Camping is one of our favorite ways to spend time as a family. Camping with kids is so much fun (especially if you’re prepared). I’ve shared my list for 10 must have camping supplies and 50 ideas for making camping easier, the tips in the comments are awesome too! I thought a camping with kids post just seemed like a good idea… what do you think?
I’ve rounded up 40 tips, activities, games, and recipes to make camping with kids just as fun as it should be! (For tips on camping with toddlers click here.)
Tips for Camping with Kids
- Get the kids excited with some camping pretend play before you go.
- Pack clothes with easy dressing in mind. (The tent would stay so much neater!)
- Pack the lovies and blankets that help your little one feel comfortable and sleep well.
- Put together a good first aid kit.
- Think about a safe campsite layout.
- Make a hand washing station that is easy for kids (and adults) to use.
- Get two of these collapsible bins. One for laundry and one for trash. At the end of the trip tie up the bag, toss the laundry bag in the car and the trash in the dumpster.
- Keep meals and sleep schedules as normal as possible. Sticking to these routines will help kids adjust to the flexibility of the rest of the day.
- Make a light up bug for the kids to carry around and use after dark.
- Include rest times (even for older kids), with a break from playing hard. Bring along puzzles, books and quiet building toys for lounging in the tent once in a while.
Kids Camping Activities (contains affiliate links)
- SunPrint paper kit
- DIY paint with water pages
- Find the tree leaf hunt
- Happy camper scavenger hunt
- Cloud Inspecting
- Go searching for animal tracks (only if your little ones won’t be scared to know what’s around) 🙂
- Study the stars and constellations
- Make a solar oven
- Milk jug yo yo
- Enjoy some outdoor pretend play with your own explorer kit
- Print, cut, and pack up these Camping Jokes.
Camping Games for Kids (contains affiliate links)
- Charades for Kids
- Nature tic tac toe
- Lawn twister
- Portable CornHole
- Glow Ring Toss Game
- Mini Frisbee Golf
- Kick the Can
- Unique Tag Games
- 10,000 Dice Game
- Ladder Toss Game
Kid-Friendly Camping Recipes
If you are new to camping or new to camping with young kids check out The Camping Family Handbook. I’m a proud affiliate of Kitchen Stewardship.
- Pancake Dippers (Bacon inside… I’m thinking a little sugar in the batter would eliminate the sticky syrup too!)
- Pancakes using a DIY pancake batter dispenser
- Campfire Popcorn – 3 Ways
- Create a grab and go snack station
- Campfire Nachos
- Pocket Pizzas
- Hobo Meals (I like the idea of letting kids pick their own filling.)
- Curly dogs
- Campfire dessert – Orange Blueberry Muffins
- Campfire Strawberry Smores
Now I just know you have a few tips to add! Leave your tips for camping with kids on the comment section.
Such a great list and those recipes all look fantastic! We love camping and I really hope that we are able to take our kids this year! Last year I was just way too pregnant to even consider it lol 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for including my campfire popcorn recipes! 🙂
Thanks for the great ideas. Is there anyway you could send me the PDF for the scavenger hunt? Ty
Thanks for all the kids activities tips. Our son needs constant entertainment, making camping difficult at times.
What an awesome collection of tips to help make that camping trip with kids go smoothly. I especially like the recipes section. Cooking outdoors was always my favorite part of camping as a kid.
Linking to your post in my buddy burner and tin can stove post.
Love your page and great ideas! Would it be possible to send me the scavenger hunt as a printable doc?
Thank you!
Hi Cindy! The Scavenger Hunt is actually on another site. You’ll click the link from this page and then right before the picture on her site it says
“HERE is a FREE copy for YOU. Enjoy!!”
Click on the word HERE to get the download. 🙂
So many useful great ideas and tips.
definitely, will be taking this to our next trip.
Great list! Thanks for sharing
Wow! Wonderful Post! I sometimes take my son out on a vacation. Cheers!
I think need bring several packs of baby wipes and antibacterial wipes for those times when you need to wipe the kids down but won’t be able to give them a full bath.
Wipes are great to clean hands and feet before they crawl into sleeping bags too.
Thanks Jillian, for sharing these awesome camping tips and ideas.
I will definitely give it a try especially “Find the tree leaf hunt.”
My lil champ fav game is hide and seek.
Thanks for sharing the idea of camping especially in this digital age when everyone is stuck in their mobile or laptop. This is a great way to spend quality time together.