Are you wondering which type of ice will keep your food and drinks cold the longest on your next camping trip? The right choice for your cooler is a critical decision that can make or break your trip, not just for cold drinks but also for food safety. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warns that bacteria grow most rapidly in temperatures between 40°F and 140°F, a range often called the “Danger Zone.” To prevent foodborne illness and enjoy fresh meals on your adventure, you must keep your food out of this zone.

The world of camping has evolved beyond just tossing a bag of ice into a cooler. There are two types of ice available for campers today: standard ice and dry ice, which has greater freezing power. Both have unique advantages and disadvantages that make them better suited for different types of trips.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the key differences between dry ice vs regular ice for camping. We’ll cover everything from cooling power and longevity to safety and cost, helping you make the most informed decision for your outdoor adventure.

Dry Ice vs Regular Ice: Quick Comparison

Dry Ice: The Ultimate Cooling Power

If you need serious, long-lasting cooling, dry ice for camping is your best bet. It’s not frozen water but rather solid carbon dioxide. This unique composition makes it significantly colder than regular ice, which means it will keep your food and drinks frozen solid for much longer. It’s the perfect choice for extended camping trips where you need to preserve meat, frozen meals, or even ice cream.

How to Use Dry Ice for Camping?

When using dry ice, safety is the top priority. Always wear thick gloves or use tongs to handle it. When packing your cooler, put the dry ice at the bottom and wrap it in a towel or newspaper. This prevents direct contact with your food, which could cause freezer burn, and helps slow down the sublimation process. You’ll want to layer your frozen items on top, with fresh food placed on top of that. This creates a powerful cold environment that can last for days, making it the best way to keep a cooler cold for a week.

Pros of Dry Ice

• Superior Cooling Power: Dry ice is much colder than regular ice, at a frigid -109.3°F (-78.5°C). This extreme temperature keeps frozen foods solid for days, which is crucial for longer trips where you can’t restock supplies. It creates a deep-freeze environment, making it the perfect long-term cooling solution for preserving meat or pre-made frozen meals.
• No Water Mess: Dry ice doesn’t melt into a liquid. Rather, it sublimates, transforming from a solid directly into carbon dioxide gas. This means you’ll never have to drain a soggy cooler or worry about your food getting soaked in a puddle of water. It keeps your cooler and its contents clean and dry.
• Lightweight: While dry ice itself has weight, it won’t add any extra weight to your cooler at the end of the trip. Since it turns into gas, you’ll be left with a much lighter load to carry back to your car, unlike a cooler full of water from melted ice.
• Extended Freshness: Because of its super-cold temperature, dry ice locks in the freshness of your food from the moment you pack it. This is a game-changer for camping food preservation and allows you to enjoy fresh, high-quality meals for several days, minimizing waste and the need for frequent store runs.

Cons of Dry Ice

• High Cost: Dry ice is more of a specialty item, and it comes at a higher price. It’s typically sold by the pound and can cost significantly more than a standard bag of regular ice. For a multi-day trip, the cost can add up quickly, making it a less budget-friendly option for casual campers.
• Requires Careful Handling: The extreme cold of dry ice can cause a serious injury called “cryogenic burn” or frostbite if it touches your skin. You must always handle it with thick gloves or tongs. This added safety step means it’s not as simple to use as regular ice.
• Safety Concerns: Dry ice needs proper ventilation. As it sublimates, it releases carbon dioxide gas, which displaces oxygen in a closed space. Never transport a cooler with dry ice in a sealed vehicle or use it in a small, unventilated tent, as it could pose a suffocation risk. It’s important to leave a window cracked in your car or a vent open on your cooler.
• Limited Availability: You can’t just pick up dry ice at any gas station. You often have to buy it from large grocery store chains, specialty ice suppliers, or welding supply stores. This means you need to plan and know exactly where you can get it before you hit the road.

Regular Ice: The Go-To Camping Staple

Regular ice for coolers is the most common and accessible option for camping. It’s just frozen water, and it’s perfect for keeping drinks chilled and for shorter trips where you don’t need things to stay frozen for days on end. Regular ice is cheap, easy to find, and simple to use.

How to Use Regular Ice for Camping?

To get the most out of regular ice for camping, use a combination of block ice and cubed ice. Block ice melts more slowly and provides a long-lasting cooling base. Cubed ice is great for filling in the gaps and chilling drinks quickly. Always pre-chill your cooler and items before packing to extend the life of your ice. The best way to keep a cooler cold with regular ice is to minimize opening the lid and keep it in the shade. For shorter trips, many campers also carry ice packs for camping as a mess-free option to keep food fresh.

Pros of Regular Ice

• Inexpensive and Available: Regular ice is incredibly easy to find and is very affordable. You can pick up a bag at almost any convenience store, gas station, or supermarket, making it the perfect last-minute addition to your camping supplies.
• Safe to Handle: Unlike dry ice, regular ice is completely safe to touch and doesn’t require any special gloves or tools. You can grab a handful to put in a drink or cool down a hot pan without any risk of injury. Pairing it with insulated camping mugs helps keep your drinks colder for longer, especially on hot summer days.
• Multi-Purpose: The melted water from regular ice can be useful at the campsite. It can be used for washing hands, rinsing dishes, or even as a source of drinking water if you start with purified ice and a clean cooler. This adds a practical, valuable benefit.
• Simple to Use: There are no special instructions or safety warnings to follow with regular ice. You simply pour it into your cooler and arrange your food and drinks. It’s a hassle-free, straightforward solution for keeping things cold.

