15 Tips for Camping With Kids: How to Make Amazing Memories!
Last summer, our family embarked on an 11-day camping road trip. As we prepare for this summer’s similar road trip, I’ve been reflecting on last year’s journey. Today, I’m sharing tips for camping with kids as well as a few reflections from last summer’s adventure. (If you’re eager to get to the camping tips, scroll to the bottom of this post!)
Tips for Camping With Kids
Twenty years ago, I wouldn’t have considered an 11-day road trip across the country an epic adventure. Throughout my twenties, it was no big deal to drive from my home in Pennsylvania to the Rockies. One summer, I even made the trek twice.
In those days, I was used to sleeping in the back of my dusty Nissan X-terra, bathing in mountain streams, and eating freeze-dried meals for weeks on end.
Two decades later, my free-roaming past seems more like a story from somebody else’s life.
I could tell you that becoming a professional and establishing a teaching career changed my free-spirited ways, but that’s not entirely true. More accurately, road-tripping across the country became unrealistic in 2010, when Bekah, our first child, came into the world.
Before becoming parents, Darrell and I sincerely believed that we would take our babies backpacking in the mountains. One person would carry the gear, and the other person would carry the baby in one of those adorable baby backpacks.
We thought we had it all figured out.
When Plans Change
Obviously, we did not.
After Bekah was born, I didn’t sleep for more than two consecutive hours for at least five months.
I vividly remember the first time we took an overnight trip to our family’s cabin. We quickly realized that we needed approximately 500 items for the one-night stay. The idea of packing enough baby paraphernalia for the weekend was overwhelming. Leaving home for more than a weekend was out of the question.
We accepted our new reality of life as parents and learned to settle for short weekend trips near home. Over the next few years, we added two little boys to our family, and traveling became even more challenging.
Our life of living in the mountains, sleeping in tents, and cooking over campfires seemed to have died.
It’s not that we didn’t want to go camping with our kids; it’s just that the work required to pull it off felt too difficult.
We longed to return to the Rockies; however, expecting our three children to sit quietly in the backseat of our small pickup truck for 60 hours didn’t seem even slightly realistic or enjoyable. And so, we settled. We set aside our passions for road-tripping and camping, and we told ourselves that maybe we’d head west again someday.
Redefining “Someday”
The summer of our youngest child’s third birthday, something stirred in my heart. Aiden was remarkably resilient, pleasant, and easy-going for a three-year-old. The older kids were seven and eleven, and I started thinking about heading west again.
At first, the idea felt ridiculous. Could we really pack up everything we’d need for two weeks, drive to the Rockies, and sleep in a tent for a week? Would that even be enjoyable?
I brought it up with eleven-year-old Bekah, and she assured me that it would, indeed, be delightful. The boys weren’t sure about the idea at first. However, the more we talked about it, they started to become curious, too. By Christmas, we had committed to taking a trip the next summer.
In the months that followed, every time Darrell and I considered the long hours in the truck, we exchanged a look that expressed what we were both thinking: What are we getting ourselves into? Nonetheless, we decided to go for it and began seriously working on a plan.
Our Camping Plan
Our trip plan went something like this: We would give ourselves three nine-hour driving days to make the drive from Pennsylvania to northwestern Wyoming, mostly via Interstate 80.
Just south of Jackson Hole, we would camp in the remote valley where Darrell and I worked at a wilderness leadership school in our twenties.
After a few days in the wilderness outside of Jackson Hole, we would drive north to Yellowstone and camp in Yellowstone, before heading home on I-90.
Because setting up and taking down camp takes at least two hours, we realized that we needed to stay at hotels along the way. Our kids were thrilled with the idea of a hotel at the end of each day.
For several weeks, I crammed plastic totes with enough food to feed a small army. I also packed clothes, winter coats, card games, toys, books, cooking utensils, and all the camping gear we could possibly need.
After months of preparatory work, the night before our departure, Darrell fit eight totes, five sleeping bags, four “hotel bags,” a cooler, five air mattresses, a large tent, five camp chairs, a cooking stove, five fishing poles, a portable shower, and an assortment of miscellaneous items into the bed of the truck.
As I lay in bed the night before our departure, anticipating the early morning wakeup and the three days of driving ahead of us, nervous excitement pulsated through my body.
We were doing it. I couldn’t believe we were actually doing it. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was proud of us for having the courage to try.
Finding the Courage to Try
So many times, I’ve missed out on great endeavors because I lacked the bravery to try.
I’ve walked away from dreams due to the fear of failure and refused to even entertain ideas that seemed too difficult to undertake. I’ve listened to the voices of fear and doubt instead of listening to the voices of desire and longing.
