Camping With Kids: Our Family Camping Essentials & Favorites
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Well… we did it! We survived our first tent camping trip as a family of four—with two little kids and our dog—and it was definitely an adventure! 🏕️ I loved tent camping when I was young and while we’ve taken our kids camping before in a camper, this was our first trip with a tent!
Before this trip, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what we would actually need to make tent camping with kids a little easier and more comfortable. Now that we've done it, I have a much better idea of what was worth packing, what we actually used, and which things we ended up loving. So if you're planning a family camping trip or getting ready to try tent camping with kids for the first time, I'm sharing our favorite camping essentials and must-haves that earned a spot on our packing list.
Our Family Tent Camping Gear: What We Took, Used & Loved
After our first family tent camping trip, I have a much better idea of what was actually worth bringing along. Here are the camping essentials, gear, and little extras that we took with us, actually used, and loved—and the things I'd definitely pack again for our next trip!
Tent & Campsite Setup
When you're tent camping with kids, having a comfortable and organized campsite can make the whole experience feel a little easier. These are some of the tent, campsite, and outdoor setup essentials that helped us create a cozy home base for our family of four.
Family Glamping Tent With 3 Rooms
This glamping-style tent was one of our favorite parts of our first family camping trip! It has three separate side rooms, including a stargazing roof on the back, which gave our family of four + our dog plenty of space. My husband and I had a queen air mattress in the main area, the kids had their own toddler air mattresses in one side room, and we used another room for an inflatable couch, the dog crate, and some of our luggage. It's not an instant tent, but we found it surprisingly easy to set up—and the color-coded poles made putting it together much less confusing!
Outdoor Rug for a Cozy Campsite
An outdoor rug was such a simple way to make the space just outside our tent feel a little more like home. It helped define our campsite and gave us that little “front porch” feeling that made hanging out around the tent much more inviting.
Outdoor Camping Doormat
This outdoor doormat turned out to be especially helpful with kids! We placed it right outside the tent as a visual reminder that shoes stay outside. With two little ones going in and out all day, anything that helps keep dirt and grass out of the tent is a win in my book.
Adjustable Folding Camping Table
We kept a folding table just outside the tent to give us a little extra surface space and help keep our campsite organized. I especially like that the legs are adjustable, so you can raise or lower the height, and it folds in half for easier packing and transportation.
Bedding & Sleeping Comfort
Getting everyone comfortable and settled at bedtime was one of my biggest priorities for our first family camping trip. From our air mattresses and cozy bedding to a few things that made the tent feel more like home, these were our favorite sleeping essentials for tent camping with kids.
Affordable Queen Air Mattress for Camping
A comfortable air mattress makes a BIG difference when you're tent camping, and this queen-size option was under $50 when we purchased it. It gave my husband and me a comfortable sleeping space without taking up our entire tent.
Cozy Jersey Sheets for a Camping Bed
I actually bought this jersey sheet set specifically for camping, but I chose it because it's the same soft style we already use on our bed at home. Bringing familiar, comfortable bedding made our tent feel much more like our own little space—and gave us one less thing to adjust to while sleeping outdoors.
Reversible Throw Blanket
I love having a cozy blanket along when we're camping, and this reversible throw was a great fit for the season we went. It's soft, has a cute boho-inspired look, and was just the right weight for the temperatures we were expecting.
Sweatshirt Bed Blanket
This blanket is new to me, but I got it just for camping - it’s a perfect lightweight but warm layer for camping!
Toddler Air Mattresses With Sides
These toddler-sized air mattresses were perfect for giving each of our kids their own little sleeping zone inside the tent. I especially liked the raised sides, which helped define their sleeping space and gave us a little extra peace of mind with two little sleepers.
Inflatable Camping Couch
This inflatable couch ended up being a really nice bonus! We set it up in one of the tent's side rooms, and it gave the kids a comfortable place to sit, relax, read, or cool down when they needed a break from being outside.
Soft Washable Carpet for Inside the Tent
I knew I wanted something soft under our feet inside the tent, especially with little kids running around. This boho-style carpet was soft, comfortable, and machine washable, which made it a practical choice for camping. It also helped make the tent feel a little more like home.
