Best Car Camping Gear for Outdoor Cooking
Car camping is all about enjoying the outdoors without sacrificing comfort—and that includes cooking! Whether you’re making a quick breakfast, grilling up a feast, or just boiling water for coffee, the right gear makes all the difference.
Here’s a breakdown of the best car camping cooking gear to level up your outdoor meals.
- Best Car Camping Gear for Outdoor Cooking
- 1. Best Portable Stoves for Car Camping 🔥
- 2. Essential Cookware for Car Camping 🍳
- 3. Car Camping Grills for Open-Fire Cooking 🍖
- 4. Must-Have Utensils & Accessories 🍴
- 5. Smart Food Storage & Cooler Choices 🥶
- 6. Coffee & Hot Drinks at Camp ☕
- Level Up Your Car Camping Cooking Gear 🚙🔥
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1. Best Portable Stoves for Car Camping 🔥
A good stove is essential for car camping. Unlike backpacking stoves, these are designed for efficiency, stability, and larger meals.
✅ Top Picks:
- 20,000 BTU per burner (40,000 BTU total output)
- Dimensions: 13.5″ × 23.5″ × 4″
- Weight: 12 lbs
- Fuel type: Propane (1 lb disposable canisters)
- Matchless ignition system
- Three-sided windscreen
- Stainless steel drip tray
- 10,000 BTU per burner (20,000 BTU total)
- Weight: 6.2 lbs
- Boil time: 3 minutes for 1 liter
- Dimensions (folded): 10.3″ × 7.5″
- Integrated 5L FluxPot and 10″ ceramic-coated frying pan included
- Compatible with JetLink accessory port for additional burners
- 11,000 BTU per burner (22,000 BTU total)
- Dimensions: 7.8″ × 24.8″ × 15.9″
- Weight: 5 lbs
- Cook time: Up to 1 hour with 16.4 oz propane cylinder
- Wind-blocking panels to shield burners
- Pressure-control technology for consistent performance in extreme conditions
🏕️ Pro Tip: Bring a wind guard for better fuel efficiency in exposed areas.
2. Essential Cookware for Car Camping 🍳
You don’t need a full kitchen setup, but quality cookware makes all the difference.
✅ Must-Have Cookware:
- Weight: 5.35 lbs
- Pre-seasoned with 100% vegetable oil
- Dimensions: 16.12″ × 10.69″ × 2″
- Heat retention: Maintains consistent temperature on campfire or camp stove
- Includes assist handle for easier lifting
- Suitable for: Campfire, camp stove, grill
- Diameter: 10″
- Weight: 1 lb 1.6 oz
- Non-stick Teflon coating with crushed minerals for durability
- Folding/removable handle system
- Heat-resistant external coating
- Crush-resistant nylon bag included
Stanley Wildfare Go Camp Cook Set
- 2-person compact nesting system
- 18/8 stainless steel construction
- Weight: 1 lb 4 oz
- Includes: 32 oz pot with lid, two 10 oz insulated cups, vented lid
- Folding/locking handle with silicone grip
- BPA-free materials
🏕️ Pro Tip: Pre-season your cast iron at home for hassle-free cooking at camp.
3. Car Camping Grills for Open-Fire Cooking 🍖
Nothing beats cooking over an open flame, and a solid grill makes it easier.
✅ Best Camping Grills:
Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill
- Cooking area: 160 square inches
- Dimensions: 14.5″ × 21″ × 12.2″
- Weight: 14.5 lbs
- Porcelain-enameled lid and base
- Plated steel cooking grate
- Dampers for temperature control
- Foldable legs lock lid for transport
- Dimensions: 27″ × 13″ × 15.8″
- Weight: 19.8 lbs
- Fuel: Wood or charcoal
- 51 air jets with adjustable speed fan
- Battery: 12,800 mAh (24 hours on low, 5 hours on high)
- USB charging output
- Bluetooth app control
- Removable fuel rack
- X-Ray mesh body design for fire visibility
Blackstone 17″ Tabletop Griddle
- Cooking area: 267 square inches
- 12,500 BTU H-style burner
- Weight: 17.5 lbs
- Fuel type: 1 lb propane canister
- Built-in igniter (no matches needed)
- Cold-rolled steel cooking surface
- Rear grease management system
4. Must-Have Utensils & Accessories 🍴
Cooking outdoors comes with challenges—so having the right tools makes all the difference.
