Let’s face it, camping is fun but it is a lot of work, especially if you have kids. I know! I have 2 boys and we have been camping with them since they were born. I have been in a tent, fifth wheel, bumper pull and popup with them both so I would say that we have experienced it all.
Each time we go camping, we bring less and less (because they are getting older), but I’m telling you I have brought EVERYTHING! In this post, I’m going to share our family camping hacks we have found to make your camping trip a little easier.
Reserve a Campsite
The first thing you should do when you are camping with kids is make sure you reserve a campsite. If it’s your first trip, I would get a site that has electricity and a bathhouse close by. You just don’t know how your kids are going to react to the camping experience.
1. Quality Tent (with enough room)
This might be the most important thing you can remember to do when you are going on your first camping trip with kids. (unless you have a camper) A good quality tent that will have enough room and stay dry is the most important thing, in my opinion. It has the potential to ruin the whole trip. (I know from experience)
Our favorite tent is the Kelty Late Start 4 (we use it for backpacking), but if you need a bigger one, I would see these tents here. You can find a good tent that won’t break the bank. You can also go to YouTube and watch review videos if you want to see what you are getting before you buy.
2. Extra Tarps
Having a tarp is important for your camping trip. We use one as a footprint under our tent. But having more than one tarp can help you out big time on a camping trip.
You can also use a tarp for a rain cover. We bring some string also just in case we need to make a dry place to hang out if it does rain on our trip. If you camp in the North Georgia Mountains like we do all the time, its pretty much a guarantee that it will rain during your trip.
3. Portable Toilet
We think this is a great thing to have when you are camping with kids. It’s so much easier to just let them use the bathroom at the site whenever nature calls. We have an entire bathroom setup since we do most of our camping in a popup camper that has no toilet.
You can use a training toilet of your kids are small or invest in a portable toilet like the one we have. If you decide to use a training toilet, you can use a bag to contain the waste and dispose of it like you would a baby diaper.
Since we use a portable toilet, it has a waste reservoir that can be very easily dumped into a toilet and flushed. This makes it so easy to use.
4. Camp Shower
If you camp in a campground that doesn’t have a shower, having one when you camp with kids is always a good idea. We all know what kids do when they are outside…they get dirty! We either use the popup tent and a water hose with a sprayer or we have tried the bag shower option. I prefer the water hose option, but if you are camping where you don’t have water, that’s not an option. I have seen people use a sprayer (like what you would put weed killer in) and dedicate it to just water.
5. Flashlights
We think having flashlights when you are camping is a great idea but when your child has their own it’s even better. We found some at Walmart for $1 that we keep in our camper so they each have one. We also have headlamps for them to use. My oldest likes to fish at night so having a headlamp makes it where he can see and both of his hands are free.
6. First Aid Kit
Having a first aid kit is a must with kids. They are bound and determined to have an accident when you are outdoors! We keep ours in the truck, so we have it all the time. For most of our outdoor activities, we are in the truck, so it works for us.
7. Plastic Bins
Plastic bins are something we don’t camp without. There are so many useful uses for them when you camp. You can keep things dry and organized or even use it as a bathtub for your toddlers.
We have used small plastic bins as a foot washing station. We also have one to keep our food in. When you tent camp, you will want to keep your food put up. If we leave the campsite or when we go to bed, we will put the food bin in the truck. You don’t want to keep it in your tent just in case bears happen to make their way to your site (the chances are slim, but you never know).
*We find our bins at Lowes (like the ones pictured), they have the best price and they’re heavy duty.
8. Baby Wipes
Camping with kids requires baby wipes. You can easily clean up several messes with baby wipes. You will actually be surprised at how many you use. Kids get dirty, and grownups can too!
9. ZipLock Bags
I keep zip-lock bags in my camping bin ALL THE TIME. You can put snacks in them, keep things in the cooler from getting wet or even put clothes in the bags to keep them dry. There are so many ways to utilize a zip-lock back at the campsite, especially if you are camping with kids.
10. Paper Plates & Disposable Utensils
Nobody wants to wash dishes when you are camping so keeping disposable stuff handy will save the day. I have a storage container that is full of kitchen utensils, paper plates, forks, and cups.
11. Fire Starters
Having a fire starter will help you tremendously when you get ready to light your campfire. We usually make DIY fire starters from dryer lint and toilet paper rolls. This can really save the day when you are trying to start a fire.
Another tip is to keep your firewood dry. You can store it in a bin or under a tarp, or we keep ours under the popup bunk end when we camp in the camper. Let’s face it…wet wood is NOT going to burn!
