Camping is a great way to get outdoors with your family while making life-long memories. From hiking through the day to roasting marshmallows around the fire at night, camping provides a break from the hustle and bustle of work and school schedules.
As you prep for your family camping trip, you’ll want to make sure you have everything packed and ready before hitting the trail to your campsite. Nothing is worse than driving hours into the woods only to realize no one packed the tent.
We’ve compiled the ultimate family camping checklist so you can check it twice before head off to your successful family outdoor adventure.
Before diving into the list, another quick tip – packing. We are big fans of clear totes used to store and separate gear by category like kitchen, campsite, fun & games, etc. This will keep you organized and the clear containers make things easy to find. The standard shape of the totes also helps with the game of Tetris we all play when fitting everything in our vehicle.
Ultimate Family Camping Checklist [2020]
Campsite Gear
- Tent
- Tent footprint or tarp (ground cover for under tent)
- Tarp or Canopy for rain cover
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows
- Chairs
- Lantern with extra fuel/batteries
- Headlamps/flashlights
- Firewood (if fires allowed, always check current regulations and source firewood near campsite)
- Sleeping pads or air mattress [optional]
Kitchen
- Stove with fuel
- Matches or lighter
- Frying pan
- Pot
- Coffee maker (French press works great) or instant coffee
- Corkscrew!
- Roasting sticks (for marshmallows, hot dogs, etc.)
- Food storage bags in multiple sizes
- Trash bags
- Cooler
- Water bottles (drinking)
- Frozen water bottles (use as ice in cooler)
- Plates, bowls, utensils
- Paper cups (can be used for hot and cold)
- Knife, spatula, wooden spoon
- Foil
- Biodegradable soap
- Paper towels
- Bin for washing dishes
- Tablecloth [optional]
Tools and Repair
- Multi-tool
- Rope/cord
- Duct tape
- Saw or axe
- Hand broom & dustpan
Clothes
- Clothes for day use (varies by climate and planned activities)
- Sleepwear
- Swimsuits
- Rain gear
- Jackets
- Hiking shoes
- Water shoes
- Campsite shoes (Crocs are great)
- Socks
- Hats
- Sunglasses
- Gloves [optional]
Personal Items
- Sunblock
- Insect repellent
- First-aid kit
- Prescription medications
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Soaps and shampoos
- Toiletry kit
- Menstrual products
- Hand sanitizer
- Lip balm
- Baby wipes
- Earplugs
Other Items
- Cell phones
- ID
- Credit card and/or cash
- Camera
- Campground phone number and reservation number
- Maps
- Bikes [optional]
- Games and toys [optional]
- Rolling ice cream maker [optional]
COVID Items
- Face coverings
- Protective gloves
- Disinfectant spray and/or wipes
As you work to plan your family camping trip, other great resources include:
- How to Plan a Successful Family Camping Trip – Wayne Parker
- A Beginner’s Guide to Family Camping – Lisa Meyers McClintick