Cons of Regular Ice

• Melts Quickly: Regular ice is only 32°F (0°C), so it melts much faster than dry ice, especially when it’s hot outside or you’re frequently opening the cooler. This requires constant draining and frequent trips to the store to buy more ice, which can be a hassle on a camping trip.
• Watery Mess: As the ice melts, it creates a pool of cold water at the bottom of your cooler. This can cause cardboard food boxes to get soggy and can be a pain to drain. It also means you have to use waterproof containers for everything to prevent your food from getting ruined.
• Lower Cooling Power: Regular ice can only keep things chilled, not frozen. If you have meat or other perishables that need to stay frozen for a few days, regular ice simply won’t get the job done. It’s a good solution for keeping drinks cool but not for long-term food preservation.
• Takes Up Space: The melted water adds weight and takes up a lot of space inside your cooler. As the trip goes on, you’ll find less room for your food and drinks because of the water, which you have to drain and replace frequently.

Dry Ice vs Regular Ice: When to Choose Each?

When should you pick dry ice, and when should you stick with regular ice? The answer depends entirely on your specific trip.

• Choose dry ice if: You are going on a longer camping trip (3+ days) and need to keep food frozen solid. It is also a great choice for transporting frozen foods, like fish you’ve caught. The lack of water mess is a huge bonus. This is the ultimate long-term cooling solution.
• Choose regular ice if: Your trip is shorter (1-2 days) and you just need to keep drinks and non-frozen food chilled. It is also the best choice if you are on a budget or don’t want to deal with the extra safety steps of handling dry ice. In colder conditions, campers may also benefit from practical tips in cold-weather camping hacks to help manage gear and food storage more effectively.

Pro Tip: For the ultimate cooling system, use a combination of both. Place a layer of dry ice at the bottom of your cooler, separated by cardboard or newspaper, to keep things frozen. Then, fill the top half with regular ice to keep drinks and snacks chilled and easily accessible. This dry ice camping strategy maximizes the life of your regular ice.

How to Pick the Best Ice for Your Camping Trip

Here’s a breakdown of what to consider before making your pick:

Trip Length: The number of days you’ll be camping is a major factor. For a quick weekend trip, regular ice is sufficient. For a week-long expedition, dry ice is the best choice for preserving food. The longevity of dry ice makes it the perfect long-term cooling solution for camping.

Items to Cool: Are you just chilling drinks, or do you need to keep steaks frozen for a few days? If your goal is to keep things cold, regular ice works. If you need to keep things frozen, dry ice is the only real option. This is a key difference in the dry ice camping cooler debate.

Cooler Quality: A high-quality, insulated cooler will extend the life of both dry and regular ice. A cheap cooler will cause both to melt or sublimate much faster. A well-insulated cooler with dry ice can last up to a week.

Safety: The most important factor in the dry ice vs regular ice discussion is safety. Dry ice requires gloves, proper ventilation, and care. If you have kids or are worried about handling it, stick with regular ice. Always remember to use dry ice in a ventilated area, as it releases carbon dioxide gas.

Cost and Availability: Dry ice is more expensive and harder to find. Regular ice is cheap and available everywhere. If you are on a budget or can’t find a local supplier of dry ice, regular ice is your only choice.

Conclusion

The choice between dry ice vs regular ice for camping ultimately comes down to your specific needs. Regular ice is the go-to for quick trips and keeping drinks cold, thanks to its low cost and wide availability. 

However, for serious campers who need to keep food frozen for a week or longer, dry ice is the undisputed winner. It offers unmatched cooling power without the messy water. Just be sure to handle it with care and plan ahead for where to buy it. By considering your trip length, what you’re cooling, and your budget, you can make the right call and ensure your food stays safe and your drinks stay cold.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does dry ice last in a cooler? 

In a standard cooler, 5 to 10 pounds of dry ice will typically last for 18 to 24 hours, but this timeframe can fluctuate depending on the quality of the cooler’s insulation and the temperature outside. In a high-quality cooler, it can last for several days, making it an excellent long-term cooling solution.

2. Can you put regular ice and dry ice in the same cooler? 

Yes, you can. Many experienced campers use this method. Place the dry ice at the bottom, wrap it in a towel, and then layer your regular ice on top. This keeps the regular ice from melting, providing a longer-lasting cool environment for both frozen and chilled items.

3. Is it safe to use a regular cooler with dry ice? 

Most standard coolers can handle dry ice. However, because dry ice releases carbon dioxide gas, you should never fully seal a cooler containing it. The gas needs a way to vent, or it could cause the cooler to explode. A common mistake is to seal a cooler with a screw-in drain plug; you must leave this open.

4. Can dry ice be used to make drinks cold? 

Placing dry ice directly into a drink is unsafe. Its intense cold can result in frostbite, and accidentally swallowing it poses serious health risks. The release of carbon dioxide can also create excessive fizzing in the beverage.

5. How much dry ice do I need for my camping trip? 

A good rule of thumb is to use 5-10 pounds of dry ice per day for a standard 25-50 quart cooler. The exact amount depends on the size of your cooler, the ambient temperature, and how often you open the cooler.