✅ Don’t Forget These Essentials:
- Overall length: 8.6″
- Blade length: 4.1″
- Blade thickness: 0.08″
- Weight: 4.1 oz
- Carbon steel blade with anti-corrosive coating
- Friction-grip handle
- Includes plastic sheath with belt clip
- Temperature resistance: Up to 932°F
- Materials: Silicone exterior, cotton lining
- Waterproof and stain-resistant
- Non-slip grip pattern
- Wrist protection cuff
- Machine washable
Collapsible Sink & Biodegradable Soap
- Capacity: 8.5L (collapsed thickness: 1.5″)
- Weight: 10.9 oz
- Material: Food-grade silicone
- Heat resistance: Up to 350°F
- BPA-free construction
- Integrated drainage plug
OXO Silicone Spatula & OXO Flexible Tongs
- Heat resistance: Up to 480°F
- Length: 12″
- Materials: Silicone heads with stainless steel handles
- Dishwasher safe
- Hanging loops for storage
- Non-scratch design for non-stick surfaces
- Dimensions: 14″ × 10″ × 0.5″
- Weight: 1.2 lbs
- Material: 100% organic bamboo
- Juice groove around perimeter
- Naturally antimicrobial surface
- Reversible design with flat and grooved sides
5. Smart Food Storage & Cooler Choices 🥶
Keeping food fresh and organized is key for multi-day car camping trips.
✅ Best Food Storage Solutions:
- External dimensions: 25.5″ × 16″ × 15.5″
- Internal dimensions: 19.5″ × 10.5″ × 10″
- Empty weight: 23 lbs
- Capacity: Holds 28 cans with 2:1 ice-to-can ratio
- Insulation: Up to 3 inches of PermaFrost insulation
- Features: T-Rex lid latches, NeverFail hinge system, BearFoot non-slip feet
- Certified bear-resistant when used with Yeti bear locks
Looking for a deeper dive into cooler options? See our Best Coolers for Camping guide or learn Why Are Yeti Coolers So Expensive.
- External dimensions: 26.5″ × 16.5″ × 16″
- Weight: 21 lbs
- Capacity: 52 quarts (holds up to 48 cans plus ice)
- Ice retention: Up to 10 days
- Features: Heavy-duty rubber latches, integrated locking system, rapid drain system
- UV-resistant construction
- Capacity: 19-56 quarts
- Weatherproof O-ring seal
- Polycarbonate construction
- Lockable latches
- Stackable design
- Interior organization compartments
BearVault Bear-Resistant Container
- Capacity: 5.2 Quarts
- Weight: 2 lbs. 9 oz
- Dimensions: 12.7″ × 8.7″ diameter
- Material: ABS polymer
- Approved by Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC)
- Requires no tools for opening (coin-operated locks)
🏕️ Pro Tip: Freeze water bottles instead of ice packs—they’ll keep things cold and double as drinking water later!
6. Coffee & Hot Drinks at Camp ☕
Waking up to fresh coffee in the wild? Essential.
✅ Best Coffee Makers for Camping:
- Weight: 11.4 oz
- Capacity: 1-3 cups per press
- Brew time: 1-2 minutes
- Includes: 350 paper microfilters, mug, stirrer, scoop, filter holder
- Compact size: Everything nests inside the included mug (3.9″ × 3.6″)
- BPA-free materials
For detailed brewing instructions, check out our Making Great Coffee with an AeroPress and Perfected Camp Coffee: The AeroPress Go Revolution guides.
- Material: 18/8 stainless steel
- Weight: 9.6 oz
- Capacity: Makes up to 20 oz of coffee
- Reusable stainless steel filter (no paper filters needed)
- Dishwasher safe
- Compatible with most mugs and vessels
- Boil time: 100 seconds for 16 oz of water
- Weight: 13.1 oz
- Volume: 1 liter cooking cup
- Fuel efficiency: 10 liters of water per 100g fuel canister
- Bottom cover doubles as measuring cup and bowl
- Color-changing heat indicator
- Push-button igniter
🏕️ Pro Tip: Pre-grind coffee at home and store it in a sealed container for freshness.
Level Up Your Car Camping Cooking Gear 🚙🔥
Cooking in the outdoors should be fun, easy, and stress-free. With the right gear, you’ll be able to whip up delicious meals anywhere. Whether you’re grilling, making one-pot meals, or just brewing morning coffee, this car camping cooking gear will make your next trip a success.
Want to see it in action? Check out my Georgia Mustard Recipe for a perfect sauce to take on your next adventure!
Last Updated: March 16, 2025