Reconnect with nature (and your family!) by planning a camping trip. This classic summer activity is fun for all ages and easy on the budget. If you’re a camping newbie, it can be quite daunting to plan your first trip, especially when it comes to packing. That’s why we put together the ultimate family camping checklist. On this list, you’ll find all of the necessities for a successful trip—plus, it’s printable. Happy camping!
Print out your FREE family camping checklist.
Make a Plan:
- Pick a date
- Determine how long you want to camp
- Reserve your campsite
- Make a rain contingency plan (and consider these other brilliant camping tricks).
- If you have small children, consider doing a trial run in the backyard. Here’s our ultimate guide to the activity.
Pack the Essential Gear:
- Tent and stakes
- Tarp
- Air mattress(es)
- Sleeping bags
- Folding lawn chairs
- Folding table
- Blanket(s)
- Pillows
- Lantern/flashlight
- Clothesline (for hanging wet swimwear and towels)
Prep Your Outdoor Kitchen:
- Cooler + ice
- Cast-iron skillet (You’ll want it to make these tasty breakfast recipes.)
- Portable grill (+ charcoal and lighter fluid)
- Matches/lighter
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Meat thermometer
- Skewers
- Tongs
- Large/small bowls
- Aluminum foil
- Plates
- Cutlery
- Napkins
- Cups/water bottles
- Water jug
- Trash bags
- Sanitizing wipes
- Paper towels
Bring Our Best Camping Recipes:
- Breakfast for each day
- Lunch for each day
- Dinner for each day
- S’mores supplies (Here are fun new ways to make ’em.)
- Portable snacks
- Water
- Juice
- Beer/wine/liquor
These are the best foods to bring on a camping trip.
Personal Items:
- Clothing
- Pajamas
- Bathing suit
- Shoes
- Rain gear
- Toiletries
- Wallet
- Towels
Have a Little Fun:
- Board games (These are our top picks.)
- Lawn games
- Beach toys
- Coloring books + crayons
- Books + magazines
Keep Safety in Mind:
- First aid kit (You can find a lot of first aid remedies in your pantry!)
- Bug spray
- Extra batteries
- Sunscreen
- Life jackets (if you’re going in the water)
- Baby wipes
- Toilet paper
Don’t Forget:
- A map or compass (you might not always have cell service!)
- Camera
- Umbrella
- Cellphone charger
Find more camping recipes, tricks and tips here.
More Campfire Favorites
1 / 36
Pizza Mountain Pies
Because we liked this pudgy pie recipe so much, I started making them for my daughter on our stove at home. —Pam Weik, West Lawn, Pennsylvania
Campfire Bean 'N' Ham Soup
These are the best beans and ham you'll ever taste—bar none! Friends rave about this hearty soup that I serve hot off the grill. For easy cleanup, consider covering the outside of your Dutch oven with heavy-duty foil first. —Tom Greaves, Carrollton, Illinois
Blueberry-Cinnamon Campfire Bread
A neighboring camper made a bread so tempting, I had to ask for the details. Here’s my version, best enjoyed with a steaming cup of coffee by the campfire. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Campfire Hash
In our area we are able to camp almost all year-round. My family invented this recipe using ingredients we all love so we could enjoy them on the campfire. This hearty meal tastes so good after a full day of outdoor activities. —Janet Danilow, Winkleman, Arizona
Lemon-Dill Salmon Packets
Grilling in foil is an easy technique I use with foods that cook quickly, like fish, shrimp, bite-sized meats and fresh veggies. The options are endless—and the cleanup is easy. —A.J. Weinhold, McArthur, California
Skillet Herb Bread
This recipe was one of my mother's favorites. The flavors call to mind the taste of corn bread stuffing! —Shirley Smith, Yorba Linda, California
Campfire Cheese Hash Brown Packets
Dining by the campfire? This easy packet of potatoes, bacon and cheese makes a terrific hash. We like to serve it with eggs and fresh pico de gallo. —Gina Nistico, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Campers Favorite Dip
Our family craves this cheesy chili dip so much we make two batches, especially for the guys. If you’re not grilling out, bake it in the oven. —Valorie Ebie, Bel Aire, Kansas
Campfire Pancakes with Peanut Maple Syrup
My family loves eating s'mores around the campfire when we vacation at the lake. Campfire pancakes are my tribute to those happy times. —Cheryl Snavely, Hagerstown, Maryland
Campfire Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler has been a family classic for 60 years. We prefer peaches, but fresh cherries and berries are fun, too. Almost any fruit would work. Mix and match! —Jackie Wilson, Wellsville, Utah
Sweet Horseradish Glazed Ribs
If you like to prep ahead of camping, roast these ribs, wrap them and finish with a sweet, savory sauce at your campfire or grill. —Ralph Jones, San Diego, California
Root Beer Apple Baked Beans
All nine men in our family love roughing it outdoors. My beans with bacon and apples is a "must " to keep their outdoor energy going. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Eclairs on the Grill
My best camping treat is an easy eclair on a stick. This is the one that makes people watch what you’re doing and beg to be included. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Egg & Spinach Breakfast Burritos
