How to Car Camp: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

(Because adventure shouldn’t require a 20-step tent setup.)

Car camping is the simplest way to get outside. No backpacking permits, no fancy van build, and no weeks of planning. Just your car, a few essentials, and a wide-open map.

At Hele Outdoors, we’ve spent years testing the Hele Box in every kind of setup imaginable, from Subaru hatchbacks to 4Runner rigs. What we’ve learned is that car camping isn’t just convenient - it’s one of the most enjoyable ways to sleep under the stars.

Here’s how to do it right:

Step 1: Pick Your Adventure (and Vehicle)

You can car camp in just about anything with four wheels. Mini-van, SUV, sedan, or crossover, if you can fold down the seats - you have a basecamp.

Start close to home. Find a quiet lake, a forest road, or a drive-in campground. Once you’ve tested your setup and figured out what you actually use, it’s easy to build from there.

Here's our list of favorite vehicles for car camping!

Step 2: Gear Up Without Overpacking

Here’s what you’ll actually want:

• Sleeping setup: A good pad, elevated sleeping platform, sleeping bag, and pillow.
• Cooking setup: A stove, fuel, cookware, and a way to stay organized. This is where the Hele Box shines.
• Lighting: A headlamp, lantern, or string lights for that nice cozy glow.
• Essentials: First aid kit, extra water, snacks, and your favorite playlist.

The Hele Box replaces your jumble of bins with a tidy, all-in-one set up. It stores your stove, utensils, and gear so everything has its place. No digging through the trunk in the dark, no forgotten spatulas, no mess.

The Hele Box does this by elevating your sleeping surface so you have the storage capacity you need for days/weeks/months on the road. 

Step 3: Choose Your Campsite

You have options:

• Campgrounds if you want bathrooms and picnic tables.
• Public lands if you want solitude and wide-open views
• Apps like iOverlander or The Dyrt if you want to find hidden gems.

Just remember to check the rules before you park for the night. Not every pullout allows camping, and part of keeping the outdoors accessible is knowing where to stay responsibly.

Step 4: Set Up Camp

It’s easier than it looks.

1. Park on level ground. Your back will thank you.
2. Crack your windows for airflow. 
3. Roll out your bedding and get comfortable.

That’s it. No poles. No tarps. Just you, your car, and the sound of the wind through the trees.

Step 5: Eat Well, Sleep Well, Wake Up Happy!

With your gear organized in the Hele Box, you can make breakfast burritos, pasta, or coffee without chaos.

When it’s time to sleep, you’re off the ground, protected from the weather, and surrounded by everything you need. It’s comfort and simplicity, all in one!

Step 6: Leave It Better

Car camping makes it easy to follow Leave No Trace principles. Pack out your trash, keep noise down, and respect the land.

Every Hele Outdoors purchase helps too. We donate 3% of proceeds to conservation efforts across the U.S. because we believe that exploring nature and protecting it should go hand in hand.

Ready to Roll?

Car camping isn’t about roughing it. It’s about simplifying adventure.
More sunsets, fewer hassles, and never waking up needing a massage again.

Pack your bag, toss in your Hele Box, and hit the road.

Freedom is waiting, and your next campsite is just a drive away!