I’ve spent far too much of my life distrusting the voice of my deepest longings. This is not the voice of my sinful longings; instead, it is the quiet whisper that tells me to chase dreams and pursue the God-given passions I love.
At times, in fear and timidity, I’ve stomped out the desire to travel, write books, launch ministries, and reach out to others. In doing so, I wonder how many times I’ve missed out on God’s best plans for my life.
Like me, I wonder if you’ve ever missed out on God’s best for your life because you were afraid to step into the challenge set before you.
What Dream Have You Neglected?
Is there a dream you’ve been putting off because it feels impossible in this season of your life?
Maybe you’ve been thinking about going back to school, changing career paths, or traveling. Perhaps you’ve been considering this venture for years, but you’ve been hesitant to step toward it.
You might be putting it off because it feels like too much work, or maybe you’re afraid of failing. Possibly, you keep telling yourself that you’ll do it someday, but someday seems infinitely far away.
In the months leading up to our road trip, many kind-hearted friends told us that Aiden was too young for such a long trip in the truck. Others applauded our willingness to drive so far but assured us that staying in a tent would be awful. They said we wouldn’t sleep, it would be cold, the kids would fight, and there might be bears.
They were right. However, Darrell and I also realized that if we kept waiting until the circumstances seemed perfect, we would never take the trip at all. . . .
(You can continue reading about our trip and find inspiration to pursue your passions in the eBook below.)
Tips for Camping With Kids:
And now, as promised, here are my top tips for camping with kids:
1. Do a dry run.
Sleep out in your backyard with all of your gear before you head out. This will show you what works and what doesn’t.
2. Watch the temperatures.
Check the overnight temperatures in the place where you will be camping. Plan accordingly. Make sure your sleeping bags will be warm enough for cold nights.
3. Use air mattresses or sleeping pads.
Air mattresses or sleeping pads make a huge difference for everyone. Our kids use thin, self-inflating air mattresses, but Darrell and I have large inflatable mattresses or camping pads. They are invaluable for keeping us off of the hard ground.
4. Buy an air mattress pump.
An electronic or motorized air mattress pump is worth its weight in gold. Blowing them up with a foot pump or using your mouth is not fun. Our pump can be attached to the motor of our truck and inflates our mattresses in a few minutes.
5. Bring a tarp and lots of extra rope.
If there is any chance that your tent could leak, bring a tarp that is big enough to hang over the top (and rope for securing corners). This is a game-changer.
6. Plan for rainy days.
What will you do for meals and fun if it rains? Pack some games, toys, and easy snacks. Scout out the area where you will be camping online before you go. Have a backup plan for rainy days when everyone needs a break from the tent.
7. Hot cocoa is a game-changer.
Hot beverages go a long way on cold mornings.
8. Consider bringing a portable stove.
If you aren’t an expert at campfire cooking, buy a portable stove. The last thing you want is to not be able to get the fire started.
Don’t forget to bring pots, pans, and utensils. It can also be helpful to bring an extra tarp or portable shelter for cooking (cooking in your sleeping tent attracts animals and is a bad idea.)
9. Aim for simple meals your kids will actually eat.
Here are our favorites: hotdogs and baked beans; cold cut sandwiches, chips, and fruit; tacos or quesadillas; pancakes; beef stew (canned) and bread; canned chicken with BBQ sauce, melted cheese, and nacho chips for dipping.
10. Bring a clothesline for drying clothing as well as a few clothespins.
11. Account for water needs.
Depending on where you are camping, you might need to bring a large water bladder or jugs of drinking water. Bring more than you plan to use. You will probably need it.
12. Plastic totes make good bathtubs for dirty kids.
13. Remember camp chairs.
Bring something for each person to sit on when gathered around the campfire. Portable camp chairs, flat foam pads, or even plastic bubble wrap will work well.
14. Cotton balls and petroleum jelly can save the day.
If you aren’t an expert at starting fires, bring a bag of cotton balls and a container of petroleum jelly. They make great firestarters.
15. Expect mishaps.
They will happen. Laugh about it. You will make amazing memories.
Read here for 15 tips for camping with kids and inspiration to keep chasing your dreams. #familycamping #inspiration Share on XRead Our Full Camping Story and Find More Tips for Camping With Kids Here:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take a cross-country road trip and go camping in the wilderness with your family? 11 Days on the Road chronicles our family’s road trip from the East Coast to the Rockies.
This short eBook will entertain you, draw you into a different world, and give you a glimpse into the highs and lows of a family road trip. Additionally, you will be challenged to consider the dreams you’ve set aside out of fear of leaving your comfort zone. You will explore nine mindsets to embrace for a more joyful, purposeful, faith-filled life, including embracing change, stepping into the unknown, and embracing your limits. Get this eBook for $3.98 right here.
