Camping Packing List (Ft. DeSoto in May)

If you have seen pictures of my packed bags, read through my packing tips, or browsed through some of my other packing lists, you are probably aware that I like to pack light. I throw all that away when packing for a camping trip though. I certainly don’t pack in a single backpack, and I can barely pack in the trunk of my car. But, I do have everything for an epic weekend of car camping. Here is my camping packing list for Ft. DeSoto in May.

Clothes/Personal:

• Swimsuit
• Pj’s – Go for thin cotton long pants and shirt to help keep the mosquitoes away. 
• Sandals – I personally think chacos are the best sandals ever. Also, I brought tennis shoes but never wore them once, so consider taking them off your list. 
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Underwear
• Toiletries – There are decent showers, and you will be covered in sunscreen, sweat, and bug spray, so be sure to bring your shampoo and soap! 
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Bath towel

Fun Stuff:

• Kayak / paddles / PFDs / whistles – We  recently purchase an inflatable kayak so as to not take up much space, and I highly highly recommend it if you are looking to save space. 
• Bikes / helmets
• Beach towels
• Beach Bag
• Frisbee

Camp Setup:

• Tent – It’s a good idea to have a tent with good ventilation and a great rain fly for Florida camping. We use the Coleman Hooligan tent and love it. 
• Tarp
• Air mattress – We used to use those sleeping bag pads, but on this trip we decided to bring our air mattress and it made an amazing difference! 
• Sheets – It’s too hot for a sleeping bag. Don’t bother bringing it. 
• Pillows
• Flashlights / head lamps – I like head lamps better than flashlights because they free up my hands. 
• Rope
• Lighter / matches
• Camping chairs
• Fire bucket – They don’t have fire pits, so this is a necessity.  If you don’t have one, you can rent one at the campground. 
• Firewood – It is expensive at the campground. 
• Kitchen Tongs
• Plates/cups/utensils
• Paper towels

Food/Cooler:

• Frozen pizza log – This is such an easy and tasty camping dinner. Just use canned pizza dough, unroll it, add sauce and toppings, roll it up, wrap it in aluminum foil, and freeze it. Keep it in your cooler all day, and then throw is in the coals of your fire when you are hungry for dinner. Turn it every once in while. 
• S’mores stuff – Can’t go camping without this classic dessert of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. 
• Fruit (grapes, apples)
• Water – Bring more than you think you will need. I usually freeze a gallon jug and stick it in the cooler as ice and emergency water. 
• Drinks
• Cheetos
• Bagels/cream cheese – I love cooking pancakes and bacon on the fire, but it is just too hot here (unless it is in the middle of winter) to get the fire going in the morning. 
• Granola bars
• You will of course want to bring more food (hot dogs, etc) if you are staying for more than one night. 

This post contains affiliate link(s), which means that we receive a small commission if you make a purchase using this link. The money helps support the upkeep of this website.

Follow Our Adventures