The field guide
Pack for the trip you are actually taking
A short list for a better start. Add the personal, family and equipment details that matter to your group.
Tree-shaded campground at Housatonic Meadows
Before you goThis is a starting checklist, not a complete equipment or safety assessment. Check your campground’s requirements.
Your camping checklist
Make it fit your campsite
A rustic campground needs a different plan from a serviced site. Confirm drinking water, toilets, showers, permitted cooking and secure food storage before deciding what to bring. Cabin bedding, cooking equipment and arrival arrangements also need checking; a roof does not mean everything is supplied.
Keep a useful copy
Ticks remain in this open page only. Print your checklist before closing it if you want a copy; it does not save an account or send your choices anywhere. Add prescriptions, children’s needs and any activity-specific equipment yourself. Use the National Park Service packing guide as a broader reference.