You've booked a campsite for the weekend. The tent is in the garage, the cooler is ready, and then you start thinking about everything that needs charging. Phones, a camera, string lights, maybe a small fan if the forecast is warm.
You don't need to guess. With a short list and some simple math, you can work out how much power your weekend actually needs and choose a setup that covers it. Here's how.
Step 1 - List Every Device You Plan to Use
A complete device list is the starting point, because the size of your power setup depends on what you'll run. Walk through each day of the trip in your head, morning to night, and note everything that runs on a battery or plugs in.
A typical weekend list might include:
Two or three phones
A camera or action camera
LED string lights or a lantern
A small fan or electric blanket, depending on the season
A portable speaker
Write the list before you pack, not at the campsite. It's also a good moment to leave behind anything you don't really need.
Step 2 - Estimate How Much Energy Each Device Uses
Energy use is measured in watt-hours, and you can estimate it for each device with two numbers: its power rating in watts and how long you'll use it.
Find the Wattage
Look on the device, its charger or the manual for a rating in watts. If you only see volts and amps, multiply them to get watts.
Multiply by Hours of Use
Multiply the wattage by how many hours you'll use the device across the trip. A 10-watt string light used for four hours each evening over two nights adds up to 80 watt-hours. Use honest estimates of your hours, not best-case ones.
Step 3 - Add It Up for the Whole Weekend
Add the watt-hours for every device to get your total energy need for the trip. That number tells you roughly how much battery capacity you'll need if you don't recharge along the way.
Then add a margin. Batteries don't deliver every watt-hour on the label to your devices, and cold nights or an extra day can change your plans. Planning for well above your estimate means you won't be rationing phone charge on Sunday morning.
Top Tip: Keep your device list and calculation in a note on your phone. After the trip, check how much charge you actually had left and adjust the numbers. By your second or third trip, your estimates will be close to what you really use, and packing gets much easier. |
Step 4 - Compare Your Charging Options
How you'll recharge during the weekend matters as much as how much power you start with. The right choice depends on your campsite, the weather and how long you'll stay.
Charging from your car works for phones on the drive, but running the engine at camp isn't ideal. Solar panels can top up a battery during sunny days, though output drops in shade and cloud. Gas generators produce plenty of power, but they're loud and need careful handling. The CDC warns that portable generators produce carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. Never run one inside or near a tent, camper or vehicle.
Match your charging plan to your site. A shaded forest campsite and an open desert one call for different approaches.
Step 5 - Choose a Power Station That Fits Your Trip
A portable power station is a quiet, fuel-free way to cover a weekend's devices, as long as its capacity matches your total. Start with your watt-hour estimate plus margin, then check the outlets you'll need, such as USB-C for phones or an AC outlet for a fan.
Once you know your numbers, compare models side by side, such as a Jackery power station from Off-Grid Source, where Explorer stations can be paired with SolarSaga panels for recharging outdoors. Check that the station's capacity covers your weekend total and that its maximum output in watts is higher than the combined draw of anything you'll run at the same time.
Weigh up portability too. If you'll carry it any distance to a walk-in site, a smaller station that covers your needs is easier than a large one you won't fully use.
Step 6 - Check the Campground Rules and Test at Home
Campground rules can affect your power plan, so read them before you go. At Lassen Volcanic National Park, for example, quiet hours run from 10pm to 6am, and generators may only be used during set windows such as 8am to 10am. Other parks and private campgrounds set their own limits.
Then run a test at home a few days before the trip:
Charge the power station fully
Plug in each device and check that it charges or runs
Run your lights and fan for an evening as you would at camp
Note how much charge is left the next morning
Test your full setup before you leave so any surprises happen in your living room, not at the campsite.
Write Your Device List Tonight
List every device you plan to bring on your next trip and look up its wattage. Once you have the total, you'll know what size power setup you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I work out how much power I need for camping?
List every device, multiply each one's wattage by the hours you'll use it, then add the totals. Add a margin on top for cold nights and unexpected use.
Is a power station or a generator better for camping?
A power station is quiet and fuel-free, which suits most weekend trips. Gas generators produce carbon monoxide and must never run inside or near a tent, camper or vehicle.
Can I use a generator at any campground?
Not always. Some parks restrict generators to set hours, so check your campground's rules before you go.