Camping Packing List for Families
First up let’s get things straight. I hate camping. There I said it. It makes no sense to me to make life harder on a ‘holiday’, but for many many years it’s been all we can afford, the kids LOVE it, our friends love it, so it’s what we do! It’s what I grew up doing and what we’ve done every summer since having children.
In this sense though I feel I am well qualified to give out packing tips. We have friends who love it so much they’re like, ‘Oh, its fine, just a tent and a sleeping bag and a pocket knife and you’ll hAvE tHe BeSt TiMe.’ I wish on every level I could be this carefree but the reality is, that just ain’t me.
I am practical, work hard, can happily fix roofs, build bookcases or knock down walls and am content eating plain pasta from a saucepan but when camping with kids, I need a few home comforts to keep me sane.
Here’s my list of camping essentials:
Camping Packing List: Cooking
Camping Stove
Gas Bottle if needed for stove (can often be bought on site but best to check ahead)
Matches (keep in a tupperware so they don’t get wet)
Cool box
Ice blocks
Big storage box with lid (useful for storage whilst travelling and once there - clear is best so you can find things more easily)
Washing up bowl
Washing up liquid
T-towels
Dishcloth
Salt, pepper, herbs/spices, oil
Anti-bac spray
Wipes
Tupperware boxes or sealable bags for storing opened packets of food - keeps ants and babies out
Water carrier with tap dispenser
Kettle (or you can just use a saucepan)
Frying pan / saucepan
Chopping board
Sharp knife
Plates, bowls, cups and mugs (Melamine, bamboo or enamel is best)
Grater
Peeler
Bottle opener
Camping Packing List: Other Essentials
Mallet
Spare tent pegs
Scissors
Duct Tape
Dustpan & brush
String (for hanging clothes, guy rope repairs, hanging items etc)
Bin bags
Torches / Lanterns
Spare Batteries
Battery pack for phones
Camping chairs
Folding table
Windbreak (not essential but can zone your space, keeping kids more contained and protect from wind)
Pump
Airbeds or similar
Sleeping bags, blankets, pillows
Picnic blanket
Camping Packing List: Self-Care
Small mirror
First Aid Kit
Washing powder
Clothes pegs
Toilet roll
Wipes
Insect repellent
Bite cream
Sun cream
Paracetamol or Ibroprufen
Large trug bucket (for bathing babies/toddlers)
Potty (even for slightly older children you may find this helpful if the toilet is far away)
Ear plugs
Camping cupboard
Chocolate
You’ll notice I put ‘camping cupboard’ under self-care items, because this is, of course, not an essential. However, I have found it super helpful when camping with little ones to have somewhere to put (hide) things that is off the floor and slightly more organised which is why I’m categorising it as self-care, because for me, it’s made that much of a difference to my camping experience. Otherwise you just end up with everything on the floor and it soon becomes a stressful chaotic jumble. Being able to zip up the doors helps more curious minds leave it alone so it’s ideal for food,drink, plates and pots etc. Having a higher work surface is a game changer for food prep and again, gives you a place to put things where they can remain out of reach of children but easily accessible to adults.
Acquiring all the camping gear is expensive - tents alone are eye-watering amounts of money - so please don’t be overwhelmed by the sheer number of items you need. A lot of this you will already have in your home like pegs, string, scissors, washing up bowls etc and even saucepans don’t need to be the ‘camping’ ones you can take your own from home. We all actually prefer duvets to sleeping bags so we take them with lots of old blankets and shop our home for as much as possible.
However, if you’re new to all this and want some guidance as to what to get, I am hoping the lists above will help as well as my recommendations below:
1. Camping stove and grill 2. Dust pan and brush 3. First Aid Kit 4. Pair of camping chairs 5. Enamel mug 6. Pair of lanterns 7. Expandable water carrier 8. Hanging battery powered bulbs 9. Plastic dinnerware set 10. Double camping cupboard with doors 11. Children’s torch 12. Table and bench set 13. Camping washing line 14. Travel potty 15. Travel towel 16. Cooking utensil camping set 17. Cool box 18. Picnic blanket 19. Saucepan and kettle camping set 20. Trug 21. Air pump 22. Reusable silicone food storage bags
The next big challenge is fitting it all in your car! Of course you don’t need to take all this stuff, I know many who manage to travel lighter when camping, but this at least gives you a thorough list for you to pick and choose from depending on your own situation. We have a really large tent that takes up nearly our whole boot, so we have to take a roof box and a second car in order to take everything we need. Absolutely not ideal, but still it’s all cheaper than a holiday abroad isn’t it?!
If your tent is smaller or have less kids (we have three) you may be ok with just a roof box!
Good luck! And remember the kids LOVE it!!