Easy Slip-On Slippers for Inside the Tent
These slippers were an easy addition that made sense for me for camping. I love that they're simple to slip on and off, and I made them tent-only slippers so I wasn’t tracking dirt and grass inside after being outside all day.
Camping Storage & Organization
With four people, a dog, and a whole lot of camping gear, organization is key! These camping storage bins and organizers helped us keep everything from clothing and electronics to smaller camping essentials together and easy to find.
Large Trail Storage Bins for Camping Gear
These large trail-style storage bins were a huge help for keeping all of our camping gear organized. Instead of having everything loose in the car or scattered around the campsite, we could group similar things together and easily find what we needed. I ended up getting two bins this size and used one for all camping kitchen gear (mugs, french press, utensils, towels, etc.) and the other one was our dry pantry (all dry goods of food, etc.).
Small Trail Storage Bins for Camping Organization
We used the smaller bins for all those little camping items that can quickly become a mess. One held our lights and fans, another was for electrical cords and chargers, and having everything grouped together made it so much easier to find what we needed.
Heavy-Duty Camping Storage Bins With Latching Lids
For some of our gear, we opted for the heavy-duty style with latching lids. I especially liked that these have holes that can be used to strap the bins down, which gives us more options for future camping trips and different setups.
28gal Large Tote with Wheels - we used this for air mattresses, rugs, etc.
18gal Medium Tote - we used this for miscellaneous indoor items, and one for outdoor items
12gal Small Tote - we used this for tools, fire starter, etc.
Collapsible Storage Bins
These collapsible bins were handy both for organizing things inside the tent and as little bedside tables. I love anything that can serve more than one purpose when we're packing for camping, and these fold down when we don't need them.
Camping Kitchen
One of the things we quickly realized is that camping meals don't have to be complicated. These are the camping kitchen essentials we used for everything from making coffee in the morning to cooking easy breakfasts and meals for the whole family.
All-in-One Camping Griddle & Stove
This was one of my husband's early birthday presents before our camping trip, and he did A LOT of research before choosing it. It ended up being exactly what we needed. The two-in-one setup gives us a stove burner for boiling water for coffee or heating up water for things like mac and cheese, plus a griddle that's the perfect size for bacon, eggs, pancakes, and more. Having both in one camping-friendly setup saved us from needing separate pieces of equipment.
Stainless Steel French Press for Camping
Of course, we needed good coffee. ☕ I wanted a stainless steel French press that wouldn't break the bank, and I especially loved that this one has a silicone ring inside to help keep the coffee grounds pressed down and out of my mug. It's a small detail, but one I really appreciate when I'm trying to make good coffee at a campsite.
Graniteware Camping Kettle
We've actually had this kettle for years, and it has become one of those pieces of camping gear we just keep bringing along. It's perfect for boiling water for coffee, oatmeal, tea, and other easy camping meals, and I love using something we already know works well instead of buying another specialized camping gadget.
Mesh Food Covers for Camping
These mesh food covers are one of those simple camping essentials that you don't think much about until you're trying to eat outside with bugs everywhere! We used them to cover our plates and food while we were hanging around the campsite, helping keep unwanted little visitors away from our meals.
Camping Cleanup & Washing
Camping with kids means there will inevitably be dishes, dirty hands, wet clothes, and a little bit of mess. These simple camping cleanup essentials helped make washing dishes, managing trash, and keeping things tidy at our campsite a little easier.
Collapsible Camping Trash & Recycling Bins
In the past, we've used those flimsy plastic stands that simply hold a trash bag, but I wanted something sturdier for this trip. These collapsible bins can hold a regular trash bag while the zippered top helps keep the bag enclosed overnight. We used the green one for trash and the blue one for recycling, and I liked having a more contained option at our campsite.
Set of Wash Bins
I specifically chose this set because it comes with two wash bins, allowing us to use one for washing and one for rinsing. It made cleaning dishes and other camping items much more straightforward without needing to carry a bunch of separate containers.
Comfortable Camping Essentials
Some camping gear is purely practical, and some things are just there to make you a little more comfortable. These are the camping essentials that helped us relax, enjoy our campsite, and make the most of our time outside.
Rocking Camp Chair for Relaxing at the Campsite
A good camp chair makes ALL the difference when you're spending hours at the campsite. I love how easily this one packs up and how smoothly it rocks, even on uneven ground, thanks to the pressurized rocker design. It also has a pocket for my drink and another for my phone, which means I can settle in and actually relax. I have the bright pink one, obviously, but it comes in lots of colors—although some colors tend to sell out quickly!