12. Camping Rug
Having a camping rug will help keep dirt out of your tent or camper. It’s also a great place for smaller kids to sit and play. Many toy trucks have been driven over my camping rug by a toddler. We always use a camping rug when we camp.
13. Tools
You will want to have a set of basic tools every time you camp, even if you don’t have kids, but I can’t tell you how many bicycles my husband has fixed at the campgrounds over the years for my kids and others. We also had to use our tools the last time we took our popup camping because the jack wouldn’t go up when it was time to leave.
14. Duct Tape
Who doesn’t need duct tape? We keep it all the time in our camping bin. I usually have regular duct tape, gorilla tape, and canvas repair tape. You never know if you are going to need to fix a toy or patch a tent or even hold something together!
15. Frozen Water Jugs
You can take water bottles or water jugs and freeze them before your camping trip. Not only will it work as ice to keep the cooler cold, but after it thaws you can still drink it. This will help you use less ice and things will stay colder longer.
*TIP: if you make sure everything you are putting in the cooler is cold before it goes in, it will help you retain ice better. You can also bring your cooler inside the night before so it can be at room temp or you can prep it by “pre-icing” it.
16. Extra Clothes
If you camp with kids, they WILL GET DIRTY so making sure you bring enough clothes is a MUST!!
We usually pack in a clothes hamper, and when we get to the campsite, I will put the clothes away in designated bins, then use the hamper for dirty clothes. The best part is that when you get home, all the dirty clothes are ready to go straight to the laundry.
17. Hand Washing Station
Have a designated place to wash hands. We will either have a jug of water and soap set somewhere or use a hand soap bottle by the water hose (that we attach to the water hook-up). This way, the kiddos can easily wash their hands. You can also use baby wipes for this if you want to get dirt or food off their hands.
18. Camping Games
If you camp with kids, you will want to make sure you can keep them entertained with games. Our kids like to have bicycles, football, frisbee, or cornhole to play.
If you have little kids, pack a plastic bin with toys they like to play with. My boys used to want construction trucks to play with at the campsite. They would turn it into a “construction site” and stay entertained for hours.
19. Sleeping Arrangements
You want to make sure you get this decided prior to your camping trip, especially with kids. Mine are big enough to have a tent to themselves so they each get their own air mattress and sleeping bag.
If you have little ones, you will need to bring a pack and play, or they have air pads with sides to help keep toddlers from rolling around. When you camp with little ones, you will want to keep the temperature in mind. Making sure they stay warm or cool is important.
Something else you can consider is a noise machine. I use an app on my phone when we don’t have a way to bring our fan for noise. My family needs white noise to sleep, but your kids might want the noise so they can’t hear all the noises from the woods (it can be scary for some). It’s better to have it just in case.
20. Flip Flops or Crocs
We always bring flip flops or crocs that can get wet. You will use them as shower shoes or if you need to pee in the middle of the night, its much easier to slide on a flip flop or croc, especially if your little one needs to go.
Another reason we bring crocs for the kids is because they always find a way to get muddy or dirty, and it’s just easier to wash off.
21. Extra Tent
Having an extra tent can be great when you are camping with kids because it can be used as a playhouse. The kids can get inside, away from bugs and dirt, while they play with toys.
We keep an extra tent because our boys are older and want to sleep in their own.
22. Inflatable Pool and Toys
You can bring an inflatable pool if you are camping with little children and use it as a place to play. It will help keep them contained and cleaner.
23. Tent Fan
We like to have a tent fan when we camp because it gets hot. When you camp with kids, you will want one to help you keep it cool inside the tent. If it’s winter or cold weather, use a heater with caution. I don’t recommend it because kids are notorious for knocking things over.
24. White Noise
As I mentioned earlier, white noise might be needed when you are camping with kids. They might not like all the “noises of nature”. Let’s face it, I need white noise as an adult to help me sleep.
25. Hammock
Having a hammock can be used as entertainment when you camp with kids. Mine love to get in and read books or even swing each other.
26. Walkie Talkies
We bring walkie-talkies when we camp so that I can stay in contact with my kids. They are 12 and 9, so when they want to “explore” I can talk with them. We also use them when they ride bikes, so I can keep in touch.
27. Their Own Chair
Bringing a kid-sized chair not only makes your little one feel like they belong but just makes things easier for everybody. If they can’t get in and out of their chair, you will spend most of your time helping them. My kids have always wanted their own chairs. Now that they are bigger, they have their own chair for different reasons (because they don’t like to share).
