Camping with Kids Packing List
Tent essentials, cooking gear, entertainment, and safety for family camping trips
Camping with children is one of the best adventures you can have as a family. Fresh air, starry nights, toasted marshmallows - memories that last a lifetime. But it requires serious preparation. Forget something crucial and you are facing a very long night. This comprehensive list ensures you have everything you need for comfortable, safe, and fun family camping.
Want a personalised list? Use our packing tool to generate a list based on your trip length and family members.
Build My Packing ListShelter & Sleeping
Good sleep makes or breaks a camping trip. Invest in quality here and everyone stays happy.
- Tent (sized for family plus gear - go one size up from people count)
- Ground sheet or footprint (protects tent floor)
- Tent pegs (bring spares - they bend and break)
- Mallet or hammer for pegs
- Guy ropes (usually come with tent)
- Sleeping bags (check temperature rating suits forecast)
- Sleeping mats or air beds (R-value matters for cold nights)
- Pillows (camping pillows or stuff sacks with clothes)
- Repair kit for tent and air beds
Warning
Practice pitching your tent at home before the trip. Struggling in a windy field at dusk with tired children is not fun.
Kids Sleeping Setup
- Child-sized sleeping bags (adult bags lose heat around small bodies)
- Extra blankets (children kick off sleeping bags)
- Sleeping bag liners (add warmth and keep bags clean)
- Glow sticks or small night lights (dark tents scare some kids)
- Favourite teddy or comfort blanket
- Spare pyjamas (accidents and condensation happen)
Family Tip
Put a fitted sheet over the air bed or sleeping mat. It stops children sliding around and makes the setup feel more like home.
Cooking & Food
Camp cooking can be as simple or elaborate as you like. For families, keep it simple - tired children want food fast.
- Camping stove (and fuel - check it works before leaving)
- Lighter or matches (waterproof matches as backup)
- Cool box or cool bag with ice packs
- Pots and pans (one large, one small usually enough)
- Frying pan or griddle
- Kettle or pot for boiling water
- Plates, bowls, cups (enamel or plastic - not breakable)
- Cutlery
- Sharp knife and chopping board
- Tin opener and bottle opener
- Cooking utensils (spatula, wooden spoon, tongs)
- Washing up bowl, sponge, and biodegradable soap
- Bin bags (multiple - leave no trace)
- Tea towels
- Food storage containers
- Aluminium foil (incredibly useful)
- Marshmallow toasting sticks
Food to Pack
- Breakfast: Cereal, UHT milk, bacon and eggs, bread
- Lunch: Wraps, cheese, ham, fruit, crisps
- Dinner: Pre-prepped meals, pasta, sauce, sausages for BBQ
- Snacks: Endless snacks (fruit, biscuits, crackers, nuts)
- Drinks: Water, juice boxes, tea, coffee, hot chocolate
- Treats: Marshmallows, chocolate for s'mores
Money-Saving Tip
Pre-chop vegetables and marinate meat at home. Bag and freeze meals - they act as ice packs and defrost ready to cook.
Clothing for All Weather
British camping means preparing for everything. Even summer nights get cold, and rain appears from nowhere.
- Multiple outfit changes (kids get dirty fast)
- Warm jumpers and fleeces (more than you think)
- Waterproof jackets for everyone
- Waterproof trousers
- Wellies or waterproof boots
- Sturdy shoes for walking
- Flip-flops for showers and around camp
- Warm hats
- Sun hats (optimistic but necessary)
- Sunglasses
- Plenty of socks (feet get wet)
- Pyjamas - warm ones
- Slippers for tent
Safety & First Aid
- First aid kit (plasters, bandages, antiseptic, scissors)
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen (adult and child versions)
- Antihistamines
- Insect repellent
- Bite and sting cream
- Sunscreen SPF 50
- After-sun lotion
- Prescription medications
- Rehydration sachets
- Tweezers (for splinters)
- Thermometer
- Emergency contact numbers
- Campsite address and directions
Warning
Keep the first aid kit accessible, not buried in the car. Accidents happen at inconvenient moments.
Lighting & Power
- Head torches (one per person - hands-free essential)
- Lantern for tent
- Spare batteries
- Solar charger or power bank
- Phone charger cables
- Fairy lights (makes the tent magical for kids)
Entertainment & Activities
Nature is entertainment, but backup is wise for rainy spells and wind-down time.
- Ball games (football, frisbee)
- Badminton set
- Card games
- Board games (travel versions)
- Colouring books and pencils
- Books
- Binoculars for bird watching
- Bug catching kit
- Fishing net
- Kite
- Tablet with downloaded films (for rain emergencies)
- Headphones
- Camp chairs (low ones for kids)
- Picnic blanket
- Hammock (if trees available)
Family Tip
Create a scavenger hunt list before the trip. Pinecones, feathers, different leaves - it entertains children for hours and costs nothing.
Toiletries & Hygiene
- Toilet roll (more than you think - campsite loos run out)
- Wet wipes (essential with children)
- Hand sanitiser
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Soap and shampoo (biodegradable preferred)
- Towels (quick-dry camping towels are great)
- Shower gel
- Hairbrush
- Nappies and changing supplies if needed
- Potty for toilet training toddlers
Campsite Comfort
- Camping chairs (one per person)
- Camping table
- Gazebo or tarp (shelter from rain and sun)
- Windbreak
- Picnic blanket
- Door mat for tent entrance (keeps dirt out)
- Shoe rack or bag for tent porch
- Washing line and pegs
- Bucket (multiple uses)
What NOT to Pack
- Too many outfit options (everyone wears the same comfortable clothes)
- Expensive electronics that could get damaged
- Glass bottles or breakable items
- White clothing (mud happens)
- Elaborate cooking plans (keep meals simple)
- Too many toys (nature and freedom are enough)
Warning
Make a packing checklist and tick items off as they go in the car. The middle-of-nowhere realisation that you forgot sleeping bags is devastating.
Car Packing Strategy
- Pack in reverse order - first out items on top
- Tent and pegs: accessible for arrival
- Sleeping gear: next layer
- Clothes and personal items: middle
- Kitchen and food: last loaded, first unloaded
- Keep snacks and entertainment in the cabin for the journey
- Have rain jackets accessible in case you arrive in a downpour
Planning a trip?
TravelOS helps families plan trips together. Join the waitlist to be first to try it.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.