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The difference between a smooth family camping trip and a chaotic one usually comes down to one thing — whether you packed the right stuff before you left. We’ve had both kinds of trips. The ones where everything was where it should be and the ones where we arrived and realised something essential was sitting on the bench at home.
This camping with kids checklist covers everything your family needs for a successful camping trip — from tent and sleeping essentials to safety gear, cooking equipment, kids-specific items and a baby packing list if you’re heading out with little ones. Work through it section by section before you leave and you’ll arrive at the campsite ready to actually enjoy yourself rather than problem-solve.
Make sure you also check out these camping activities for kids!
Our kids love camping! It’s such a huge adventure to sleep somewhere outdoors and experience the big wide world in a new way!
Camping with young children is a wonderful experience for the whole family, with a little planning before you go! Whether you’ve camped before, or if it’s your first time camping, don’t leave for your camping trip without these essentials for camping trips:
Basic Camping Checklist
- Tent
- Water
- First Aid kit
- Toilet paper
- Food
- Cooking and dining equipment
- Sleeping bags and pillows
- Air mattresses
- Tarp
- Rope
- Pocket knife
- Firestarter
- Flashlight, headlamp or lantern
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Portable solar charger
- Extra blankets
- National park passes if required
Family Camping Essentials
Having a family camping packing list is useful whether it is your first camping trip or a subsequent adventure. With so many things to remember, it helps to have a basic family camping checklist.
Now that we’ve got the list of basic camping supplies, let’s take a closer look at each of the items to see why they are important and what the best options are for your ultimate family camping trip.
Tent
Your tent is the foundation of your whole camping trip so it’s worth taking a few minutes to think through what you actually need before you book one or pack one.
The most important consideration for families is size. A tent that fits four people on the spec sheet will fit four people lying down with no gear and no space to move. In practice, go at least one size up from your family number — for a family of four that means a 6-person tent minimum if you want any comfort at all.
Before you leave, check you have everything the tent needs to be set up:
- Tent poles — check none are bent or missing
- Stakes and pegs — plus a spare handful
- Hammer or mallet for securing pegs
- Waterproof tarp for under the tent
- Guy ropes
Tip: Set the tent up in the backyard before your first trip of the season. Finding out a peg is missing or a pole is cracked at home is a minor inconvenience. Finding out at the campsite after a long drive with tired kids is not.
Tip: Bring extra tarpaulins and rope just in case – for extra protection from wet weather, to cover tent damage or to use as ground cover in community areas.
Sleeping Essentials
Getting the sleep setup right is probably the single biggest factor in whether your camping trip feels like a good idea or a terrible one by day two.
We use air mattresses and sleeping bags — one per person. Air mattresses are more comfortable than sleeping pads for multi-night trips and the kids have always slept better on them than on the ground.
The trade-off is packing space and the need for a pump — make sure you’ve got one that works before you leave.
A few things worth knowing:
- Air mattresses fill with cold air — in cooler weather they can actually make you colder rather than more comfortable. A sleeping bag underneath as well as on top helps.
- Sleeping bags should suit the expected temperature — check the temperature rating before you pack. A summer sleeping bag in a cold snap is a long night.
- Pack an extra blanket per person regardless — temperatures drop overnight and it’s always better to have too many layers than not enough.
- Pillows — full-sized or compact camping pillows, but bring them. Rolled-up clothes is a last resort not a plan.
- Sleeping bags – Choose a warm sleeping bag that is suited to the weather conditions of your camping trip so you aren’t cold overnight.
- Extra blankets – Check the weather forecast before you go although a few extra blankets are a good idea regardless in case something happens to your sleeping bag or you end up colder than anticipated.
- Pillows – Camping pillows are a compact alternative if you want to save space.
- Air mattress & pump – If you plan to use an air mattress, make sure you bring a manual air pump or have one that is battery-operated. You don’t want to get caught out without electricity to pump your bed!
Tip: For when you are packing extra light, sleeping pads are a good alternative to air mattresses or camp beds. They require minimal inflation and give just enough protection from hard or rough surfaces to help you get a good night’s sleep.
Water Essentials
Water is the one thing you genuinely cannot improvise on a camping trip. We always bring our own regardless of where we’re camping — even at campgrounds with facilities, having your own supply means you’re never relying on someone else’s tap being close enough or working.
