Going Car Camping? Check Out the 20 Best Tips and Tricks for Your Next Adventure

Hopefully, you'll be hitting the road this summer to visit the most beautiful places in American for an extended summer vacation or at the very least, a weekend getaway. Whether you choose to travel by yourself, with family, or with friends, you can save a little money by skipping the expensive hotel room and sleeping over at a National Park campsite. No camper? No problem. You can camp in your car! You heard us: All you need is your everyday vehicle and these genius ideas, and you're good to go.

Sure, it may sound daunting to first-timers, but trust us, car camping is completely doable. Turn your car into a cozy, convenient, and budget-friendly accommodation and surround it with all the comforts of outdoor living—the best camping chairs, best hammocks, the best camping stoves—and you'll have the time of your life! (It also can't hurt to make sure you have everything you need before hitting the open road with this handy-dandy, comprehensive camping checklist.) Camping doesn't mean your meals have to suffer either, so plan your meals ahead of time! Check out our easy breakfast ideas, our best make-ahead camping meals, and our best Dutch Oven camping recipes. Need camping cookware? We've got you covered there too!

After spending a weekend or two in your car, you may come to appreciate it as more than mere transportation—and you may even be less inclined to book hotels or Airbnbs for future trips. Who can say? You never know what you might discover about yourself while exploring life on the road!