How to Camp with Little Kids- And Actually Enjoy It

My husband and I camped a lot before we had kids and it was something we knew we wanted to share with them.  But I’ll be honest- when we first started camping with our daughter at 18 months old- we were at a lost for how to camp with a little kid and actually enjoy it.

Our first camping trip we ended up packing up and driving home at 10 PM.

Our second trip we made it to morning (but just barely), and then we also packed up and drove home early.

But something clicked in that third trip and now a second kid and multiple camping trips later- we haven’t packed up early anymore.  Instead, we absolutely LOVE it and are constantly dreaming of our next camping trip.  And along the way, we’ve figured out some tips and tricks for how to camp with little kids- and actually enjoy it.  

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Benefits of Camping with Kids

But first of all, if you’re wondering why camping with little kids is even worth the hassle, here’s some of the biggest ways camping has benefited our family:

Family Bond

There is nothing like time in a campsite to increase a family’s bond. Time in nature and away from our screens and a thousand different distractions is fantastic for siblings to play together.

Our family is evidence of this. Our kids play pretty great at home together, but they LOVE playing together in a campsite. It brings out this whole new level of imagination and creativity in them.

And if something goes sideways?  Just another fun story to tell at holiday dinners for years to come.

Importance of Time Outdoors

There’s about a million different studies that show how important time outdoors is for everyone. From better physical health, to better mental health, to increased creativity- time outdoors is an incredible gift to give to your children (and yourself!)

But as much time as my children spend in our yard or in parks around town, there is nothing that compares to the time they spend in a campground. It’s unstructured time in nature at its very best.

Convenience

I know that camping sounds anything but convenient, but this is actually why we started camping in the first place.

We love national parks, but some are absolutely massive. To avoid spending most of our time in a car driving back and forth, we camp. Most of the campgrounds are in the heart of the parks, making a trip so much more convenient.

Budget Friendly

After you get past the initial cost of a tent, some sleeping bags, and a camp stove, camping is budget friendly.  Far cheaper than hotels and Air BnBs, camping allows us to be able to travel more often and stay longer.

Additionally, by cooking most of our meals in the campsite, we save an incredible amount of money by being able to avoid eating out. (And I for one could do without watching my children pick at chicken fingers that cost $8.)

How We Actually Camp with Little Kids

Get Them Excited LONG Before You Ever Go Camping

This is the biggest tip. You HAVE to get your kids to buy into camping before you ever even think about setting foot in a campground. Hype it up. Walk them through what to expect. Make it really clear WHY you want to try camping. Getting them on board and helping them know what to expect is key to fostering positive attitudes about this.

Additionally, reading camping themed books is a fantastic way to give your kiddos an idea of what to expect on the camping trip and to help ease any anxieties.  If you want a selection of our favorite books about camping for toddlers or for preschoolers, check out those posts here.

Playing camping themed toys and games at home is also a great way to build up excitement with toddlers and preschoolers. Additionally, preschoolers often use pretend play as a way to work through different scenarios. Pretending to camp at home can be a great way for them to work through any anxiety they might be feeling.

You can check out our list here of our favorite camping themed toys and games for toddlers and preschoolers.

Be Proactive With Sleeping Arrangements

Give Them Their Own Light Source

So much of going to sleep involves feeling secure, and if your little one is feeling anxious about being outside in the dark, make sure they can control their own light source.  

We got our girls some small Paw Patrol lanterns (so that they wouldn’t intentionally shine a flashlight in each other’s eyes) and they LOVE them.  Right when twilight is coming, my oldest asks to hold onto her lantern Just knowing that she can turn it on whenever she needs to really calms her down. It gives her a sense of control.

And by not letting her get too anxious about how the campsite feels different in the dark, we’re setting ourselves up for a better night’s sleep.

Make their sleeping environment as similar to home as possible

The hardest part about camping with kids is getting them to sleep. One way we try to help with this is by making their sleeping arrangements as familiar as possible.

