Packing List for Camping with Kids: Gear, Safety, and Fun
Everything you need to pack for a family camping trip with children covering tent and sleeping gear, kid-safe food supplies, safety essentials, entertainment items, and age-appropriate outdoor equipment.
Bring a family-sized tent with extra room for gear
A tent rated for 2 people more than your actual group provides space for kids to spread out and store gear inside during rain. A 6-person tent works well for a family of 4. Set it up at home first so kids can practice getting in and out, and so you spot any missing stakes or poles.
Pack sleeping bags rated for expected low temperatures
Kids lose body heat faster than adults. Choose sleeping bags rated 5 degrees below your expected overnight low. Mummy bags are warmer but restrictive for restless sleepers. Rectangular bags zip together for family warmth sharing. For children under 5, a wearable sleeping bag prevents kicking off covers.
Bring sleeping pads or air mattresses for everyone
Ground insulation matters more than top insulation for warmth. A sleeping pad with an R-value of 3+ handles three-season camping. Self-inflating pads are easiest. Kids sleep better on padded surfaces, and well-rested kids make the entire trip more enjoyable. Test inflation at home before the trip.
Pack extra tarps for ground cover and rain shelter
A tarp under your tent prevents ground moisture from seeping through. A second tarp rigged over your picnic area creates a rain shelter for cooking and eating. A 3x4 meter tarp costs 15-25 USD and protects gear, drying shoes, and kids' play area from sudden showers.
Food and Cooking
Pack a camp stove with extra fuel for kid-friendly meals
A two-burner camp stove handles simultaneous cooking for a family. Bring enough fuel for all planned meals plus extra. Simple meals like pasta, hot dogs, pancakes, and grilled cheese are kid favorites that cook quickly on camp stoves. Practice lighting the stove at home if it is new.
Bring a cooler with enough ice for your trip length
A quality hard cooler keeps food cold for 3-5 days with proper ice management. Pre-freeze water bottles to supplement ice. Pack the cooler in layers: ice on bottom, frozen items, cold items, daily-access items on top. Keep the cooler in shade and limit how often it opens.
Pack kid-approved snacks in large quantities
Camping burns more calories than normal days, and hungry kids get cranky fast. Bring trail mix, granola bars, fruit, crackers, marshmallows, and individually packaged snacks. Store snacks in a grab-and-go container accessible throughout the day. Plan for twice as many snacks as you think you need.
Bring marshmallow roasting sticks and campfire cooking supplies
Telescoping marshmallow sticks are safer than sharpened branches for kids. Bring marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers for s'mores. Foil packets for cooking veggies and potatoes in the fire are simple and fun for kids to prepare. Assign one adult to supervise fire-side cooking at all times.
Pack dishes, utensils, and a wash basin for cleanup
Bring unbreakable plates, cups, and utensils for each family member plus extras for dropped items. A collapsible wash basin with biodegradable soap handles dish cleaning. Assign dishwashing as a kid-appropriate camp chore. Pack a drying rack or line to air-dry dishes between meals.
Safety and Health
Pack a comprehensive first aid kit with kid-specific items
Include children's pain reliever, antihistamine, bandages in fun patterns, antiseptic spray, tweezers for splinters and ticks, sting relief cream, and any prescription medications. Kids fall, scrape, and get stung more often outdoors. A well-stocked kit handles 95% of camping injuries without a trip to urgent care.
Bring insect repellent and sunscreen formulated for children
DEET at 10-15% concentration is safe for children over 2 months old. Apply before sun exposure and reapply after swimming. Kid-friendly sunscreen at SPF 50+ should be reapplied every 2 hours. Apply both before kids start playing as they resist mid-activity application.
Pack headlamps for every family member including kids
Give each child their own headlamp for nighttime bathroom trips and tent navigation. Kids find headlamps exciting rather than scary, reducing fear of dark campsites. Red-light mode preserves night vision for everyone. Practice using them at home during a backyard campout.
