We love to go tent camping and we love to go with our kids and our dog… it’s a bit crazy and sometimes it’s a bit much. My husband and I have been camping together since we met and I did a lot of camping when I was a kid. I have such fun memories of camping as a kid so I definitely want my kids to experience all of that! (My husband and I even got to go camping at the Highland Games in Scotland on our honeymoon!)
We were selected in the Fall of 2023 to be a Hipcamp Mate. Hipcamp basically told us to go camping as much as we possibly could and to post about it! It turned out to be the most fun we have ever had. We challenged ourselves that fall by camping many different times and always just for one Saturday night. I had started a new job, my oldest started kindergarten and we had soccer on Saturday mornings… so we could only camp for one night at a time. We would quickly pack up the car before or after soccer games and head to camping for one night of fun! Let me tell you, we forgot something every single camping trip, but we managed… it also rained every single time, but we still had fun!
Here is my ultimate packing list for camping with kids so you can have the best time, and maybe not forget anything like we do!
Essentials for camping with kids:
- Tent, sleeping pads, sleeping bags- we have double sized sleeping pad that self inflate and 2 queen sized sleeping bags we all cuddle in and share for now (my kids are 6, 4 and 2)
- Your own pillows
- For clothes: always bring a sweatshirt and sweatpants (even if you think it will be hot, my husband learned the hard way last weekend and was a little cold), a rain suit for kids, a rain coat or other coat- it is almost always wet in the mornings. Pajamas. Obviously anything else you want to bring, nothing fancy!
- For shoes: rain boots, sandals or water shoes, sneakers
- Diapers, wipes, lovies (special blankets or stuffed animals)- even if you are done diapers, still bring a package of baby wipes! You’ll need it more than you think!
- Toddler potty (even if there is a bathroom there and you have young kids, this is a must)
- An adult portable toilet- ours is a Thetford porta potty and as the kids have gotten bigger, this is what we bring and we don’t bring a toddler potty anymore (we put the porta potty in the entrance way to our tent… I call it the breezeway… but they also make pop up shelters for this toilet and we have one of those too)
- Sound machine– a battery powered one of course
- Camping chairs- we love our two seater camping chair
- Bug spray and tick repellent spray
- Sunscreen (if it is going to be sunny)
- Towels- we forgot these when it rained! Bad mistake… I still would recommend a regular sized towel if you are camping and there’s no rain planned and no water around
- Lanterns, head lamps for the kids (they loved these when we camped in the fall and it got dark early, but we didn’t need them for summer camping)
- Glow sticks– same idea as headlights… they loved these in the fall when it got dark early
- Hammock– not reallyyyy an essential, but my kids LOVE ours and use it as a swing. Before I had kids I liked to read in it, there’s no time for that anymore. This hammock is SO durable!! The kids swing hard and fast on this and the straps that come with it and PERFECT.
- Always bring gallons of water
- Roll of paper towels and a roll of toilet paper
- Portable charger for phones or tablets- this one is great!
- A small 2 person tent or a tarp/beach blanket- we have an extra 2 person tent and when they were little we brought this to put kids toys in. Or bring a tarp/thick beach blanket to put a crawling toddler down on. When we went and my youngest was crawling, there was glass all over the campsite (just a regular campground) and it gave me a lot of anxiety!
- Rope- use this to hang and dry your clothes and towels on
- For TOYS– bring one or two bags- just some small open ended play items (like cars for boys or dolls for girls) and some items for coloring. One year when they were little we brought our water mat and paint brushes, they loved this, and so easy!
- If bringing your dog- dog food, a bowl for water, leash and collar, a long leash (runner), poop bags. We also bring a single sleeping bag that we put in the tent and our dog sleeps on.
Essentials for cooking:
- A two burner stove or flat top stove and propane- we have both, but only bring whatever one we need at the time
- A cooler- the night before freeze some plastic water bottles (we did 10), empty a little water out first. Then, that morning as you are packing up, fill the cooler with the frozen water bottles to cool the cooler. This will also be your ice to keep your food cold. This is the best thing I’ve learned camping multiple times! Regular ice melts and ruins EVERYTHING in the cooler.
- Paper plates, plastic forks, knives and spoons, plastic cups
- Either mugs for coffee or paper cups for hot liquids
- Pots (at least one) and a cast iron skillet
- Oven mitt
- Dish soap and a sponge (it’s helpful to be able to wash out your pots or pans)
- Metal tongs
- If making a pizza over the fire… which I recommend trying- cast iron skillet, cooking spray, metal spatula, pizza cutter, regular knife, aluminum foil
- Smore’s stuff obviously!
- Hot chocolate- the kids love it on cold days
You will still forget something
Since I forget things every time I go camping, I probably forgot something on this list! If you notice something obvious that is not on this list, or think you need something else that isn’t listed, send me a DM on Instagram!
Even though I created this list, I still forget things every time we camp and I can almost guarantee you will forget something too- make the most of it! It will be okay!
I do NOT know how to pack light!
Happy camping!
( If you want to check out Hipcamp for more private campsites, you can download their app or check them out online! If it is your first time booking with Hipcamp, use my $10 off code linked in my Instagram bio or put in the code RACHELP9030EA )
