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Printable Camping Checklists

Camping Checklists for Canada

Printable, comprehensive checklists for every stage of your camping trip — from packing at home to campsite setup, departure, bear safety, first aid, and RV winterizing.

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Printable Checklists

Complete Camping Checklists

Use the Print button above or click print on any individual checklist to get a clean, printable version for your fridge or dashboard.

RV Departure Checklist

Complete before moving your rig — every single time

Interior

  • Retract all slide-outs
  • Secure all overhead cabinets
  • Stow all loose items on counters and tables
  • Close and latch refrigerator door
  • Turn off stove/oven and all appliances
  • Close all interior windows and vents
  • Retract TV antenna (if manual)
  • Confirm pets and people are inside

Exterior

  • Disconnect and stow shore power cord
  • Disconnect and stow fresh water hose
  • Close and secure grey tank valve
  • Close and secure black tank valve
  • Stow sewer hose in bay
  • Retract all stabilizer jacks
  • Retract/stow leveling jacks
  • Retract and secure awning
  • Remove wheel chocks
  • Close and latch all exterior bays
  • Remove step stool or carpet
  • Check for anything dragging underneath

Tow / Drive

  • Connect trailer hitch/fifth wheel (if applicable)
  • Connect safety chains (crossed)
  • Connect breakaway cable
  • Connect electrical plug — test lights
  • Test brake controller
  • Check tire pressure (all tires)
  • Walk-around: nothing hanging, dragging, or open

RV Setup Checklist

Arrive and get comfortable — in the right order

Positioning

  • Check site for low branches, utility hookup locations
  • Position RV for proper slide-out clearance
  • Level side-to-side first (leveling blocks under tires)
  • Level front-to-back (tongue jack or hitch)
  • Deploy stabilizer jacks (do not level with them)
  • Place wheel chocks on both sides of drive wheels

Hookups

  • Connect shore power cord (confirm amp service: 15/30/50)
  • Attach water pressure regulator to campground tap
  • Attach inline water filter (if using)
  • Connect fresh water hose
  • Connect sewer hose with donut seal
  • Verify grey and black tank valves are closed

Interior Setup

  • Extend slide-outs
  • Deploy awning (check weather forecast first)
  • Unlock and open refrigerator
  • Turn on water heater (allow 30 min to heat)
  • Set thermostat / check AC or furnace operation
  • Place rugs, door mats, and step outside door

RV Packing Checklist

Everything you need for a complete camping trip

Kitchen & Food

  • Cooking utensils, pots, and pans
  • Dishes, cups, and cutlery
  • Can opener, corkscrew, bottle opener
  • Cutting board and sharp knife
  • Paper towels and dish soap
  • Food planned for number of nights
  • Spices, oil, condiments
  • Coffee/tea and supplies
  • Cooler with ice for fresh items (if no fridge)
  • Water jugs (backup to campground water)

Clothing & Personal

  • Weather-appropriate layers (mornings/evenings are cold)
  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Warm hat, gloves for evenings
  • Hiking boots or sturdy footwear
  • Camp sandals/crocs for around the site
  • Sunscreen SPF 30+ and lip balm
  • Bug repellent (DEET or picaridin)
  • Toiletries and prescription medications
  • Towels (quick-dry preferred for camping)

Safety & Emergency

  • First aid kit
  • Bear spray (in bear country) — in accessible holster
  • Headlamps with spare batteries
  • Fire extinguisher (check pressure)
  • Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
  • Satellite communicator (remote travel)
  • Emergency contact list — printed on paper

Bear Country Safety Checklist

Required knowledge for camping in bear habitat across Canada

Before You Camp

  • Check recent bear activity reports for the area
  • Carry bear spray (225g+, 7.9%+ capsaicin)
  • Practice drawing bear spray before entering bear country
  • Know the difference between black bear and grizzly response
  • Tell someone your trip plan and expected return

At the Campsite

  • Store all food and scented items in hard-sided vehicle or locker
  • Never store food in your tent or sleeping area
  • Dispose of food scraps in designated garbage areas
  • Clean cooking equipment immediately after use
  • Keep coolers inside the vehicle or bear box, not on picnic table
  • Never leave food unattended outside, even briefly
  • Cook away from sleeping area in backcountry

On the Trail

  • Make noise on blind corners and dense brush
  • Travel in groups of 4+ when possible
  • Keep bear spray accessible on your body — not in pack
  • Keep dogs on leash — off-leash dogs can provoke bears
  • Never approach or feed bears for any reason

RV Winterizing Checklist

Step-by-step for Canadian winter storage — prevents thousands in damage

Water System

  • Turn off water pump and water heater
  • Open all faucets (hot and cold) to drain
  • Open all low-point drain valves
  • Drain fresh water tank completely
  • Drain water heater (cool first, remove anode rod)
  • Blow out water lines with 30 PSI compressed air
  • Bypass water heater using winterization valve
  • Pump pink RV antifreeze through entire system
  • Run antifreeze from every faucet, shower, toilet until pink appears
  • Add antifreeze to p-traps (pour down each drain)

