The Ultimate Guide to Your Family Camping Trip with the Kids

Make a Plan

Organizing a family camping excursion can be somewhat daunting for those who have not previously undertaken such an adventure. It is essential to take into account various elements to ensure the trip meets the needs and preferences of your family.

Different Ways to Camp

When organizing a family camping trip, a primary consideration is the type of camping experience desired. Various camping styles exist, each with distinct features. This discussion will focus on tent camping in contrast to RV or motorhome camping, as our expertise lies in family tent camping.

• Tent camping is among the most recognized forms of camping. This activity involves reserving a site at either a tent-exclusive campground or a facility that accommodates both RVs and tents. The cost of campgrounds can vary significantly, typically ranging from $25 to over $80 per night. Generally, those in the higher price bracket offer superior amenities compared to their more economical counterparts. Further details regarding tent camping will be discussed later in the article.
• Glamping has gained significant popularity as a modern camping option in recent years. This style of camping, which combines the outdoors with the comforts of home, is particularly appealing for families, as it offers a hassle-free experience with all arrangements made in advance. While often described as "luxury camping," it encompasses a variety of accommodations, from treehouses to caves, catering to diverse preferences. However, it is important to note that the enhanced amenities typically come at a higher price point. For further details on glamping options, one can visit glampinghub.com.

• Backpacking can be an excellent choice for adventurous families. It involves tent camping while transporting all necessary belongings on your back to the campsite. Although my family has not yet engaged in backpacking, my husband has experience from hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail. While I view backpacking as a challenging endeavor for families, I believe it may not be the ideal starting point for our camping experiences.
• Car camping involves utilizing your vehicle as a means of accommodation while camping. For families, this often translates to van camping rather than traditional car camping. A valuable resource on this topic can be found in an article by Wonders Within Reach, which discusses how to construct your own camper van for under $400.

• Primitive camping involves tent camping with a more rugged experience. These campsites are usually located in remote areas, often requiring a hike to access them, and they typically lack amenities such as restrooms, running water, or electricity. Our family has engaged in primitive camping extensively and discovered it to be more enjoyable than we initially anticipated. Additionally, these sites are often significantly less expensive, and in some cases, free to use.

What Is A Good Age To Take A Child Camping?

If you were to pose this question to a group of individuals, you would likely receive a range of responses. Many frequent campers would probably advocate for an early introduction to camping for children, believing that early exposure fosters a lifelong love for the outdoors. 

Consider experimenting with backyard camping before committing to a two-hour drive or more to camp among unfamiliar faces. If your initial experience at home proves successful, I encourage you to proceed with the adventure. In my opinion, tent camping ranks among the finest family activities, although it requires considerable patience, especially when involving toddlers and infants.

Camping Apps

We are fortunate to reside in an era where camping applications are readily available to assist in locating campsites. Below are a few options you may consider for planning your upcoming camping excursion.

Roadtrippers Pro

This application is my top choice for planning not only camping excursions but all types of trips. During our last two month-long journeys, I utilized Roadtrippers Pro extensively. While I cannot detail every benefit of the membership, I would like to highlight the reasons for my strong preference for this app.

One of the primary advantages is the ability to map out my journey and identify intriguing stops along the route. The app also facilitates the rearrangement of the itinerary, which proved invaluable when deciding the order of visits to attractions like the Creation Museum and The Ark Encounter during our trip to Kentucky. Additionally, transforming a one-way trip into a round trip is accomplished with a single click. Another feature I appreciate is the display of the duration for each segment of the journey.

Regarding camping, the app includes a dedicated button to search for nearby camping locations. When selecting a specific campsite, users may find useful details such as photos, reviews, and information about amenities like parking, restrooms, pet policies, and Wi-Fi availability, although this information is not consistently available for every listing.

IOverlander

IOverlander was another app that we used quite frequently, specifically when we were looking for primative/free camping. Wikipedia defines overlanding as “Overlanding is self-reliant travel to remote destinations where the journey is the principal goal.” Ioverlander is a free website and app that will show you where you can find camping and also frequently gives details about the location. Occasionally they end up as dead ends but we were amazed by some of the quality camping locations we found while using this app.

HiCamp

Hipcamp is also a free app which will help you locate and book tent camping, RV parks, cabins, glamping, and more. This site is great for finding places outside your typical camping spots. While I didn’t come across any free sites when browsing the site, there were several options as low as $15 a night which is a great bargain!

What To Look For In A Kid-Friendly Campground

During the planning phase, it is advisable to contemplate the desired features for your campground or campsite. While evaluating potential campgrounds, you may take the following aspects into account:

• Do they have quiet hours?
• Do they have a playground?
• Do they have a swimming pool and/or body of water to swim in? (this may be a positive or negative depending on the age of your children. In Florida we always have to think about the fact that many bodies of water have alligators in them.)
• Is the campground close to the attractions you will be visiting?
• Are there bathrooms/showers?

Where to Go?

The options are endless when trying to decide where to go. I typically plan our trips around National Parks we want to visit. If you have a child in fourth grade, be sure to check out our article Every Kid Outdoors: Family Guide To The National Parks to find out how you can get your whole family into all National Parks for a year free!

Tripadvisor is definitely my go-to when visiting an area to decide what things we should consider doing.

Booking a Campsite

The initial phase of reserving a campsite involves selecting your desired destination. After determining the location, it is essential to explore options such as national parks, state parks, national forests, and local campgrounds to identify which site best fits your family's budget and requirements. Consideration should be given to the site's proximity to attractions of interest and the amenities available at the chosen campground.

If you are targeting a popular destination during peak season, it is advisable to secure your reservation in advance. National parks and forests typically open their booking windows approximately six months prior to the intended visit. Reservations for these sites can be made through recreation.gov.

Before finalizing your booking, ensure you review all campground requirements. Certain campgrounds may impose restrictions related to pets, the age of children, and vehicle dimensions. Failing to adhere to these regulations may result in denial of access, even if payment has already been made.

We trust that this Comprehensive Family Camping Guide will assist you in organizing an ideal camping experience for your family. Keep in mind that even if the outcome deviates from your expectations, you are still fostering valuable moments for family bonding, which is the essence of a memorable vacation.

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