30 Car Camping Must-Haves For Family Camping + Checklist Printables

A cabin-style tent can provide a family with ample space to sleep, the ability to stand up in, and store their gear inside. This 3-season, 6 person cabin tent from Coleman has enough room for 2 queen-sized air mattresses and a separate screened-in porch. Angled windows provide good air circulation and hinged door ensure door always closed before the children going in/out. Center height is 6'8".

Another great family tent is this 4 person blackout dome tent from Coleman. It's great for families with younger children that need a dark room to nap in.

A welcome mat or carpet remnant outside the tent door will help keep rocks, dirt, and debris out of the tent. It can be used to wipe shoes before entry or as a place to take off shoes before entering the tent. If you have everyone remove shoes (like we do), a small basket next to the mat is helpful to store shoes in. At night we bring in the basket to prevent spiders and bugs from finding new homes in our footwear.

At a minimum, you need a cutting board, spatula, and stir spoon when camp cooking. This Gourmet Kitchen Set 11 from GSI includes all this plus waterproof seasoning containers, collapsible whisk, dish scrubber, camp towel, and carrying case. There are 11 pieces in all.

This camping gadget is 14 tools all rolled into one; ax, hammer, knife, screwdriver, saw, pliers, fish descaler, bottle opener, and more. It can help drive tent stakes into the ground, cut rope, cut wood, scale a fish, and so much more.

Even if there is no rain in the forecast, pack a rain jacket for every person going. Weather can change suddenly and it’s best to be safe than sorry. These Torrentshell 3L rain jackets from Patagonia are simple and effective with three layers of breathable/waterproof H2No Performance fabric. Two-way adjustable hood, side vents, and self-stuff sack. Fair Trade Certified sewn. Available in Men's, Women's, and Children sizes.

When you go on any outdoor adventure, you need a first aid kit. At a minimum, pack extra bandages, moleskin for blisters, first aid salve, bite and sting relief cream, cleansing wipes, and allergy medication. I really like the assembled first aid kits Backcountry offers. They offer six different pre-assembled kits that range from light day trip kits to extensive mountaineer kits that serve ten people for up to twenty-eight days.

The idea of being lulled to sleep by the sweet sounds of nature isn’t always the reality. Strange noises like a hooting owl, a chirping cricket, noisy camp neighbors, or a raccoon rummaging thru trash cans can keep children and adults awake at night. Pack earplugs designed for small-sized ears for everyone just in case. They can help drown out the sound and get a good night's sleep.

Mel from TravelingwithMel.com bought this Nature Log at a visitor center early in their camping career. Since then her boys fill out one or two pages at every campground. Not only does it give them something fun to do at the campsite and focus them on the nature around them, but it has also become a lovely memory book.

Rather than throwing all your gear in a backpack or in the corner of the tent, this Gear Line Organization System from NITE IZE helps you keep everything organized. Five #2 and five #4 plastic S carabiners securely clip everything from towels and water bottles to car keys and lanterns from the line making them easy to find and keep out of the way. Line measures 4ft with gear ties on each end for attachment options horizontally and vertically.

Add mesh camp chairs around the campfire or just around the tent area for a place to kick back and relax. Many campsites have a picnic table, but few are comfortable sitting around for any length of time. So it’s best to bring your own chairs. These Camp X Chairs from REI provide comfort and support at an affordable price. Heavy-duty construction, powder-coated frame, and 300lb weight limit make this a very durable camp chair. If you want to splurge, consider spending a little extra for the GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker or the Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair.

Duct tape has been on my list of camp must-haves for years. Now I prefer Gorilla Tape for fix-it emergencies because it works better in all kinds of weather. Gorilla is low tack and strong adhesive and is ideal to patch a tear in a jacket or tent, tape together a torn shoe, hold together a crackled spatula handle, and hang string lights.

Most campgrounds offer a dedicated fire pit for each campsite. When looking at where you’ll go camping, check to see if the site does offer one. If the campground does not, bring your own portable fire pit that allows for a “leave no trace” footprint. This folding fire pit from Primus doubles as a grill using either wood or charcoal. Read more on other portable fire pits we love for backyard camping.

Helping to keep the tent clean, a small hand broom like this one from Camco is an indispensable item and should be on any camp pack list. It’s compact (10.65"H x 6.4"W x 2.4"D) for kids to use and perfect for getting around sleeping mats, under cots, and the like. Use it daily to sweep out any dirt inside the tent that may puncture your inflatable sleeping mats or air mattress.

This Bugaboo Camper CookSet from GSI includes a 3-liter cooking pot, 2-liter cooking pots, 9” frying pan, washbasin, folding pot gripper, and place settings for 4 (7.5” plates, 14 oz bowls, lidded cups). Being steel, it is lightweight and conducts heat well to ensure for even cooking. How to find the right camp cookware for you.

For easy on the go illumination, headlamps are super convenient for families. BioLite’s HeadLamp 330 is one of the lightest versions on the market and is operated with a single button making it easy for children to wear. It sits flat against the forehead and doesn’t slip or bounce if running. Produces up to 330 Lumens of white or red light for emergencies and is powered with batteries or USB rechargeable cord. You can read my review of the HeadLamp 330 here.

From the kitchen to the bathhouse, having a few high-quality microfiber towels are essential gear. These camping towels from Wise Owl come in a variety of sizes that fold down for compact storage, are super absorbent, and dry quickly when hung up.

