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Is the Subaru Outback Good for Car Camping? A Comprehensive Guide from Sunset Hills Subaru

Jul 16, 2025

Is the Subaru Outback Good for Car Camping? A Comprehensive Guide from Sunset Hills Subaru

When it comes to car camping, the Subaru Outback has become a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts from Sunset Hills, MO, to nearby communities like Webster Groves, Fenton, and Crestwood. Its versatile design, rugged capabilities, and comfortable interior make it especially well-suited for those who want to combine adventure with convenience. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway to the Ozarks or a longer expedition through the Missouri countryside, understanding the Subaru Outback’s features that make it ideal for car camping will help you get the most from your travels.

If you’re exploring options for your next adventure vehicle or ready to upgrade your current ride, contact us at (314) 476-9638 or visit us in person at 10100 Watson Rd, Sunset Hills, MO 63127. Our team at Sunset Hills Subaru is here to guide you toward the perfect Outback and answer any questions about car camping, vehicle capabilities, or accessories.

Table of Contents

Key Features That Make the Subaru Outback Ideal for Car Camping

Car camping requires a vehicle that combines comfort, cargo capacity, and off-road ability, and the Subaru Outback delivers on all fronts. With its generous cargo space, the Outback offers up to 75.7 cubic feet of room with rear seats folded down, which is ample for gear storage and even creating a flat sleeping surface. This space is ideal for residents of places like Chesterfield, MO or Valley Park, MO, who often take weekend trips to state parks or more remote camping spots.

The Outback’s symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) system ensures traction on gravel roads, muddy trails, or snow-covered paths, common in areas around Sappington and Richmond Heights. This AWD system, combined with 8.7 inches of ground clearance (and up to 9.5 inches in Wilderness trims), allows the vehicle to handle rough or uneven terrain that many traditional crossovers might shy away from. This capability is crucial when you want to access less-traveled camping sites without sacrificing safety or vehicle control.

Additionally, the Outback’s roof rails come factory-installed, providing a secure foundation for mounting rooftop tents or cargo carriers. These rails support dynamic loads up to approximately 150-176 pounds, which is suitable for many modern rooftop tent models. For more substantial rooftop setups, reinforced aftermarket crossbars can be installed to support even heavier loads. This feature is a favorite among campers near Glendale, MO and Maplewood, MO, who value the convenience of elevated sleeping arrangements.

For those preparing for a road trip or outdoor adventure, Sunset Hills Subaru offers a wide variety of new Outback models in our New Subaru Outback Inventory. We also encourage customers to explore our Current New Car Specials to find great deals on vehicles ready for adventure.

How the Subaru Outback’s Folding Seats Enhance Camping Comfort

One of the standout features that make the Subaru Outback excellent for car camping is its rear seats that fold flat, creating a nearly level sleeping surface. The process is straightforward: pulling the latch on each side allows the seats to fold down completely, maximizing cargo and sleeping space. This is especially beneficial for families or groups camping around Creve Coeur, MO, where space and comfort are priorities.

The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, allowing flexibility between passenger seating and cargo space. For instance, if you need to transport bikes or kayaks from locations like Richmond Heights or Lakeshire, you can fold down one side and keep the other upright for passengers. This adaptability is crucial for outdoor enthusiasts who often balance equipment and people.

With the seats folded flat, the Subaru Outback offers a cargo area length comparable to a queen-sized mattress, allowing even taller campers to stretch out comfortably. Adding a quality sleeping pad or inflatable mattress enhances comfort, making overnight stays restful even in cooler Missouri climates. For those interested in outfitting their Outback for camping, consider browsing our Find Subaru Parts page, where you can locate seat covers, cargo organizers, and other accessories to customize your setup.

Why Outdoor Enthusiasts Prefer Subaru Vehicles

The Subaru brand has long been associated with outdoor lifestyles, and there are several technical and practical reasons why Subaru vehicles, particularly the Outback, are preferred by nature lovers in areas like Ladue, MO, Twin Oaks, and St Charles.

Subaru’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is designed to provide balanced power distribution to all four wheels, which is crucial when traversing slippery or uneven surfaces. This system offers superior handling compared to many front-wheel or rear-wheel-drive vehicles, enabling confident driving on trails, snow, or wet roads common in Missouri’s variable weather.

Durability also plays a significant role. Subaru builds its vehicles with rugged components and a robust chassis designed to withstand the rigors of off-road driving and camping trips. Whether you’re hauling gear to a remote spot near Fenton, MO, or navigating forest roads in Webster Groves, the vehicle’s resilience ensures fewer worries about breakdowns.

