10 Dollar Store Camping Hacks You Need to Know

Make your next camping trip run smoothly with these must-know ideas for using dollar store items.

By: Molly Miller

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Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

HACK 1: MESH LAUNDRY BAG = DISH DRYER

Use a mesh laundry bag to dry dishes while camping.

So, you did the environmentally-responsible thing and brought your own plates and cookware. Great! But, what happens when you need to wash and dry said items? Toss them in a mesh laundry bag hung from a tree branch, and, voila, dry dishes.

HACK 2: POOL NOODLE = KNIFE COVER

Cover up hazardous knife blades with a foam pool noodle.

Packing a knife? Smart. Not protecting the blade? Silly. Make an easy knife cover by cutting off the end of a pool noodle, making a slit into one side and placing the knife through the slit so that it's surrounded by foam.

HACK 3: GLOW BRACELETS = STAKE SAFETY FEATURE

Ah, rainfly stakes. We hate to love 'em. While a rainfly is necessary, tripping over them isn't. Pick up some cheap glow-in-the-dark bracelets and string them along the stakes to prevent faceplants when the sun sets.

HACK 4: DRY-ERASE BOARD = INFORMATION HUB

What are we doing today? What's our campsite number? Who is going fishing? Answer all of these questions and more by using a small dry-erase board as a campsite message board. This comes in handy, particularly with large groups. You can also use the board for a round of fireside hangman or Pictionary.

HACK 5: SHOWER CAP = FOOD COVER

Pesky bugs can ruin a lighthearted camping vibe if you let them. So, don't let them! Keep the good vibes going by using a shower cap to protect food from flies.

HACK 6: CAKE PLATTER = PLATE CONTAINER

When the wind picks up, don't let it carry off loose plates and napkins. Keep them grounded underneath a cake carrier.

HACK 7: LANYARD = SOAP HOLDER

Whether your campsite has an enclosed shower or not, chances are shelf-space will be limited (or non-existent). Be prepared with this hands-free hack of hanging travel-size soap bottles on a lanyard.

HACK 8: COTTON BALL + PETROLEUM JELLY = FIRE STARTER

When you need a fire fast, this petroleum jelly hack will do the trick. Simply coat a cotton ball in the jelly and light it under a pile of brush. 🔥

HACK 9: PILL CONTAINER = SPICE HOLDER

Can't decide which spices to bring? Bring them all! Just pour your seven favorite spices into a daily pill organizer and leave those awkward cylindrical bottles at home. When you're camping, saving space is everything.

HACK 10: PLASTIC ZIP-UP BAG = PILLOW PROTECTOR

Use a plastic zip-up bag to keep pillows dry while camping.

If there's one thing you can guarantee about a camping trip it's that dew is inevitable. Protect your pillow from dampness by tossing it in a sealed plastic bag. No one likes sleeping on a soggy surface.

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10 Dollar Store Camping Hacks You Need to Know

Related To:

Shop This Look

HACK 1: MESH LAUNDRY BAG = DISH DRYER

HACK 2: POOL NOODLE = KNIFE COVER

HACK 3: GLOW BRACELETS = STAKE SAFETY FEATURE

HACK 4: DRY-ERASE BOARD = INFORMATION HUB

HACK 5: SHOWER CAP = FOOD COVER

HACK 6: CAKE PLATTER = PLATE CONTAINER

HACK 7: LANYARD = SOAP HOLDER

HACK 8: COTTON BALL + PETROLEUM JELLY = FIRE STARTER

HACK 9: PILL CONTAINER = SPICE HOLDER

HACK 10: PLASTIC ZIP-UP BAG = PILLOW PROTECTOR

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