In September, we finally gave car camping a proper try! Ever since I got my Outback a few years ago, it’s been on our to-do list. We’ve tried car camping before, but it didn’t go so well—mostly thanks to uncomfortable sleeping setups.

Earlier this summer, I lucked into a free foldable mattress that fits perfectly in the back of the Outback. Game changer! Since one of us runs hot and the other cold, we usually go with a simple setup: pillows, a set of sheets, and our trusty (though very old) sleeping bag, unzipped as a blanket. Some other essentials we packed included a portable battery to keep our phones charged, headlamps, flashlights, and slip-on sandals for those late-night bathroom runs. A co-worker even lent us some over-the-door window screens, and they worked so well that we’ve now decided we need our own set. We didn’t bother covering the back window or the smaller side windows this time, but if we end up camping at more crowded sites, I might invest in extra window covers.

One thing I didn’t expect was the weird little red blinking light in my Outback when it’s turned off. The first night, I woke up at 2:30 a.m., saw it, and totally freaked out. I even had a few strange dreams about how to turn it off. By the second night, I had figured out that it’s completely normal, and my overactive imagination finally calmed down.

This first real camping trip was part of a church retreat, and spending two nights in the car was actually manageable for both of us. Honestly, I could probably handle a whole week of it on my own, but I get that car camping isn’t for everyone!

Have you been car camping before? What must-have’s do you pack for sleeping in your car?