Family Camping Must Haves: Your 2023 Checklist for Success

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Best Camping Gear for Families 2023

Want to know exactly what to pack for family camping? With 20 plus years experience of camping with kids, we can tell you the must haves for car camping with your kids.

What’s better than unplugging in fresh air and sunshine, splashing in gurgling creeks and streams, setting out on canyon walled hikes, or biking through thick pine forests?

Coming back to a sweet campsite for dinner, a campfire and sleeping under a blanket of stars! Or waking up to fresh brewed coffee in the backcountry.

If this is your first time tent camping with family, we cover all the essentials below and we offer a check list of camping must haves for you to download too.

We will be tent camping in Ouray Colorado with friends again this summer.

Family Camping Essentials

Here are all the things that should be on your camping list in order for you to feel successful while camping with your kids and teens.

Does it take some preparation? Yes, and a bit of organization too. But it’s well worth the effort.

Do you have to buy it all? No. Consider borrowing essentials for camping from family or friends first, or rent camping equipment to see how much you enjoy camping together.

For example, many REI locations offer equipment rental.

A great way to build up your camping supplies over time is to add it to your birthday wishlist or Christmas gift list.

Tried and true, here are our best camping gear for families with a printable camping list for 2023 to help you as you plan your next outdoor adventure.

We’ve broken it down into the following sections of camping supplies. Jump ahead in the post by clicking on the content titles.

Table of Contents

1. Sleeping Gear for Family Tent Camping

2. Camp Kitchen

3. Other Campsite Essentials

4. Campsite Extras

5. Clothing and Footwear for Hiking and Outdoor Adventure

6. Toiletries, Meds, and Hygiene

7. Outdoor Adventure Essentials (i.e. what to pack for a day hike)

8. Don’t Forget These Personal Items

9. Optional Outdoor Gear for Extra Fun

10. Favorite Places to Shop for Camping and Outdoor Gear

11. Download the Free Printable Camping List of Essentials PDF

Tent camping with family in Colorado requires really warm sleeping bags like these

Sleeping Gear for Family Tent Camping

The very first things we invested in was sleeping bags, sleeping pads and tents.

We want to warm, dry, and comfy while sleeping under the stars with our kids. Get this part of family camping right, and you are winning!

Families that don’t pack warm enough sleeping bags or comfy sleeping pads usually don’t end up enjoying tent camping. And a big enough tent that keeps you warm and dry is very important.

Here are our favorite camping must haves for sleeping outside:

• Tent(s) For big families, we love the Big Agnes Dog House 6-Person 3-Season family camping Tent. Our family of six with older kids and teens now likes to spread out with three 2-person tents.

• Footprint / tarp for going under the tent; many tents come with one.

• Extra stakes

• Tent Pole Repair Kit

• Sleeping bags Since we live and play in Colorado, we LOVE the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 for year-round warmth for adults and teens and their Kids Mistral is a great sleeping bag for kids.

• Duo Sleeping Bags for Two Sleep comfortably with your partner in all kinds of weather conditions. Lots of bang for you buck with the super affordable North Face Dolomite One Duo sleeping bag has innovative, interchangeable layers so you really get 3 bags in 1. Sleep in 15 degree temps, 30 degree temps, or 50 overnight temps.

• Sleeping pads The deal breaker. Invest in a warm, comfy, warm lightweight sleeping pad like the Exped Dura 5R - and then you can tent camp forever!

• Complete Zenbivy Bed Sleep Systems Skip building your sleep system from scratch. The new Zenbivy Core Bed is ideal for those looking for maximum comfort and convenience while camping. Available in both down and synthetic. Read our Zenbivy Core Bed Review.

• Goose down blanket A nice addition for cold weather nights, goose down and 10D ripstop polyester join forces for an incredibly durable blanket that feels light-as-a-feather. With so many choices, Rumpl all-season puffy blankets are ideal for hiking and tent camping.

• Pillow

• Head Lamps One for each camper ideally, plus extra batteries. We bought this inexpensive 4-pack of headlamps for our family trip to Havasupai Falls.

• Small broom and dust pan for keeping your tent clean

Download the Free Printable Camping List of Essentials PDF.

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Rent out your RV when you’re not using it. Folks are always looking for RVs to rent, especially Class B and Class C RVs.

Family camping must haves starts with tents and sleeping bags

Camp Kitchen

We spend two meals a day — usually breakfast and dinner — using our camp kitchen. We have the most fun cooking up meals together.

Next to your tent, sleeping bags, and pads, your camp kitchen is the next best thing to focus on when building up your camp gear essentials.

RELATED: Here are 5 Easy Camping Meals the whole crew can help make!

Don’t skimp on this part of your list of gear for camping. One thing we love about camping with our kids is cooking up deliciousness outdoors!

Camp Kitchen Must Haves

• 5 gallon Coleman water jug Take two if your campground does not provide water.

• Camp Stove and fuel. We’ve had our Camp Chef Everest Two Burner Stove for years and she’s still going strong.

