More than 50 million American households go camping each year. But before you hit the road, you need to be sure you have all the essential gear. It'd better to be safe than sorry.

Get a tent that’s big enough to accommodate all your family members. Check online reviews before you purchase to ensure you get one that’s well-made and easy to put up and take down.

Sleeping bags should be on your list. If you’re buying or borrowing sleeping bags for your trip, be sure to get ones that are rated appropriately for the temperatures you’ll be experiencing. In other words, don’t take a winter bag on a summer trip.

Get camping sleep pads for each family member. These padded mats are a squishy layer between you and the hard ground, and make the nights much more comfortable.

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You’ll want camp chairs for everyone. Even if your campsite has a picnic table with benches, you’ll want chairs to gather ‘round the fire and more comfortably lounge in when you get back from swimming in the lake.

Most campgrounds do not permit firewood gathering, so you’ll need to bring your own firewood if you want to have an evening fire. Sometimes the campground store will have bundles of firewood for sale, but you’ll pay a premium, and it’s best to bring some from home.

While it’s definitely fun to grill steaks over a fire, you might also want an easy-light camp stove for that morning coffee. A two-burner stove gives you options for when you don’t want to go to the trouble of building a fire for something quick.

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You’ll want to have at least a couple of light sources. Bring flashlights for everyone, for those fun evening hikes. And have a lantern or two to provide plenty of light for the campsite, so no one trips in the dark.