For a family of four on a multi-day trip, think through your daily water needs — drinking, cooking, washing up — and pack accordingly.
A large water container or jug with a pump is the most practical option for campsite use since the kids can refill their own bottles without help.
If you’re freedom camping away from facilities, water purification tablets are worth keeping in the kit just in case. We haven’t needed them often but having them removes the stress of wondering if a nearby water source is safe.
The last thing anyone wants is to be left without a fresh supply of water. And keep in mind that drinking water direct from a lake or pond can cause illness due to bacteria.
- Water bottles – One for each family member such as these handy filter water bottles.
- Water jug with pump – Having a water container with a pump makes it easy for refilling bottles and for the kids to use without requiring assistance
- Purification tablets – Handy to have just in case!
Camping Safety Checklist Items
These items are essential for ensuring a safe camping experience, so that you and your family are prepared for emergencies, challenges and the unexpected.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is a very important must bring essential in case of emergency situations.
When it comes to camping and hiking, there might be an unexpected injury that requires bandaging- like scrapes, cuts, and blisters. Especially when kids are involved!
You will also need to consider treating insect bites too.
If these injuries are left untreated they can easily become infected.
Your first aid kit should include:
- Bandages
- Plasters
- Gauze
- Scissors
- Adhesive
- Emergency whistle
- Anti-bacterial soap
- CPR mouth barrier
- Antiseptic cream
Multi-Tool
The ultimate multipurpose tool is the pocket knife, which can be used to dice bait, trim a rope, open a tightly sealed package, slice sausage or cheese, cut fishing line, tighten a screw, sharpen a stick, and so on.
Without a multi-tool pocket knife, these tasks can be difficult and you don’t want to break a tooth trying to chew something you could easily cut.
Bring at least one multipurpose pocket knife tool. Better still, bring two in case one breaks or goes missing. And keep it out of reach of small children.
Fire Starter
Having a fire starter is essential to starting a warm campfire, and of course, without a campfire, you’re hardly going to get the full camping experience, are you?
A fire starter can include waterproof matches, a lighter, a flint and steel, or a magnesium fire starter.
It’s best to have two fire starters in case one of them fails.
Bring fire kindling with you in a waterproof container, like strips of newspaper and dry bark. The fire kindling will come in handy if you struggle to find dry kindling in the outdoors.
Flashlight, Headlamp, Or Lantern
A battery-powered light is an essential camping with kids checklist item you must have, as a campfire can only help so much.
During the night when you’re in your tent and you need to find something, or if you need to make a bathroom (bush potty) trip, having a flashlight, headlamp, or lantern is invaluable.
This is even more essential when camping with kids who may find the deep dark of the wilderness frightening.
Tip: Check out these cool camping hacks with kids for some ideas on how you can light up your campsite at night to help them feel more at ease.
Toilet Paper
Toilet paper is a necessary essential that every camper must-have.
Ending up having to use leaves and bark for the latrine is a poor substitute that lacks both hygiene and comfort.
Even if you are camping at a site with toilet facilities, it helps to be prepared in case they forget to stock the loo paper.
If you are concerned about leaving a trace, purchase biodegradable toilet paper for an environmentally friendly option.
Wet wipes are another useful item to pack when camping with kids… or anytime really! Wet wipes have so many cleaning uses!
Insect Repellant
There is nothing more annoying than attempting to enjoy your time in nature when nature won’t stop biting!
Don’t forget the insect spray!
When camping with family, make sure you bring a kid-friendly version that won’t irritate their skin. You can also get them mosquito repellant bracelets as an alternative.
Tip: Spray the entrance of your tent and a light mist over your clothing and packs to help keep the bugs at a distance.
Sunscreen
If you are camping in winter, you might be able to get away without the 50+ sunscreen but in most cases, this is indeed an essential tool in your camp supplies!
As we say here in Australia, SLIP, SLOP, SLAP!
Yes, I realise how ridiculous that now sounds. Here’s the full version for those of you who didn’t grow up with the Aussie slogan:
Slip on a shirt, Slop on the sunscreen, Slap on a hat!
This means don’t forget the hat, sunnies and shelter too!
Portable Charger
Having a device to charge phones is important if you are camping anywhere away from town and facilities. And especially when camping with kids.
It is reassuring to know you can easily reach help if needed and having the means to charge your phone is essential!
