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:

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!!

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