Our Complete Family Camping Checklist (with Printable PDF)
Updated: Apr. 07, 2023
Prepping for your first family camping trip? Then you need our ultimate family camping checklist. We'll tell you exactly what to pack.
Reconnect with nature (and your family!) by planning a camping trip. This classic summer activity is fun for all ages and easy on the budget.
If you’re a camping newbie, it can be quite daunting to plan your first trip, especially when it comes to packing. That’s why we put together the ultimate family camping checklist. On this list, you’ll find all of the necessities for a successful trip—plus, we’ve included a camping checklist PDF that you can print. Happy camping!
Print out your FREE family camping checklist.
Make a Plan
- Pick a date
- Determine how long you want to camp
- Reserve your campsite
- Make a rain contingency plan (and consider these other brilliant camping tricks)
- If you have small children, consider doing a trial run with backyard camping
Essential Gear
- Tent and stakes
- Tarp
- Duct tape
- Air mattress(es)
- Sleeping bags
- Folding lawn chairs
- Folding table
- Blanket(s)
- Pillows
- Lantern/flashlight
- Candles/matches
- Clothesline (for hanging wet swimwear and towels)
- Umbrella
- A map or compass (You might not always have cell service!)
- Cellphone charger
- Wallet
Outdoor Kitchen Tools
- Cooler and ice (Here are the best ways to keep food cold while camping.)
- Cast-iron skillet (Here are our favorite cast-iron skillet breakfasts.)
- Camping Dutch oven
- Portable grill (Don’t forget charcoal and lighter fluid.)
- Matches/lighter
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Meat thermometer
- Skewers
- Tongs
- Large/small bowls
- Aluminum foil
- Plates
- Cutlery
- Napkins
- Cups/water bottles
- Water jug
- Trash bags
- Sanitizing wipes
- Paper towels
Camping Meals and Drinks
- Breakfast for each day (fruit, cereal, breakfast hash, pancakes)
- Lunch for each day (hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, buns/bread, sliced cheese)
- Dinner for each day (grilling meats, potatoes, vegetables, kabobs)
- Condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise)
- S’mores supplies (marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, skewers)
- Portable snacks (granola bars, beef jerky, fruit snacks, chips)
- Water
- Coffee (filters, portable coffee makers, grinder if bringing whole beans)
- Juice
- Beer/wine/liquor
These are some of the best foods to bring on a camping trip.
Clothing and Shoes
- T-shirts
- Pants and/or shorts
- Thick socks
- Jackets or long sleeves for layering
- Hats
- Gloves
- Scarves
- Pajamas
- Thermal underwear
- Bathing suit
- Sunglasses
- Towels (for showering and water activities)
- Walking shoes
- Hiking boots
- Rain boots
- Water shoes
- Sandals
- Plastic bags for wet, dirty clothes
Toiletries
- Hairbrush
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Handsoap
- Body soap
- Shampoo and Conditioner
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Lip balm
- Contacts and contact lens solution
- Toilet paper
- Tissues
- Menstrual products
- Baby wipes
- Medications
- Hand sanitizer
Camping Activities and Entertainment
- Board games and lawn games (these are our favorite outdoor games)
- Beach toys
- Coloring books and crayons
- Books and magazines
- Camera (don’t forget chargers, batteries, film, memory cards and tripod)
- Fishing pole
- Speaker
- Binoculars
Camping Safety Items
- First aid kit (check your pantry for some homemade first aid remedies)
- Extra batteries
- Life jackets (if you’re going in the water)
- Approved firewood and firestarter
- Jugs of freshwater (in case of emergency)
- Printed or written directions to closest hospital (in case of dead phones or no internet service)
- Epipens (if needed)
- Emergency blankets
Like any trip you take, it’s always possible to forget things. As long as you have the basics to build your tent, keep you and your family fed and you brought all the necessary safety equipment, you should be golden. If you left your favorite coffee mug or the cornhole set at home, it won’t be the end of the world. Take this time to breathe deeply in the open air and enjoy the simplicity of the outdoors and all they have to offer.
More Campfire Favorites
Ham & Jack Pudgy PiePepper jack cheese adds spicy flavor to these warm, melty pudgy pies. —Terri McKitrick, Delafield, Wisconsin
Grilled Corn in HusksIf you're new to grilling corn in the husk, season the ears with butter, Parmesan cheese and parsley. It's especially good! Be sure to give the corn a long soak before putting it on the grill. Hot off the grate, the kernels are moist and tender with a wonderful, sweet flavor. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Blueberry-Cinnamon Campfire BreadA neighboring camper made a bread so tempting, I had to ask for the details. Here’s my version, best enjoyed with a steaming cup of coffee by the campfire. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Use your trusty pot in these other Dutch oven camping recipes.
