3 Great Camping Items You Can Find at the Dollar Tree

Camping should be an inexpensive way to see the world, but by the time you buy all the gear you need, you may feel as if you've emptied your checking account.  

The good news is, you can score some great bargains for your camping needs -- whether you use a tent or an RV -- if you shop at Dollar Tree. Here are three awesome items to check out that you'll want to pick up at a bargain price before you hit the road for your next adventure. 

1. Storage containers

Whether you're staying in a camper or a tent, chances are good that you'll have a lot of stuff to keep organized. You could spend a fortune on fancy storage containers from Target or Walmart, like these 10.5 by 10.5 inch Hyacinth Storage Baskets that would run you about $13 per basket. Or, you could spend $1.25 for a colorful plastic basket of a similar size from Dollar Tree. 

Since you'll be "roughing it" on your trip, there's no need for those pricey alternatives. Instead, choose from Dollar Tree's vast selection of storage boxes, bins, and containers including boxes both with and without lids. 

We use many of the Dollar Tree containers in our camper and they've allowed us to make the most of our space by organizing everything from dog gear to toddler clothing to spare plates and glasses. In fact, just about every cabinet in our RV has at least one Dollar Tree container. While some hold up better than others, they all made it through the 15 trips we took this first year of having the camper. 

2. Rain ponchos 

Rain doesn't need to ruin your vacation if you come prepared with a rain poncho. And the Dollar Tree has clear plastic ones for $1.25 so you can buy one for everyone in the family. A 10-pack of the same ponchos is $15.98 from Amazon, so you're better off saving yourself the $0.35 per poncho. 

These ponchos do a surprisingly great job keeping you dry, and they've enabled us to keep the fun going on several camping trips and Disney vacations too. I bought about 20 of them and we keep them in our camper, the stroller we take camping, our diaper bag, and our go-bag when we head out for the day, so we're prepared for any unexpected storms.  

3. Moisture eliminators

Campers can get a musty smell, especially if you aren't living in them regularly. No one wants to deal with that. The good news is Dollar Tree offers moisture eliminators with charcoal. These little items can be tucked away in a closet, cabinet, or under a table and they absorb bad odors and prevent mildew, plus they're spill-proof. 

We use these in our camper to keep it smelling fresh and we picked up ours from Dollar Tree for $1.25 each instead of breaking out the credit cards to pay $33.30 (or $5.55 each) for a six-pack from Walmart. Since buying them, I've noticed a difference in musty odors, especially when we go two or three weeks in between trips. Three of the four have held up great all season (with one casualty caused by a toddler with a pair of scissors, so note that they aren't indestructible). 

Each of these items is a great buy, and it just goes to show you may be surprised at what you can find at a dollar store.