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These family camping tips allow you to get to the fun with less stress!

Preparing for a family camping trip can seem overwhelming if you’re not used to doing it. Here are some lists of suggestions for various aspects of your trip – hopefully some of them will fit your particular situation. After a while, you’ll build your own list of family camping tips for solid recreation while in the outdoors.

Family Camping Tips -- Food (our suggestions aim to be semi-healthy and filling):

Breakfast suggestions

Eggs and bacon (we like these because of the scent in the morning, and they’re also easy to make – however, the cleanup isn’t as easy)

Breakfast burritos (these are the easiest – you make them before you leave home and wrap them in tin foil; then you simply put them on your grill or pan and heat every morning)

Cereal (this isn’t my favorite because it doesn’t tend to fill my kids up the way they need to be for a day of activities)

Lunch suggestions

Sandwiches (we simply bring a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a jar of jelly; I’ve also made tuna beforehand and used that, but it can be stinky)

Whole fruits (anything that’s easy to store like oranges or apples are good choices; bananas work okay, but they definitely tend to get bruised in our experience, as do peaches and any softer fruits)

Bagged chips (again, if you can find a safe place for a big bag or prefer small ‘snack’ bags, chips are good; but be prepared for piles of crumbs)

Dinner suggestions

Chili (or soup – basically something you can fix quickly and in one pot; plus, we make ours in advance and simply have to reheat)

Chicken (such as chicken pieces you can buy at the store, already cooked and ready to go; we like to use this meal for our first night up, as we often have to set up until almost dark)

Salad (again, aim for premade; salad or some kind of fiber is important because many people eat so much protein and junk foods when camping that they get a little…stopped up, so to speak)

Hamburgers/Hotdogs (the usual camp-out foods are always good, as long as you have a good grill; try to have the patties already made and shaped; bring along sliced tomatoes and other fixings, and you have an easy but healthy meal)

Using a solar cooker can be a great way to fix a nutritious and easy dinner while you enjoy games or relaxation around the campsite. Such handy contraptions add ease and enjoyment to your camping experience.

Snacks/Appetizers/Desserts

Granola Bars/Dry Cereal (I like to make a trail mix, of sorts, before we leave; I split it up into Ziploc bags, and then the kids can just have handfuls of it any time they get hungry)

Veggies and Dip (because we usually camp with friends, we’ll take turns with nightly appetizers; this is one of my favorites because I can make the dip before we leave and have the veggies already cut up; plus, it helps with the balance of foods to keep our systems working well - an easily overlooked family camping tip)

Cheese and Crackers (again, this is an easy snack; have the cheese already cut and add chunks of meat, as well)

S’more makings (this also helps with kids’ activities in the evening; let them find some good sticks which can be sharpened to hold the marshmallows over the flames)

Fruit snacks (by these I mean those little gummy, fruit things they sell in small packets; they give the kids an easy sweet fix without too much sugar)

Beverages

Juice (the easiest way to deal with juice, in my experience, is to buy those little boxes of it; we then mix it into larger water bottles – around 20 ounces, at least -- with water; these will last the kiddos all day)

Water (if you have all your camping equipment ready, you’ll probably have a nice large water cooler filled with water)

Beer (my husband and his friends have to have their beer at the end of the day when camping; he usually brings a separate, smaller cooler of his favorite types)

Before we leave, I have a list similar to this written out so I can check everything off. Some people are good at keeping lists in their heads; I’ve tried that, but after forgetting things a couple of times, I went for the written list. Once you've gone a few times, you could simply put your family camping tips on your refrigerator door for easy reference.

Family Camping Tips – Staying Warm/Cool:

Making sure the kids (and I) are warm during our camping trips is a big deal for me. Of course, we live in Colorado, where the weather can change in an instant, and where it’s not unusual for it to fall into the upper 30s in the mountains, even in July!