• Jet Boil stoves and fuel for heating water super quick for that morning coffee fix.

• VSSL Gear Java Coffee Grinder - this sleek coffee grinder helps you brew epic coffee in the backcountry

• MiiR Pourigami (TM) and Coffee Canister for amazing pour overs on the go.

• MiiR 12 oz. Camp Cups - Just like your Grandpa’s old cups, but even better.

• Plates, bowls, and cups

• Silverware or sporks

• Cooking utensils Flat spatulas, large spoon, rubber spatula, and whisk

• Large bowl

• Can opener, bottle opener, and cork screw

• Knives

• Cutting board

• Bare Bones Cast Iron Skillet

• Foil

• Grill Kit with FireStarter Set by Wolf and Grizzly - With a foldable frame and rollable grill surface, this 2.2 lb. grill is ready for any adventure. It fits easily in a backpack, bug-out bag, or the saddlebags on a bike or four wheeler.

• Matches / lighter

• Roasting sticks

• Baggies and/or small storage containers

• Plastic tablecloth and clips

• Wash bin to use as a camp sink

• Biodegradable Soap

• Hand Sanitizer

• Dish towels

• Pot scrubbers

• Trash Bags

• Large plastic bins for storing all of the above items

• Large cooler At half the price and half the weight of Yetis, RUGGED ROAD 65 Coolers are durable, retain ice for up to 7 days, float on water and more.

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Campsite essentials includes a clothesline to hang clothing and gear from

Campsite Essentials

Besides your camp kitchen gear, your family will thrive with the following camping must haves, all of which helps keep life around campsite warm and comfy.

For example, if you find yourself dispersed camping* you will need a place to go number one and number two.

*Dispersed camping means camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. This means you will not have any services like trash removal, tables or fire pits. Some popular dispersed camping areas may have toilets, but most do not.

That’s why we love our completely hygenic Trelino Evo Portable Lightweight Composting Toilet. Now we can camp anywhere in the national forest!

Trelino’s German-made portable toilet designs are simple, convenient, and super compact, making it the perfect choice for any outdoor enthusiast. Say goodbye to dirty, unhygienic pit latrines and hello to safe, comfortable, and environmentally-friendly waste disposal.

We use the portable toilet in our pop-up privacy tent.

Below are more of our favorite camping items. Some of them help problem solve common camping issues, like repairing small tears in your camping gear or hanging out wet clothes to dry.

• Camping LED Lanterns

• Camp chairs - our family loves the lightweight, portable Eno Lounger Chair

• Axe for cutting firewood

• Mallet or hammer

• Leatherman Signal Multi-Tool Everything you need and none of what you don’t. Perfect for hiking, camping, and backpacking.

• Duct Tape for repairs

• Paracord to use for clothesline and as needed

• Gorilla Glue

• Firewood Always wise to buy local firewood and your campsite host will likely sell some

• Bug spray

• Rumpl Puffy Blanket Stay extra warm around the campfire and add an extra layer with your sleeping bag on those extra cold nights.

• No fire pit where you’re going? Check out Solo Stove Fire Pits and Camp Stoves for more flame, less smoke.

• Portable Phone Charger Many of us use our phones as cameras too. But when you’re tent camping, who wants to keep the car running just to charge your phone? For big families with teens, this external battery pack for phones offers three ports.

Download the Free Printable Family Camping List of Essentials PDF.

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Our family camping gear box includes Two Way Radio Bundles to make communication easier between vehicles and outdoor recreation areas.

Must haves for camping with teens and kids includes hammocks. ENO hammocks are built to last.

Campsite Extras

A multi person stand up paddle board, the ISLE Megalodon is made for fun. It can fit you, your friends, family, dogs and gear – potentially at the same time.  

For us, camping outdoors means lots of time playing games in camp and nearby outdoor adventures.

We love to bring the fun!

We try to camp near a lake as often as we can, so we can go paddling and fishing.

Here are our favorite camping must haves and toys for maximum family fun:

• Snagged a campsite near a lake? Bring your own paddle boards for sunrise to sunset excursions. Renting gets expensive — owning our travel inflatable SUPs has gotten us out on the water way more. We now own two Megalodons.

• Shade canopy We like a 13’ by 13’ sun shelter while tent camping, but for the beach, we bring the Gigante Neso Tent Shade.

• Hammocks Our teens love their colorful ENO Doublenest Hammocks. Be sure to throw in the ENO Atlas XL Suspension Straps. Ten loops on each strap make hanging your hammock a breeze.

• Frisbees

• Spike Ball The lightweight, packable game for big kids and teenagers - 2 vs. 2 and kind of like volleyball

• Bocci ball

• Card games

• Wonderboom Super Portable Waterproof Speaker

• Two Way Radio Bundles Excellent for camping and hiking trips. Range is good. Voice is crisp and clear. Functions are fairly easy once you learn the proper ways to use them. Weather stations are clear also and come in handy when you’re “off the grid” in the woods somewhere and need weather updates.

