Camping with Kids Packing Tips & Checklist

TIPS FOR CAMPING WITH LITTLE KIDS

Going tent camping with kids is not for the faint of heart. Everything from making coffee and preparing meals to naptimes and diaper changes requires a bit of extra planning and work. And as we all know, taking care of little kids is so much work already!

BUT…there’s nothing like gathering around the campfire with your little family, roasting marshmallows and gobbling up smores. Watching your kids trade screentime for exploring nature and running around in the fresh air is so worth the extra work.

Not to mention, once you have the gear, camping is an affordable way to see the country. It allows families that don’t necessarily have the budget for fancy hotel stays to see parts of the USA they might have otherwise missed.

So whether you’ve got your heart set on experiencing camping with your kids or you’re looking it as a necessary evil so you can afford to travel, allow me (a fellow novice camper) to walk you through the steps to planning, preparing for, and packing for a camping trip with babies, toddlers, and little kids.

>> Related: Looking for the best and warmest camping clothes that don’t smell no matter how much you wear them? Read here: Best Travel Clothes for Women

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

TIPS FOR CAMPING WITH KIDS

BORROW GEAR OR BUY SECONDHAND

Facebook Marketplace, the Dollar Store, and Amazon Prime were our best friends before our most recent camping trip.

I spent hours doing research on what exactly we would need for a comfortable camping trip with kids. I went camping every summer growing up, but as an adult with little kids, I’ve only gone a few times. With a new baby in the family, I wasn’t going for some backcountry wilderness experience. This time we were going for comfort.

We already had a tent but were missing a few other key items. So we stocked up on the necessities, borrowed a few items from friends and family, and used Marketplace when we could to avoid spending hundreds of dollars on camping gear.

CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL OF COMFORT

Nowadays there are so many options for campers of all levels. You can go glamping with all the amenities, or you can “rough it” and be one with nature.

Our family has done tent camping a few times, and we’ve stayed in a cabin at a KOA campground. While the cabin was fun and easy because it had 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, and a private bathroom, the tent camping was its own kind of adventure and brought our family closer together (both physically and emotionally).

You can try:

a cabin at a campground
tent camping at a campground
an RV or camper at a campground
a yurt or glamping experience
camping in a state or national park
backcountry camping (hiking to a remote campsite)

Take stock of the supplies you have and what you’re willing to spend on new supplies, think about your comfort level with sleeping outside, and choose whichever option works best for you and your family.

CONSIDER A TRIAL RUN

If you’re thinking of going camping but aren’t sure how your kids will do in the tent, do a trial run at home. You can camp inside if your tent fits, or pitch your tent in the back yard. If it’s a complete disaster, no big deal! Camping just might not be your thing yet this year. Maybe next year!

Check out my post on tips and ideas for camping at home with kids.

GO WITH FRIENDS

If I could have changed one thing about our trip, I would have planned it with another family. I loved the bonding time we got with our kids, but let’s face it. Entertaining a baby, toddler, and little kids 24/7 in the woods is a grind.

Going with another family would have helped keep the kids busy, and it’s always nice to have other parents to work alongside. Everything feels more fun that way!

DON’T FORGET ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

The last thing I thought about when packing was bringing games, toys, and activities for the kids. It sounds silly, but I was so focused on the practical gear that I almost forgot about it!

At the last minute, we made sure we brought things for the kids to do, and I’m so glad we did! There was a lot of downtime and moments where the grown-ups were setting up the tent or cooking dinner or feeding the baby and the big kids needed to entertain themselves.

PREP YOUR FOOD

If there’s one thing I’m SO glad we did, it was to plan our meals ahead of time and cook some meat ahead of time. We saved ourselves a ton of work by having taco meat for walking tacos already cooked. It just needed to be warmed up! We kept meals simple and had things like fruit and veggies cut up beforehand so everything was grab-and-go.

I also made homemade muffins for breakfast or snacks and froze them beforehand.

KEEP YOUR MEALS SIMPLE

I wouldn’t suggest trying fancy meals for your first camping trip unless you really enjoy cooking. We did grilled cheese in a square pudgy pie maker, hot dogs, and walking tacos with ground beef we had cooked and frozen ahead of time.

I knew we would all be out of our element so it was not the time to be experimenting with new dishes or cooking styles!

When we camped at a KOA cabin in St. Augustine, Florida a while back, we did quesadillas in tin foil over the fire. That was a fun option, too!

GETTING ORGANIZED BEFORE YOUR CAMPING TRIP

When you’re traveling to a hotel in a big city, it’s not the end of the world if you forget something. Usually, the front desk has toiletries you may have left at home, or there’s a sundries shop in the lobby. At the very worst you may have to venture into town to grab something.

However, if you forget something when you’re camping, you might be in for a miserable time. Depending on how remote you are, you may not have easy access to stores that carry camping gear. We were on an island with only small mom-and-pop type shops, so I’m glad we were organized and had everything we needed!