My usual rule for the kids is a long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirt for every day we’ll be up there. I also don’t give them shorts – generally speaking, I’ll use pants from the previous year (which are too short now), and shorten them a little more. This not only keeps them warmer during the chilly hours, but it also protects their legs from the sun, the bugs, and the undergrowth when we walk or hike during the day. I also bring a fresh sweatshirt and pair of pants for each day of the trip – it’s amazing how dirty their clothes get! Because of the dirt and/or wet factor, I also bring extra socks and underwear.

I bring layered outfits for me – usually a camisole with a light, short-sleeved button-up to go over it. I always wear capris, because I also don’t like the constant threat of sunburn, bugs, and weeds. For the evenings, I have long pants and turtle necks…but I’m cold-blooded (well, seems like it).

To sleep, the kids have older pajamas which fit under sleepers (the kinds with feet, usually). I also put a knit hat (any time it’s going to be colder than upper 40s) on them before tucking them into the sleeping bags. I sleep in my ski bibs, believe it or not! I really hate being cold at night – I also use hand-warmers tucked into my socks to keep my feet warm. When it’s cold enough to see my breath (which definitely happens), I’ll also wear a knit hat.

In Colorado, summer family camping trips can involve rain, hail, and even light snow – so we also bring all our winter gear (coats, mittens/gloves, hats, scarves). Always bring at least one pair of extra shoes, as well. The one trip on which I forgot these was the time my daughter got soaked and had no dry shoes to wear. They didn’t even dry overnight, so she ended up walking around in very wet and cold shoes – not a fun time!

Because of the rain threat, we also try to bring some kind of rain gear. Both my kids have rain coats (one bought on sale for under $5; one handed down from a friend). My husband also has rain gear; I use a poncho I got for $1 at Walmart. We seldom need them, but it’s good to know we’re covered, just in case.

Perhaps the most important piece of clothing for Colorado (or any sun-baked environment) is the sun hat. This is one family camping tip which helps tremendously. My friends and I often laugh when we share pictures – any kids who hike or camp in Colorado almost always have hats on (as do the adults). I prefer hats over sunscreen of faces because I don’t like sunscreen in eyes – and hats also protect the scalp.

One of the best ways to keep your clothing organized is to use plastic bins. We get the kinds with lids which snap down, and we pack all our camping clothes in the bins at the beginning of the year – then as we go through our camping season, we simply wash the clothes and put them back in the bins right away. This family camping tip is one which helps me prepare well in advance for each trip as it comes. Plus, the bins are good protection when you camp in tents in bear country (we line them up along the tent wall where our heads will be).

Family Camping Tips – Staying Clean:

I’ll be honest: I hate being dirty! I think this is the hardest part of camping for me. However, there are ways for even a cleanliness freak to go camping and still be okay. First off, we always bring wipes -- usually the kind we used to buy for diaper cleanup. We bring an entire box of them, and we tend to use most of them -- a family camping tip we got from friends who had children in diapers on a few of our later trips. These are wonderful for cleaning hands, faces, plates, the tops of water bottles, etc.

Paper towels and toilet paper are two other necessities, even if you stay in a paid campground with toilets. It’s amazing how often pit toilets end up without toilet paper – and paper towels help with basic cleanup, as well.

Of course, as mentioned on the family camping equipment page , I also bring a sun shower with me. It’s a great feeling to end my afternoon with a nice, warm/hot shower in the fresh outdoors -- maybe my favorite family camping tip, right there.

Family Camping Tips -- Miscellaneous:

A few things which are easy to forget, but are usually necessary – bug spray (we prefer natural types, but you can find a plethora of different brands out there); sun screen (bring tons, especially if you’re camping above 8000 feet); batteries which fit whatever devices you have needing batteries; dish soap; first aid (including bandaids of various sizes and some kind of Neosporin or antiseptic); the right pots/pans for your cooking needs; plates/silverware (or plasticware); cups; water bottles for everyone in the family; and fanny packs (or some way for the kids and you to carry food/supplies if you go on a family hike ).

Once you go through the packing/planning process a couple of times, it becomes habit. I hope these family camping tips and preparation help. Family camping definitely adds a new dimension to your family bonding time – and I think it’s one of the most enjoyable ways to bring you together in fun!

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