Talk to Me About Car Camping

[marble_faun]

Hello everyone!

I am interested in getting into car camping.  I have done a lot of backwoods hiking/backpacking camping before, but never have I camped with a car.

I have a mental image of hitting the road for a month or two in the summer, just cruising through America with my husband and our small child, stopping for the night in different state/national parks and other scenic locations.

We would rather not get a special trailer or RV, but would plan to pack a large tent (big enough to stand up and walk around in).  Maybe 1-2 nights per week we would check into a motel or B&B just to regroup and do laundry, etc.

Has anyone else done something like this?  What kinds of equipment did you have?  What did you do when the weather got bad (stormy or too hot)?

What are the car campsites like?  Are people generally quiet and respectful or can we expect a party atmosphere? (Are certain types of sites quieter than others?)

Will it be worth it to camp as opposed to just staying in hotels all the time?  Cost is only part of our thinking here - I also just want to be in nature and enjoy the outdoors.

Would love to hear about other peoples' experiences and get your suggestions!  We may attempt some car camping next summer, and it would be good to get a sense of what to expect.

[Jenny Wren]

I backpack and car camp a lot, but mainly just in WA state. A few things I advise:

* Sleep comfy. Inflatable mattresses or cots. We prefer a foot pump rather than dealing with dead batteries from an electric pump. Fitted sheets over the mattresses, camping quilt on top. Bring a pillow and avoid mattress with the uncomfortable "pillow bump."

* Get a tent with an included porch, especially with kids. Good to have an area to wipe them down and store muddy shoes that isn't in the tent.

* Our tent has a covered and screened porch attached to it, big enough for tables and chairs. If yours doesn't, then get a popup canopy. Perfect for cooking and playing under when it rains. It will rain, bring simple games and activities.

* Never, ever camp near the bathroom house. Sure, it feels convenient but the bright lights and noise all night long, along with everyone tromping through your site, is awful.

* Have a good cook kit to fit your camp cooking style. I like to keep things simple and not cook a lot when camping -- homemade "just add water" backpacking meals, and easy canned foods and boxed dinners. The most cooking I do is breakfast eggs and coffee. For us, a simple Coleman multi-fuel two burner stove, a french press, a pot and a frying pan, are plenty to get by. We have a mess bin with dividers that holds all plates/flatware/cooking implements. Out dish kit is two tubs, a scrubbie, a nylon dish scraber, dish towels, and biodegradable camp suds (we don't use disposable plates/flatware). All this is compact and I can set up the kitchen and dish area in minutes. We then have a small cooler for the cold drinks and a few things that do better cold, and a plastic tub for the "dry pantry."

* If sitting around a firepit is important to you, then invest in a propane firepit if you will be traveling in the western US/CA.

* Most state and NPS campsites in WA are pretty quiet, except for major holidays. Army Corps and NF sites can vary depending on how much the camp host cares. YMMV elsewhere. 10pm quiet hours tend to be respected. If you want more quiet, then pick the sites you have to walk into (usually listed as tent only sites. You have to carry your gear 100 yards or so from car to campsite).

* Always look at the camp map when picking a site. If people walking near/through the site is an issue for you, then avoid any near the trails that lead to beaches/play areas/hiking trails/etc. We like to find sites that are on the outside of the camping loops so that they don't backup to another campsite or road.

* Bring a clothesline and an extra tarp. For those sites that end up being a bit too open for comfort, you can make an impromptu curtain for more privacy.

[Fishindude]

Sounds like a great plan and a bunch of fun.   There are an awful lot of really nice state parks to stay in very affordably.

A big tent you can walk around in is a necessity and I like cots, rather than sleeping on the floor.   Also nice to have a chair in tent to sit in putting shoes on, etc.
I'm a big fan of the the little Coleman single or double burner Butane stoves.  Light real easy and burn a nice hot fire, single burner is only $25ish, can of fuel is good for 4 hours or more.
Not a fan of the collapsible "bag chairs", find them uncomfortable.

[Uturn]

* no air mattresses when it is cold. The air takes on ambient temperature and can suck the heat right our of you body.  I use a roll up camp mattress from Cabelas when it is too cold for the air mattress.  However, air mattresses are nice!

* build a chuck box.  Get a tool chest like this and put your kitchen stuff in it.  Always packed, just grab and go. Make sure it is lockable to keep critters out.  Mine more often than not, has racoon prints on it in the morning. https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200724315_200724315

* have a way to secure your cooler from critters.  A ratchet strap works fine.

* not all campsites have covered tables.  Get a 10x10 freestanding awning.  A card game with the family during a pop up shower can be pleasant.  Sitting in a cramped and stuffy tent is not.

* resist the urge to buy a bunch of gear that you think you will need.  Just a time or two our will let you know what you are missing.

[omachi]

I've never gone for quite that long, so I can't speak to the in and out of hotels aspect. Car camping is a good way to spend a lot less money than staying at hotels. State park reservations here in MN are $20-25 per night. But they also fill up fast, require a park pass, and charge a fee to make the reservation online or by phone, so it can be a hassle to get a site and a little more expensive depending on length of stay in one place. State forests are cheaper but don't allow reservations, which is good and bad. Hard to plan ahead, but a little less likely you won't get a site because they were all reserved 120 days ago.

Typically you can have all the niceties that you don't get to bring along on a longer backpacking trip. Big tents, screened in areas, comfy chairs, coolers, multi-burner stoves, specialty cooking tools and cast iron pans, more lighting, and on and on. That's the nice thing about having all that car space. I've never found a trailer or the like to be necessary for a small group, a hatchback is plenty. But it also means that if you're thinking about changing sites nightly then you'll have to tear all that down and repack it. So perhaps consider if you want to spend a few nights in one spot, rather than just stopping for the night. Also not sure about your road trip style, but I would find breaking camp, driving, setting up camp, seeing whatever is around, cooking, cleaning up, sleeping, and repeating for a month to be exhausting. I'd highly prefer to break camp, drive a long distance and use the proposed hotel, drive some more the next day, and set up camp again for a while, mixing hiking with car trips to whatever is in the area.

