If camping with kids sounds like fun, but also a lot of work, you’re not alone! Camping is a blast, but the planning, packing and prep work that parents have to do to go camping sometimes feels overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be. Short and simple single overnight camping trips are perfect for families just getting started camping or in need of a simple getaway or dose of nature. Today, we have Wendy Cox, California photographer and mom of four, here sharing tips on how to make a simple overnight camping experience fun, simple and enjoyable!
Overnight camping made simple
Tent, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, flashlights, chairs, roasting sticks, fire starter, wood, ahhhhh! Camping with the whole family can seem like a daunting task. The packing list alone keeps lots of families from enjoying one of life’s most wonderful experiences. Our family of 6 has been on many camping trips together and we always have fun, but sometimes it really is a lot of work. However, we recently went on a single overnight camping trip and it was one of the most relaxing camping trips I’ve ever had. Today, I would love to share a few of the ways that we were able to simplify our overnight camping experience and make the most of the short time.
Prep your dinner before you go
Planning meals and packing food for camping can be intimidating. Sometimes as I plan our camping trips I have these grand ideas of gourmet breakfasts and made-from-scratch dinners. Then I end up spending too much time preparing meals and cleaning up from them that I don’t get time to enjoy my family or the beauty around me. My first suggestion to make the most out of your camping experience is to pre-make your dinner. This simple step saves so much time and effort when you’re at your campsite, giving you more freedom to relax and enjoy the experience.
I have fun memories of making tin foil dinners as a child when we’d go camping. I want my kids to have that too, but I worried that I would forget something essential and might ruin the experience. There’s something exciting about eating straight out of tin foil though, so I pre-made the foil dinners at home and stuck them in the cooler already prepped. They weren’t anything fancy, just ground turkey, onions, carrots, and potatoes. The only seasonings I used were salt and pepper.
We started the campfire a little earlier than usual when we got to our campsite. It takes about an hour for the foil dinners to cook. I started out with the foil packets on the grate of the fire pit, then moved them into the hot coals. After about 30 minutes I flipped them over to make sure all the contents of the packet had cooked through. I’ve undercooked our foil dinners before, and the kids were not fans of the crunchy potatoes. Oops! But the best part about premaking foil dinners? Easy clean up and no dishes to do!
Simple breakfasts are the best
Breakfast has the potential to be a huge ordeal as well. My solution for that is instant oatmeal, hot chocolate, and fresh fruit. All I had to do in the morning was boil water. It really doesn’t get easier than that! Hot chocolate is a fun special treat that always puts everyone in a festive mood, even if it’s the middle of summer.
If you bring a small fruit like blueberries or strawberries all you have to do is wash them and you’re good to go. I once brought a whole cantaloupe on a camping trip. That was not the best idea because it required cutting on the spot and then left me with all kinds of seeds and rinds leftover when everyone was done eating. In my opinion, the least amount of trips you make to the stinky camp dumpster the better!
Play pick your spot (for next time)
You might notice that I have a tendency to focus on meals, but I promise this next suggestion isn’t about food! When we’re at a new campground, one of our favorite activities is to walk around and pick out all of the best campsites. We see which ones have good shade, a big enough spot for our giant tent, or have good climbing trees. We all have different criteria for what makes the perfect camping spot and it’s fun to see which ones the kids like and why.
The campground we were at this time had cabins, and the kids were more than happy to tell us which ones they thought were the best. If I’m on top of things, I’ll jot down the numbers of the specific sites we like (write them down, take a photo or put a note in your phone). That way the next time we want to go camping in this location, we’ll already know which campsite we want to book. My 9 year-old’s favorite was the cabin closest to this amazing stump carved into a chair.
Leave the toys at home
I usually keep the toys to a minimum when we go camping. This gives the kids an opportunity to use their imaginations and get creative. They have to play with what nature provides. It also cuts down dramatically on our packing list. The simpler, the better!
Our campsite had a lot of big, old oak trees that had dropped tons of giant acorns on the ground. My daughter thought these were amazing and started to collect acorns. We talked about how the native people would grind up the acorns and use that in a similar way that we use flour. She tried her hand at grinding acorns, and discovered that it isn’t quite as easy as it sounds!
Why go camping for just one night?
For me, the motivation to go camping (even for just one night) is the time I get to spend in nature and with family. We found several fun hikes that started right in our campground. There were fallen logs to walk on, tree tunnels to run through, and a giant field to play in. Lots of things for the kids to do and nature to explore.
Two of my three boys have a rare form of ataxia called Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevioux Saguenay (ARSACS). They attend many different types of therapy to help them increase their balance, strength, and motor skills in general. Sometimes, I feel like being out in nature is therapy in its own right. Instead of grinding acorns, the boys were more into playing king of the hill. This consists of them climbing onto a big rock and standing there with both arms raised in the air.
King of the hill sounds like a simple thing, but the benefits it has for my boys is threefold. They develop strength in climbing, balance in standing on the rock, and a can-do mindset when they make it to the top on their own. This particular day the boys were being so sweet with each other and helping each other out. That made my momma heart so proud!
Camping made simple
Whether or not your kiddos have special needs, playing outside will benefit them. Camping is one of my favorite ways to get my family outdoors, but I know that the thought of taking the whole family camping can be a little terrifying. It doesn’t have to be complicated though! Make the overnight camping trip simple by keeping your meals easy and leaving your toys at home. Let mother nature be your guide!
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).
What are your tips for making an overnight camping trip more enjoyable?
About the author
Wendy Cox is a family photographer and mother of 4 living in San Diego, CA. She also teaches garden education classes at local elementary schools and is an advocate of getting children outdoors. Wendy grew up in rural Northern California raising pigs for 4-H and hiking in the redwoods. She takes every opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature while attempting to pass her love for the outdoors on to her children.
Find more from Wendy in the following locations online:
Website: www.wendycoxphotography.com
Instagram: @wendycoxphotography
Facebook: Wendy Cox Photography