Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a strong desire to be whisked away deep into nature as often as possible. Camping trips satiate this impulse of mine like no other. It’s almost like I have a need for a quarterly retreat to the wilderness just to recharge! Since we welcomed Annie, our family has not had the opportunity to get out into nature and sleep under the stars. Sure, we’ve had our fair share of outdoorsy experiences but no legitimate camping trips until this past weekend.
Now that we’re in Tennessee again, we have the opportunity to revisit some of our favorite state parks from growing up and share them with our daughter. We set out with a few friends on a fall weekend for the ultimate family camping trip. Having been so often before kids, and doing our research on what to bring with a toddler in tow, the entire getaway went off without a hitch!
I’m so excited to be teaming up with Academy Sports + Outdoors today to share with y’all our ultimate family camping checklist along with a few tips and tricks we’ve discovered to make our outdoorsy getaway all the more successful. More below!
A COMPLETE FAMILY CAMPING CHECKLIST:
1. A Prepared Plan
The girl scouts always say, “Be Prepared” for a good reason. Doing your research before a family camping trip is key for the perfect trip. Is the park within a reasonable driving distance for such a short getaway? Will it rain? Will I need to pack extra tarp and ponchos? Does the campsite require permits or reservations? (If so, we always try to find the most spacious spot available in advance that’s not too far of a walk from the restrooms – also key when bringing a potty-trained child along.)
It’s also great to plan any hikes or activities ahead of time, especially when traveling with a group. This way everyone is on board and knows what to expect and pack for the adventure ahead. We planned an easy 2.5-mile hike when camping at Big Hill Pond State Park that gave us just enough time to see the scenery and stretch our legs before dinner time.
2. A Tent to Fit Your Family & Gear
Patrick and I have come a long way from the lightweight backcountry camping tents we carried on our packs for miles & miles back in college. Today, our trips come with a whole lot more gear which requires a bigger tent too. We nicknamed this Mission 8-Person Tunnel Tent by Magellan from Academy the Kerley Kastle, because it really is big enough to feel like it’s very own camping castle!
We opted for a larger tent even though it is just the three of us because we knew that this would be a tent for our family to grow into over the years to come. Eventually, Annie would go from sharing an air mattress with us to having her own. Who knows, one day there could be another little nugget camping with us in his or her portable crib down the road!?
We also liked that this tent was spacious enough to store all of our gear both inside and out. Overnight, we were able to keep our duffle bags, and all the food inside the tent and far away from our sleeping arrangements. The outside screened-in porch area is where we tossed our hiking boots and cooler. It was nice to have this extra space to keep the inside area clean as we could.
3. Camping Sleeping Essentials for a Sweet Slumber
Family car camping feels like such a luxury compared to our backcountry college days! We brought along an air mattress, a wool blanket, this adorable buffalo plaid fleece blanket and even a set of flannel sheets to keep our family warm at night. With all three of us sharing an air mattress, it made more sense to go this route than to squeeze three sleeping bags together, especially not knowing how our two-year-old would do in a sleeping bag for the first time.
We were so thrilled that Annie slept like a dream during our trip. It’s hard not to after a busy bustling day and when you have your stuffed animal friends along for the adventure!
4. A Camp Chair to Keep You Cozy
Again, now that we’re “car camping” with a family, we have the luxury of packing our own camp chairs for sitting by the roaring fire. My favorite part of a camping trip is sitting back, relaxing and admiring the crackling fire before me. Better yet if I have something sweet to sip on at the same time!
These GCI Outdoor Pod Rocking Camp Chairs take fireside chats to a whole new level. This cozy camp chair stands out from the crowd because it’s also a rocking chair! Is your mind blown, because mine was when Patrick showed them to me! I could have rocked under my fleece blanket with coffee in hand and my tot on my lap for hours on end – I was so cozy during our trip. Bonus points because the chair even comes with a sunshade for bright sunny days! You can find this camp chair also at Academy Sports & Outdoors in either a navy or green shade.
5. A Complete Outdoor Kitchen
The last thing you want to do is spend hours waiting on dinner to warm up over the hot coals of the fire after a long day hiking the trails. It’s fun and all to cook over a raw open flame, but when hungry children are whining in your ear nothing is sweeter than the sound of your camp stove quickly igniting! We have been using this 2-Burner Stove by Coleman from Academy for years now and LOVE it!
For meals outdoors, we the nix paper products for a number of reasons and opt for reusable enamelware. These speckled blue enamel plates are super durable and easy to clean. I also just happen to love the way they look too!
6. And Tasty Recipes to Recreate Outside
After years and years of trial and error, I feel like Patrick and I have finally found what works best when it comes to making meals at our campsite. Here’s my number one tip for you all, do as much as prep as possible before you leave home!
