How to Pack for a Family Camping Trip
Camping vacations with the family create memories to last a lifetime. No matter what campground you choose, making sure you bring the right gear will make all the difference, and ensure your trip is enjoyable. When you’re about to embark on a family camping trip, knowing what items to bring and having some tips on how to prepare helps a lot. Getting ideas of where to go can make your camping adventure easy to plan. Here are some tips, camping checklist (PDF), and family-friendly campgrounds to help plan for your next camping trip.
Tips for Family Camping
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Book Early – campgrounds fill up fast no matter the time of year. Be sure to plan ahead and book a spot so you are sure you have a place waiting for you.
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Leave Early – depending on the time of year, it can get crowded on the highways on weekends. If you can leave on a Friday or earlier, even better.
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First Aid Kit Packed – this is a vital necessity for any camping trip. Even if you don’t use it, it’s good just knowing it’s there. Keep your insect repellant in there as well.
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Plan and Pack Your Meals – prepare what you can at home to take with you. If you plan out what you are going to eat at each meal, it makes mealtime much easier. Don’t forget the condiments and needed utensils based on your planned meals.
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Bring a Cooler – you will want to keep your food cold during the time you are camping. Keep it cold with ice. You can usually find ice sold near campgrounds.
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Bring Blankets and Foam Pads – having extra blankets is not only needed for cooler nights, but blankets and foam pads go under the tent floor to get a soft place to sleep.
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Prepare for Cleanup – Take plenty of trash bags so you can place trash in one and recyclables in another, and have plenty left over. Bring Clorox Wipes or other disposable wipes to clean surfaces of grills as well as dirty legs and arms.
Recommended: Fun Family Games
Great Family Camping at State Parks
Beverly Beach State Park, Oregon
Families love camping at Beverly Beach State Park where the day use area and some campsites are just steps from the ocean. This coastal park affords great whale watching opportunities, and the exploration of tidal pools, teeming with sea life. The coast always offers very intriguing things to explore where the kids can learn a lot about nature.
This is one of Oregon’s largest campgrounds, many with full hookups, lots of tent camping, as well as yurt rentals.
Big Boone Lick State Historic Site, Kentucky
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site is a great adventure for the entire family. The site is known for being the Birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology and offers a variety of attractions including a museum, a diorama pit featuring full sized Ice Age mega-mammal replicas, and two active salt springs.
Stephen C Foster State Park, Georgia
The entire family will enjoy a unique vacation when they’re paddling through a swamp at Stephen C Foster State Park. Discover abundant wildlife here; everything from raccoons and turtles to alligators and herons. Bring a camera so you can capture other woodland creatures you come upon in Okefenokee Swamp. Canoe, kayak and boat rentals make getting out in the swamp easy. Make sure to bring your fishing rod along!
Bear Brook State Park, New Hampshire
Bear Brook is the largest developed State Park in New Hampshire, offering 10,000 acres of recreation for the whole family. Explore 40 miles of multiuse trails through the heavily forested park, leading to seldom visited marshes, bogs, summits, and ponds. Canoe rentals are available at both Beaver and Catamount Ponds, while rowboat rentals are also available at Beaver Pond. Fly-fishing enthusiasts will enjoy Archery Pond and is universally accessible. Across the road from Archery Pond is a special little pond just for children under twelve to fish. There are also two a archery ranges to practice using your own equipment. With so much to do, you’ll want to extend your stay at one of the cabins or campsites.
Point Bridget State Park, Alaska
The landscape is varied at Point Bridget State Park, where you’ll find rocky beaches, cliffs, meadows, and spawning streams. Hike a short distance and you’ll see unique sights in the wetlands and fields. The park provides spectacular nature and wildlife viewing, as well as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. This is a perfect place to have a special vacation with the family!
Are you ready for an outdoor adventure? Plan your camping trip!
Check with your Local Government Organization
Many policies have been established to counter and control the coronavirus outbreak. State and local officials have been taking decisive action to stop the spread. The policies vary by state, sometimes to a great degree. When you book a reservation, make sure to review the park and state's latest rules and regulations prior to your visit.
For COVID-19 updates, please visit our Impacted Park List and Reservation Guide for the latest information.