The Ultimate EV Camping Trip Checklist

The Ultimate EV Camping Checklist (50 Points)

Updated June 2026 · 8 min read

A complete pre-trip plan for camping out of your EV — sleep, power, cooking, charging and safety, all in one place. Run through it the night before you leave and you'll never get to camp missing the one thing you needed.

Before you book: the EV essentials

• ☐ Confirm your car has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) — it changes everything about how you camp. (Not sure? Check our V2L guide.)
• ☐ Map charging along the route in PlugShare and plan stops in ABRP.
• ☐ Pick accommodation or a site with a charger where possible.
• ☐ Check whether your destination needs a 4WD or has range-sapping dirt roads.
• ☐ Look up the overnight forecast — it drives your sleep and power planning.

Sleep setup (the make-or-break)

A bad night's sleep ruins a good trip. This is where most EV campers under-invest:

• ☐ A custom-fit or inflatable mattress sized to your boot — a flat, gap-free sleeping platform is everything.
• ☐ Sleeping bags or a doona rated for the overnight low.
• ☐ Proper pillows (don't camp on a rolled-up jumper).
• ☐ A mattress topper or foam for comfort on hard cargo floors.
• ☐ Merino or thermal base layers for cold nights.

Shade, privacy & climate

• ☐ Window sun shades to block heat, glare and UV — and keep the cabin cool.
• ☐ Privacy curtains so you can change and sleep without the world watching.
• ☐ A tailgate tent or awning for shade and weather cover.
• ☐ Insect screens for the windows you'll crack overnight.
• ☐ A microfibre towel for condensation on the inside of the glass in the morning.

Power & V2L

• ☐ Your V2L adapter (and know whether your car also has an internal socket).
• ☐ A switched power board (10A) to run multiple devices from one outlet.
• ☐ A 10A outdoor-rated extension lead (3–5m).
• ☐ A power bank for phones if you'd rather not wake the car.
• ☐ Charge cables for every device, plus a couple of spare USB-C leads.

Cooling & food storage

• ☐ A 12V compressor fridge — runs off V2L all weekend, no ice runs. (Our 15L portable fridge is the easy starting point.)
• ☐ Reusable cooler bags for the overflow.
• ☐ Pre-frozen water bottles that double as drinking water as they thaw.
• ☐ Airtight containers to keep wildlife out of your supplies.

Cooking & coffee

• ☐ Induction cooktop or low-draw camp stove (check it against your V2L output).
• ☐ Electric kettle — brief, high-draw, totally fine on V2L.
• ☐ A 12V heated travel mug for coffee that stays hot from camp to the first charger.
• ☐ Cookware, a sharp knife, chopping board, and a spork each.
• ☐ Biodegradable soap, a sponge and a collapsible wash tub.
• ☐ Rubbish bags — pack it in, pack it out.

Lighting

• ☐ Rechargeable LED string lights for the campsite and awning.
• ☐ Fairy lights for soft ambient light inside the car.
• ☐ A head torch each (hands-free beats holding a phone).
• ☐ A lantern for the table.
• ☐ Spare batteries or a charging plan for all of the above.

Storage & organisation

• ☐ Boot organisers and storage bags so the car doesn't become chaos.
• ☐ An EV cable organiser bag to keep charge leads clean and untangled.
• ☐ A laundry bag for dirty clothes.
• ☐ Packing cubes to keep clothes compact.
• ☐ A small bin or sealable bag for rubbish.

Safety & the just-in-case kit

• ☐ First-aid kit (and know what's in it).
• ☐ Offline maps downloaded — reception disappears fast out bush.
• ☐ A physical list of charger locations in case an app fails.
• ☐ Basic tools, a tyre repair kit and a 12V pump.
• ☐ Sunscreen, insect repellent and a hat.
• ☐ Plenty of drinking water, independent of the fridge.
• ☐ A power-bank-charged phone and someone who knows your route.

The night before

• ☐ Charge the car to 100% (it's a trip — this is the time).
• ☐ Charge every device, light, fridge and power bank.
• ☐ Pre-cool the fridge so it's cold before food goes in.
• ☐ Check the weather one more time and adjust layers.
• ☐ Load heavy items low and central for range and stability.

Pro tip: do a "dry run" night in your driveway before the first real trip. You'll find the gaps in your setup somewhere comfortable — not 200 km from the nearest shop.