Welcome!
Camping is a FUN way to get close to nature and strengthen family bonds. Once you buy the essential gear, it can last for years. This makes camping a great, inexpensive alternative to hotels and vacation rentals. You can find family-friendly campgrounds in the mountains, on the beach and even at theme parks!
There are several ways to camp, including backpacking, RV, and glamping. Tent camping in an established campground is how we usually do it. I confess that while we love the outdoors, we are not frequent campers. However, my husband and I have been camping all our lives and still enjoy the occasional camping trip with extended family and friends.
Here are the ESSENTIAL items and tips for nearly any camping packing list.
Sleeping
Some people sleep better outdoors than anywhere else. The rest of us have a hard time getting a good night's sleep on a camping trip. Having quality gear can make a BIG difference.
A good tent can protect you from wild weather and last for decades if you take care of it. My parents still use the Springbar tent they bought more than 30 years ago. It's the same tent our local scout troop uses for their all-weather camping adventures. My own tent is less expensive, but it has served us well for backyard and fair weather camping.
Be aware that a 6-person tent will be a tight squeeze for 6 people and leave little space for luggage. Some families prefer to use 2 or more smaller tents instead of one big tent.
MUST HAVE items
Eating
Eating around the campfire is one of the BEST parts of camping. You burn a lot of calories when you play outdoors all day, which makes having plenty of good food and snacks key to the success of a camping trip.
Buy cookware, dishes and utensils especially for camping and store them in a bin so they are always ready to go. Buy them second hand, or buy new things for your home kitchen and put your old stuff in the bin. This will make packing SO MUCH EASIER!
MUST HAVE items
Campfire
Whether you share family stories, sing silly songs or talk about nothing important at all, the campfire is where enduring camp memories are made. It's also an easy way to cook meals and desserts!
Check fire restrictions at your destination before you leave home, and follow the rules. Find out whether you can bring your own fire wood or collect it at the campground. Local restrictions may require you to purchase wood at your destination. Teach children about fire safety and ALWAYS extinguish your fire completely.
Lighting a good campfire is not as easy as it looks. The key is to get it going with dry newspaper (tinder) and small branches (kindling) that will keep the fire burning long enough to ignite larger logs. A hatchet is handy for cutting logs into tinder or kindling.
MUST HAVE items
- Matches (a big box) or lighter
- Newspaper or other tinder
- Hatchet
- Camp chairs
- Campfire cooking sticks
Clothing
It's hard to have fun on a camping trip if you're too hot, cold or soaked. Pack versatile moisture wicking layers for every member of the family. Beware of cotton fabrics when temperatures fall because they do not insulate. Long pants and long sleeve shirts will protect from insects and sun. A sturdy and comfortable pair of shoes will keep you on your feet all day.
Know the climate and weather forecast for your destination. Don't overpack! Quality matters more than quantity and getting dirty is part of the fun.
MUST HAVE items
- Jacket or hoodie
- Moisture wicking/insulating shirts and long pants
- Hiking boots or other sturdy shoes suitable for the terrain
- Easy-on shoes for wearing around camp
- Rain poncho or rain gear
Recreation
Many families love camping because it's a fun way to unplug. When the wifi is gone, you'll want to pack a few ways to play around the campground.
MUST HAVE items
- Card games
- Frisbee or football
- Stargazing guide or app
- Books or magazines
- Day pack – for hiking and day trips
If you don't have much camping gear, you don't need to buy everything at once. Quality matters, and a good piece of equipment can last many years. Get what you need over time and rent, borrow or share the rest until you get your own. Camping equipment makes great birthday or Christmas gifts!
Max Jones
My wife and I have been wanting to go to some different camping stores, and I think that being able to have a better idea of what we should get would be good. I’m glad that you talked about having a camp stove, which I think would be something really good for us to look for to take camping. I’m a big food lover, so being able to make our own good food while we’re camping would be great! Thank you!