So how exactly do you get organized? Start with a checklist. You can print one out from the internet, or you can grab a piece of paper and divide it into sections: around the campsite, kitchen, sleeping, entertainment, clothes.

Keep a separate list of items you still need to purchase or borrow so you can be on the lookout for sales or deals.

Make sure you have empty storage bins on hand, packing cubes, and backpacks.

Have a staging area where you can keep everything you buy for camping. When your camping trip is done, fill one or two bins with all the camping gear so it’s ready to use for the next time you venture out into the wild.

Lay out all clothes for everyone in your family. Check things off the list as you add them to the pile. And for goodness sake - don’t forget about yourself! How many of us moms have spent HOURS making sure everyone else has everything they need only to forget our own swimsuit or shoes.

Finally, have a rough idea of what your itinerary is. Don’t set it in stone - part of the beauty of camping is seeing where the day takes you and enjoying lazy hours around the campfire.

BUT, it helps you relax if you know what you’re having for dinner each night, exactly where everyone’s pajamas are, where to put dirty laundry, and what you’re planning to do each day so you know what kind of gear to pack.

We brought plastic drawers for inside the tent with packing cubes inside to keep everyone’s clothes organized. Pajamas and swimsuits were in one drawer, and 2 kids shared the other 2 drawers. My husband and I just brought 1 large packing cube each.

FAMILY CAMPING CHECKLIST

KITCHEN

camp stove
campfire grate
frying pan
portable coffee maker (we used a percolator and put it right over the campfire)
storage bin for food
plates
bowls
cups & mugs
silverware
paper towel
sharp knife
cutting board
cooking utensils (spatula, tongs, mixing spoon)
water jug with dispenser
pudgie pie makers
insulated stainless steel water bottles
small bins for washing dishes
a dishwashing sponge with soap in the handle
dishcloths
washcloths
aluminum foil
Tupperware for leftovers
fire pit roasting sticks (marshmallows!)
garbage bags
large clothespins for clamping garbage bag to the table
cooler
frozen water jug to use as an ice pack, then drinking water when it melts

SLEEPING

tent (we have a 6-person Kelty tent and it was a tight squeeze with a pack & play)
sleeping mats
sleeping bags
extra comforters
pillows
tarp to keep the bottom of your tent clean and dry
lovies, stuffed animals, or favorite blankets for little kids
portable nightlight (perfect for me since I’m still nursing in the middle of the night)
portable noise machine (especially if you have staggered bedtimes)

AROUND THE CAMPSITE

mat for shoes in front of tent
camp chairs
kids camp chairs
lanterns
flashlights
headlamps
clothesline
clothespins
insect repellant & citronella candle
extension cord
stacking drawer organizer

Clothing and Shoes

When packing clothes, I packed one outfit per day for my kids plus one extra t-shirt and pair of shorts since kids tend to get dirty, spill, and have accidents.

>> Related: Looking for the best and warmest camping clothes that don’t smell no matter how much you wear them? Read here: Best Travel Clothes for Women

For the adults, we just kind of mixed and matched athleisure type clothes.

Make sure whatever you pack you’re ok with getting dirty. Everything will smell like campfire smoke by the end of your trip, too!

t-shirts
long sleeve shirts
sweatshirts
raincoat
athletic shorts
pants
socks
warm camp socks
flip flops (for the showers/beaches)
tennis shoes or hiking boots for walks/hikes
underwear/bras
water shoes
Tevas / waterproof walking sandals
swimsuits
hats
sunglasses
hats & gloves if you’re camping in cold weather
jacket if you’re camping in cold weather

HEALTH

bandages
Benadryl
pain reliever
infant/child pain reliever
thermometer
prescription medication
alcohol wipes
travel size body wash
travel size shampoo
travel size conditioner
toothbrush
toothpaste
deodorant
face wash
moisturizer
washcloth
makeup remover
makeup (I didn’t end up using much if any, but it’s nice to have some concealer or tinted moisturizer if you want to freshen up for any reason)
brush & comb
ponytail holders
sunscreen
glasses & contacts
bug spray
aloe
hand sanitizer
travel toilet paper (just in case!)
lip balm with SPF
bath and beach towels

FUN EXTRAS

glow sticks
bug kit
cards
games
construction vehicle toys
shovels and buckets for the mud
bubbles and bubble machine
books

BEING PREPARED HELPS YOU GO WITH THE FLOW!

When it comes to travel with kids, things WILL go wrong. You’ll have stressful moments, someone will be whining, someone will be hungry, and you’ll definitely forget to packs something.

That’s ok! Those moments make for the best stories and family memories.

However, being prepared with a packing checklist and an idea of what kind of camping trip you’re going for will help make the trip run more smoothly.

If you manage your expectations, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst, you’re sure to have a fun, memorable, and hopefully relaxing time outdoors.