Family Camping Checklist: Packing Made Easy
Planning a family camping trip can be an exciting venture, but it can also feel overwhelming when it comes to packing. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive family camping checklist to help you stay organized and stress-free as you take your kids or grandchildren camping. From necessary gear to crafts and entertainment, this packing checklist (focused on outdoor camping) will ensure you don’t forget a thing, so you can focus on making lasting memories with the whole family.
Camping Set-Up and Sleep Must-Haves
These items are the basic essentials of any family camping packing checklist. Setting up camp with your kids or grandkids (and any other camping activity, for that matter) can teach them to problem-solve and be resourceful, so involve them as much as possible and allow some extra time for your activities as kids can need breaks.
When setting up your campsite, designate an individual task to each child or grandchild so they can each contribute.
- Tent
- Ground cover/tarp
- Stakes
- Sleeping bags
- Sleeping pads or air mattresses
- Camping pillows
Optional Family-Friendly Items
- Sleeping bag liners: Liners (whether they’re fleece, silk, or cotton) can make things easier to clean after camping, as well as add extra warmth or wick away moisture depending on the conditions.
- Canopy/tarp: Whether you’re camping in the rain or sun, a canopy can offer some shade or shelter for cooking and hanging out for the family.
- Screen room: A screen house or dining shelter is a handy nice-to-have to keep the mosquitoes and bugs away.
- Kids’ favorite sleep-time items: These can help the kids or grandkids feel comfortable and cozy away from home.
- Portable pack-and-play: Bring if your baby is still sleeping in a crib. It can also help you lounge or cook hands-free while still watching them. Bring an extra sheet to throw on top to keep bugs out.
Camping Gear and Tools
Bring a selection of handy camping tools to get things done on-site. Don’t forget these items:
- Mallet or hammer for tent stakes
- Saw or axe for cutting firewood
- Firestarter (and wood sourced from permitted area)
- Multi-tool
- Duct tape
- Scissors
- Backpack
- Extra cords
- Folding step stool (optional but handy)
- Chargers for all your electronics
READ NEXT: 30 Must-Have Items for Your Camping Packing List
Clothing
The key to staying comfortable outdoors is to bring layers that you can add or remove, depending on the temperature. Veer away from cotton (slow-drying, inefficient moisture-wicking, poorly insulating) in favor of merino wool (breathable, moisture-wicking, fast-drying, odor-resistant) and polyester/nylon synthetics (quick-drying, though can get stinky faster).
Plan to have at least two changes of clothing for each day to account for camping sweat and dirt, and pack plenty of extras for the kids or grandkids.
- Underwear
- Socks
- Moisture-wicking tops and pants
- Long-sleeve shirts
- Shoes or boots for outdoors
- Pajamas
- Sandals or flip flops (if you’re going swimming, or to campsite showers)
- Jackets, hats, gloves (for chilly nights)
- Swimsuits (if applicable)
- Rain jackets/rainwear (if applicable)
Toiletries and Health
This section of your family camping packing list will depend on how you’re camping (RVing or tent camping, for instance) and the resources and amenities available on-site.
These are all important, but it’s worth calling out that wipes are especially handy when camping with kids or grandchildren (or even without them) to clean hands, feet, faces, arms, and legs before coming into the tent or crawling into sleeping bags.
- Diapers (if applicable)
- Baby wipes and antibacterial wipes
- First aid kit
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Toiletry kit
- Deodorant
- Towels (one per person)
- Bar soap/shampoo
- Hand sanitizer
- Bug repellant
- Bug bite cream or ointment
- Toilet paper
- Brush/comb
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Lip balm
Optional Family-Friendly Items
- Water jug with open/close spout: Create a washing station for hands and feet with these jugs (that have a spout that controls the water flow) or collapsible water jugs with spigots. Depending on the size of your family, you may want to bring at least two.
- Washing basin: Adults and kids can step into this plastic bin to wash off dirty feet. Set the bin on a larger towel or blanket so people can immediately dry off their feet when they step out of it.