When we camp out, we want our meals ready in a hurry. We make these hearty burritos at home, freeze them and reheat over the campfire. —Kristen Johnson, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Pot of S'mores
Mom’s easy Dutch oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho
Wyoming Cowboy Cookies
These cookies are very popular here in Wyoming. Mix up a batch for your crew and see why. —Patsy Steenbock, Shoshoni, Wyoming
Cherry-Chocolate Pudgy Pie
Here’s an ooey-gooey treat that’s just right for campfires and cookouts. —Josh Carter, Birmingham, Alabama
Fruit & Almond Bites
With big handfuls of dried apricots and cherries, almonds and pistachios, we make dozens of no-bake treats you can take anywhere. —Donna Pochoday-Stelmach, Morristown, New Jersey
S'mores Crescent Rolls
Here’s how to score indoor s’mores: Grab crescent dough and Nutella. Invite the kids to help with this rolled-up version of the campfire classic. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
BBQ Hot Dog & Potato Packs
For these nifty foil packs, small hands make quick work of topping potato wedges with a hot dog, onions and cheese. — Kelly Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin
Walking Tacos
These Walking Tacos are great for an on-the-go dinner, campfire meal or easy game night supper. The ingredients transform a bag of chips into a taco in a bag! —Beverly Matthews, Pasco, Washington
Grilled Sausages with Summer Vegetables
After 30 years of camping, we've come up with an arsenal of surefire recipes. Our grilled sausage with veggies would be a superstar at a potluck. —Nancy Daugherty, Cortland, Ohio
Campfire Cinnamon Twists
Cinnamon rolls get the toasty treatment when wrapped around skewers and warmed over a fire. Brush with butter, then sprinkle with sugar and spice. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Grilled Spicy Corn on the Cob
During a family picnic, we added jalapenos and hot pepper sauce to our homegrown corn. Now we spice up the ears every chance we get. —Bernadette Walker, Waco, Texas
Potato Chip Crunchies
When my family comes home, I like having treats ready for them. No matter what's on the cookie tray, these are always the first to vanish. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois
Jalapeno Bean Dip
This is the snack my family usually requests. We especially like to make this zippy dip on camping trips. —Lorene Goodwin, Belle Fourche, South Dakota
S'mOreos
My son introduced us to this twist on classic s'mores when we were camping. Have a jar of Nutella around? Slather on the inside of the graham cracker halves before you build this one-of-a-kind treat. —Christina Smith, Santa Rosa, California
Bratwurst Supper
After trying a few bratwurst recipes, I've found this meal-in-one is ideal for camping since it grills to perfection in a heavy-duty foil bag. Loaded with chunks of bratwurst, red potatoes, mushrooms and carrots, it's easy to season with onion soup mix and a little soy sauce. —Janice Meyer, Medford, Wisconsin
Fluffy Scrambled Eggs
When our son, Chris, wants something other than cold cereal in the morning, he whips up these eggs. Cheese and evaporated milk make them especially good. They're easy to make when you're camping, too. —Chris Pfleghaar, Elk River, Minnesota
Granola Trail Mix
My family has always enjoyed this crunchy four-ingredient snack. When we go camping, each person includes one additional ingredient like mini marshmallows, corn chips or cookie pieces. The taste is never the same, and we're often surprised by the combinations. —Shelley Riddlespurger, Amarillo, Texas
Cheese-Topped Potatoes in Foil
Whenever we go camping, cheesy potato packets are a must. They just may remind you of scalloped potatoes. In the winter, I bake them in the oven. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
Sausage and Hashbrown Breakfast Pizza
Pizza for breakfast? Kids of all ages will love making—and munching—this hearty meal-in-one made with convenient crescent rolls and frozen hash browns. It's even great for camping! —Rae Truax, Mattawa, Washington
Campfire Bundles
I created this recipe on a family camping trip. I'd brought along a hodgepodge of ingredients, so I just threw them all together in a foil packet. Everyone said that the bundles were delicious. Ever since, I've grilled them at home with equally good results. —Lauri Krause, Jackson, Nebraska
No-Bake Cereal Cookie Bars
We pull out all the goodies for these chewy bars, like raisins and coconut. For more color, sprinkle on the M&M's once the bars are in the pan. Then press them in. —Connie Craig, Lakewood, Washington
Sheepherder's Breakfast
My sister-in-law always made this delicious breakfast dish when we were camping. Served with toast, juice and milk or coffee, it's a sure hit with the breakfast crowd! One-dish casseroles like this were a big help while I was raising my nine children. Now I've passed this recipe on to them. —Pauletta Bushnell, Albany, Oregon
Grilled Campfire Trout Dinner
Your fresh catch will taste even better with this simple treatment that keeps the fish moist. Carrots are an excellent accompaniment; cook up in a separate foil packet. —Wendy McGowan, Fontana, California
The post Our Complete Family Camping Checklist (with Free Printable!) appeared first on Taste of Home.
Katie Bandurski