At least in the state parks I'm familiar with, the car campsites are reasonably nice. There will be one or two places to pitch a tent that are level, well cleared, and at a slightly higher elevation than the rest of the site, which is important if it's really wet. They're private enough, trees or some sort of foliage to screen between sites. This won't stop noise, but people generally quiet down at 10 or so, or you can ask people to be quiet with varied results. The sites are connected to hiking trails, which makes it easy to go for a hike and be in nature.

Like with backpacking, I'd recommend working out what gear you need and want ahead of a longer trip. Start minimally and add to it. Go for a couple weekends or overnights this year and figure out what works for you before planning a month or more of it next summer.

[cannotWAIT]

My only contribution to this thread is to warn you to be flexible if you're planning to do this in July, August, or the first part of September in the western US. We have had more days than not when we couldn't leave the house this year so you may unexpectedly find yourself on the run from smoke or needing to stay in a hotel.

[bacchi]

We did a 3 month car camping road trip a few years ago across the States and Canada.


* We also have a 2 burner Coleman stove. Bulky as shit but it's great when you need 2 pots going at once.
* Look into a state's annual pass if you plan to be there for a while. Some state passes become worth it with only a few stays. (I remember the NM pass being especially valuable.)
* A National Parks/Parks Canada annual pass may also be a good idea.
* Stay away from state parks near cities on the weekends. They'll be loud and crowded. The major US National Parks are of course always crowded during the summer.
* Don't forget about US Forest land. They sometimes have developed campsites too.

We got a few hotel credit cards before we left and stayed at hotels using points when it was raining or we just felt grungy. It worked out well.

[sonofsven]

Your idea is a great one, you'll have lots of fun. With a young family we used to do the same thing, go camp, sometimes dry camp off grid, for days, car based, and on the way home home stay in a nice privately owned campground (I found the private campgrounds-as opposed to state parks and such- were often better maintained, with camp stores, laundry, etc).

The fifth day wet slushly cooler with open bags of bread and jars of mustard and such is about the biggest challenge. And coming from backpacking, you can now carry axes, shovels, huge tents, cans of food (!).

I've always been partial to the "free public land campsite consists of  fire ring made of piled up rocks, and shell casings" style, but tempering that with a recovery night or two (preferably mid week and cheaper) at a hotel, especially with a pool,  you get the best of both worlds. And you can clean your gear, re stock your cooler, maybe there's a car wash nearby, and a bathroom is nice.

[LovinPSDs]

One nomad trick I've heard is getting a planet fitness membership.. 10.99 a month and nation wide hot showers!! Sometimes a place like a PF can be nicer than a junky bathhouse.

Good luck to you!!

[deborah]

I've done a bit of solo car camping, and more recently, I've been doing it with a friend for several days each month. We like remote parks with small camping areas, but those also tend to be places with pit toilets and no showers or water. For a few days, these types of campgrounds in remote national parks, are absolutely glorious - rarely are there other people around, and we have the entire campground to ourselves. When I go on longer trips, I tend to stop at a town campground or a hotel for a couple of nights in between. This allows me to do my washing, have showers, and stock up. I make sure that anywhere I want to stay has washing facilities, and that tends to reduce the price - the more fancy a hotel is, the fewer facilities they seem to have for doing your own washing.

We tend to use a dutch oven for most of our cooking, and use normal food. Because I do this in quite remote areas, it's important to have enough food and water with me in case of emergency. Once, my gearbox lost its sump plug in the middle of nowhere. Someone came along eight hours later, but that road is extremely remote, and people have been stranded on it for a couple of weeks. For emergency use, I have tins of food that don't go off, and don't need extra water like dehydrated food does - they take up a similar amount of space, and aren't as fragile and weight doesn't really matter when you're car camping. But, most of the time I use fruit and vegetables that can be stored unrefrigerated for a while for later days of the trip, and more perishable stuff for the first couple of days.

When I'm solo, I sleep in my car, and have a mattress the exact size of half the back. I keep everything in the car with me at night. If a bunch of hooligans ever came, I could make a quick getaway, but that's never happened. When we go away together, I camp in a tent, that I can stand up in. My friend has a swag. When it rains, all the stuff can fit in the tent with me, and we can sit under the awning watching the rain.

[Zamboni]

I'm a less-is-more camper.

Even so:
I recommend a small hand broom and dustpan . . . even if you don't wear shoes in the tent or have a dog, debris gets in.

Laundry facilities in hotels on the edges of big parks will be busy, and the clothes dryers often don't work great, so realize that process will take longer than planned sometimes. Be ready to hang clothing up to let that last bit of moisture dry out even on your hotel days.

Tents are only going to be fun in lighter rain. In heavier rain, can you sleep in your vehicle? Out west where it is dry, you can just throw over a tarp and sleep through rain (similar to when backpacking with no tent), but that just doesn't work as well in more humid climates.

There is some social aspect to many campgrounds. Little kids playing. . . people walking dogs . . . people walking around inviting you to their morning prayer circle . . . sometimes loud people who've had a little too much to drink . . . people with intentionally loud vehicles or music. Whether or not you like that depends upon your mood and disposition. Personally I'm happier not seeing anyone most of the time when I'm camping, but that's easier said than done in the summer. Campgrounds are way, way less private than deep woods backpacking or getting a hotel.

[Loren Ver]

Done different types of camping, some tenting when younger and now sleeping in a van since we don't have to set up the tent (can sleep in some rest stops and developed areas) and it acts as a hard side for bear areas where you can't have tents. 

We have found campground to be very friendly places with generally friendly people.  We car camped down the Florida keys and it was wonderful.  Car camped out from the Midwest to Yellowstone too.  That is where we encountered areas that you needed a hard side to camp near the park so we had to leave the area to find tent safe areas.  Camped Midwest areas over holiday weekends at some parks big and small.  The parks get full, but camping people are generally a friendlier breed of people.  People generally respect quiet times.

When we need to do laundry and need a "day off" we usually pick a better developed camp ground like KOA.  They generally have laundry, and can have pools, sports areas, some serve breakfasts on weekends, but don't have hotel prices.  Just an option if you don't want the hotel experience. 

We use the two burner coleman as well.  I like it, it does the job.  We have a few old pans that we designated camping pans.  I had DH cut one of the handles shorter on one of them so it would fit our bin of pans better.  Picking a set where the lids are all the same size has really helped, now I really only bring one lid.  We aren't too big into buying specialty equipment.

