, the car goes right back to being a car. It gets the job done — and it leaves us with more money for, you know, actual adventures.
Before you buy anything, grab a measuring tape, fold those seats flat and see what size mattress you're working with. In my case, a twin fits snug in the back of my Subaru. My larger vehicle has room for something bigger, but I kept it simple and stuck with the twin since I wanted one setup that works in both. It's not fancy, but considering I've paid more for a six-pack, it does the job just fine.
Posh upgrade: Exped MegaMat Auto Sleeping Pad
A plug-in air pump feels like a luxury I shouldn't need — and yet, every time I use one, I wonder why I ever did it the hard way. Maybe I used to think camping meant earning your sleep by nearly passing out blowing up a mattress. But these days, when all vehicles have a 12V and/or an AC outlet, why not let the car do the work?
Stagnant air in the car at night is the worst. Well, second worst. Mosquitoes are the worst. Thankfully, these window screens solve both of those problems. They slide over the entire window, so you can open them completely if you want to. I only roll them down a few inches so that they're open enough for quality air flow, closed enough that if a bear or other creature with teeth wanders by, they can’t easily get into the car before I wake up and get the heck out of there.
If you're sleeping in the great outdoors, there's no reason to wake up to the smell of morning breath and sweaty feet — not when fresh mountain or lake air is just a window crack away!
This window shade serves two purposes: it'll keep the temperature inside your vehicle from soaring during the day and it prevents people from being able to look inside your car while you're sleeping at night.
Posh upgrade: Any sun shade made specifically to fit your car
Just like the windshield shade, these magnetic shades cover your side and rear windows to keep things dark and cool — or warm, depending on how you use them. They stick right to the metal window frame, so setup takes about two seconds. If it's cold out, I flip them black-side-out to soak up a little extra warmth from the sun. Not exactly high-tech, but it works.
Sleeping's important, sure — but so is eating. And while a lot of campsites come with fire pits or grills, the last thing you want is to arrive somewhere and find out you don't have a way to heat your food or water. This little ultralight stove was designed for backpacking, but it works just as well at a car campsite. It barely takes up any space; I keep one stashed in the car year-round. That way, even on a random road trip, I can fire it up for a hot cup of coffee when the nearest café is 60+ miles away.
Posh upgrade: Coleman Peak1 Portable 2-Burner Camping Stove
This is another item that you'll probably find if you're spending the night at an established campsite, but if not, it is so much easier to prepare dinner on a table than try and balance everything in the back of the car without spilling it. It's also the most expensive item on this list, so if you're looking to save cash, this is what I'd get rid of.
Posh upgrade: REI Co-op Camp Prep Table
While it may be last on the list, water is the most important thing you'll bring on any camping trip. You can find jugs for cheaper, but the spigot is the real game-changer here — no more awkwardly lifting and tilting a sloshing 40-pound container just to fill a cup. This one makes it easy, and when you're using water for cooking, cleaning, drinking and doing dishes, easy matters.
Posh upgrade: Rtic Halftime Water Cooler
This fridge cost me less than my Yeti cooler and it doesn't require ice. Plug it right in to the 12V outlet in your car and you'll have cold drinks and food for your road trips and car camping trips, all for $160.
Prefer a cooler? There are cheaper options out there, like this $16 Igloo 4qt option, but you can't do better than a Yeti. Get the wheeled version, your back will thank you.
Awnings are great. They protect you from the sun and weather and, depending on your car, are way easier to set up than a tailgate tent. This one from All-Top isn't the cheapest one out there, and far from the most expensive, but it is a good middle ground of ease-of-use and features. Just throw a few camping chairs underneath, crack a cold drink and you're golden.
You might be wondering where the blankets and pillows are. Answer? In your home! Just grab what you already use, maybe an extra blanket or two, and bring them along with you. There is a caveat, though: if you're going to be camping somewhere colder, you should bring a sleeping bag rated for cold temps with you, not only for your comfort, but for your safety as well. Sleeping bag temperature ratings are for survival, not comfort, so go 15-20 degrees lower than you think you'll need. Here are a few of my favorites:
The total for all of that? $97. Not bad at all. That leaves you three bucks for a coffee and you'll be ready to hit the road for a camping adventure. Is your budget a bit higher than $100? Check out some splurges below.
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