I love camping! My family would go camping throughout my life and I guess it just naturally rubbed off on me. Luckily, I married a man who also loves to camp. Which means my kids have to love it now too. HA! But with camping comes list, at least it does for me. If I don’t have a camping checklist, I won’t survive.
OK fine, I’ll survive but I’ll be super annoyed if I forgot stuff. It’s better to be over prepared – especially with kids! That’s why this camping checklist has a kids crafts & activities section. It’s just more fun to craft in, and with, nature.
Aside from the kids items I’ve got everything, I’m serious, everything you need in this camping checklist. I’ll break down the categories below and then at the very bottom you can download my camping checklist PDF.
You can also head to my Malibu camping trip blog post and one day I’ll write about our Big Bear and Idyllwild trips too! Lastly, you can shop some of my favorite camping items below at my Amazon storefront.
Our Family’s Camping Checklist
Sleeping Supplies
- Tent
- Stakes/mallet
- Tarp to put under tent
- Kid’s foam floor tiles for tent
- Mini dustpan and broom
- Uhaul blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Pack ‘n play with padding & sheets
- Glow sticks are night light
- Blankets
- Extra if cold weather
- Sheets
- Pillows
- Sleeping pads
- Rug for outside tent
- Astroturf for outsIde tent
- Light for inside tent
- Fan for inside tent
- Books for kids
- Kid One’s stuffed animals and blanket
- Kid Two’s stuffed animals and blanket
Personal
- Towels
- Wash clothes
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Soap
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Toilet paper
- Sunscreen
- Aspirin
- Mosquitoes bracelets
- Mosquito incense sticks
Clothes
- Clothes
- Jackets
- Layers if cold
- Laundry bag
- Flip flops
Swimming/Water Play Supplies
Swim
- Floaties for both kids
- Adult float
- Wet bag
Water Play
- Freeze stuff in ice cubes for the first day for the kids to excavate*
- Buckets, shovel, water toys
- Water balloons
- Water guns
- Bathing suit
- Swim towels
- Hats
- Sunscreen
Kids Supplies
- Glow in the dark items
- Balls
- Paint & paintbrush for activities
- Sidewalk chalk
- Cards for kids
- Cards for adults
- Coloring books and crayons
- Play doh
- Bubbles
- Bean bags
- Ribbons
- Plastic, disposable tablecloth for crafts
- Glue
- Construction paper
Kids Activities
- Paint rocks
- Paint walking sticks
- Scavenger hunt (print from pinterest & Target)
- Color scavenger hunt
- Bean bag toss
- Leaf identification (print from Pinterest or bring book)
- Construction paper wind sock or yarn chandelier
- DIY Bird House
- Nature bracelet: white tape around the kids wrist & attach nature to it
- Stick Start Garden Mobile
- Build a house with sticks and play doh
- Ribbon streamer craft: attach ribbons to sticks to make a wand
- Glow in the dark bowling (put glow sticks into water bottles)
- Glow in the dark ring toss (take glow in the dark necklaces and toss)
- Ring toss (cut holes in paper plates and paint them, then toss)
Camping Gear
- Chairs, kids too
- Foldable kids table
- Hammock
- Lanterns
- String lights to hang, if electricity
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Bug repellant
- Incense
- Spray
- Bracelets
- Books/magazines
- Tablet & charger
- Speaker
- Hiking backpack
- Bikes, tire pump and tools
- Scooter or other kid thing
- First aid kit
- Duct tape
- Rope
- Baby wipes
- Tissues
- Pocket knife
- Binoculars
- Zip ties
- Popup
- Blankets for picnic (in car)
Kitchen Supplies
- Roasting marshmallow sticks
- Hand washing station
- Water jug with spout with paper towel and hand soap
- Cooler
- Ice
- Camp stove
- Propane
- Matches/lighter
- Lighter fluid
- Grill
- Charcoal
- Tablecloths; 2
- Plates
- Bowls
- Utensils
- Utensil holder
- Cups
- Napkins
- To-go/tupperware for leftovers
- Paper towel, two
- Chip clips
- Dish soap
- Sponge
- Washing bin
- Pot holder/towel
- Pots/frying pans
- Small pot with lid
- Cheese grater
- Mixing bowls, small and large
- Cooking utensils – tongs, spoon, spatula
- Can opener
- Vegetable peeler
- Aluminum pans – round or square
- Aluminum pans – large rectangles
- Knives for cutting food
- Cutting boards
- Foil
- Saran wrap
- Plastic bags
- Garbage bags good black ones too
- Portable trash can
- Scissors
- Measuring cups
- Spices
- Coffee pot
- Coffee cups
Time to download my camping checklist and get out there – happy camping!