Bring a whistle on a lanyard for each child
Teach children to blow the whistle if they get lost or separated at the campground. Three blasts is the universal distress signal. A whistle carries further than a child's voice. Attach it to their clothing or a lanyard they wear throughout the trip. Establish clear rules about when to use it.
Entertainment and Activities
Pack nature exploration gear: magnifying glass, bug jar, and binoculars
A magnifying glass turns every leaf, rock, and insect into a science project. A clear bug jar lets kids observe insects safely before releasing them. Kid-sized binoculars bring birds and wildlife closer. Nature scavenger hunt lists printed before the trip give kids focused activities for hours.
Bring outdoor toys and games for downtime
A frisbee, ball, jump rope, or kite weighs almost nothing and provides hours of entertainment. Card games and a deck of cards work for rainy tent time. Glow sticks for nighttime games excite kids after dark. Avoid electronics that need charging and instead encourage outdoor play.
Pack coloring books, crayons, and a nature journal
Quiet activities for rest time and rainy periods keep kids occupied without screens. A nature journal encourages kids to draw plants, animals, and landscapes they see. Crayons work better than markers in outdoor conditions as they do not dry out or leak.
Bring fishing gear if your campsite is near water
A basic kids' fishing rod with bobber, hooks, and worms provides hours of patient entertainment. Check if your campsite requires a fishing license for adults. Catch and release teaches kids about wildlife respect. Supervise all water-side activities for children under 10.
Clothing and Comfort
Pack extra layers and rain gear for every child
Kids get wet, muddy, and cold faster than adults. Pack 2 complete changes of clothes per day including socks and underwear. A waterproof jacket for each child is essential regardless of the forecast. Zip-lock bags keep dirty and wet clothes separate from clean supplies.
Bring sturdy closed-toe shoes and water shoes
Closed-toe shoes protect feet on trails, around camp, and near fire pits. Bring a second pair of water shoes or old sneakers for creek play and muddy conditions. Wet shoes should be stuffed with newspaper or dry cloths overnight to speed drying. Pack extra shoelaces.
Pack warm pajamas and a comfort item from home
Nighttime camping temperatures drop more than kids expect. Fleece pajamas or thermal layers keep small bodies warm in sleeping bags. A favorite stuffed animal or blanket from home reduces first-night anxiety. Familiar bedtime routines work even in a tent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is best for a first camping trip with kids?
Most families start with a backyard campout at age 2-3, then a developed campground with flush toilets at age 3-4. The key is setting expectations: short first trips of 1-2 nights at sites with amenities build confidence. By age 5-6, most kids handle 2-3 night trips at basic campgrounds. Match the site difficulty to your youngest camper's comfort level.
How do I keep kids safe around the campfire?
Draw a visible circle around the fire pit with sticks or rocks that kids may not cross without an adult. Teach them to walk, not run, near fires. Assign one adult as the fire supervisor at all times. Use long-handled roasting sticks. Keep a bucket of water nearby. Establish that only adults add wood to the fire. Most burn injuries happen when kids stumble into fire rings.
What food works best for camping with kids?
Simple, familiar foods that cook quickly work best. Hot dogs, grilled cheese, pasta, quesadillas, and pancakes are reliable kid favorites. Pre-cut vegetables with dip, fruit, and trail mix serve as constant snacks. Pre-make meals at home and freeze them for easy campfire reheating. Avoid introducing unfamiliar foods when kids are already outside their comfort zone.
How do I handle bedtime at a campsite?
Start bedtime routines 30 minutes earlier than at home since outdoor activity exhausts kids. Brush teeth, change into warm pajamas, read a story by headlamp, and zip into sleeping bags. White noise from nature replaces the need for a sound machine. A glow stick inside the tent provides comfort light. Most kids sleep deeply after a full day outdoors despite the unfamiliar setting.