Best Tips for Camping with Kids This Year

If you’re a parent, camping with kids can absolutely seem like a daunting task! However, it doesn’t have to be so daunting if you follow along with some of these tried and true tips for camping with kids. Follow along to read tips to make your trip easier, more enjoyable, and equally as memorable! We’ve learned some things over the years about the best ways and not so best ways to go about family camping!

If you are considering camping with kids at one of the best camping sites in Arkansas, you are in for a treat because Arkansas has so many great campsites! However, there are amazing campsites all over the United States so these tips are for anyone!

Do a Trial Run of Camping with Kids at Home

If your kids have never been camping before, it’s a good idea to do a trial run at home. Camping in the backyard can be a super fun activity for kids and is a good way to get some practice in. It will give you an idea of how your kids feel about sleeping outdoors, too! If you find that they’re a little uneasy at night time, maybe bring along some extra cozy items or make sure to have space for them to crawl into bed with you during your real camping trip! We’ve even set up a camping tent on our trampoline before as a trial run!

Pack Kid-Friendly Snacks and Meals

In this case, sometimes less is more! To make camping with kids much easier, it’s a good idea to stick to simple meals and snacks for your trip. This will make mealtimes much easier, less stressful overall, and can help you spend less time worrying about meals and more time enjoying the outdoors! 

One of the more challenging things about camping for us can be the food situation. This is why planning the food properly is key for our family! We stick to hot dogs, grilled packs of chicken and veggies, and lots and lots of easy to grab snacks.

Find a Family-Friendly Campsite

There are many campsites that are family friendly and include great features for families to enjoy while on their camping trip. Some campsites boast features like small water parks, recreational centers, and even fun activities like movie nights as well!

It’s also a good idea to find a campground that offers restrooms to make it a little easier to adapt for your little ones. Do your research ahead of time and make sure to find a campground that suits your family’s needs. 

If possible, find a campsite to rent that will be in close proximity to the restrooms. However, you might not want to be right next to the restrooms because a lot of people will be coming to that area. Being close to a restroom is another important key for family camping with younger kids!

Plan Fun Activities with Kids in Mind

This is arguably one of the most important tips for camping with kids! It’s important to make sure you have some camping activities planned to keep the little ones busy and entertained. Having plenty of activities is huge in reducing stress! Things like card games, books, board games, and even campfire games are great to have on board for camping trips! 

Remembering to pack kid-friendly tools and supplies will save you lots of “I’m bored” comments throughout the trip. Binoculars and walkie-talkies will keep kids busy. Just make sure kids know not to wander away!

Discuss Safety Before Camping with Kids

Safety rules are super important to discuss with your kids while out on a camping trip. Now is a good time to set boundaries like how far they’re allowed to travel from the campsite alone, rules regarding what time to be in bed, and more. It’s a good idea to set a meeting point in case anything happens in an emergency as well, just like you would at home. 

It’s also a good idea to discuss stranger danger as campsites do bring a lot of strangers together in a close proximity.

Pack Adequate Lighting When Camping with Kids

You’ll definitely want to have adequate lighting for your camping trip regardless, but it’s a good idea to pack some extra lighting just to help the kids navigate the campsite in the dark. We like the flashlights that can attach to the body in some way – an around the neck flashlight or a hat with a light on the front. We kids manage to set things down and lose things, you know!

Encourage Your Kids to Pack for Themselves

Including kids in the process of packing for your camping trip is a fun way to get them excited and make them feel involved! Make sure you either have a list printed for them that is easy to follow or are double checking before you head out. Of course, you will want to double check those bags before you leave for the campsite!

There was the one time that one of us sisters accidentally packed the clothes of our sister (because we have a lot of matching outfits), and we wound up with pants two sizes too large the whole trip. But we blame Mom because she forgot to double check the sizes in our bag, too!

Set Up During Daylight

If you’re arriving at your campsite later in the day, you’ll want to make sure you get everything setup during daylight. This will ease the stress of having little ones running around if you can avoid doing it in the dark. It’ll give you better ideas for placement of things at your campsite if you’re able to see! 

There have been some unfortunate camping set up in the dark due to poor planning for arrival times! Things definitely go smoother when you can actually see what you are doing.

Pack for All Weather Possibilities

This seems like a no-brainer, but you can never be too prepared for camping with kids! It’s a good idea to pack for a variety of weather, no matter what season you go camping. Pack plenty of layers and clothes to keep warm including rain gear! 

Here in Arkansas, we have such crazy weather. One year, we had been in the 80s the week before spring break. So we packed shorts and short sleeves for our camping trip at Mt. Nebo. Boy was that a mistake! During our camping trip, the weather turned stormy and cold! We were miserable! Lesson learned to be prepared for quick-changing weather!

Upgrade the Size of Your Tent When Camping with Kids

If you’ve got a larger family or plan to travel with things like a pack and play, it’s a good idea to upgrade the size of your tent. Some tents include a larger center area that can almost act as a “living room” to keep things like pack and plays, swings, bassinets, or other sleeping or resting apparatus. Camping with kids is made much easier if you’re able to comfortably bring along (and fit) the things your kids are used to from home! 

More Ideas for Travel with Kids

A Visit to El Morro in San Juan

Amazeum Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas

Camping with kids doesn’t have to be a daunting task, especially if you follow these tips! We hope you found something to come away with as you plan your own family camping trip. Do you have any tips for camping with kids? Share in the comments below!