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Rain jackets are a must have for camping for our outdoorsy family

Clothing and Footwear for Hiking and Outdoor Recreation

We hand each of our kids a personal packing list for camping and let them check it off the night before we head out.

Don’t forget:

• Underwear Quick drying preferred

• Sweatshirt Or grab your favorite pullover fleece

• Pants to wear around camp; think athletic pants, leggings, or sweatpants

• Down Jacket We love the lightweight Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket for layering and to help stay warm on cold nights.

• Hiking shoes An important, worthy investment if you plan to hit the trails a lot. Do your research. Do you need hiking boots, shoes or trail runners?

• Hiking socks Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Hiking Socks are cushiony, lightweight hiking socks made from a merino wool blend, which means they’ll never stink!

• Rain Jacket Beat the rain and keep on trekking in Marmot’s PreCip Rain Jacket or Anorak

• Tennis shoes

• Birkenstocks or Crocs for wearing around camp

• Active athletic wear Quick-drying T-shirts & shorts

• Long-sleeved shirt or two

• Hiking pants / shorts

• Outdoor Research Gaiters If you’re hiking in snow or like to keep the rocks out of your boots, these are for you.

• Chacos or similar water sandals for crossing streams, or playing in the lake

• Swimwear

• Beanie bandanas or buffs to cover greasy hair

• Gloves for cold mornings and evenings around camp

• Long underwear if weather requires it

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PRO TIP: Camping with little kids or babies? Learn more specific camping gear essentials regarding How to Go Camping with a Baby or Toddler from the Very Well Family.

Don’t forget the right clothing for camping and footwear for hiking

Toiletries, Meds, and Hygiene

Quick drying Turkish towel

Don’t forget your basic toiletries et al when you’re checking off your list of camping gear.

Some of best camping gear for families is small and simple, like thin, lightweight towels and wilderness medical kits.

• Turkish Towel (Pack of 6) Quick drying and perfect for camping

• Toothbrush and toothpaste

• Baby wipes for quick cleansing

• Prescription meds

• Ibuprofen or Tylenol

• Sunscreen and lip balm

• MedKit We like all the different options with the Adventure Medical Mountain Series Medical Kits

• Earplugs

• Other toiletries / cosmetics

• Toilet paper just in case

Download the Free Printable Camping List of Essentials PDF.

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Outdoor Adventure Essentials

After you’ve packed up all of your family camping gear, don’t forget to pack your hiking gear — also useful for many outdoor adventures you may embark on:

• Water bottle

• Daypack Latest fave is the Osprey Sirrus or Stratos 24 L for longer day hikes and adventures. Try Osprey’s Packfinder Tool to find the backpack right for you and where you’re going.

• Water Reservoir To go inside your day pack, like the Platypus Hoser Reservoirs.

• Solar Charger Check out the Powertraveller Extreme Solar Kit

• Hat

• Sunglasses We love affordable, polarized shades by Sunski!

• Bear deterrent spray If you are in bear country, hopefully you won’t have to use it, but you better carry bear spray!

• Compass

• Small med kit

• Snacks

• Life Straw For unlikely emergency situations while you’re hiking, camping, or traveling.

• Whistle

• Compression Packing Cubes Every well traveled adventurer knows easy access and organization are key. Packing your bags with these 8 piece compression travel cubes get the job done.

Download the Free Printable Camping List of Essentials PDF.

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Day packs for hiking are great if you plan to hike from your campsite

Don't forget these personal items

Beside all of your family camping gear, don’t forget these important items:

• ID

• CASH to pay for your last-minute campsite, firewood from campsite host, and for laundry / shower day-use fees.

• Extra set of car keys, just in case!

• Cell phone

• Campsite or cabin reservation, printed

• Maps / National Park guidebooks Moon Guides and Fodor’s are favorite guides we’ve used in places like Glacier, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce and many others!

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Not essential, but we use our paddle boards all the time while camping

Optional Outdoor Gear for Extra Fun

ISLE Pioneer - the best inflatable stand up paddle board for traveling

• Inflatable SUPs We’ve had our durable, packable inflatable stand up paddleboards for over a year now.

• Mountain Bikes Trek Bikes are our go-to for biking adventures — we own six of them! For example, our daughter rides the Trek Marlin 5 — a trail-worthy bike that's wonderfully made for all kinds of adventures, on and off the trail. 

• StowAway Max Cargo Carrier with Swing Away Frame (see below) is made for when you need an extra trunk to haul your extra gear.

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This Stowaway Max Cargo Carrier helps us fit all of our family camping gear

Favorite Places to Shop for Camping Gear

If you’re an REI member, you earn 10% in annual rewards. They have a fabulous selection of camping gear as well.

At certian RES locations, you can rent camping and hiking gear to see how you like it.

Looking for upcycled or used gear? Where we live in Colorado Springs is home to fantastic upcycled and used camping and outdoor gear shops. Something to consider.

Do you have these outdoor adventures on your bucket list with your kids and teens?