A 50-quart cooler is the sweet spot for two people on a weekend trip.

Probably. For most car camping trips, 50 quarts gives you enough room for three days of meals plus drinks without being a beast to lug around.

Here’s the reality: a 45–55 quart cooler holds about 30 cans plus a few days of groceries. If you’re bringing a lot of pre-prepped food or extra ice, go 60. Any bigger and you’re just carrying empty space and extra weight. Any smaller and you’ll be playing Tetris or running out of room by Saturday night.

One pro move: if you’re serious about keeping food cold, get two smaller coolers instead of one giant one — one for drinks (opened constantly), one for perishables (kept shut). But for a simple weekend, one 50-quart is just right.

Don’t overthink it.