Have you wanted to take your kids camping but have no clue how/where to start? These tips for camping with kids will help you prepare to make your camping trip fun and memorable (in a good way!).
Make Camping with Kids a Stress-Free Experience with These Expert Tips
Camping with kids can be a magical experience that is filled with laughter, adventure, and the wonder of the great outdoors. It is a chance to get your family outside, off screens, and create lifelong memories. However, it can feel like an overwhelming task if you are new to camping with little ones. What happens if they don’t sleep? What if the weather turns bad? What if they get bored?
This guide is here to help! Whether your family is embarking on their first camping trip or you are seasoned parents looking to refine your outdoor adventures, these 12 beginner-friendly tips will make camping with kids easier, more enjoyable, and far less stressful. We have taken our kids camping at all stages from babies, to now pre-teens. We have learned through trial and error the easiest way to make a family camping trip fun and stress-free.
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1. Choose a Kid-Friendly Campground
Not all campgrounds are created equal when it comes to accommodating families. Consider your children’s ability to use the restroom when picking a campground. If your child has no issue doing their business in the wild, then finding free camping on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land will probably be fine. If your child prefers a restroom, then finding a campground with accommodations will be your best bet. Some campgrounds even offer things like showers, organized kids’ activities, or nature trails.
Pro Tip: State parks and family-oriented private campgrounds are often excellent choices for families. There are usually other families around, and either a park ranger or campground host/attendant. Having other people and a host/ranger can go a long way toward feeling safe while camping.
2. Do a Practice Run at Home
If you are new to camping or your kids have never slept outside, doing a backyard trial run can go a long way. Set up your tent, roll out your sleeping bags, and have a mini campout right outside your door. This will help your kids adjust to the idea of sleeping in a tent, and show them what the space will look and feel like. It will also give you a chance to see how everything fits in the tent and test out your gear.
3. Pack Smart and Keep it Simple
When camping with kids, overpacking can complicate a trip. You will likely have the urge to pack every convenience (I know from experience). Edit what you want to take to only the necessary items, plus a little convenience. If you underpack, though, you might be underprepared. The key is to strike a balance by creating an essential packing list. We have done this for you by creating our Ultimate Camping Checklist you can download here. For a more in-depth look, check out our post here.
Here is a quick list of some essential must-haves:
- Weather-appropriate clothing (including layers for cold nights).
- High-quality sleeping bags are suited for the weather.
- Favorite snacks to keep moods up.
- Basic first-aid supplies.
- Headlamps or flashlights for nighttime adventures.
Staying organized makes camping so much easier for you. Use bins, color-coded bags, or packing cubes to keep specific things together. We use bins that will fit under the seats in our car to make packing up the car easier. We label the top of the bins with what is inside. This makes staying organized at camp easier and stress-free.
4. Plan Easy, Kid-Friendly Meals
Camping meals are one of my favorite parts of camping. You can get creative and have so much fun with it. For some reason things taste so much better when cooked by a fire. Some of our favorite go-to family meals are hot dogs/hamburgers, sandwiches, tin-foil dinners, and Dutch oven meals like pizza, chicken pot-pie, etc. We love to take cans of chilli, and boxed mac n” cheese and do chilli mac for lunches, tuna packets and crackers with fruit, and chicken salad for chicken salad sandwiches. Our breakfast go-tos are pancakes and bacon, oatmeal, and bagels with fruit. We usually take our Camp Chef, which has a griddle and two burners, which give us lots of cooking options.
Pre-preparing things like tin-foil dinners, chicken salad, and pre-cut fruit makes meal prep at the campsite a much smoother process.
5. Dress in Layers & Be Prepared for Weather Changes
Outdoor adventures can come with unpredictable weather. To be prepared, check the local weather app so you know what temperature to pack for. Make sure you check both day and night temperatures. In our area, it can be 100 degrees during the day and drop to the 50s at night. Pack light layers to accommodate the temperature change. Start with moisture-wicking base layers, add insulating middle layers, and top it off with a weatherproof jacket.