Solar power banks can be slow to recharge but it means they stay charged longer without needing electricity. We use a portable charger similar to this one when we travel.
Other Safety Gear
The other safety gear you take camping will depend on your planned activities. If you are planning to go swimming, make sure you have swimming vests for kids and reef shoes if it is likely rocky.
For kayaking and water sports, life jackets are a must.
A fire guard may be essential if you have toddlers, to prevent them from touching the campfire.
Essential Campsite Gear Packing List
These items aren’t essential but they will help improve your comfort. Especially if you are camping for a few days and want to make yourself at home during that time.
Setting up a campsite with tables, chairs and a living space will help you feel like you are at your home away from home.
If you are lucky enough to be camping at a place with a picnic table, you might be able to skip a few of these items but usually the safer option is to bring your own.
And camping with kids means being as comfortable as you can be.
- Folding camp tables – Bring one to use as a dining table and another to set up your camp kitchen for easy cooking and meal prep.
- Camp chairs – Bring enough fold-out camping chairs for each family member.
- Clothesline – You can use a length of rope or cord between trees, or have a travel clothesline to hang wet gear and kitchen towels.
- Bucket – Useful for cleaning items, carrying items or even as a potty if you need a quick solution.
- Swimming or fishing gear – If you are camping near water
- Kid’s sun shelter/beach tent – A beach shelter is a great way to set up a kids zone at your campsite with a few toys and activities while keeping them sheltered from the sun in a beach tent.
- Backpack – If you plan on going on hikes, a sturdy backpack is perfect for carrying water, snacks, first aid kit, charger and phone.
- Fold up gazebo – Setting up a gazebo next to your tent is a great way to create more shelter and provide you with a covered area for cooking, cleaning, or relaxing out of the sun or rain.
- Dustpan and brush – Bring a dustpan and brush to keep the floor of your tent tidy and for easy cleanups.
- Axe – For chopping wood or to use the blunt end for hammering in tent pegs.
- Camping toilet – If you aren’t staying anywhere near toilet facilities
- Camping shower – A hanging portable shower in case you neither have showers nearby or can’t stand the thought of bathing in the nearby watering holes.
What To Wear When Camping
Bring clothes with you that are comfortable and suitable for the current weather conditions.
Layering is the best option for warming up or cooling down throughout the day, with clothes that can easily layer together. T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, jackets, shorts, pants, etc.
If it is cooler, don’t forget your winter gear with beanies, gloves, scarves and thermals too.
Bring at least 2 pairs of shoes – sneakers (or hiking shoes if you’re planning to go on a hike) and some flip flops, with enough socks to give you spares.
And of course, enough underwear for the duration of your trip.
Camping Toiletries & Personal Care Items
Aside from packing comfortable clothes, underwear, shoes and plenty of layers to suit the weather, you also need to pack personal hygiene items for your trip.
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Hand sanitiser
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Baby wipes
- Toilet paper
- Antibacterial foaming hand soap
- Lip balm
- Towels
- Deodorant
- Hair brush and hair ties
Are you located in Australia? Check out Amazon Australia or get your camping essentials from Caravan RV Camping.
Essential Camping Cooking Equipment
When you head off camping, it’s almost a rite of passage to forget something, no matter how seasoned you are. Whether it be the bug spray, your favourite camp frying pan or the spare pare of flip flops you meant to bring.
This is what makes having a checklist so helpful for camping trips. Especially when it comes to remembering all the different cooking equipment you want to bring for your camp kitchen.
Camping Cooking Basic Checklist:
- Camp stove
- Gas bottle
- Portable BBQ
- Frying pan / cast iron skillet
- Saucepan
- Plates
- Bowls
- Knives
- Forks
- Spoons
- Tongs
- Sharp knife
- Tea towels
- Paper towelling
- Spatula
- Esky or cooler
- Cups
- Garbage bags or pop up trash can
- Plastic tub with lid – for storing food and keeping it protected from wild animals
- Dishwashing liquid
- Dish cleaning brush or scourer
- Heavy-duty aluminium foil – Perfect for making foil packet camping meals
- Dutch oven – Check out these dutch oven camping recipes
- Pie iron – These pie iron recipes are so quick and easy
Grab our free camping meal planner here:
Knowing what else you want to bring will depend on the food you are bringing on your camping trip. It helps to do a camping meal plan before you leave so you know if there are any other special tools you want to bring.
