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When planning for a weekend at the cabin, there are countless things you need to remember to pack. The list is even longer if you’re bringing the entire family along with you. Everything from cabin essentials and fishing gear to the best food and clothing. And don’t forget all of the fun things to bring to a cabin, like board games or your new drone to capture stunning video memories. To help you prepare, we’ve created the following cabin packing checklist. It contains everything you’ll need for your weekend getaway, starting with your cabin essentials.
Cabin Essentials
There are certain must-do activities when spending a weekend at the cabin, and roasting marshmallows by the fire is at the top of the list. That’s why we’ve included campfire supplies on our list of cabin essentials.
- Firewood
- Wood Splitting Axe
- Lighter/Fire Starter
- Newspaper to start a fire
- S’mores skewers
- Folding Camping Chairs
- Flashlight
- Garbage Bags for laundry
- First Aid Kit
- Multi-Tool
- Scissors
- Rope
- Battery charger
- Portable BBQ
Cabin Comfort
The following items are meant to enhance your cabin experience. String lights add a wonderful ambiance, while your favorite pillow and wool blanket will make you feel right at home. Coffee lovers will wonder how they ever lived without an Aeropress. Also, don’t forget to bring along a deck of playing cards and your favorite board game!
- Aeropress Coffee Maker and filters
- Coffee grinder
- Coffee
- String lights – Battery powered
- Wool blankets
- Your favorite pillow
- Lantern
- Pine scented candles
- Hot cocoa mix
- Wine
- Unbreakable wine glasses
- Corkscrew/bottle opener
- Board Games
- Deck of playing cards
Cabin Food
The right food is high on the list of cabin essentials. While you’ll have your own list of what you want to eat on your weekend retreat, here are some go-to cabin food items and utensils.
- Meat for the BBQ
- Pancake Batter (pre-mixed)
- Bacon & Eggs
- Fresh fruit & vegetables
- Weiners
- Chocolate for S’mores
- Marshmallows
- Plastic plates and bowls
- Plastic cups and/or styrofoam cups
- Ziploc bags
- Seasonings (salt and pepper)
- Condiments
- Butter
- Beverages
- Cooking oil
- Sponges
- Breakfast Griddle
- Tupperware containers
- Cutlery
Cabin Attire
Is there such a thing as cabin attire? We think so. Comfort is the top priority when it comes to weekend away outfits. Don’t forget your slippers and flannel pajamas.
- Slippers
- Wool Sweater
- Flannel Pajamas
- Leggings
- Pullover Sweater/Hoodie
- Sweatpants
- Shorts
- Jeans
- T-shirts
- Socks & underwear
Personal Care Items
How many of the following personal care items can you leave behind when you head for the lake? After all, you can’t completely forget about personal hygiene when you’re at the cabin.
- Hair Brush
- Blow Dryer
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Shampoo
- Skincare lotion
- Lip Balm
- Deodorant
- Female Sanitary Items
- Toilet Paper
- Face Cloth
- Razor
- Shaving Cream
- Polysporin
- Pain medication
Outdoor Adventure
Not everyone will be happy staying at the cabin by the fire when they’re on a weekend getaway. If you’re the adventurous type, chances are you’ll want to head out for a hike, a bike ride, or hit the water with your kayak or paddleboard.
- Backpack
- Hiking Boots
- Hiking Poles
- Rain boots
- Running Shoes
- Binoculars
- Bug Spray
- DSLR Camera
- Tripod
- Drone
- Mountain Bike
- Bike pump
- Bicycle tire patch kit
- Headlamp
- Energy bars for hiking
- Kayak
- Paddleboard
Cabin Fishing Trip
There’s nothing more peaceful than a day spent fishing on the lake. That’s why we’ve added all of the essential fishing gear to our list of cabin essentials.
- Fishing license
- Fishing pole
- Extra fishing Line
- Tacklebox
- Hooks and lures
- Bait bucket
- Dry bag
- Cooler for the boat
- Filleting knife
- Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
Beach Packing List
There’s a good chance the cabin you’ll be staying at is close to a beach. If so, don’t forget to pack your beach essentials, starting with your swimsuit and beach towel, and proper protection from the sun’s rays.
- Swimsuit
- Sun dress for the beach
- Sun hat
- Tank top
- Flip flops
- Water shoes
- Beach towel
- Sunscreen, SPF 35+
- Snorkel
- Cooler
- Beach Umbrella
- Beach Tent
- Lifejacket
- Floaties
- Nerf Football
- Frisbee
Related Post: 46 Camping Essentials – The Camping Gear You Need this Summer
Cabin Checklist: Final Thoughts
There you have it, our ultimate lake trip packing list. In the future, we’ll include our cabin packing list in a printable pdf format for your convenience. Until then, we’d love to know: what are your top cabin essentials? Is there anything we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below!
