5 Family Camping Tips for New Campers | Tent Camping Tips
Last Updated on April 7, 2021 by Jody
Tent camping is an amazing family activity! Fresh air! Explorations! Cooking over fire! Dirt, sticks & rocks!!! But it's an activity that also takes a little practice to get perfect.
We've been camping quite a bit and these 5 family camping tips will help you make your first camping adventures less hassle – and maybe make camping your favorite vacation getaway!
These tips assume you have already booked your campsite and you have purchased or borrowed a tent.
Need tent camping tips? Check out our Tent Camping 101 Guide!
Camping Tip #1: How to Pack for a Camping Trip
My luggage of choice for any tent camping trip is a bunch of sturdy Rubbermaid -type containers. The reasons are simple: 1) They hold a lot. 2) They are waterproof if correctly sealed. 3) Most critters can't get into them. 4) They stack nicely. 5) You really don't want to drag your luggage around a campsite.
I am also a huge fan of Space Bags . While I love the large ones that require a vacuum to remove the air, I am equally enamored with the ones that you roll the air out of. Not only does this allow me to get large, bulky items (like comforters) into my containers, but it also helps me keep clean and dirty (or wet) items separated.
Use a handy tote to haul towels, toiletries, and other necessary items to the showers.
Camping Tip #2: How to Sleep Comfortably in a Tent
So you're gonna “rough it” and sleep on the ground. A word of advice: that's only fun if your under 12.
Invest in an inflatable mattress. Make sure it has an air pump of some sort- you don't want to be stuck blowing it up manually! You can find air mattresses that take batteries, but that is expensive. If I don't have electricity at my campsite I make sure to have a DC adapter in my car.
In addition to the mattress you will want to bring more blankets than you think you'll need. It gets cold at night. And you'll wake up a bit clammy and chilly.
Bring a blanket to go under your air mattress to protect it from anything on the ground that might puncture it, another to go on top of the air mattress (below the sheet) as that plastic gets cold at night, and a nice thick one to cover your self with.
Yes, that is three blankets per bed. Trust me, you'll want them.
For the kids that are sleeping on the ground bring a comforter to go between the tent floor and their sleeping bag. That little bit of cushion goes a long way.
If you have kids who still take naps- or if you just want them to relax for a while in the afternoon- try to get a campsite with electricity and bring a fan. Tents can get very hot and muggy in the afternoon; the tiniest bit of sunlight shining on your tent will raise the heat to sauna levels. Trust me- I've done it both ways and the fan is a life saver.
Looking for more family camping tips? Check out
Camping Shortcuts It's OK to Take
Camping Tip #3: Clothing to Pack for Camping
When camping with kids plan to use 2 pair of clothes per day per kid. If you don't use them, great. But my kids play in streams, sand, and dirt when we camp. It's nice to have them clean-ish and dry when play time is over.
Bring warm pajamas and socks as it can get cool at night.
If you plan to hike remember jeans, long sleeve shirts, sturdy shoes, and a hat. Save yourself as much as possible from scratches, ticks, and other creepy crawlies that live in the forest.
And don't forget a First Aid Kit (ours has a snake bite kit in it- just in case).
Camping Tip #4: Food and Planning a Camping Menu
When tent camping I apply the KISS rule. Keep It Simple Stupid.
No one is expecting a gourmet meal when you begin camping. Plan meals with easy to grill foods: hot dogs, brats, burgers, veggies, chips, potatoes, marshmallows.
Ready to upgrade your campfire cooking?
I love the Camp & Cabin Cookbook!
Camping Tip #5: Campfire Cooking
If you're cooking over fire you need cast iron cookware. Make sure it's “seasoned” before you use it.
The great thing about cast iron is that you don't wash it. Just scrape it out, maybe add some water and cook out any thing left in it, and it's ready to use again. (Bring oil for cooking- it will keep the cast iron seasoned and keep food from sticking.)
Tip: if you don't want to buy an entire set of cast iron, at least invest in a good Dutch Oven with legs. This is the single piece of cast iron every camper needs!
Another great way to cook over fire is in foil. Just wrap your meat, veggies, chopped potatoes, and a few drops of water in the foil. You can cook over the flames or bury it in the hot coals to cook. You can also bake a potato this way. And corn on the cob.
Don't forget dish soap and a rag or two- you will have a few things to wash- and use one of the Rubbermaid containers as a wash tub.
Battery operated fans work great. You don’t need to pay extra for a site with an electric hookup, you don’t have a steady stream of ants and spiders crawling up the electric cord into your tent, and you also prevent the temptation for kids to spend all day on their tech toys, so maybe they’ll actually get some exercise and learn about nature. 🙂
Some battery operated fans also have a built in light.