Cargo versatility is another draw for outdoorsy drivers. Subaru designs its interiors with practical storage solutions, including under-floor compartments and roof rails for extra gear. This practical design provides ample room for camping supplies, bikes, kayaks, or climbing equipment. The Outback’s combination of these features creates a vehicle that supports an active and adventurous lifestyle seamlessly.

Sleeping in the Subaru Outback: Practical Tips and Space Considerations

Sleeping inside your Subaru Outback is a popular choice for car campers, thanks to its spacious cargo area and fold-flat seats. For those in Sunset Hills and nearby communities such as Richmond Heights and Crestwood, this feature allows for convenient overnight stays without the hassle of setting up a tent.

The Outback’s cargo space with rear seats folded down measures approximately 75.7 cubic feet, providing a flat and spacious area roughly the length of a queen mattress. This allows most adults, even those over 6 feet tall, to lie flat comfortably. Packing a sleeping pad or an inflatable mattress enhances comfort, especially for camping trips during colder seasons.

If temperatures rise, campers often seek natural shade by parking near trees or use hammocks for a cooler sleeping option. For fans of rooftop camping, the factory roof rails make it easy to install a rooftop tent, creating an elevated and dry sleeping area that keeps you off the ground and away from insects. Our Schedule Service and Diagnostics team can also help with maintenance to ensure your vehicle is ready for these excursions.

Taking Long Trips with Your Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is not only great for short camping trips but also an excellent companion for longer journeys, such as cross-state road trips or extended outdoor adventures. Residents from communities like St Louis, MO, and Maryland Heights appreciate the Outback’s combination of comfort, fuel efficiency, and reliability on extended drives.

The Outback’s engine options, including a standard 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® engine and an available 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, provide a balance of power and fuel economy. Most trims deliver an estimated 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, making it economical for long distances without frequent fuel stops. The larger fuel tank capacity of 18.5 gallons also supports longer driving ranges between fill-ups compared to smaller SUVs.

Comfort features such as advanced climate control, ergonomic seating, and infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto help reduce fatigue during hours on the road. Additionally, Subaru’s EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology adds safety by assisting with adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and collision mitigation. These features are essential for navigating highways and rural roads alike.

To maintain peak performance during long trips, it’s critical to keep up with vehicle maintenance such as oil changes, tire inspections, and brake checks. Sunset Hills Subaru offers expert service at our location in Sunset Hills, MO. Schedule your next appointment through our Schedule Service and Diagnostics page to ensure your Outback is road-trip ready.

What Campers Can Be Towed by the Subaru Outback

For those who want to combine car camping with towing a small camper, the Subaru Outback offers a respectable towing capacity of up to 2,700 pounds, and up to 3,500 pounds in Wilderness and XT trims. While it cannot handle large RVs, it is well-suited to tow several types of lightweight campers popular among Missouri adventurers.

Teardrop trailers are a favorite due to their compact size and low weight—usually between 500 and 1,500 pounds unloaded. These trailers provide basic amenities like a small kitchen and sleeping space for two, making them ideal for couples camping near Chesterfield or Oakland, MO.

Pop-up campers, which weigh approximately 700 to 3,800 pounds, feature fold-out canvas sides and often include more extensive amenities such as kitchenettes, bathrooms, and heating. Many models fall within the Outback’s towing limits when unloaded, but it’s crucial to account for added weight from supplies and water tanks.

Small travel trailers, such as the Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro and Jayco Hummingbird, offer more comfort and can sometimes be towed safely by the Outback. However, careful consideration of total weight, including cargo, is essential to avoid exceeding manufacturer recommendations.

If you’re considering towing accessories or hitch installations, Sunset Hills Subaru offers genuine OEM trailer towing parts. Explore our Find Subaru Parts catalog to ensure your Outback is equipped safely and efficiently for towing.

Fuel Efficiency: How Many Miles Per Gallon Does the Outback Get?

Fuel economy is a critical factor for campers and travelers who want to maximize their range and minimize fuel stops. The 2022 Subaru Outback delivers solid efficiency ratings with 26 miles per gallon in city driving and up to 33 miles per gallon on the highway for most trims. The turbocharged models slightly reduce mileage to approximately 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, while the rugged Wilderness trim averages 22 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

This efficiency supports longer trips through Missouri’s varied terrain, from urban areas like St Louis to rural stretches near Valley Park. Drivers can confidently plan trips without frequent refueling, making the Outback an economical choice for car camping and longer adventures.

