Camping with kids sounds simple, but if you’re a parent, you know it’s anything but. Taking kids anywhere requires planning and prep.
Luckily, this post is designed to make your next camping trip a lot easier!
Plus, the big difference between this site and many others is that we’re giving responsibility to the kids. So, you’ll find a free printable camping list for kids to pack themselves.
First, this master list helps make sure you have everything your entire family may need to have an amazing time in the great outdoors. Then, keep reading for the kids camping checklist.
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These are the things you don’t want to forget! Lots of other things can slide, but these are your must-haves.
These are definitely “nice to haves”…
Now, for this list, you probably won’t need all of these items. Pick and choose what will work for your situation.
Don’t forget about specific food items you’ll need! Plan your menu, then add your food to the packing list!
Pro Tip: Chop, marinade, and prepare what you can at home before leaving! It can be messy trying to do a lot of cooking while camping, plan ahead and spend your time relaxing instead.
It can be a real pain walking long distances to take your toddlers to go potty. So, a potty seat can be a lifesaver if you have a young one!
There’s a lot of kids stuff that comes in handy when you’re camping with your children (Ex. baby carrier for hiking). See the full post of great kids camping gear here to make your life easier >>
Often, camping weather will surprise you. It’s always good to have an extra blanket in the car for that person in your family who’s freezing.
Don’t forget that some camping supplies are easy to borrow from a friend or family member.
All of these are on the kids camping checklist below! Make them responsible for packing or helping with them.
Grab the free kids camping list printable below, then fill out the form for more great kids printables and family ideas like this!
Even if your children are small, they can still be helpful. Let them help you unpack the car, set up their sleeping area, or get the picnic table ready for eating. They’ll feel comfortable in their new surroundings and have something to do while you get the bigger items in place.
If you still feel like they’ll be more work than help, have them collect all the sticks in your area for a campfire later.
Now, for the fun and games that help your family connect. Here are simple activities that you may want to add to your kids camping checklist as well.
There’s often great hiking at campsites, so if you’re into this, don’t forget your hiking shoes and backpacks.
Grab a pair of binoculars and a bird book to get the most out of watching the local birds.
Throw your telescope in the car for an epic night of watching the stars.
Pack Cornhole, Ladders, and any other easy-to-pack outdoor games your family loves.
A simple set of cards, Go Fish, or Uno can keep you entertained for hours.
No packing necessary, unless you want to throw in the free printables from this site (if so, grab access below). Otherwise, use your phone to pull up fun games like kid-friendly Family Feud and Kids trivia questions. (Grab hard trivia questions for teens too)
Not very sophisticated, right?! But you know what, kids can spend all day collecting sticks and rocks and be as happy as clams. So, bring a bucket with you and let them go to town finding the best treasures on the campsite.
Keep the kids entertained with a simple ball, frisbee, or rope. A glove and baseball can also start a lot of fun.
Camping gives a prime opportunity for fishing, so be sure to include your fishing rods in your packing list.
Enjoy the outdoors by getting to know nature.
Toddlers, especially, are visual people. Print off pictures ahead of time or draw items on paper for them to use on their hunt. Items can include: pine cone, bird, flower, bug etc. This is a great activity to keep little ones occupied if you’re on a walk or hiking where they might get tired easily.
For older kids, buy a camping journal and let them draw and write about what they see.
Get up close and personal with the creepy crawly. Bring a fun container to hold your new “pets” while you are out camping. You can also bring a cheap magnifying glass or net to save space.
Reminder: Do NOT let them bring the bugs inside the cabin/camper/tent.
Whether you need a midday break with some quiet time or you have the campfire going and are ready to tell stories, a few camping-themed books are sure to be a hit.
Here are other fun kids bedtime stories for a good wind-down and great books for toddlers >>
Make it extra fun by hanging up a hammock or using fun headlamps during a bedtime story.
Camping is an amazing way to connect. Leave those devices at home and just have fun!
The biggest tip for the camping list with kids is to keep it simple. Don’t stress about bringing so many things to keep them entertained. The new scenery, routines and adventures will be more entertaining than you think!
