This post is kind of / sort of part of the Modular Checklist but not really.

This is more about how you pack then what you pack.

My wife and I have been married for almost 12 years now, we have lived in New Jersey for all but about 4 of those years. We have been camping in New Jersey and all over the place literally dozens if not hundreds of times and still to this very day we don’t agree on the when/why/how of packing.

To me, the best way to pack for a camping trip is as follows:

1. 96 hours before departure – Write down exactly what you will need.
2.72 hours before departure – Purchase items you don’t have (including food)
3. 48 hours before departure – Pack clothes and toiletries and stage near door.
4. 24 hours before departure – Gather all camping items and stage near door.
5. 3 hours before departure – Inventory staged items against master list (step 1).
6. 2 hours before departure – Purchase Ice and fill coolers/fridge with perishable/frozen items
7. 1 hour before departuer – Pack vehicle (s) with all staged gear.
8. Departure time – go potty, grab drink for the road and paperwork (directions, campground confirmation, etc…0 and head on out the door very calm and relaxed.

Now some peopel who read that will think “OH MY GOD! This guy is anal!” and you might very well be right.

But what I am not is unprepared and stressed out as you leave for the campgrounds.

Here is my wife’s idea of pre-packing/packing for a trip.

1. 4 Hours before departure – Start running around buying things she thinks of that we might need.
2. 3 Hours before departure – Start packing the clothes and toiletries.
3. 2 Hours before departure – Figure out what camping gear we might need.
4. 1 Hour before departure – Throw everything in the car/camper and pray we have it all.
5. Departure – Run out the door and start driving.
6. 30 minutes after departure – Return home for directions, confirmation and potty break.
7. Arrive campgrounds irritated, stressed out and ready to kill anybody who looks in her general direction.

This might be a slight over-exaggeration but not much.

Do your sanity and your relationship a favor and be more like me when you prep for a camping trip.

Even if you don’t tell your spouse what you are doing, it will come as a wonderful surprise to them as they start freaking out if you can say “I got that”, “that’s already packed”, “I put that in the car already” sort of stuff.

‘Till Next Time.

Eric