During big storms, we just went to the car and waited it out.  It was HOT, but safe.  Beautiful to watch through the windshield. 

Loren

[youngwildandfree]

We have done this, but I'm also posting to follow because we did it badly. We are talking about trying it again, and here are some bad memories that might help you avoid mistakes:

1) Don't try to drive too far + set up camp the same day. Driving a long ways can make you tired and grumpy, and if you aren't certain where you are going it will inevitably be raining when you get there.

2) Don't just google campsites and expect to arrive at a nice outdoor park setting. Some campsites, particularly privately run sites in urban areas, are gross backyard puddles filled with long term campers that will have zero interest in interacting with you. Campsites at national or state parks are nicer, but you can still expect them to be a little crowded, particularly if you are used to backwoods camping. It's very different.

3) It sounds romantic to just decide each day if you want to camp/drive/do a B&B, but in practice we found this mentally exhausting. Particularly with a kid I would plan out at least the next 5-7 days including where you are going, what you are eating, who you are stopping to see, etc.

4) If you plan on stopping at a B&B or hotel to rest and re-group, pay close attention to reviews and don't be afraid to splurge a little. It sucks to have your "rest" day end up including bedbugs, unsafe neighborhoods, or no wifi.

[Dicey]

Paging @Mr. Green and @Exflyboy.

[Sandi_k]

We've car-camped for years. Started out with tents, and evolved to buying a van. For the second van, we cut off the roof and added a fiberglass van top that allows my DH to stand up in it.

Our comfort additions through the years:

- A blowup mattress fails regularly. So we bought a Qn size foam futon that folds into thirds. Easy to stow, and when unfolded, it fits snugly between the van's wheel wells. The cover is removable and machine washable.

- Sleeping bags that zip together, OR unzip completely, and can be used as sheet and blanket.

- Ikea has fantastic carry bags in which we shove our towels, or sleeping bags (one per), pillows, and wet/dirty clothes. They are sold as garage organizers, but they are perfect for camping. Google "IKEA Dimpa" - Amazon has them, too.

- We have three stackable clear boxes for camping/weekends away that have helped our prep enormously:

1) Our "camping" box (batteries, rope, camp ax, flares, oil, camping stove (yes to the propane canister stoves!), camping pots/pans, tablecloth for the campsite picnic table, butane fire lighter.

2)  Our "kitchen" box -  collapsible trash can, dish soap, sponge, salt/pepper, knives, cutting board, Ziploc bags, coffee cone and filters...

3) Our "jetski" box: spare water shoes, life vests, spray wax, towels, sunscreen, bug spray.

Each of the three is loaded in from the rear of the van, and are easy to download once we get there, so we can set up the futon and sleeping bags quickly in the dark. It also means that when we pack to go on a trip, we know what's in each box, and we don't have to take that box if, for instance, we're not camping, but renting a cabin.

FYI, our experience of campgrounds is mixed. Some have some pretty shady characters in them. One reason we went to a van is that we were at a CA campsite in the north part of the state, and some campers started shooting guns at night. We felt pretty friggin' vulnerable, and didn't camp again for some time. We later decided that private campgrounds, and campgrounds around active lakes were better - busier, and more hands on management. I would be hesitant these days to go super-remote. Staying within cell phone range feels comforting, even if it means we aren't in the back of beyond...

[FINate]

Lots of good advice so far. A few things to add:

Some air mattresses designed for car camping are insulated quite well. If you're going for any length of time, the Exped MegaMat (https://www.rei.com/product/171123/exped-megamat-max-15-sleeping-pad) is well worth the money. Incredibly comfy and insulated, yet rolls up relatively small. Also very durable.

Don't expect to pull up to a campground on a whim in a beautiful area (NPS or similar) and get a site during the high season (usually Memorial Day to Labor Day, though different in desert areas). These are in such high demand that you need to start planning your itinerary and reserving sites no later than Dec/Jan, depending on your dates in the summer. Typically, you start booking 6 months in advance. Similar story for motels/B&Bs near popular National Parks. In less popular areas you have more freedom to play it by ear and can usually find a first-come-first-served campsite or motel room.

Also, don't expect a lot of privacy in campgrounds. A few have this, but most have sites crammed close together. RVs running generators all day are annoying. Find tent only campgrounds/areas if you can. Otherwise, just learn to live with it.

RE campground vibe: As others have said, it depends. In/near the National Parks it's usually pretty low key. The popular/busy campgrounds almost always have an on-site Camp Host who keeps an eye on things and enforces quiet hours. Less busy campgrounds w/o a host are a crap-shoot: Sometimes no one there or just a few quiet groups, but other times you'll get a rowdy neighbor who thinks camping is about having a raging party.

One final bit of advice: Carry TP and hand sanitizer in your car. Most campgrounds will have stocked bathrooms, but they often run out of TP. Also, bring a Luggable Loo (https://www.rei.com/product/876179/reliance-luggable-loo-portable-toilet) with a supply of the waste bags, and also your own water (https://www.rei.com/product/618168/reliance-aqua-tainer-7-gal). With these you can usually camp along USFS roads (always check the regulations) if you cannot find other reasonable accommodations. Besides, it's always just a good idea to have water and a bathroom handy while driving around in wild areas.

[Exflyboy]

I have car camped for many years but honestly I am done with camp sites.

DW has pretty bad asthma and its a crap shoot because chances are everyone and their dog will have a camp fire.. In recent years camps sites in Oregon have become way over crowded and expensive.. like $30/night in some places.

So we just bought an SUV and spent our first night on a Forest service road (with the appropriate yearly pass of course). Now we can camp wherever and have some security, even rest stops/truck stops when needed.

My biggest piece of advice so far is "pack it in and pack it out". We literally picked up a trash bag full of coke cans and other crap that people had simply dumped in this beautiful spot. Way to go if you want the Government to ban all camping on BLM and Forests!

People are animals generally speaking.

[JungYo]

I've car-camped for many years (primarily only where 4x4's can go). Along with all of the other fantastic advice, one thing I acquired several years ago has been The Best Thing Ever: a dual-voltage fridge.