Make sure your tent is large enough to accommodate everything.  If they use a sound machine at home- bring it. Are they used to sleeping in a pack and play while traveling? Bring it. A cot? Bring it. They’ve never seen an air mattress in their life?  Now isn’t the time to introduce it. 

Be Flexible With How They Stay Warm

I had it set in my mind our first time camping that my daughter (who was 18 months at the time) needed a sleeping bag- just like us.  

So I got the Little Mo from Amazon which everyone swore is great- and I’m sure it is- but my daughter HATED it. She just had no idea how to sleep in this thing. But she was used to sleep sacks, so I just doubled up on those and doubled up on pajamas in a size up.  I realized that if she got cold, she would let me know. And while I fretted over it- she slept like a rock.

Now that my daughter has sized out of her sleep sacks, we load her up with some of her favorite blankets from home. She still doesn’t prefer a sleeping bag.

But if your kid is pumped about a sleeping bag? Use it!  Anything that keeps them comfortable and feeling safe is a win.

Set the Campsite Up with Safety and Ease in Mind

Clearly this is going to look different depending on how old your kids are, but there’s a few things we make sure to do each time we camp:

Establish Expectations Before You Turn Your Kids Loose

Before you let your kids out of the car and turn them loose- take a second and survey the campsite for any safety risks. Then BEFORE they get out of the car- go over the expectations you have.

Let them know what they can and can’t do.

But it’s much easier to set expectations while they’re basically captive audience before they’re leaping over everything in sight than it is after they’ve already tumbled into rocks, a fire pit, a ravine, traffic, poison ivy, and a rushing river.

Set Up a Handwashing Station

This is the best advice I can offer. Seriously. Set up a handwashing station that’s easy for everyone to access because nothing can ruin a camping trip faster than norovirus.

At minimum, place a giant hand sanitizer pump out on a picnic table for everyone to use before meals.

Consider packing soap to take with you to the bathroom as not all campgrounds provide soap.

But my favorite camping idea my husband has ever had is taking a giant water jug with a spigot attached to it and placing it on the picnic table next to some soap and paper towels. It’s so easy to rinse and dry our little one’s hands after they’ve been LITERALLY digging in the dirt and creek all day.

(This is also great for refilling water bottles and keeping everyone hydrated!)

Establish a “Safe” Place

Again- different for different ages, but at some point on every camping trip you’re going to need your kiddos to stay in one spot for more than twenty seconds. Whether that’s when it’s getting dark and you’re getting ready for bed or you’re trying to put out a camp fire- you need a place that your kids are safe.

This can be as simple as putting them in a tent or designating a tarp where they can sit and hangout but they need to stay put.

When our baby was a literal baby we brought her pack and play with us. When she was a toddler prone to running full speed into lakes, we brought a collapsible play pen that she could move around in and have her toys with her. It was a cheap and simple way to keep her from running into a lake when our hands were tied with camp chores.

Bring Extra Clothes/Shoes

Hypothermia and heat exhaustion aren’t any fun, so make sure you’re bringing some extra clothes in shoes just in case your kiddo tumbles into water or a freak storm shows up.

Especially when we’re camping in the mountains where forecasts can be finicky, we make sure to pack everyone rain gear, light layers, a pair of water shoes or rain boots, a pair of hiking shoes or tennis shoes, and a warm jacket and hat. Even in the summer. You just never know! And having those extra items takes away a lot of the stress of camping with kids. (Plus- don’t forget the first aid kit, bug spray and the sunscreen!)

Keep Meals Easy and Low-Key

Food just tastes better outside and I absolutely LOVE cooking meals in the campground. But I also don’t want to spend all of my time cooking and washing dishes, so here’s a few quick and easy ideas for meals when you’re camping with kids:

Prep Items Ahead of Time

• I always try to make some healthy-ish muffins or zucchini bread before we go. It’s a great snack or breakfast to have around. (This is my favorite zucchini bread recipe that I use all the time.)
• If I’m really on top of it I’ll bake some sort of dessert like angel food cake that my kids love.
• Prep fruits and veggies ahead of time and toss them in your cooler.