Hammock With Stand
A hammock isn't necessarily the easiest thing to pack when you're trying to fit an entire family of four + a dog + all your camping gear into the car, but having one with its own stand is SO nice. We don't have to worry about whether the campsite has two perfectly placed trees that can support a hammock—we can set it up wherever we want it.
Zippered Mesh Shower Bags
I bought this set of two mesh shower bags—one for me and my daughter and one for my husband. I specifically wanted something with a zipper, because I knew I didn't want to lose anything while walking back and forth to the bath house. The mesh also allows everything to drain easily if anything gets wet.
Bungee Camping Clothesline With Hooks
This bungee clothesline was such a simple but useful thing to have along. It was easy to hang up, and the hooks are already attached, so there was no complicated setup. We used it to hang wet swimsuits and other things that needed to dry out during the day.
Kids' Water Shoes for Camping & Creek Adventures
These were some of my favorite things for the kids to have with us! They're more like sneakers than traditional water shoes, so they're comfortable enough for the kids to wear while creek stomping and exploring. They're also great for water parks, splash pads, and other summer adventures, so they're not something that only gets used for camping.
Camping Lights & Fans
Once the sun goes down, good lighting becomes a camping essential—especially when you're camping with little kids. We also found that having fans inside the tent made a big difference when we were trying to stay comfortable and get everyone settled for the night.
Hanging Camping Fan and Light Combo
Having both air circulation and lighting inside the tent was a must for us. I love that this fan and light combo is designed to hang inside the tent with a pull-out hook, so it doesn't take up valuable floor space. It helped everyone stay more comfortable and made it much easier to see once it got dark.
BougeRV Tripod Camping Light
We also brought our BougeRV tripod light, which wasn't pictured here but deserves a spot on the list. We love how versatile it is—you can use it inside the tent or outside around your camping table, so it works for everything from bedtime to late-night dinners.
3-Pack Collapsible Camping Lanterns
These little lanterns were a favorite with the kids because they're lightweight and easy to carry. They're collapsible and dimmable, and you can use them either as a lantern or a flashlight. They're perfect for letting the kids have their own light when we're moving around the campsite after dark—just remember to remind them where they left it! 😂
Camping With a Dog
Camping with our dog added another layer of planning, but it was so much fun having her along for the adventure! These are a few of the things we used to help create a safe, comfortable space for her at our campsite.
Outdoor Dog Fence Panels for the Campsite
Since we were camping with our dog, we wanted to create a defined area where she could hang out without being tied to the tent or constantly following us around. We have two sets of eight panels, giving us 16 panels total, with two gate doors. It essentially created a little “front porch” area for our dog right outside the tent.
Waterproof Long Dog Leash for Camping
We picked up this waterproof long leash right before our camping trip, and it ended up being perfect for walking through the creek with our dog! The 30-foot length gave her plenty of freedom to explore while still keeping her safely connected to us, and I love that it's completely waterproof and comes in such a bright color. The pink was especially easy to spot when she was wandering around the campsite or in the water.
Stainless Steel Dog Bowls for Camping
I wanted to grab a simple, inexpensive set of food and water bowls specifically for camping, and these were exactly what I was looking for. They're stainless steel, easy to wash, and I couldn't resist the pretty cream color with the little textured dog bones! Having a dedicated set of bowls for camping also means we can just keep them packed with the rest of our dog camping gear.
More Family Camping Favorites to Shop
After our first tent camping trip, I have a much better idea of what we actually need, what we loved having along, and what we'd happily bring again. I've rounded up everything we took and loved below, along with a few camping items currently on our wishlist for future trips. Because apparently one camping trip is all it takes to start a whole new wishlist. 😂🏕️
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Ready for Your Next Family Camping Adventure?
Our first family tent camping trip definitely taught us a few things, but it also made us excited to do it again! There are always more things to learn when you're camping with little ones, but having the right essentials can make the experience feel a whole lot more manageable. I hope this roundup helps you feel a little more prepared for your next family camping adventure—whether you're a seasoned camper or, like us, you're figuring it out one trip at a time. 🤎🏕️