I have an Engel 35qt which is plenty enough for me for several days; and is a great companion for our beach trips to Outer Banks. I have done auxiliary wiring off the battery in each vehicle I've had to support the Engel; and find that if I drive any appreciable amount every 2-3 days, it never runs down the car battery.

This has literally been a game-changer: no more ice, no more soggy things, the little wire baskets allow us to keep condiments and fruit easily accessible, it just makes each trip more enjoyable and completely eliminates a worry. It requires just about the same size as an equivalent Yeti or whatever.

I have camped in some truly off-the-grid spots and NF/NP sites and find most people are courteous. However, I will also say we were primitive camping in the Geo Washington NF along the VA/WV border and at 2AM, some yahoos came up the trail. They saw our out-of-state plates, got out and started harassing us. One of the guys I was with asked them to leave a few times, then I heard his gun slide and he said "I just chambered a .45, got 9 more in the clip, if I come out of this tent I'm coming out firing." The goons promptly left.

[Exflyboy]

I have camped in some truly off-the-grid spots and NF/NP sites and find most people are courteous. However, I will also say we were primitive camping in the Geo Washington NF along the VA/WV border and at 2AM, some yahoos came up the trail. They saw our out-of-state plates, got out and started harassing us. One of the guys I was with asked them to leave a few times, then I heard his gun slide and he said "I just chambered a .45, got 9 more in the clip, if I come out of this tent I'm coming out firing." The goons promptly left.

Jeez!.. Honestly this is my biggest fear and DW is extremely anti firearm. It will only take one scary incident and car camping in the NF/BLM will be history.

[Sandi_k]

I've car-camped for many years (primarily only where 4x4's can go). Along with all of the other fantastic advice, one thing I acquired several years ago has been The Best Thing Ever: a dual-voltage fridge.

Yes, thanks! I forgot to note that we finally bought a van fridge - an ARB. It's been great, but DH has had to fix it a time or two. For a three day camp in heat, we use the fridge, PLUS ice - it keeps the creamer for my morning coffee cold, along with the salsa for the chips in the evening.  ;)

Since it has a drain in the bottom, we can drain out the extra melted ice easily at the end of the trip.

[DaMa]

PTF.

[Steeze]

Have had some luck car camping in various National forest campgrounds, but generally speaking, I would recommend hitting a forest service road deep into the wilderness and parking off to the side. Then walk just far enough off the road so you aren’t disturbed if there is an occasional passerby and it isn’t inconvenient to unload the car. Make sure you pick a spot that has a beautiful view. I made it through a couple months in college like this while I was in between housing. +1 for planet fitness membership. Many truck stops have showers and laundry too, loves is a chain that has them.

Campgrounds usually have some parties in my experience. Kids go to sleep and the parents stay up drinking around the fire until they are hammered. Can be annoying sometimes, but never had any issues with people being confrontational or anything.

I also just slept in my car here and there on various trips - if you can have a van or something that can sleep the family on a pinch it makes a big difference. You can sleep in any Walmart parking lot, they have 24/7 bathrooms and cheap food. Cops have made me leave “scenic view” areas and hotel parking lots before, so stick with Walmart and legit rest stops.

Stay off the interstate, take the scenic route, take as many detours as you can. Don’t drive too many miles in a day. Have fun! By the end of my 20s I had driven all of the lower 48 and have been to dozens of national parks all over the place. Road trips are awesome, even by yourself. Best advice, slow down! Plan a few days in each place if you can. I have to re-do a bunch of places because I just had time to drive through, or stay for one night.

[Dicey]

Have had some luck car camping in various National forest campgrounds, but generally speaking, I would recommend hitting a forest service road deep into the wilderness and parking off to the side. Then walk just far enough off the road so you aren’t disturbed if there is an occasional passerby and it isn’t inconvenient to unload the car. Make sure you pick a spot that has a beautiful view. I made it through a couple months in college like this while I was in between housing. +1 for planet fitness membership. Many truck stops have showers and laundry too, loves is a chain that has them.

Campgrounds usually have some parties in my experience. Kids go to sleep and the parents stay up drinking around the fire until they are hammered. Can be annoying sometimes, but never had any issues with people being confrontational or anything.

I also just slept in my car here and there on various trips - if you can have a van or something that can sleep the family on a pinch it makes a big difference. You can sleep in any Walmart parking lot, they have 24/7 bathrooms and cheap food. Cops have made me leave “scenic view” areas and hotel parking lots before, so stick with Walmart and legit rest stops.

Stay off the interstate, take the scenic route, take as many detours as you can. Don’t drive too many miles in a day. Have fun! By the end of my 20s I had driven all of the lower 48 and have been to dozens of national parks all over the place. Road trips are awesome, even by yourself. Best advice, slow down! Plan a few days in each place if you can. I have to re-do a bunch of places because I just had time to drive through, or stay for one night.

More and more Wal-Marts have banned overnight stays, mostly due to pressures from the municipalities they're located in. Don't assume it's okay. OTOH, Cracker Barrel Restaurants still welcome overnight through travelers. It never hurts to call and confirm.

[Fishindude]

Stay off the interstate, take the scenic route, take as many detours as you can. Don’t drive too many miles in a day. Have fun! By the end of my 20s I had driven all of the lower 48 and have been to dozens of national parks all over the place. Road trips are awesome, even by yourself. Best advice, slow down! Plan a few days in each place if you can. I have to re-do a bunch of places because I just had time to drive through, or stay for one night.

This is great advice.
Did a 3500 mile road trip with a buddy like this last fall and only about 200 miles of it was on four lane highways.
If you want to really see the country, you need to get off the interstates and slow down.

[FLBiker]

We've recently started car camping as a family (I did a fair bit of solo backpacking).  As mentioned, we like a two burner stove.  It's big but really useful.  I also like the idea of a screen enclosure for the picnic table, but we haven't actually gotten one yet.

As far as campgrounds, we've found that provincial parks (the Canadian equivalent of state parks) have been great, but private campgrounds can be noisy and overcrowded.

[Mr. Green]

I had written this big long reply the other day and then noticed you said you have a small child, which changes everything, so I didn't post it.

You mentioned a large tent. Is it your intention to always be camping in a tent? That changes everything too. Trying to sleep 2 adults and a child in a vehicle greatly limits what vehicles can accommodate that, but it's still doable!

