What to Pack for Car Camping with Kids

Sometimes you can’t disappear onto the trails with the kids, but there is no reason that car camping can’t still be an adventure.

I love camping.  When I was in my 20s, my friend John and I would throw packs over our shoulders and hike off into the wilderness at the slightest hint of more than 12 hours off from work.  Even if it meant driving all night to start hiking at 2am, pitch camp at sunrise, and try to hike out in time for work the next day. Enter two kids, two dogs, and soccer practice. Suddenly the time and ability to disappear into the woods becomes less realistic.  Not that we don’t camp.  It just that for now camping usually involves having the car nearby.  I am hopeful that our walks to and from school everyday for kindergarten this year get Squirt used to packing some of her own gear around.  By the time summer hits again, we should be able to set up camp out of sight of a parking lot.

What to bring Camping with Kids

I am not suggesting that you pitch your tent within sight of your car as a rule. But within a five minute walk from the campsite is ideal for camping with small children. And for now, If the car is nearby, we might as well make the best use of it. For me that means bringing all of the heavy camping equipment that I have no interest in all at carrying miles from the car into the woods. Still, keep it simple.

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Essentials for Car Camping:

• Plenty of Water
• Small quantities of cooking essentials
• A multi-use pot/pan
• Tents
• Toilet Paper
• Extra Clothes
• Extra Sleeping Bag
• First Aid Kit

Plenty of water.

This should go without saying. There may not be adequate potable water where you are camping, so bring at least 1 gallon/person/day. I usually bring several large (2 gallons +) jugs and refill water bottles from them. Everyone should be able to carry at least a 16oz water bottle on a hike, and carrying their own will help kids to visualize rationing what they use.

Small quantities of cooking essentials.

I reuse old tightly closing spice containers to store olive oil, syrup, dish soap and similar items. Other than salt and pepper shakers, I typically do not buy anything in small size containers that I would normally use at home anyway.

A multi-use pot/pan.

For me this is the center of it all. I use a large Lodge Dutch Oven that functions equally as well as a pot as a skillet. You can cook anything in there. It can go directly onto the fire, or hang from a tripod. Also, it houses all of my plates, spices, and dishwashing supplies. It is heavy, so I won’t be hiking with it, but when camping a short distance from the car, it is my go to kit.

Tents.

If possible the kids should get their own tent. Even if your tent is right next to it (or you are curled up in the car) this gives them a sense of ownership and adventure in the trip that they won’t have if you are in the tent with them. And, make sure they keep it swept and clean.

A light to hang in the tent. As fun as flashlights are, this will work better, and they are less likely to lose it. Or shine it directly into your eyes.

Toilet paper.

More than one roll because one is going to get dropped in the water. Don’t ask me how, but it will.

Extra Clothes.

Same as with the toilet paper. There will be a puddle, stream or pond out there. Even if you’re camping in the Sahara, kids will find one.

And an extra pair of shoes.

Extra sleeping bag.

See above. Seriously, I don’t know how… The bonus on this is that you can open it up and lay it down in your tent for extra padding or insulation until the kids need it.

First Aid Kit

Someone is going to need a bandage. A simple travel ready first aid kit is easy to purchase, or you can make your own. But make sure that you have a small pouch or canister that you can bring on hikes with you. It really only needs to have a couple alcohol swabs, bandaids and triple antibiotic in it, but carrying it with you will show sound hiking practices to the kids.

Camping is all about fun

Young kids for the most part really aren’t interested in how many miles they hike in a day, or whether this trail feeds into the Appalachian Trail or not. They want to have a good time. They want to sleep in a tent, roast some marshmallows, and play outside. Given that opportunity, they will want to camp again. And again. Then maybe in a year or two you can through-hike a 20 mile route with your 10 year old. Right now, loving the outdoors is enough. So set up a tripod and start a fire. If you do this right, they’ll be the ones asking you to do a through-hike in a couple years.