Easy Meal Ideas

• Bagels:
  • I always pack some bagels with us for breakfast.  They have a strange amount of protein and last forever.
• Spaghetti:
  • We love to get the quick boil pasta, a jar of sauce, and call it a night.  I usually have some French bread from home and some shredded mozzarella cheese in a cooler.
  • It’s kid friendly and you can bulk it up with peppers, onions, extra tomatoes, or meatballs if your cooler can keep them at a safe temperature until you’re cooking (we’ll leave home with frozen meatballs and cook them the first night if we’re keeping them in our cooler)
  • (We use a simple propane camp stove and it’s lasted us for YEARS.)
• Red Beans and Rice
  • Our favorite campsite meal.  Almost everything is shelf stable and you can get great protein in after a day of hiking and being outside.  We even get those ready-rice packets.  It’s not the best rice in the world, but it sure is convenient.
• Campfire Hotdogs
  • A classic that you can’t really go wrong with. Except for the fact that you’re eating hotdogs.

Entertainment

I love watching my kids just make up their own games in a campground. Whether it’s gathering leaves, digging in the gravel, or skipping rocks, they seem to always be letting their imagination run wild. But just in case I do hear the dreaded “what can I do now?” question, I’m ready with these things:

Art Bag

I keep a bag full of outdoor art activities. Paints, chalks, markers, and a giant roll of paper- you name it. My kids love rolling out the paper and painting whatever comes to mind. (Just be sure to leave no trace when you’re done!)

Digging Toys

I also keep a set of campground digging tools. Nothing fancy- just some old beach toys and toy trucks. But they love digging in the dirt and pretending all sorts of different things.

Nature Explore Kit

I keep some magnifying glasses, a pair of binoculars, and some leaf catcher things I picked up at the Dollar Tree one year. They love going around and exploring different plants and leaves and flowers.

If you want something more involved for your preschooler though, my preschooler absolutely loves this set from Melissa and Doug.

Cards, National Park Themed Games, Etc.

Over the years I’ve collected some national park themed board games, cards, and dominos set that I break out while we’re camping. Jr. Ranger makes some great options for kids of all ages. 

Yard Games

I found a collapsible beanbag game one time at Dollar Tree and it’s now in our camp kit. I’ve also seen other families set up a portable cornhole set and other yard games 

Musical Instruments

Melissa and Doug make a great campsite music set for toddlers and preschoolers. Including a tambourine, a whistle, and some small wooden blocks, this is something my girls always enjoy playing with while camping. (It’s also pretty quiet, so it shouldn’t disturb your neighbors.)

Check Out Campground Activities

Be sure to check with the campground office to see if there’s any kids activities scheduled. We’ve stayed in campground that host activities, crafts, and even movie nights for families. If nothing else- staying where there’s a great playground can be a fun addition to a camping trip.

Practice- But Make it Worth It

Don’t give up after your first trip. After our first trip we all three gave up and just a year later our then- toddler was absolutely in love with camping.

But also- make your trip worth it. So many things I read before we took our first camping trip said to go less than an hour away. So we did- and it made it too easy to turn around and go home.

Make sure that where you’re going is worth spending the night in. For us- that usually means a state park or a national park. I want somewhere that’s extra beautiful and relaxing- because that’s where the magic is. If I know that my bed and my actual coffee maker is a very short drive away- I’m just going to want to give up and go home, too.  

So yeah, maybe it is smarter to practice first in your backyard or at a nearby campsite, but for me- I need to be invested in where I’m staying. And my kids do, too.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re looking for encouragement on how to make camping with kids enjoyable, I hope this post helps you!  And if you’re looking for ideas on how to make hiking with little kids fun, check out my post here.

Plus- if you’d like updates on more camping ideas, trip ideas, and all things outdoors with kids, be sure to sign up for email updates.