Campgrounds vs. hotels is still a no brainer for me. We've paid $10-20/night at campgrounds with no running water and vault toilets. We've paid $30-45/night at campgrounds with running water, toilets, and showers. Right now on the West Coast it's very difficult to find a decent hotel under $150-200/night. We cannot live out of hotels at that rate, and even developed campgrounds are getting pricey for a "living on the road" type situation.

We trend more toward free options out west because Bureau of Land Management land and Forest Service land is plentiful there and many places have free camping. You'll need to be comfortable pooping in the wild though, or have some kind of toilet solution if you're not. Though we've spent probably 90-120 nights in the bush over the last 3 years and we have yet to need a cathole. If you're moving around a bit, bathrooms are everywhere and your body gets really good at subconsciously saving your bowel movements for when they are nearby. I certainly wouldn't be caught without some emergency poop bags or something just in case.

If camping in free areas, we will always avoid high traffic spots. We had a bad experience one night when we were inexperienced and didn't realize this. Sometimes yahoos like to do a little drinking and shoot some guns. Shooting is allowed on BLM land in places. There are typically quite a few places to camp in an area so finding a spot where cars aren't driving by at night isn't usually too hard.

Make sure you keep bear spray nearby. If you had a problem of any kind, human or bear, it's the best defense. Guns are illegal in a lot of places and unless you're experienced it can just be more dangerous. Bear spray shoots 30 feet and hangs in the air like a cloud. Very effective at deterring aggressive animals.

If you are trying to sleep in your car, you'll want a small decoy tent. Many of the free campsites are first come first serve and popular locations start filling up in the evenings. You can put up a tent to hold your spot and know you'll have it that night. If you're moving around frequently, constantly putting up and taking down a big tent you're not actually sleeping in gets old fast.

We tend to avoid reservation-based campgrounds these days because we like spontonaeity and those places are always full of you wait until the last minute. We've never had a bad experience in any campground. Occasionally someone will be playing music too late into the night but campground hosts usually nip that in the bud.

I've found the process to be very much a learn-as-you-go experience. Over the last three years our experience has informed us what kind of camping we gravitate toward and how much convenience we need. Don't expect to nail this right out of the gate or you're likely to come away frustrated.

[jeninco]

We did a ton of both backpacking and car camping (primarily in western Colorado/Eastern Utah) before we had our first kid, and in a fit of new-parent panic we bought a VW Euro-van when he was three months old.

I gotta say, it worked out really well. But that was a potentially unusual case where we knew what we intended to do with it, and were able to continue to do so.

Other thoughts:
Definitely find a box/mess kit/whatever to pack the camp kitchen. We have a plastic bin that holds pots, a pan, cooking utensils, plates, bowls, mugs, flatware, sponge, dr bronner's soap in a little squeeze bottle ... basically every single thing you'll need to cook everything you're intending to cook. Wash everything in it when you get home and re-pack: having this ready to grab when you decide to go really lowers the barrier to getting out.

We also liked the Coleman 2-burner. You can make hot water for coffee at the same time as oatmeal. Speaking of coffee, do you know that Nissan makes a thermal French press? Doesn't get cold instantly, like the glass ones do, and won't break if you knock it over.

Small kids will get dirty and/or wet. The weather will get cold. Pack at least an extra set of clothing. Similarly, pack "signaling" clothing: if the kid knows that pjs mean it's bedtime, make you life easy and take pjs.

We also preferred camping off BLM roads: there are usually informal camping sites that are already a bit trodden down, but for your first few trips I'd recommend going to established campgrounds. Use a toilet, rather than learning about digging a cathole. (Oh yeah -- but if you're toilet training a kid, I'd suggest taking along one of those kid-sized toilet seats that fits over a regular-sized one. We skied into a hut with one one winter, but you're in a car so it's easy!)

Absolutely make sure you take everything you brought, and a bit more. We always travel with a box of kitchen trash bags: one winds up being for crushed cans (cough, cough), one is for trash, including the stuff we pick up.

If you're packing a cooler for a 4-5 day trip, one thing you can do is fill larger yogurt containers with water and freeze them. Big ice blocks, which are contained, so you can drink the water when it's melted.

In general, try it out before you buy much.

[wick]

I've found Paul Magnanti's blog to an invaluable resource for all things frugal outdoors advice. While not explicitly mustachian, his advice is very compatible. I've pasted a link for folks to check out below.
https://pmags.com/tag/car-camping

Speaking personally, the best piece of advice I would give is just give it a try! Like just get some stuff go! Part of my work involves outdoor guiding and camping with underserved youth, many of whom have never been on a hike of any kind, let alone camping. Some of the most common feedback I get from beginners is that they didn't realize how easy it is to do until you're out there!

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

[FINate]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

I've done it many times. Anything in particular you'd like to know? It's great fun and the kids love it, not at all difficult. Pick a quiet campground with enforced quiet hours. Go to bed with the kids which will probably be far earlier than your usual bedtime, but you'll likely be up at first light. Somewhat close to the bathrooms (but not too close!) is useful.

[NorCal]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

Camping with kids is easier than you expect. I’m some ways, kids are more adaptable than grownups.  My oldest has been camping since she was 18 months.  We just brought our kids (now 3 and 7) on a weeklong trip through the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier this summer.

You need the basics covered including a place for them to sleep, food, and whatever random kid supplies are appropriate for their age.

The one logistical complication with kids is their stuff takes up more room, and you can’t store stuff in the backseat the way you could without kids. It’s a solvable problem, but you do have to prioritize your packing list if you don’t have a big car. In our case, we only have a limited food menu and enough food for 1-2 days at a time.

[Zamboni]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

They will want to "build" a camp fire and toast marshmallows and/or hot dogs. So take those things along with something to poke them on to roast them (we bought some telescoping forks from the camping section of walmart). please make sure you have one stick for each child. Bring graham crackers and chocolate bars as well for S'mores. Get the fire going well before it is dark.

