This is a partnered post with L.L.Bean, who believe that, on the inside, we’re all outsiders.
As an active family we enjoy spending time outside. This summer we’re all about camping and exploring the great outdoors! There are so many wonderful benefits to camping with your children. Not only is it all about creating lasting memories, but it’s just a simple way to reconnect as a family. Camping allows our family to create those meaningful moments, and our girls have so much fun on our camping adventures.
The Must Have Family Camping Checklist
Get Organized –
It’s important that you get organized before you go camping. Pick your date and reserve your campsite. It’s also important that you know what things there are to do in the area. We always find the closest trailheads to go hiking, and since our girls love the water, we find out if there’s any nearby to explore. Knowing what there is to do allows us to pack accordingly.
Pack Your Gear –
Being prepared means that you have all the gear you will need for your family to camp comfortably. We always pack a large tent, chairs, lanterns, sleeping bags, camping stove, flashlights, water bottles and backpacks. We always trust L.L.Bean products for camping because they’re made for the great outdoors.
Plan Your Healthy Family Meals –
We always plan for breakfast and dinner while camping. For lunch we bring fresh fruits and snacks for the trail. We always pack plenty of extra food for meals because being outdoors and busy, our kiddos always get extra hungry. We bring extra large containers of water as well for drinking, dish washing and hand washing.
Camping really is all about our kids and having fun as a family. We like to involve our girls in every step, which allows them to learn and grow. We play games while hiking and we even create simple crafts. I also make a simple and fun kids’ camping gear checklist for our girls so they can help us pack for our camping trip. Kids can easily circle the items as they find them at the campsite. This allows my husband and I time to get our tent and gear all set up while our girls stay entertained. Later we use the paper to help start our fire.
Our Complete Family Camping Checklist
Gear –
- tent
- sleeping bags
- pillows
- extra small blankets for kids by the fire
- camping chairs
- lanterns
- water bottles
- a bucket for washing dishes
- reusable plastic dish wear & small container of soap and sponge
- flashlights
- firewood and lighter
- trash bags
- cooler with food
- camera
- first aid kit and sunscreen
- bikes and toys
Clothes –
- comfortable shirts
- swimwear
- activewear for girls and sweaters
- backpacks
- extra socks
- hiking boots
We always have the best time as a family camping. My favorite moments are early in the morning all warm in our bed. The air is fresh in the mountains and the birds start to wake up. You hear so many incredible sounds that early in the morning in the forest. There’s nothing quite like it, and these are the moments I hope our children always remember. You can shop outdoor gear and more for your next outdoor adventure at llbean.com.
What are your favorite memories of camping with your family?
Thanks for sharing your tips and camping checklist. I am not sure if we will still be able to do some camping this year. However, if we do decide to spend a weekend camping, I will refer to this article for guidance.
Camping is one of our favorite ways to reconnect with nature. But it still can be stressful prepping. This checklist means the kids can help out in the packing.
I like that you put to bring entertainment {as an instrument} on your list. It would be so much fun to sit around a campfire and have a jam session.
We have never been camping before. I might try it outdoors in my backyard sometime.
What a great list! I am determined to take my kids camping this summer!
Aside from the essentials, it’s always nice to have a camera with you to capture moments with the family especially the kids! This is a lovely list!
It’s been quite some time since the family and I went camping! This is a great list especially since it’s tough when you forget something that’s really needed.
A great list, thank you. We just went camping out west, always an adventure but we love it. Just going for a few days as we always seem to find a bit of rain when we go.
We used to go camping a lot when the kids were still young. Now it is my sister’s turn to take her young kids camping, so I am sharing this post so she can have a checklist too. It would not be a good experience to find out you forgot something important and you are miles away from the nearest convenience store!
I have never been camping before, but would love to try it some day. This list will come in handy when we do!
I wish I could be a camping person. I will have to pass this on to my friend. Her family loves to camp.
Looks like you guys had a blast camping! I’ve never been shopping at LLBean, but looks like they have some cute outfits.
Agreed. I’m overdue to buy from them. I hear the quality is A+
That is a good list, and some smart tips. I usually search inclusive things to do, but looking at what might be around the campground is such a smart idea!
The kids love camping, its a great family experience. Its important to be organized and make sure you don’t forget the important things.
We love camping, whether it be in our backyard or far from home. I am getting better about packing the right things, but your checklist will help make it easier.
These are really great checklist. Though we rarely go on campings (due to to time scheds) but my siblings and son do have a yearly camping in school, I would def pack these for them.
Such a great camping checklist! I always forget the camping chairs!
You got pretty much everything covered! Camping is a fun family activity and to be able to go to your favorite campsite without having to be in need of something will guarantee a really nice experience for the kids.
It’s important to have everything you need when camping! We make sure that we have a checklist for packing all the essentials! Love this one!
This is such a great packing checklist for camping. I would have totally forgot half these things.
This is really helpful! We’ve never gone on a camping trip as a family. I think I’d like to though!
This is a great camping checklist. I loved spending time around the fire making S’mores with the family.
I love making SMOREs around the fire with the family too. Such great bonding opportunities.
I always use a checklist before I take the family out camping. The one time I didn’t use a checklist, we ended up forgetting the sleeping bags.
This is a great list. You should always use a checklist before going camping. Otherwise, you’re going to be in the woods without something important.
Forgetting something after a long drive to a campsite would be bad!
This is really great, glad you created a family camping checklist. I often forget things when heading out the door with kids, cannot imagine forgetting when we head out for a weekend camp trip!
Awesome list for camping families. You thought of everything.