To further improve fuel efficiency, maintain proper tire pressure, minimize unnecessary idling, and use cruise control on highways. For expert help keeping your Outback optimized, visit our service center at Sunset Hills Subaru and check out our Current Service and Parts Specials.

Installing a Roof-Top Tent on Your Subaru Outback

Rooftop tents have become increasingly popular among car campers who want a quick, elevated sleeping setup. The Subaru Outback’s factory-installed roof rails provide a sturdy base for mounting many rooftop tent models, such as those offered by Intrepid Camp Gear.

The dynamic load limit for roof rails on a standard Outback is approximately 150-176 pounds while driving, with static weight capacity increasing substantially when parked, especially on Wilderness trims. To safely install a rooftop tent, it’s recommended to use aftermarket crossbars rated for at least 165 pounds, ensuring proper weight distribution and security.

Popular rooftop tent models like the GEO Solo and GEO 2.5 offer lightweight, aerodynamic designs that minimize wind resistance and preserve fuel economy. These tents provide quick setup and comfortable sleeping quarters for solo travelers, couples, or small families. Proper installation also ensures you maintain access to the Outback’s rear hatch for easy loading and unloading.

For accessories or installation advice, visit Sunset Hills Subaru or browse our parts inventory at Find Subaru Parts to equip your Outback for rooftop camping.

Comparing the Outback’s Height to the Forester: What It Means for Camping and Driving

When deciding between Subaru models like the Outback and Forester, understanding height and clearance differences can influence your camping experience. The Forester is taller by about two inches, standing at roughly 68.9 inches high, compared to the Outback’s 66.1 inches. This extra height offers slightly more headroom inside, which may appeal to those prioritizing interior spaciousness in places like Ladue or Twin Oaks.

However, the Outback’s longer wheelbase and lower center of gravity contribute to a smoother ride on highways and rougher terrain, making it a preferred choice for long-distance camping trips. Additionally, the Outback Wilderness trim boasts a higher ground clearance of 9.5 inches compared to the Forester Wilderness’s 9.2 inches, providing a slight advantage on challenging trails around areas like Maplewood or Concord.

Both vehicles feature symmetrical all-wheel drive and advanced safety technologies, but the Outback’s combination of ride comfort, cargo space, and rugged features make it an excellent all-around camping vehicle.

Is the Subaru Outback a Station Wagon or an SUV?

Traditionally, the Subaru Outback began as a station wagon variant of the Legacy model, blending wagon practicality with SUV-like styling. However, the latest models, including the 2026 Outback, have evolved significantly in size and design, blurring these distinctions.

Modern Outbacks have grown taller, with boxier shapes and increased ground clearance, pushing them beyond the classic station wagon proportions. In fact, recent analyses show the Outback no longer meets the dimensional criteria for a station wagon, moving it firmly into the two-row midsize SUV category.

This shift affects how owners think about vehicle capabilities and camping setups. The SUV classification reflects the Outback’s enhanced off-road performance, higher seating position, and rugged features that appeal to outdoor adventurers in communities like Sappington, MO and Glendale, MO. For customers interested in exploring these latest models, our New Subaru Outback Inventory features the newest trims and configurations.

Service, Trade-In, and Parts Resources at Sunset Hills Subaru

Owning a Subaru Outback means enjoying a reliable vehicle that supports your adventurous lifestyle, but regular maintenance is essential to keep it running smoothly. Whether you’re preparing for a car camping trip or routine driving around Sunset Hills, Glendale, or Fenton, scheduling timely service is critical.

We invite you to Schedule Service and Diagnostics online for oil changes, tire rotations, brake inspections, and more, handled by our expert Subaru-certified technicians. For those who own an older model or need replacement parts, browse our genuine Subaru OEM parts through Find Subaru Parts to ensure quality and compatibility.

If you’re considering upgrading your vehicle, use our convenient tool to Get your value trade and explore options in our Used Vehicle Inventory or New Subaru Inventory. We also offer attractive promotions in our Current New Car Specials and Service and Parts Specials to help you save.

Embrace Adventure with the Subaru Outback from Sunset Hills Subaru

The Subaru Outback stands out as a premier choice for car camping enthusiasts in Sunset Hills, MO, and neighboring communities. Its spacious and adaptable interior, combined with rugged capabilities and fuel-efficient performance, equips you for a wide range of outdoor adventures. From folding seats that create a comfortable sleeping platform to towing small campers and supporting rooftop tents, the Outback is designed to meet the needs of modern explorers.

Visit us at 10100 Watson Rd, Sunset Hills, MO 63127 or call (314) 476-9638 to test drive the latest Subaru Outback models and discover how it can transform your car camping experiences.

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