How to Actually Enjoy Camping With Kids (And Not Lose Your Mind)

Camping before kids: Throw a few things in a bag, drive somewhere scenic, set up your tent in 10 minutes, and spend the weekend relaxing by the fire with a drink in hand.

Camping with kids: A full-blown logistical operation requiring military-level planning, an excessive amount of snacks, and the patience of a saint.

But here’s the thing, while camping with little ones is a lot, it’s also so worth it. Watching them run wild, covered in dirt, exploring the world with wide-eyed wonder? That’s the kind of magic childhood should be made of.

So, how do you actually make it enjoyable (or at least survivable)? Here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Lower Your Expectations (Then Lower Them Again)

If you’re picturing a peaceful getaway with well-behaved children gathering sticks like obedient little woodland creatures, I hate to break it to you—that’s not happening.

Instead, expect:

• Chaos.

• A lot of dirt.

• Bedtime resistance like you’ve never seen before.

• Someone eating something they shouldn’t (dirt, leaves, probably a bug).

• At least one moment where you question why you even attempted this.

But also expect:

• Pure joy on their faces as they explore.

• Belly laughs around the fire.

• The best night’s sleep (eventually) because they’ve worn themselves out.

• Memories that you’ll be so grateful you made.

Once you accept that camping with kids is messy, loud, and nothing like your pre-kid trips, you’ll be able to enjoy it for what it is.

2. Keep It Simple (Because Complicated = Stressful)

Now is not the time for gourmet campfire meals or over-the-top plans. Stick to the basics and save yourself the stress.

🔥 Simple food: Think BBQ sausages, wraps, pre-made sandwiches, and anything that doesn’t require too much effort.

🛶 Easy activities: Nature will do most of the entertaining, but pack some simple extras: sticks for roasting marshmallows, a ball, or a bucket for collecting “treasures” (aka rocks and leaves).

🏕 Minimal gear: You don’t need every fancy camping gadget. The essentials, a solid tent, and a good attitude go a long way.

3. Pick Your Campsite Wisely (AKA, Have an Escape Plan)

For your first trip with little ones, ease into it.

🏡 Stay somewhere with facilities – Even if you want to rough it, a bathroom nearby can be a lifesaver.

🚗 Don’t go too far from home – In case it all goes to hell and you need to bail.

🌲 Choose a spot with shade & space to roam – Avoid spots right next to water, cliffs, or anywhere they can disappear in 0.3 seconds.

We camped on a family property for this exact reason, so if shit hit the fan, we had a house nearby. And while we mostly stayed outside, just knowing there was a backup plan made it all feel more doable.

4. Pack Like You’re Moving to the Wilderness Forever (Because Toddlers Need A LOT)

Non-Negotiables:

✔️ Snacks. So many snacks.

✔️ More clothes than you think you need. (They’ll be covered in mud within minutes.)

✔️ A portable cot or familiar sleeping setup. (Sleep is already a gamble, don’t make it worse. We learnt this lesson the hard way.)

✔️ Baby wipes. Endless baby wipes.

✔️ Bug spray and sunscreen. Because yes, tiny humans are bug magnets but honestly, I'm the go-to target for bugs 99% of the time. Even with a good dose of Aeroguard, I still managed to get several bites!

Things you don’t need? Half the toys you think you do. Kids will be busy with sticks, rocks, and dirt: nature’s best entertainment.

5. Embrace the Dirt, the Chaos, and the Weird Sleep Schedule

Camping wrecks routines.

They will stay up later.

They will get up earlier.

They will be filthy from head to toe.

And that’s okay. This is their adventure.

Instead of fighting it, lean into it. Let them run wild, stay up a little past bedtime, and enjoy the messy magic of it all.

Because one day, they’ll be grown. And you’ll miss the tiny hands collecting “special” rocks, the giggles from inside the tent, and the way they looked at the world with pure wonder.

So go. Pack the snacks, embrace the madness, and make the memories.

Because these are the moments that childhood is made of.

Final Survival Tips for Camping With Kids:

✔️ Tag-team bedtime: One adult puts the kids to bed while the other enjoys five whole minutes of peace by the fire.

✔️ Plan for the weather but expect the unexpected: We thought we had sunshine… it poured overnight, our tent leaked, and my husband woke up with water dripping on his head. Classic.

✔️ Have a backup plan: A nearby house, car, or just mentally preparing for an early departure if needed.

Would I call camping with kids “relaxing?” Absolutely not.

Would I do it again? 1000%.

Because watching them explore, learn, and just be kids out in the wild? That’s worth every bit of chaos.