If camping with kids sounds fun but overwhelming, this post is for you! Today, our friend Tabby is sharing her very first camping experience with kids, since becoming a parent. She’s here to tell you that while it might seem intimidating, camping with kids is easier and more fun than you can imagine! If camping with kids is on your summer bucket list, here’s everything you need to go before you go. And if it’s not on your list, here’s why it should be!
Reasons to camp with kids
Kids need nature. I don’t feel like access to nature should be a privilege for children. Being immersed in nature is a necessity. Have you heard that quote floating around, “Children can’t bounce off the walls when you take away the walls”? I think that quote is so perfect and completely describes one of the biggest benefits of getting children outdoors and into nature.
Camping is one way to give kids the space they need to play and learn. Camping gets us away from the noise, the TV, the Wifi and all the constant begging for the tablet. We go camping and trade tablets for smores and TV for making stick-men and women. Camping allows us to tune out all the things that don’t matter in exchange for quality family time and memories that will last a lifetime. I pinky promise you, camping with kids isn’t as intimidating as you may think it is and it’s more important than ever.
Why I was intimidated
Before this experience, I was under the impression that camping with kids would be stressful, exhausting and expensive. I was convinced it would not be worth it while the kids were so young and overall not fun for us parents. I am a classic over-thinker and I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed by the idea of camping with kids because I literally had no camping gear. However, now that I have camped as a parent, I can promise you that it is so much easier than I imagined.
One thing I learned is that you don’t need nearly as much as you think you do. You don’t need to plan elaborate activities for the kids. You don’t need to go somewhere exotic. Your gear doesn’t need to be expensive. Camping with kids is not only easy, but really fun for everyone! In fact, after our first camping trip as parents, we decided to go back out into the wild only two weeks later and we have two more trips planned for next month. I already know each trip will get even easier now that we gave it a shot and have one experience under our belt.
What to pack when camping with kids
I know myself well and I know that I tend to overthink things. I make everything more complicated than it needs to be. When coming up with a packing list, I purposely tried my best to avoid Pinterest and all the millions of articles about EVERYTHING you need to pack. Instead, I thought about what we really needed. Then I asked for personal opinions from groups I am in with like-minded people (Hike it baby, Wildschooling). I also met one new friend at a park to talk about camping with kids. It was seriously so helpful to hear from someone who had done it successfully.
Here’s what we packed:
- Weather appropriate clothes for the whole family (check the weather where you are going beforehand)
- Rain boots, we use Lone Cone boots (they are affordable and durable)
- Sand toys
- Tent (preferably with rain cover)
- Camping chairs for the whole family
- Cooler with food and ice
- Flashlights and/or headlamps
- Glow stick bracelets or necklaces for the kids to wear at night (to keep track of them and because they’re fun!)
- Paper plates and paper plate holders
- Utensils, roaster sticks for smores or hotdogs (or you can find and use a stick)
- Firewood (a lot of campgrounds will also sell firewood, but you will want to find that out first) (be aware of restrictions on bringing your own)
- Sleeping bags (Our first trip it got to 32 degrees at night and we used 3 comforters and were toasty all night. If you’re camping where it gets cold at night put a blanket UNDER your air mattress or sleeping pad, on top of it and then 1 or 2 more blankets on top of you.)
- Bug spray (I just found out they make bug repellent WIPES! There are wipes with DEET OR wipes without DEET)
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof matches for starting a fire
- First Aid kit just in case (I bought a standard one and added Benadryl, children’s ibuprofen, a $3 snake bite kid because it eased my mind)
- One or more hammocks and hammock straps! (Man, this was a huge hit…the kids couldn’t get enough of the hammock. Our second trip we had 7 kids total at the campsite and they all had so much fun with it.)
I may be forgetting some things on this list, so before you go, just think “What do we really NEED?” Basically, you need somewhere to sleep, food and weather-appropriate clothes. Everything else is for fun and comfort.
Where to go camping with kids
If you have young kids that don’t know how to swim I suggest not camping close to water. This way you don’t have to worry about turning your back on the kids for a second. Finding a great campsite is as simple as Googling “campsites near me” and looking at a map. I highly suggest camping with friends who have kids around the same ages as your kids. We’ve done that twice now and it’s a blast! The kids love playing with friends, its endless fun for the kids and the parents! Another resource to look into is HipCamp, it’s the Airbnb for camping. <— By clicking my affiliate link we both get $20 after your first camping trip towards another stay!
What to do when camping with kids
If you’re camping at a campsite with a camp host, use their knowledge! Our host told us about a hike nearby and helped guide us to a hot spring that was also close. Otherwise, you can do your research on Google when you’re planning your trip. For us personally, we mainly like to relax. I don’t go camping to be on a rigorous schedule.
Above, I mentioned bringing sand toys. The kids will love digging and playing in the dirt. I was against bringing too many other toys, but that’s just me. Try a scavenger hunt or set up a slackline. Go collect wildflowers or splash around in a creek. One of our favorite activities was making Stick-Men. I found a tutorial in the CAMP bundle from Wild and Free. Basically, the kids use their imaginations to make stick people. So simple, yet it was a huge hit for us!
The moral of the story
Overall, camping with kids is so much more fun and easier than I ever imagined. All you have to do it go and have fun! If you are an anxious person like me, fight those feelings that tell you to fear everything. Try not to be a Debby Downer and kill the fun vibes while camping! Instead, give it a try and you’ll be sure to create some happy memories in nature with your kids and spouse. Make a list, bring the necessities (and a camera), relax and have fun!
Also…drown out your fire after use! Make Smokey the Bear proud!
Additional camping resources for parents
If you’re looking for even more info on how to camp with kids, we’ve got you covered. Check out these great camping resources below:
- Camp Like A Champ – Digital Ebook
- The best tents for families
- Ultimate camping gear packing list for families
- Overnight camping made simple
- Backyard camping
- Winter car camping
- Pop-up camping
Printable camping gear lists for families
To make it easier for you to get started on your next family camping trip, we put our ultimate camping packing list for your family in a free printable 2-page PDF for you! Use this as the perfect start to create your own master packing list. You’ll also be signed up to receive our AMAZING weekly newsletter, filled with fun outdoor activities and inspiration for getting your kids and family outside! You can opt-out anytime (although we’d hate to see you go).
We hope you’ll consider a camping trip with your kids this year!
What’s your best advice for camping with kids?
Carrer Barcelona 22
Hi Tabby!
You are not alone. To be honest camping with my kids in the begging made me feel super anxious and stressed. I suppose as mothers our first instinct is to control things – When your tots are running around like a bunch of loonies its a bit challenging.
I have mastered the art in being prepared but still fun. I have found that if we stick to their routine even when camping, that things run way smoother. We know when we are eating and sleeping therefore the rest is just fun in between. We just have a fabulous time roasting mellows on the fire and being “free”
Thanks for your helpful tips. I absolutely love reading your blog and draw plenty of inspiration from it <3
Since you mentioned that camping can help give kids enough space to play and learn, my tip for mothers who have cars to drive them to camping sites is to get a camping trailer. Getting a trailer on a kids camping trip can be similar to getting an extra area for luggage and be able to cook home cook meals outside. Doing this will help kids adjust to the environment around them while keeping them safe as well with the items.