And of course, don’t forget your food! Easy camping meals are always a great choice!
These no-cook camping meals and make ahead camping meals are great if you want to make your trip easier, and spend less time in the camp kitchen! And don’t forget to plan for camp breakfast!
Check out our road trips meal planning tips for meal ideas that would also be great for camping.
Taking Kids Camping
When camping with kids, it can take a little more planning than just packing the car and heading off. There are plenty of great family camping hacks to help though!
Getting kids out into nature is a wonderful experience for them and all part of the fun, especially if they typically prefer to spend their time indoors with tech. This is often the case with older kids!
When the girls were young, we packed entertainment for them, managed their sleep setup carefully, and planned around short attention spans and early bedtimes.
Now they’re teenagers they largely manage their own entertainment, have their own preferences about what they sleep in, and can pack a good portion of their own gear.
Don’t forget the fun stuff – board games, cards, football, glow sticks, Frisbee, and kid-friendly snacks. Or make your own travel activity kit.
Plus the marshmallows and toasting forks, of course! S’mores anyone?
Camping With Kids Checklist
- Sleeping bag and pillows
- Comfortable clothes to suit the climate
- Sneakers and flip flops
- Hat
- Activities for entertainment
- Water bottle
- Toiletries
- Water shoes – if you are planning to spend time in water
Taking a Baby Camping
Camping with babies means bringing enough nappies, baby food, formula if needed and any other baby safety gear you might need to suit the weather and sleeping arrangements.
Ensure you have a suitable travel crib and enough room in your tent for this to fit comfortably. This one is great for camping because it has insect protection too.
A portable high chair will make it much easier to feed your baby or toddler too.
This also doubles as a useful place to set your baby up for playtime at the campsite too.
If your baby is on formula, you will need to have facilities suited to camping for sterilising and cleaning your bottles as well.
Camping With a Baby Checklist:
- Nappies
- Wipes
- Baby food
- Bottles / steriliser
- Formula
- Baby carrier
- Portable cot or travel crib
- Baby toys
- Suitable clothing for the weather
- Travel high chair
Check out the best baby and toddler carriers for hiking and travel
Camping Games For Families
These games and activities are perfect to take camping and keep the little people entertained between adventuring and exploring:
Or if you want to pack lighter, try these fun camping games for families that don’t require any equipment! And in case of wet weather, make sure you have a few of these rainy day activities ready to go too!
Packing Tips For Camping
A few things that make the actual packing process less painful:
Pack in reverse order of need. Things you’ll want first — snacks, the kids’ entertainment bag, the first aid kit — go in last so they come out first. The tent and sleeping gear that you won’t need until you arrive can go in the boot first.
Use packing cubes per person. Different colours per family member means everyone can find their own clothes without unpacking everything. Works just as well in a boot as in a suitcase.
Keep a car bag separate from the boot. A small bag in the back seat with snacks, water, wipes, a change of clothes for younger kids and any medication means you don’t need to stop and unpack every time someone needs something on the drive.
Pack the night before, not the morning of. Obvious but worth saying. Morning-of packing with excited kids is how things get forgotten.
Run through the checklist twice — once when you pack and once before you leave. The second pass catches the things you packed mentally but didn’t actually put in the car.
This camping with kids checklist will help you pack the essentials for your family camping trip and hopefully not forget anything important! This will ensure a successful trip and plenty of outdoor adventures as a family!
If you’re not quite sure you are ready to brave the full camping experience, you can always start with glamping instead. Or hire a campervan to give yourself a few of the extra luxuries until you’re ready to try tent camping!
Make sure you also check out our road trip packing list and RV essentials packing list as well!
GRAB OUR MAMMOTH PRINTABLE CAMPING PLANNER TO TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF PLANNING YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE:
We hope this family camping list helps you create your own checklist for family camping trip fun!
Read all our best camping tips & guides:
- How to plan your meals for camping
- The ultimate camping with kids packing list
- Hacks for camping with kids
- The best toys and games for camping
- Campfire games to play
- Dutch oven camping recipes
- No-cook camping recipes
- Make-ahead camping recipes
- Pie iron camping recipes
- Camping dessert recipes
- Camping breakfast recipes
- Foil packing camping recipes
- Camping gifts for kids
- Camping captions and quotes
- RV camping gifts for all ages
- Campervan cooking tips
- Camping scavenger hunt ideas
