What to Buy and Bring for a Camping Weekend

A camping weekend needs more than tents and sleeping bags. Plan sleeping equipment for every guest, a covered cooking and eating area, enough reusable tableware, and lighting for arrivals and evenings. Check tents and camping gear before shopping, then match food, drinks and seating to the final participant list. The quantities below help you avoid the items groups most often forget: gas, coolers, serving utensils, waste bins and weather protection.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Camping

Tents for 4 peopleqty 8
Sleeping matsqty 32
Sleeping bagsqty 32
Cushionsqty 32
Tent hammersqty 4
Ground tarpsqty 8
Pavilion tent

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 32
Picnic benchesqty 4
Waste binsqty 4

Catering

Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 36
Reusable bowlsqty 36
Reusable cupsqty 48
Cutlery setsqty 36
Serving plattersqty 8
Soup ladlesqty 3

Kitchen

Camping stovesqty 3
Gas cylindersqty 6
Cooking potsqty 4
Frying pansqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Kitchen tongsqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Cool bagsqty 4

Lighting

LED lampsqty 8
String lightsqty 3

Equipment

Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Sports equipment

Footballsqty 2
Frisbeesqty 3
Card gamesqty 4

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2

Groceries

Groceries
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Pistolets - 40 pieces
- Croissants - 36 pieces
- Butter - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 2.5 kilos
- Boiled ham - 1.5 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Eggs - 48 pieces
- Bacon bits - 2 kilos
- Oatmeal - 2 kilos
- Muesli - 2 kilo
- Yogurt - 8 liter
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Onions - 2 kilos
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Potatoes - 8 kilos
- Ground beef - 3 kilos
- Chicken breast - 3 kilo
- Vegetarian burgers - 12 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 40 pieces
- Hot dog buns - 40 pieces
- Cocktail sausages - 40 pieces
- Canned corn - 8 cans
- Kidney beans - 8 cans
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Pasta - 4 kilo
- Rice - 3 kilos
- Pasta sauce - 8 jars
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Grated cheese - 1,5 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 12 liters
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 48 bottles
- Sparkling water - 24 bottles
- Beer - 6 crates
- Non-alcoholic drinks - 24 bottles
- Lemonade syrup - 3 bottles
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Savory nuts - 6 bags
- Marshmallows - 2 kilos
- Biscuits - 6 packs
- Chocolate bars - 36 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 2 packs
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Tissues - 6 boxes

Tips

Choose tent capacity from the final participant list, then add one spare sleeping place if space allows. A four-person tent should not be treated as four comfortable beds when guests bring large bags.
Pack one sleeping mat and one sleeping bag per person, plus a cushion for each sleeper. Check that every tent has a ground tarp and that you have at least one tent hammer per tent.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person per additional hour. Use coolers and cool bags, and fill them before guests arrive rather than during check-in.
For group cooking, take at least two camping stoves and enough gas cylinders for the full meal plan, plus spare fuel for one extra cooking session. Pack separate pots, frying pans, cutting boards, knives, tongs and measuring cups.
Count reusable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery against the final guest list and add 10 percent spare. Bring serving platters, soup ladles, waste bins and LED lamps; these are easy to overlook until food service and evening clean-up begin.

Frequently asked questions

How many tents do I need for a camping weekend?: Divide the final participant list by the sleeping capacity of the tents, rounding up. For example, 12 people need three four-person tents, with an extra tent or sleeping place if guests need more room for luggage.
How many sleeping bags and mats should I bring?: Bring one sleeping bag and one sleeping mat per person, plus one spare of each for emergencies. Check the equipment at least 3 to 7 days before departure so missing or damaged items can still be replaced.
How much food and drink should I buy for a camping weekend?: Base food quantities on the final number of participants and the complete activity schedule. For drinks, allow two to three per person in the first hour and about one per person for each following hour, then keep a small reserve.
What camping equipment do people usually forget?: Gas cylinders, tent hammers, ground tarps, coolers, serving utensils, waste bins and lighting are commonly missed. Check the shopping list 3 to 7 days before the weekend and pack cooking and lighting equipment separately so it is easy to find.

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