Even though I am a late adopter of family camping, and our very first experience of camping as a family was an absolute farce (I’ll tell you more about that another time) I want to make similar memories to those I have from my childhood for my three children. I have such fond memories of making friends and camping and caravanning spots around the east coast of the UK and northern France.
After a painfully steep learning curve, we usually camp without electricity for maximum adventure, and we love those sites around the UK where you can pitch where you like, and make your spot into your little home from home. Think bunting, fairy lights, kitchen area, washing area, sleeping area. We do make sure our trips are as comfortable and hygienic as possible, so we always take a few home comforts like a portable toilet and nice bedding.
However, we do not have infinite room in our car boot, so we have to be clever with what we take, and everything has to have a purpose! Our family camping essentials checklist will come in handy whilst packing your absolute don’t forget items, so make sure you pin this post or download the checklist to print out for yourself. It’s absolutely free, so scroll down to get your copy or download below…
Free family camping essentials checklist
Download this free checklist with all your essential camping items so you never forget anything ever again!
The ultimate checklist for family camping essentials
What absolute essential items do you need on a camping trip? Instead of you having to think of your own list, this is mine that I use time and time again to make it easier to pack! So, let’s get stuck in…
Setting up your camp
- Tent
- Tent poles (if they are in a separate bag to the tent – easily forgotten!)
- Tent pegs
- Mallet
- Tent Carpet/Rug
- Awning/Porch
- Windbreak
- Doormat
- Dustpan & brush
Sleeping essentials
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows
- Spare blanket per person
- Your beds of choice (i.e airbed, camp bed, self-inflating sleeping mat)
- Air pump (the ones you can plug into your car are good, and save some sweat!)
- Equipment repair kits
Camping furniture
- Camping Chairs
- Folding Table
- Storage Unit
- Toilet (I don’t go anywhere without my portable loo! They are so handy when camping with a family – who wants to treck to the toilet block at 3am?)
Kitchen and cooking essentials for camping
- Kitchen
- Water carrier
- Thermal flasks
- Stove
- Fuel (gas, coal, wood, etc.)
- Matches or lighter
- Plates and bowls
- Cutlery
- Kitchen foil
- Paper towels
- Bin bags
- Washing up liquid
- Containers for food
- Tupperware boxes for leftovers
- Pots and frying pans
- Kitchen knife
- Wooden spoon
- Seive/colander/sieve spoon
- Serving spoon
- Tin opener
- Bottle opener
- Corkscrew – we used tent pegs and a mallet to un-cork a bottle of wine last time when we forgot the corkscrew – so unless you want to look like a desperate alcohol-swigging crazy person, don’t forget the corkscrew 😀
- Scissors
- Vegetable peeler
- Oven glove
- Mugs/cups
- Salad/Mixing bowl
- Cutting board
- Cool box
- Ziplock bags
- Washing up bowl
- Tea towels
- Scourers
- Cooking oil
- Seasonings/spices/condiments/sugar (I find small sachets or tiny pots very handy – I save them up over the year for our camping trips!)
- Hot chocolate/teabags/coffee
Camping clothing must-haves
- Wellies
- Flipflops or sliders (for the showers!)
- Sun hat
- Rain gear
- Swimming kit
Family camping cleaning essentials
- Towels
- Face cloth (get one that removes dirt and makeup with only water – very handy indeed.)
- Normal Shampoo
- Handwash
- Shower gel
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Comb/brush
- Razor
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Toilet paper
- Hand/baby wipes
- Nappies
Don’t forget these other camping essentials
- Camping towels (the ones that are thin and dry really quickly)
- Water bag with a tap (great to set up a hand-washing station)
- Portable potty
- Medication
- Supplements
- Cards/games/toys/balls/frisbee
- Tablet
- Device chargers
- Bluetooth speaker
- Bikes/helmets
- Electric hook-up cable
- Battery power packs
- Notepad/pen
- Torches/Lanterns/solar fairy lights/head torches (I find you can’t take too many lighting solutions!)
- Extra batteries/bulbs
- Insect repellent/candles
- Water filters/purification
- Rucksack
- Washing powder
- Clothes Pegs
- Collapsible clothes drying rack
- Rope/clothesline
- Safety pins
- Sunglasses
- First aid kit
- Pocket knife/multi-tool
- Water bottles
- Umbrella
- Pocket sewing kit
Download our free family camping essentials checklist
This family camping essentials checklist comes in very handy when you’ve got excited children flying around; trying to sabotage your packing mission!
Can you add anything to the list? What am I missing, and also what are your favourite items to take? Let me know in the comments and I will update the list! Thanks for reading, and enjoy your camping trip.
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