Our family is going camping over Columbus Day weekend this year.  We have booked our campsite at a state park in New Hampshire and are really excited! 

I thought I would repost this article I wrote three years ago when my kids were even younger than they are now.  Now at ages 9, 6, and 4, camping is a bit easier.  But many of the tips still apply!  Enjoy.

This past Labor Day weekend we decided to take our three children (ages 6, 3, and 1) camping.  Now, I know that many of you do this all the time and are absolute pros at it.  I am in awe of you!

Our family, however, hasn’t been camping since my youngest two were born.  It just seemed too overwhelming, too plain old crazy.  Three small children in the wilderness?  Um, isn’t that a recipe for disaster?

But this weekend my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew were here visiting, and they are expert campers.  Their son is only sixteen months old, but he has already been on several camping trips.  We figured that this was an excellent opportunity to learn from the best!

So, we loaded our car down with a tent, sleeping bags, s’mores fixings, and headed out to a nice state park an hour away.  And you know what?  It was an absolutely lovely weekend.

I thought I would share a few

Tips and Tricks for Camping With Small Children:

1. Start Small

If you are a newbie camper, you may not want to start off with a backpacking expedition or two weeks touring the national parks.  While those are both amazing options, they are not suited to the skill level of a first time family camping trip.

Instead look for local options–county or state parks or even nearby campgrounds.  These are generally quite inexpensive ($10-$25 a night for tent camping) and can provide a new look at your own area.

2. Think Short

Along with starting small, you should also think short–as in just a one night trip.  By keeping the trip to one night, you lessen the amount of food and supplies that you need to bring.

You also eliminate the need to bring shower/bath supplies.  I’m all about keeping it simple!

On our trip, we arrived at our campground at 2:00 in the afternoon and left by 10:00 the next morning.  We only had two meals to prepare, and we all showered when we got home in the afternoon.  The kids didn’t get tired of any particular activity, and we all had a great time!

3. Amenities Matter

So many things about camping appeal to kids–pitching the tent, cooking hot dogs, roasting s-mores, etc.  However, it can be nice to have a few other activities to offer them as well.

Many campgrounds and parks offer great amenities for families.  Look for a campground with a pool, a playground, hiking trails, or a game room.  These are typically included with the cost of the campground and provide great entertainment.

We took full advantage of the amenities at our state park.  My sister-in-law and I took the little kids to the playground while the men and Big Brother set up the tents.  Then we all went to the pool and splashed around for a couple of hours before supper.  We also explored some interesting limestone formations and caves nearby.  Great fun!

4. Bring Home Comforts

When traveling with small children, consistency is key.  Don’t feel guilty about bringing along items that will help them eat and sleep well.  

We brought a pack n’ play for our one-year-old, and my sister-in-law brought a small highchair for my nephew.  These simple things helped the little ones maintain a semblance of routine and adjust to the trip quickly.  They also helped the parents out quite a bit!

5. The More the Merrier

Finally, consider camping with another family.  The saying, “Many hands make light work,” is completely true for camping.

We would have had a completely different experience without my brother and sister-in-law.  There was always an adult around to watch the children, keep an eye on little ones near the fire, etc.

We also split meal prep:  our family brought the supplies for and prepared our supper, while my brother and sister-in-law brought and made an excellent breakfast of pancakes and sausage.

Another benefit of traveling with another family is the built-in companionship.  Our kids had fun playing together, and adults got to hang out.

Altogether, we had an amazing weekend.  The kids had a blast hanging out with their cousin, swimming, and camping.  And, the adults got to stay up late talking around the fire with some good wine.

I’m so glad that I “went a little crazy” and tried a camping with small children.  And, who knows, we may do that national parks tour soon.

What are your camping tips?