Obviously only use approved fire pits and only build fires in areas where it's not a wildfire danger. Little kids are impatient, and not at all very good at gathering dry firewood.  Unless you want to make a long project of gathering kindling and firewood, I recommend just taking along a duraflame log or at least one of the fire starters they sell at the grocery store. You also might want to bring with you or buy a little bit of properly dried fire wood . . . again, dry enough wood can be hard to find, especially around busy campsites. Hilariously, based upon listening to the family camping next to us on our most recently trip, I need to tell you that matches and/or a lighter are NOT included in the fire starter brick you buy at the grocery store. So, yeah, bring something to light the fire with. Duh. Definitely take a small shovel to put dirt on the fire afterwards to make sure it is fully extinguished (if there are any visible glows, it is NOT out!)

Little kids also like scavenger hunts during camping trips. You can make them into two teams and have a list of things for them to find like a 6 inch stick, an 8 pound rock, a pine cone, an oak leaf, a maple leaf, etc. based upon what is around you. That gives you a chance to teach them about the local plants (and animals if you are brave enough to put things like a live lizard or a live frog on the list . . . it's probably much better to give each team a camera and put "photo of a live lizard, photo of a bird, photo of an insect" etc. on the list.)

[stoaX]

I've found Paul Magnanti's blog to an invaluable resource for all things frugal outdoors advice. While not explicitly mustachian, his advice is very compatible. I've pasted a link for folks to check out below.
https://pmags.com/tag/car-camping

Speaking personally, the best piece of advice I would give is just give it a try! Like just get some stuff go! Part of my work involves outdoor guiding and camping with underserved youth, many of whom have never been on a hike of any kind, let alone camping. Some of the most common feedback I get from beginners is that they didn't realize how easy it is to do until you're out there!

Thanks for the link to Paul Mags website.  Looks worth spending a little time there.

[sixwings]

1) Learn to set up a good taught line for tarps when it's raining. You'll want it over your tent, your cooking area, and probably your fire/hang out area.
2) Organization is key. Be organized. Seriously, organization. I have big bins for all the different categories of stuff I have and those bins have inventory lists on them that I change as stuff runs out. So like one bin is my cooking stuff, so it has the cooking stove and gas, pots, pans, salt, pepper, cooking utensils, olive oil, aluminum foil, dish soap, wash cloths etc. Another bin is eating equipment, cups, plates, bowls, seasonings, non-refidgerated condiments/dressings, another bins is campground equipment with the tent, sleeping bags, mattresses, laterns, etc. These bins all have inventory checklists on the top so that I can easily see what it's in it or not. Like when I run out of aluminum foil I then uncheck it and next time I do an inventory it's really easy for me to see what I have and what I need to get more of. It also makes breaking camp and packing the car, and unloading and setting up camp a breeze. All the different bins go to the areas where they will be used, there's no searching through piles of loose crap in the car, etc. It also makes things like cooking really easy because again I know where everything is. God help anyone who puts something in the wrong bin.
3) If you get a gas firepit be aware that they dont burn as cleanly and you shouldnt cook marshmellows or hot dogs etc over them.
4) When packing clothing, I like to start at my feet and pack things for my feet moving up my body. So first in goes socks, shoes, etc, then pants, shorts, etc. I never forget anything doing this.
5) I generally much prefer paid campgrounds, I find that the level of neighbour shenanigans are far less. I find forestry sites and free campgrounds get a lot more younger people drinking parties that go on all night. Usually paid campgrounds have quiet time after 10-11pm and rangers or employees that enforce it, at least a bit. I'm willing to pay for that.
6) Have a massive jug for water. I think the one I have is big and blue and like 10 gallons or something, it has a spout so I use it for drinking water, washing hands, doing dishes, etc.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

I've done it many times. Anything in particular you'd like to know? It's great fun and the kids love it, not at all difficult. Pick a quiet campground with enforced quiet hours. Go to bed with the kids which will probably be far earlier than your usual bedtime, but you'll likely be up at first light. Somewhat close to the bathrooms (but not too close!) is useful.

Thanks! I am curious/nervous about pretty much everything, lol. Keeping them entertained (they're not screen junkies but do watch some). They like to hike, play in creeks, etc. With multiple kids, it's not going to be feasible or at least easy to sleep in the car, although it could be done. They usually crash no later than 9. I like the enforced quiet hours. They wouldn't do well with tons of noise at all hours of the night. We would definitely be up at first light with at least one of them. I guess just any tips or thoughts. The staying in one place is a little daunting even if there's hiking there. We've only had vacations we stay in one place at the beach before, and there's the beach and usually a pool at the house we rent to stay in.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

Camping with kids is easier than you expect. I’m some ways, kids are more adaptable than grownups.  My oldest has been camping since she was 18 months.  We just brought our kids (now 3 and 7) on a weeklong trip through the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier this summer.

You need the basics covered including a place for them to sleep, food, and whatever random kid supplies are appropriate for their age.

The one logistical complication with kids is their stuff takes up more room, and you can’t store stuff in the backseat the way you could without kids. It’s a solvable problem, but you do have to prioritize your packing list if you don’t have a big car. In our case, we only have a limited food menu and enough food for 1-2 days at a time.

We have a van, but even then, you're right, it's space is limited (although we do have a smallish attachment for the top to carry things). How do you do the sleeping? Do you have everyone stay in one large tent or break it apart? Also, that sounds like an amazing trip!

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

They will want to "build" a camp fire and toast marshmallows and/or hot dogs. So take those things along with something to poke them on to roast them (we bought some telescoping forks from the camping section of walmart). please make sure you have one stick for each child. Bring graham crackers and chocolate bars as well for S'mores. Get the fire going well before it is dark.

Obviously only use approved fire pits and only build fires in areas where it's not a wildfire danger. Little kids are impatient, and not at all very good at gathering dry firewood.  Unless you want to make a long project of gathering kindling and firewood, I recommend just taking along a duraflame log or at least one of the fire starters they sell at the grocery store. You also might want to bring with you or buy a little bit of properly dried fire wood . . . again, dry enough wood can be hard to find, especially around busy campsites. Hilariously, based upon listening to the family camping next to us on our most recently trip, I need to tell you that matches and/or a lighter are NOT included in the fire starter brick you buy at the grocery store. So, yeah, bring something to light the fire with. Duh. Definitely take a small shovel to put dirt on the fire afterwards to make sure it is fully extinguished (if there are any visible glows, it is NOT out!)