Holding Tanks & Exterior

  • Dump and flush both black and grey tanks
  • Add 500ml RV antifreeze to each holding tank
  • Close all tank dump valves
  • Cover tire sidewalls (UV protection)
  • Cover all exterior vents and openings (mesh for rodents)
  • Apply slide-out seal conditioner
  • Clean and retract awning dry

Electrical & Interior

  • Disconnect house batteries (store if below -20°C expected)
  • Add fuel stabilizer to generator and chassis tank
  • Run generator dry (or add stabilizer to tank)
  • Clean interior, remove all food and perishables
  • Leave cabinet doors open for air circulation
  • Place desiccant packs throughout interior
  • Document any needed repairs for spring

Canada–US Border Crossing Checklist

For RV travellers crossing either direction

Required Documents

  • Valid passports for all travellers
  • NEXUS cards (if enrolled)
  • Vehicle registration (motorhome or tow vehicle)
  • Trailer registration (if applicable)
  • Insurance card showing coverage in destination country
  • Pet vaccination records (rabies certificate)

Declare at the Border

  • All alcohol (over duty-free limits)
  • All tobacco (over duty-free limits)
  • All food items (declare everything)
  • Currency over $10,000 CAD
  • Firearms (RCMP Form 909 for non-restricted)
  • Prescription medications in original bottles
  • Any goods purchased abroad above personal exemption

Never Bring to Border

  • Cannabis or cannabis products (in any direction)
  • Prohibited weapons (handguns without permit)
  • Certain fresh produce (check current restrictions)
  • Undeclared cash over $10,000

Tent Camping Checklist

Everything you need for a comfortable tent or car camping trip

Shelter & Sleep

  • Tent (check all poles, stakes, and rainfly are packed)
  • Sleeping bag rated to at least 10°C below expected overnight low — a bag rated to -5°C for a 0°C night is a cold night; bags are rated at survival threshold, not comfort
  • Sleeping pad or air mattress (insulation from ground)
  • Pillow or compressible pillow
  • Tarp or footprint for under tent
  • Ground cloth or extra tarp for shade/rain shelter

Kitchen & Food

  • Camp stove + fuel canisters (or backpacking stove)
  • Lighter + waterproof matches as backup
  • Cookpot, pan, and utensils
  • Plates, bowls, and cups (camp-grade)
  • Camp washing tub + biodegradable soap
  • Bear canister or car-storage plan for food
  • Cooler with ice for perishables
  • Water bottles and water filter/purification tablets
  • Garbage bags (pack out all waste)

Clothing & Comfort

  • Base layers (moisture-wicking, not cotton)
  • Mid-layer fleece or down jacket
  • Waterproof rain jacket + rain pants
  • Warm hat and gloves for evenings
  • Hiking boots (broken in) and camp sandals
  • Sunscreen SPF 30+ and lip balm
  • Bug repellent (DEET or picaridin)
  • Camp chair(s) and small table if space allows

Safety & Navigation

  • Headlamp + spare batteries (one per person)
  • First aid kit (include blister treatment and moleskin)
  • Bear spray in bear country — accessible, not in pack
  • Offline maps downloaded (Gaia GPS, Maps.me, etc.)
  • Paper map of area as backup
  • Satellite communicator or PLB for remote travel
  • Emergency whistle and mirror
  • Tell someone your plan and expected return date

Van / Overlanding Checklist

For van campers, overlanders, and vehicle-based adventurers

Vehicle Readiness

  • Tire pressure checked — all four + spare
  • Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering checked
  • Spare tire accessible and properly inflated
  • Recovery gear: traction boards, tow strap, shovel
  • Jump pack or jumper cables
  • Basic tool kit (wrench set, screwdrivers, socket set)
  • Duct tape and zip ties (fixes everything)

Power & Electronics

  • House battery charged and connections secure
  • Solar panel(s) positioned / foldable panel packed
  • Battery isolator / DC-DC charger working
  • USB charging hub and adapters
  • Inverter for 120V items if needed
  • Satellite communicator or offline maps downloaded

Water & Waste

  • Fresh water tank or containers filled (minimum 20L per person per day)
  • Water filter (Sawyer, LifeStraw, Grayl, or pump filter)
  • Grey water catch (if cooking/washing in van)
  • WAG bags or cathole trowel for human waste (remote areas)
  • Biodegradable soap and hand sanitizer
Common Questions

Camping Checklist FAQs

Essential camping items for Canada: shelter, sleeping bags rated for expected temperatures, cooking equipment, food and water, first aid kit, fire-starting materials (check fire bans first), bear spray in bear country, weather-appropriate clothing, headlamps, navigation tools, and an emergency communication device. For remote trips, add a satellite communicator.
Before departing: retract all slides, disconnect shore power and stow, disconnect water hose and stow, close grey/black tank valves, retract stabilizer jacks, retract leveling jacks, retract awning, remove wheel chocks, check all exterior storage bays are latched, verify trailer connection, test brake lights and turn signals, confirm TV antenna is stowed, and do a walk-around.

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