Don’t forget waterproof shoes and spare changes of clothes for rainy accidents or muddy hikes!
6. Bring Entertainment & Activities
Camping is a wonderful time to engage kids in nature and encourage creativity and imaginary play. Bringing things to ward off boredom, and encourage play in children can help make camping an unforgettable experience. Plan a mix of activities like:
- Nature Bingo: Download our free printable here.
- Simple crafts like rock painting or bracelet making. We love bringing paint markers for decorating rocks.
- Hiking or water activities to tire them out before bed.
- Low-tech entertainment like storytelling or stargazing.
- Fairy/gnome houses bring twine/rope and gather natural materials like sticks and flowers to create a fairy fort or gnome house at your campsite.
Keep things flexible and let the creativity flow. The goal is to have fun as a family, not to follow a strict schedule.
7. Establish a Simple Camp Routine
Kids thrive on routine, and camping can throw a wrench in that routine. To avoid meltdowns and keep the trip running smoothly, aim to maintain a schedule for meals, nap time, and bedtime while allowing room for flexibility.
For example, have dinner at the same time as usual, followed by a camp “bedtime routine” such as sitting by the campfire and telling stories before snuggling into sleeping bags.
8. Safety First: Teach Basic Camping Rules
It is important to teach kids camping safety and etiquette. Spending time in nature is more enjoyable for all when everyone respects nature and leaves it as they found it. Here are a few lessons for beginners:
- Fire safety: Keep a safe distance from the fire and never leave it unattended. When you are done make sure it is completely out.
- Stay close: Stick within sight of the campsite or an adult at all times.
- Eyes on wildlife: Watch, don’t touch! They may look cute and cuddly, but you are in their home and need to keep your distance.
- Leave no trace! Make sure you take out everything you bring in. Don’t leave any garbage at your campsite. When we go on walks, we take a small bag with us and clean any garbage we find. Our household rule is to leave it better than we found it.
You might also want to create a “What to do is you get lost” plan. This can include teaching them to stay in one place and use a whistle to call for help.
9. Keep Bugs & Sunburns at Bay
Nothing can sour a mood faster than getting sunburnt or being covered in bug bites. A few essential items to pack for sun and insect protection include:
- Kid-safe insect repellents (natural alternatives like citronella work well, too).
- Sunscreen SPF 30 or higher, along with hats and sunglasses.
- Anti-itch cream and aloe gel for any mishaps.
To make camping easier, we keep a bin full of these items at all times. That way, when we decide to go out camping, we can just grab the bin and go.
10. Bring Comfort Items From Home
Bringing a few familiar comforts, such as a blanket, stuffed animal, or bedtime story, can make your child feel more comfortable, especially at bedtime. Make sure you think about your comforts too (mine is my moisturizer and coffee)!
11. Expect the Unexpected & Stay Flexible
Not everything will go according to plan-and that’s okay! Whether it’s rain on your hiking day or you forgot to pack something important (been there), staying adaptable will help you make the most of your adventure.
Have a backup plan for activities in case of bad weather (hello, storytelling under a tarp!). And try to adopt a go-with-the-flow mindset—sometimes the unplanned moments turn into the best memories.
12. Make it Fun & Focus on the Experience
Finally, remember that camping with kids is about creating memories-not perfection. You will likely have messes, crying, and hiccups along the way, but this will all pale in comparison to the joy of spending time outdoors with your family.
Encourage your kids to enjoy their time outdoors by encouraging their curiosity. Learn about different animals in your area together and see if you can find any traces of that animal. Get a book on the geology of where you are camping and try to find specific rocks. When kids are engaged with nature, it strengthens their love for being outside and encourages them to spend more time outdoors and less time on their screens.
Gear up for your next family adventure!
Camping with kids may take a little extra planning, but boy, is it worth it! By following these 12 tips, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother and more enjoyable experience. Start small, stay flexible, and remember that camping with kids can be a magical experience that you will all treasure.
What is your top tip for camping with kids? Leave a comment below and share your best advice or favorite story- we’d love to hear from you!