Little kids also like scavenger hunts during camping trips. You can make them into two teams and have a list of things for them to find like a 6 inch stick, an 8 pound rock, a pine cone, an oak leaf, a maple leaf, etc. based upon what is around you. That gives you a chance to teach them about the local plants (and animals if you are brave enough to put things like a live lizard or a live frog on the list . . . it's probably much better to give each team a camera and put "photo of a live lizard, photo of a bird, photo of an insect" etc. on the list.)

Thanks for the ideas on a fire. That sounds like a practical idea we would definitely need to implement. I'm pretty sure I would have brought matches, but I'm always up for any advice you might have :-). Thanks for the ideas about a scavenger hunt! I think my kids would love that.

Question for you or anyone - is there a good solid tent brand of choice you have? If you get a larger tent is it going to be significantly difficult to put up? Any other tent things someone who's never had a tent would need to know?

Thanks for all of the advice!

[Zamboni]

I personally think that the dome-style tents are the quickest and easiest to put up, but that's just been my experience. A tent is something you can spend a TON of money on if you go for Gortex . . . . but you are not planning to scale K2 here, so it's fine to get a cheap Coleman or something else reasonably priced. My tent is small so I can't give advice on a specific family-sized model. The kids would be quite happy to have you put a tent up in the living room for practice, lol.

I do think you should buy a tent new, not used, because the newer ones are often easier to erect and with a used one you run the risk that it will be musty if put away wet.

Get a big sturdy tarp to put on the ground underneath of it . . . and be very sure that you are not putting it on low ground that becomes the puddle if it rains.

Camping is not very hard. Just decide to go with the flow and you will have fun. Based upon the other posts, it's clear to me that I don't cook as much as some of the people here. I have a tiny single burner with butane canisters that I mostly use to heat up water for things like tea or  oatmeal or a noodle cup. Other than that I make quick and easy stuff that doesn't require cooking like gorp or cheese/sausage/crackers or sandwiches or apples/oranges or grilled hotdogs on sticks.

[marble_faun]

OP here! 

THANK YOU everyone for the advice and thoughts.  It's extremely helpful and interesting to hear about different peoples' experiences. I am taking notes!

On the topic of security, do y'all tend to leave all your stuff set up at the site if you need to drive into town for a few hours?  Maybe pack up valuables but leave the tent?

@FINate : Very intrigued by the Luggable Loo. Does that get emptied whenever you do come to a place with a toilet, or is the idea to bury the contents out somewhere in the backwoods?

@Zamboni : "Gorp" - Thank you for reminding me of this word!  Had not heard that since attending summer camp as a kid.

[2Birds1Stone]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

They will want to "build" a camp fire and toast marshmallows and/or hot dogs. So take those things along with something to poke them on to roast them (we bought some telescoping forks from the camping section of walmart). please make sure you have one stick for each child. Bring graham crackers and chocolate bars as well for S'mores. Get the fire going well before it is dark.

Obviously only use approved fire pits and only build fires in areas where it's not a wildfire danger. Little kids are impatient, and not at all very good at gathering dry firewood.  Unless you want to make a long project of gathering kindling and firewood, I recommend just taking along a duraflame log or at least one of the fire starters they sell at the grocery store. You also might want to bring with you or buy a little bit of properly dried fire wood . . . again, dry enough wood can be hard to find, especially around busy campsites. Hilariously, based upon listening to the family camping next to us on our most recently trip, I need to tell you that matches and/or a lighter are NOT included in the fire starter brick you buy at the grocery store. So, yeah, bring something to light the fire with. Duh. Definitely take a small shovel to put dirt on the fire afterwards to make sure it is fully extinguished (if there are any visible glows, it is NOT out!)

Little kids also like scavenger hunts during camping trips. You can make them into two teams and have a list of things for them to find like a 6 inch stick, an 8 pound rock, a pine cone, an oak leaf, a maple leaf, etc. based upon what is around you. That gives you a chance to teach them about the local plants (and animals if you are brave enough to put things like a live lizard or a live frog on the list . . . it's probably much better to give each team a camera and put "photo of a live lizard, photo of a bird, photo of an insect" etc. on the list.)

Pig d*cks and sugar pucks? Surely there's better things to feed the kids ;)

JK. S'mores are fun to make and early onset diabetes will create lasting memories.

[Radagast]

We decided to just use the heaps of older blankets, sheets, and quilts we have laying around, instead of buying anything dedicated. I actually think that is more fun. I recommend a 2, 3, or 4" foam pad over a blow-up for ease and reliability. We did buy an REI Grant Hut 6 Tent, which I am not saying is the optimum, but what is?

Our food set up needs a lot of work, most  of my experience has been backpacking and thus all my food equipment is ultralight.

[Cranky]

OP here! 

THANK YOU everyone for the advice and thoughts.  It's extremely helpful and interesting to hear about different peoples' experiences. I am taking notes!

On the topic of security, do y'all tend to leave all your stuff set up at the site if you need to drive into town for a few hours?  Maybe pack up valuables but leave the tent?

@FINate : Very intrigued by the Luggable Loo. Does that get emptied whenever you do come to a place with a toilet, or is the idea to bury the contents out somewhere in the backwoods?

@Zamboni : "Gorp" - Thank you for reminding me of this word!  Had not heard that since attending summer camp as a kid.

We went car camping this summer with 5 adults and a 5 yo. It was fun! We bought tents at Costco for about $100. 3 of us bought new sleeping bags and pads. We had a good time and will do it again.

The 5yo played with other kids and an assortment of sticks and rocks.

No fires were allowed.

One family had a tent that fit on the top of their van which looked interesting.

We packed up food and valuables when we left (including the stove) but left the tent.

[Zamboni]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

They will want to "build" a camp fire and toast marshmallows and/or hot dogs. So take those things along with something to poke them on to roast them (we bought some telescoping forks from the camping section of walmart). please make sure you have one stick for each child. Bring graham crackers and chocolate bars as well for S'mores. Get the fire going well before it is dark.

