Here is a handy checklist for packing for your next camping trip with your kids!
Tony and I used to go camping all the time. We did go once when Henry was about 6 months old, but 3 years later, we recently finally went on our first camping trip with our kids (3.5 and 1.5-year-old) and I don’t know why we waited so long!
Here is our packing list for the trip, and a few extra things we wish we won’t forget next time! We added a couple of suggestions from fellow travel writers/bloggers too! Thank you Kate at k8loweth on IG and Haddie from Fun Is Better Than Perfect!
Do you love hiking and camping with kids and want to know more? Read more here:
- Best Toddler Sleeping Bags
- 40+ Kid-Friendly Hikes in San Francisco’s South Bay
- 30+ Kid-Friendly Hikes in 49 Square Miles of San Francisco
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In a 70 quart storage bin (to protect from any dew, mist, rain), put the following in:
- Aluminum foil
- 2 lamps
- Can opener
- Wine/bottle opener (if applicable)
- 2 flashlights
- Car adapter thing for the air mattress plug
- Meds (including kids) and first aid kit (check for expiration date if you had it in the box for a while)
- Toilet paper
- Paper towel
- Spray oil (check for expiration date)
- Grilling utensils
- Cups, plates, eating utensils
- Knife(s) with a cover
- Garbage bags
- Ziplock bags of various size
- Camping cookware
- Wipes
- Extendable marshmallow roasting sticks perfect for little kids so they don’t have to get close to the fire! (Contribution from Fun Is Better Than Perfect)
- These LuninAid Solar Globe Cubes look like it will be on our camping essential list and gorgeous (Contribution from Kate)
Making this bin has saved us so much on packing every time. Nothing is perishable (except for a couple I noted), so you can just put it right back in storage when you get home and bring it back out when you go again! Take most of these things out of the hard packaging it comes in, and throw it in ziplock bags to save space.
Definitely don’t forget a first aid kit! It came in handy for this poor little guy.
In your travel bag in separate packing cubes:
- Toiletries for you and your kids (we have one packing cube full of toiletries always packed for all our travels).
- Warm clothes for each person
- Shorts, t-shirts, and hot weather clothes per person
- Underwear for everyone
- Swim/water play outfits for everyone
- Clothes each person will wear after they shower (if applicable): This is such a savior keeping this in a separate packing cube! I knew not to touch this cube until we were all showered and ready to go.
- Towels
- Extra packing cube to put dirty clothes in
Having packing cubes have saved us packing sanity when we travel normally, but it was also great to have for camping! Especially for the “clean” clothes, where we didn’t touch it until everyone was showered/wiped off with wipes and ready to leave the campground.
Other bigger items:
- Tent (this one is ahhhhmazing! 2 rooms, pops up in 60 seconds, and equally easy fold up, and you can walk around in it!)
- Sleeping bags per person (if you need one for your toddlers – check this post out!)
- Pillows per person
- Comfy, self-blow up air mattress
- Camp chairs for adults and kids
- Travel crib (if applicable). We love our Lotus!!
For Your Cooler/Pantry Items:
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- Mmm s’more essentials!
- These egg holder things OR Kate at k8loweth on IG suggested using one of those blender bottle things for eggs. Just crack them beforehand, put it in there, shake it up and make scrambled eggs! Genius!
- S’mores stuff if you are making them (graham cracker, marshmallows, chocolate bar)
Other extras for the kids:
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- Bubbles!
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- They played with these animal toys basically the entire time!
- Bucket of animal toys: Let their imagination run wild with these animals in nature
- Glow sticks: they are so much fun at night time!
- Bubbles (and bubble machine) for fun
- A ball: Having a ball is always a good idea outside!
- Diapers and wipes, if your kids use them
Kate was also full of suggestions for the kids!
- These Rocket Copters with Lights, looks like a blast for night time in open spaces like the beach!
- I will definitely be trying out these Mystical Fire Packets for our fire next time.
There you have it!
This is our packing list for when we go camping with our two little wild toddlers. Did we miss anything? Our car is PACKED when we put all of these things in! Not sure if we would fit anything else in, but I know we used every single one of these things on our overnight trip! Leave a comment if you have any tips, would love to feature it here!
Do you love hiking and camping with kids and want to know more? Read more here:
- Best Toddler Sleeping Bags
- 40+ Kid-Friendly Hikes in San Francisco’s South Bay
- 30+ Kid-Friendly Hikes in 49 Square Miles of San Francisco
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Here are some Pinterest-ready images.
Packing List for Camping with Kids and Toddlers! #campingwithkids #campingwithtoddlers #packinglist #checklist
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