Car camping charts
Quick answerThe two most-used charts here are the tent size chart and the cooler size chart.
- Camp chair weight capacity chartRated weight capacity by camp chair style, from standard folding chairs around 250 lb up to oversized heavy-duty chairs rated 500 lb.
- Car cargo volume chartTypical cargo volume behind row 2 and behind row 1 by vehicle class, plus how much of that space you can actually pack for a car camping trip.
- Cooler sizes chart: quarts, cans and dimensionsCommon cooler sizes from 16 to 150 quarts: how many cans each holds with and without ice, typical exterior dimensions, and the size to buy by people and days.
- Ice retention chartAdvertised ice retention days rarely match real-world results. Here is the honest gap by cooler type, and the packing factors that matter more than the brand.
- Propane burn time chartHow long a 1 lb propane cylinder or a 20 lb tank actually lasts at different burner outputs, plus butane canister comparisons.
- Sleeping bag temperature chartEN/ISO 23537 comfort and limit ratings explained, plus the working rule for picking a bag: choose one rated about 10F below your expected low.
- Sleeping pad R-value chartThe ASTM F3340 R-value scale tells you exactly how much pad insulation you need for a given overnight low. Here is the full chart plus real pads by R-value.
- Tent size chartManufacturers rate tents at roughly 16 sq ft of floor per person, but comfortable car camping needs closer to 30 sq ft per adult. Here is the real chart.
Popular car camping gear right now
Gas One Portable Butane Camping Stove with CaseUnder $25Check price
TaskStar 4" Self Inflating Sleeping Pad for Camping with PillowUnder $50Check priceSpec sheet
EVER ADVANCED Oversized Folding Camping Chair for AdultsUnder $100Check priceSpec sheet
Heavy Duty Folding Chair 500LB CapacityUnder $100Check price
Coleman Gas Camping StoveUnder $250Check price
YETI Roadie 15 Hard Cooler with DoubleDuty Shoulder StrapUnder $250Check priceSpec sheet
Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D Self-Inflating Camping Sleeping PadUnder $500Check price
Camp Chef Big Gas GrillUnder $500Check price
Gift guide Shopping for a car camper? See the Car Camping Holiday Gift Guide 2026 for picks by budget, from the big gift to stocking stuffers.
Researched guidance, not professional advice. Figures are published specifications or clearly labelled conventions; check your own gear's manual and your campground's rules.