Camper’s Breakfast HashWhen we go camping with family and friends, I'm always asked to make this hearty breakfast. This camping breakfast is a favorite at home, too. —Linda Krivanek, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Skillet Herb BreadMy mom created this recipe more than 40 years ago. Thanks to the trusty cast-iron skillet, you can make it at home or over a campfire. —Shirley Smith, Yorba Linda, California
Cheesy Ham & Potato PacketI found the technique for grilling ham, potatoes and cheese in foil and changed the recipe for our tastes. —Molly Bishop, McClure, Pennsylvania
Really Good Snack MixI grew tired of my family picking through a snack mix for their favorite ingredients and leaving the rest. So I experimented using only their most-loved mix-ins and came up with this recipe. Now there's never any left! —Lori Genske, Waldo, Wisconsin
Stay cool with these no-cook camping food ideas.
Dutch Oven Cheesy Bacon & EggsFor campouts, my sister and I escape on horseback into the woods. We make this Dutch oven breakfast casserole the first morning, then love the leftovers for the rest of the trip. —Mary Burris, Okeechobee, Florida
Campers Favorite DipOur family craves this cheesy chili dip so much we make two batches, especially for the guys. If you’re not grilling out, bake it in the oven. —Valorie Ebie, Bel Aire, Kansas
Campfire Pancakes with Peanut Maple SyrupMy family loves eating s'mores around the campfire when we vacation at the lake. Campfire pancakes are my tribute to those happy times. —Cheryl Snavely, Hagerstown, Maryland
Campfire Peach CobblerThis dutch oven peach cobbler recipe has been a family classic for 60 years. We prefer peaches, but fresh cherries and berries are fun, too. Almost any fruit would work. Mix and match! —Jackie Wilson, Wellsville, Utah
Sweet Horseradish Glazed RibsIf you like to prep ahead of camping, roast these ribs, wrap them and finish with a sweet, savory sauce at your campfire or grill. —Ralph Jones, San Diego, California
Campfire Cheese Hash Brown PacketsDining by the campfire? This easy packet of potatoes, bacon and cheese makes a terrific hash. We like to serve it with eggs and fresh pico de gallo. —Gina Nistico, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pot of S'moresMom’s easy Dutch-oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho
Walking TacosThese Walking Tacos are perfect for an on-the-go dinner, a campfire meal or an easy game-night supper. The ingredients go right into the chip bags! —Beverly Matthews, Richland, Washington
Grilled Sausages with Summer VegetablesAfter 30 years of camping, we've come up with an arsenal of surefire recipes. Our grilled sausage with veggies would be a superstar at a potluck. —Nancy Daugherty, Cortland, Ohio
Campfire HashIn our area we are able to camp almost all year-round. My family invented this easy camping meal. It tastes so good after a full day of family camping activities. —Janet Danilow, Winkleman, Arizona
Jalapeno Bean DipThis is the snack my family usually requests. We especially like to make this zippy dip on camping trips because it travels so well. —Lorene Goodwin, Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Fluffy Scrambled EggsWhen our son, Chris, wants something other than cold cereal in the morning, he whips up these eggs. Cheese and evaporated milk make them especially good. They're easy to make when you're camping, too. —Chris Pfleghaar, Elk River, Minnesota
Campfire BundlesI created this recipe on a family camping trip. I'd brought along a hodgepodge of ingredients, so I just threw them all together in a foil packet. Everyone said that the bundles were delicious. Ever since, I've grilled them at home with equally good results. —Lauri Krause, Jackson, Nebraska
Sheepherder's BreakfastMy sister-in-law always made this delicious breakfast dish when we were camping and had to come up with good, easy breakfast ideas. Served with toast, juice and milk or coffee, it's a sure hit with the breakfast crowd! One-dish casseroles like this were a big help while I was raising my nine children. Now I've passed this recipe on to them. —Pauletta Bushnell, Albany, Oregon
Grilled Campfire Trout DinnerYour fresh catch will taste even better with this simple treatment that keeps the fish moist. Carrots are an excellent accompaniment; cook up in a separate foil packet. —Wendy McGowan, Fontana, California
Originally Published: May 10, 2019