READ NEXT: 8 Tips for Taking Your Kids on Their First Camping Trip
Camping Lighting
Packing an appropriate array of camping lights is necessary to avoid tumbles and skinned knees, find your way to the toilet and back, cook dinner, and do any activities inside the tent. Headlamps are an especially handy choice, as they allow you to go hands-free and they’re often a hit with the kids.
- Overhead lanterns or rechargeable camping lights (to use as a nightlight as well)
- Headlamp or flashlight for each person
- Extra batteries
Optional Family-Friendly Items
- Fairy lights: Battery-powered twinkle lights can add both lighting and ambience to your campsite—and especially add to the magic of the outdoors for the kids.
- Glow sticks: Consider having the kids or grandchildren string glow sticks together to wear as a necklace or bracelet. Not only is it a fun activity, but these accessories can help you keep track of the kids in the dark.
Camping Kitchen
Add on to this essential cookware packing checklist as needed, based on the camping recipes and meals you’ve prepared. When camping with kids, one-pot meals and foil-packet meals can make things easier. Don’t forget the long skewers and roasting forks for kids to roast hot dogs over the fire and camping stove. You’ll need them for the mandatory s’mores, too!
- Camping stove or grill (and fuel)
- Pots
- Pot holder
- Frying pan, griddle, or cast iron skillet
- Skewers or hot dog roasting forks
- Camping cups
- Eating utensils
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Plates/bowls
- Cooler
- Ice
- Water bottle for each person
- Ziploc bags
- Garbage bags
- Sponge/scrubber for pots and pans
- Reusable food containers or lidded jars
- Kitchen cloths
- Tablecloth
- Foil
- Food items for camping meals
- Lots of snacks
- S’mores ingredients
- Water and other desired beverages
- Collapsible camp sink (for washing dishes)
Optional Family-Friendly Items
- Cast iron waffle maker: Make breakfast (or dessert) fun by making quick, hot waffles over the fire or camp stove burner.
- Cast iron popcorn popper: This is another fun cooking accessory for some campfire snacking excitement. Just add a little oil and popcorn kernels and hold over the fire. Everyone will want a turn!
READ NEXT: 20 Easy Camping Recipes for Your Next Trip Outdoors
Camping Furniture
Make sure to bring enough seating or lounging options for the whole family.
- Camping chairs (one for each person)
- Hammock
- Folding table
Optional Family-Friendly Items
- Portable/camping high chair or booster seat: Bring as needed.
- Camping rug: A rug can designate a play area for the kids to play and lie around on without getting dirty. Having it right outside your tent or RV can also prevent people from tracking dirt inside.
- Loveseat couches or lounge chairs: Consider upgrading your single camping chairs to camping loveseats or couches for those snuggles.
Camping Fun and Family Entertainment
A day outdoors exploring in nature is often enough to keep your kids or grandchildren busy, but bringing a selection of games, crafts, or entertainment can help them either calm down or recharge, as well as lead to some quality bonding time for the whole family.
- Binoculars
- Nature field guides and books (flowers, birds, etc.)
- Star/constellation chart, or stargazing app on phone or tablet
- Books for afternoon or bedtime reading
- Notebooks, drawing books, or coloring books with art supplies
- Portable waterproof speaker
- Board games
- Decks of cards
- Balls (soccer, football)
- Yard games (Bocce ball, cornhole, paddle ball set)
- Musical instrument (guitar, harmonica, etc.)
- Kindle or iPad
- Beloved toys from home
- Small inflatable pool to use as a pool, bath, or play area
- Glow frisbee
- Scavenger hunt (hide small toys from home around the campsite, or send them out to find treasures from nature)
A Family Camping Checklist for Stress-Free Packing
Use this family camping checklist to make your next trip easier to plan and pack for. Camping with the kids or grandchildren requires more preparation, but the valuable skills they’ll learn, quality time you’ll spend, and lifelong memories you’ll make will make it all worth it.
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