Pack all your toiletries into a hanging shower caddy for easy organization and transport to the community bathhouse. Many improved campgrounds offer community showers either in your nightly camp fee or as a separate charge. These showers often do not have any shelf in which to hand shampoo and soap, so this shower caddy is invaluable. This Fold Flat Toiletry Bag from Wayfarer Supply measures 9”W x 8.5” H x 4” D with 4 elastic edges pouches in the center and 3 zippered pouches to keep everything organized. Actually we have two, one for the girls and another for the boys as showers are not unisex.

A high-quality ice cooler like an ORCA, Pelican, or Yeti is worth the money because it will keep your food cold and stored at safe temperatures. This 70QT Pelican holds up to 65 cans and is ideal for an extended weekend family camping trip. 2 inches of thick PU foam insulation ensures that your food stays cold your whole trip.

The key to staying warm while you sleep is a good quality sleeping mat. It provides insulation from colder ground temperatures and some cushion while you sleep. This ComfortLite Sleeping Pad XXL from Teton Sports is an extra wide (78” x 30” x 2.5”) self-inflating pad that provides extra insulation and comfort. Added features include non-slip base and velcro side strips that allow you to connect two pads together for a larger sleep surface.

For the ultimate sleeping outside, these stackable camping cots are ideal. We have both the Kid-O-Bunks and the adult Disc-O-Bunks which are perfect for camping and kid sleepovers at home.

A warm sleeping bag can make the difference between a cozy night’s sleep and shivering all night due to wind and chill. This Celsius Regular from Teton Sports is an affordable sleeping bag that is light (5lbs) but still suitable for chilly evenings ( ISO comfort rating is 0˚F). Made from SoftLoft Elite Hollow Fiber with a taffeta shell and brushed poly-flannel liner, it's super soft and highly durable. The mummy-style hood can cinch in around your head and pillow to hold in the warmth. The rectangle shape (80” x 33” x 3”) allows for extra room and will stuff compactly in the included cinch sac.

Organize all your kitchen gear in one place. This hard plastic footlocker with wheels makes a great camp kitchen box. It is sturdy and not too heavy. You can add dividers as needed for smaller items. If you prefer something with more compartments/dividers, this Stanley FatMax wheeled toolbox is a popular choice with campers.

A lighter is the easiest way to start a fire, but it never hurts to have a back up. These Titan Stormproof matches from UCO can be lit even after being wet. They truly do light in any weather condition and burn for up to 25 seconds so you can really get your fire going.

If you only want to buy one piece of camp cookware, buy this heavy-duty campfire cooking grate. Extend the legs and place over a campfire and start cooking. You can use it to throw a few foil packet meals on or place a coffee kettle to boil water for instant coffee or place a cast-iron skillet on top. This model is extremely durable and can be cleaned as needed on-site or at home.

This is the second piece of camp cookware you should have. When you don’t want to or can’t use a campfire to cook, a camp stove can do it all. With this Selkirk Camp Stove from GSI Outdoors, you can make everything from boiled water for dehydrated meals to reheating premade camping meals. We like this stove because it’s lighter than other brands, puts out a good amount of heat (10,000 BTU/h) and the cooktop is large enough for two 8” and/or 10” cooking pots side by side.

Many campers like the metal enamelware tableware sets with plates and bowls. However, I don’t like them for families with smaller children as the metal gets hot once food is placed on them. They can get too hot for little hands. Our family prefers this 6 piece mesh kit from UCO. It includes plate bowl, camp cup, fork, and spoon/knife combo. Constructed of high quality, durable polypropylene/thermoplastic elastomer.

A camping trip isn’t complete without roasting marshmallows. These heavy duty, stainless steel roasting sticks are extremely sturdy and extend from 10” out to 34” long, helping to keep little hands away from the open fire and store compactly in its included storage bag.

A stationary lantern is perfect in camp. This Madrona lantern from UCO has an adjustable dial to increase the light intensity of up to 300 lumens. Flat base and magnetic quick-connect strap allow this to stand up front on a table or hang upside down and be mounted to a tent, tree, or post. It’s bright, durable, weather-resistant, and easy for kids to use during family trips. Best of all it’s rechargeable with a USB cord and can charge your phone if needed.

Nothing ruins a camping trip worse than bug bites. Protect yourself and the family with insect repellent. Natrapel active ingredient, picaridin, repels mosquitos, black flies, and ticks for up to 12 hours.

Be sure to pack your hiking boots to hit your favorite local and state parks trails. Our family all wear Keens hikers because they are waterproof, provide excellent stability, and allow for good airflow. Find our recommendations for the best hiking boots for kids here. Available for men, women, and children’s sizing.

Never go anywhere without a refillable water bottle. Instead of packs of bottled water, go eco-friendly with a refillable water bottle. Hydroflask and Kleen Kanteen are our two favorite brands are they are both extremely well made, provide enough insulation for many hours of hot/cold.

Just because you are outdoors doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to all your electronics. That’s unless you want to, of course! This solar-generated mini powerhouse is the Goal Zero Yeti 150. It will keep small electronics like rechargeable headlamps and lanterns, phones, camera equipment, laptops, and other devices charged up. This environmentally-friendly power source works off solar power but can also be recharged at home via wall outlet or in the car with a 12V port. It’s quiet too!

You would think this was more for the adults, but our kids take these over as soon as they are strung between trees. We have two double hammocks so all four of us can fit. When my husband and I aren’t using them, the kids use the hammocks as swings, but mostly we all hop in and read (or nap, in my case). Something about the novelty of the hammocks keeps the boys pretty entertained.