Obviously only use approved fire pits and only build fires in areas where it's not a wildfire danger. Little kids are impatient, and not at all very good at gathering dry firewood.  Unless you want to make a long project of gathering kindling and firewood, I recommend just taking along a duraflame log or at least one of the fire starters they sell at the grocery store. You also might want to bring with you or buy a little bit of properly dried fire wood . . . again, dry enough wood can be hard to find, especially around busy campsites. Hilariously, based upon listening to the family camping next to us on our most recently trip, I need to tell you that matches and/or a lighter are NOT included in the fire starter brick you buy at the grocery store. So, yeah, bring something to light the fire with. Duh. Definitely take a small shovel to put dirt on the fire afterwards to make sure it is fully extinguished (if there are any visible glows, it is NOT out!)

Little kids also like scavenger hunts during camping trips. You can make them into two teams and have a list of things for them to find like a 6 inch stick, an 8 pound rock, a pine cone, an oak leaf, a maple leaf, etc. based upon what is around you. That gives you a chance to teach them about the local plants (and animals if you are brave enough to put things like a live lizard or a live frog on the list . . . it's probably much better to give each team a camera and put "photo of a live lizard, photo of a bird, photo of an insect" etc. on the list.)

Pig d*cks and sugar pucks? Surely there's better things to feed the kids ;)

JK. S'mores are fun to make and early onset diabetes will create lasting memories.

Most of the time my kids just eat Halloween candy for dinner, so a hot dog is a big upgrade.

[Dicey]

You Tube is your friend...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBYEQbLDhT8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSJreMMUEbM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2QNNvZ_vmU - Love this guy! Gets you started from scratch for $400.

[FINate]

On the topic of security, do y'all tend to leave all your stuff set up at the site if you need to drive into town for a few hours?  Maybe pack up valuables but leave the tent?

@FINate : Very intrigued by the Luggable Loo. Does that get emptied whenever you do come to a place with a toilet, or is the idea to bury the contents out somewhere in the backwoods?

I generally leave most of my non-valuable stuff at camp. Most of my gear is pretty well used and I leave it somewhat grimy, so not too worried about stuff walking off. No problems so far. But if anything is stolen, it's cheap to replace.

You line the Luggable Loo with double layer waste bags. You can make your own out of garbage bags, or you can by special ones all ready go, some of which contain a powder to turn waste liquids into gel. Generally, you get a few uses at camp, and when full or packing up camp, you seal both layers very well (I also toss into a garbage bag), then you toss 'em in a garbage can.

If space is a concern with the 5 gallon Luggable Loo bucket, there's also a company that makes a fancy folding toilet seat that uses the same waste bags. https://www.rei.com/product/662980/cleanwaste-go-anywhere-portable-toilet-seat Same concept, just packs down a bit smaller.

[mountainmama]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

Snacks, lots of snacks!

We leave UNO cards in our kitchen camping bin. Handy for both waiting for food to cook and in the case of rain.

If your kids are used to hearing a book at night, it's a great wind-down in the tent. We usually have a chapter book I read aloud to them, but picture books work, too.

Also, glow sticks (especially the bracelet or necklace variety) are both a fun treat and will help you find them after dark.

[Dicey]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

Snacks, lots of snacks!

We leave UNO cards in our kitchen camping bin. Handy for both waiting for food to cook and in the case of rain.

If your kids are used to hearing a book at night, it's a great wind-down in the tent. We usually have a chapter book I read aloud to them, but picture books work, too.

Also, glow sticks (especially the bracelet or necklace variety) are both a fun treat and will help you find them after dark.

Skip-Bo and Phase 10 are other UNO type games. Same size deck and easy to pack.

[Sandi_k]

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on car camping/tent camping with multiple smallish children (all toilet trained, all less than 10)?

Snacks, lots of snacks!

We leave UNO cards in our kitchen camping bin. Handy for both waiting for food to cook and in the case of rain.

If your kids are used to hearing a book at night, it's a great wind-down in the tent. We usually have a chapter book I read aloud to them, but picture books work, too.

Also, glow sticks (especially the bracelet or necklace variety) are both a fun treat and will help you find them after dark.

Skip-Bo and Phase 10 are other UNO type games. Same size deck and easy to pack.

Exploding Kittens!

[JLee]

I just got back from two weeks doing that - having a wet tent is really annoying, so basically anything in the eastern half of the country is unpleasant (the night we camped in the midwest, I had to air out / sun-dry the tent for a while before putting it away). The morning dew is..a lot.  Out west its lovely, but be constantly aware of the weather forecast so you don't end up in a surprise flash flood somewhere.

I am strongly considering building a small offroad-capable camping trailer for those surprise bad weather days (or those "there's no good campground nearby" days) so I can stealth camp in a WalMart parking lot.

[svosavvy]

I love this thread.  Many great ideas.

We are in the FAT camping period of our lives.  We used to love car camping but it got old for DW.  We did car camping when backpacking got old.  One thing I would mention is being you are a backpacker always pack your pack stove and mess setup.  In addition to your car camp setup. 

Place it in a spot that is easily accessible.  When we would car camp like that it was handy if you wanted to make a quick hot meal at a rest stop or coffee without having to drag all your crap out of the car to do it.  We used to like being packed the night before we were going to leave that way you are quick out in the AM.  Could have coffee going on it while you drop your tent and stow the bags.  Toss it in a thermos and a yeti mug and GO.  Trail bar in hand while you are waving goodbye to the ranger.  I always liked not doddling in the morning.  Quick out seems to give you an extra hour on the road. 

Like others said too much driving in a day sucks.  I liked being done driving by 2:30-3pm.  I would say buy an $89 deep cycle battery from Walmart and wire into the cars electrics in the trunk where it won't be disturbed or anything metal crossing the posts.  Wire an on/off switch to it and use it not the cars battery for your electric needs.  Car batteries are "starter" batteries they are only meant to be discharged to 85%.  That means you get 15% of the battery life before you are damaging your car battery.  That and you won't strand yourself with a dead battery. 

Isolate the deep cycle by the turning the switch off when camping.  You also get the added insurance of being able to jump your car with the deep cycle if you have a problem.  When it's time to go driving turn the switch back on so the car can charge it.  Also get a volt meter they are cheap 10 bucks at the store.  When your deep cycle hits 12.3 volts quit using it.  >12.3 volts good to go.  Get a little inverter that hooks with jumper clips (also cheap) to charge devices and such when camping.

Happy trails.