Whether you’re whipping up steak and potatoes over the fire or sauteeing stew in a skillet on your camp stove, the more you prepare your meal in advance at home the better. I’ve learned the hard way how long it takes to adequately cook potatoes over a fire so these days if we’re going that route, we bake most veggies beforehand and pretty much just reheat everything at our campsite.
Our big dinner at camp was actually leftover chili from the day before reheated on the camp stove. It tasted even better the second night outdoors next to the firelight. When it comes to breakfast, we almost always opt for breakfast tacos while camping. All we need to pack are 6 eggs, cheddar cheese, tortillas, half a stick of chorizo and a small bottle of salsa. It takes less than 10 minutes to whip up and is so easy to do on the camp stove. Plus, breakfast tacos are always a crowd pleaser!
6. Hiking Gear Fit for a Tot
This may have been Annie’s very first camping trip but it certainly wasn’t her first hiking adventure with her parents. When she was 3-months old, I wore her in a chest carrier on a trek through a canyon. Pretty sure she slept the whole time too! These days, she’s a bundle of energy but still a bit too young to tackle some of the longer trails especially those with rough terrain.
To keep everyone safe and happy on a hike we use a child carrier hiking backpack and make sure that we both wear shoes with good ankle support especially if we’re on trails with steep hills and rough terrain.
We also joke that whoever is not carrying Annie gets to carry Annie’s hiking backpack (I like this one from Academy) filled with her very own trail mix, juice, and a small treat or two in case she decides she’s over the hike and we need some sort of negotiation piece mid-way through. Two-year-olds, I’m telling you, can be so wishy-washy!! ha
7. Boots to Take Your from the Trail to the Tent
Speaking of boots with good ankle support, shout out to these kicks of mine by Magellan. I kept them on almost our entire weekend and felt like I could do anything I wanted to because of it. Does anybody else often feel that way in a really comfortable sturdy pair of shoes!? I love Magellan’s Outdoor Harper Boots because it has a waterproof body and the outsoles have an incredible grip, especially handy when you’re traversing rocky terrain or slippery surfaces.
8. Campfire Coffee Necessities
“First I drink the coffee, then I do all the things.” – Lorelei Gilmore and I have very similar feelings towards coffee. Especially after a night in the woods sharing a bed with your two-year-old! (I mean, I really was very comfortable … but coffee helps every little thing, doesn’t!?)
Pre-child Patrick and Alice packed tiny single-use instant coffee pouches in our camping backpacks to mix with water in our mugs each morning. These days, only a piping hot pot of our favorite roast will do! (The benefits of car camping are endless!) We’ve been using this enamelware 12-Cup Percolator by Texsport from Academy for years and years. You can place the percolator atop the burner on your camp stove or use it to brew your coffee over hot coals by the fire.
Only matching enamelware mugs will do for sipping on said coffee at camp, if I do say so myself! You can find them here at Academy too.
9. Dress the Part in Plaid Shirts for Him & Her
My friends like to joke that I always love a good theme. Cowboy hats in the wild west. Plaid & tweed in Ireland. Naturally, I can’t resist a good plaid flannel shirt when camping either. (And neither can my husband!)
The price point on these flannel shirts by Magellan at Academy is unbelievable, especially for the quality! Trust me, I’ve tried my fair share of plaid flannel shirts over the years and can totally attest to these. They kept us warm and cozy and the cut was stylish enough for the style blogger in my too! While I am typically a size small in most blouses, I sized up to a large in my Willow Creek Flannel Shirt to give it more of an oversized cozy feel. (It did the trick too!)
10. Camping Essentials to Keep Your Campfire Burning
I’m never allowed anywhere near the campfire on trips because Patrick is quite the master fire builder. I typically let him do his thing and enjoy the results! I asked him what I should share with y’all when it comes to fire building and he recommended to pack your own logs, paper for extra kindling, matches and a Coghlan’s Fire Disc. He picked one of these up for the first time at Academy before we hit the road and now claims he will not go on another trip without a few fire discs in tow.
These fire discs are designed to light quickly and burn hot to get your campfire roaring within minutes. They also keep a flame burning long and hot which is great if you plan to cook over a fire.
11. A Hammock To Hang Out In
Patrick gave me an ENO DoubleNest Hammock for Christmas when we were just dating many moons ago. It still comes along on every camping trip with us! Now instead of the two of us sharing it, we take turns swinging to and fro with Annie. Or I’ll slip away into the hammock with my book when everyone’s distracted with something else if I’m able to, ha mom life! Annie loves this hammock and with it being so easy to install, it makes such a great addition to our campsite.
And now for a round-up of a few more (not pictured above but just as necessary) family camping essentials below:
A Camp Lantern: this one will match the light of your fire – the orange glow this gives off is so much less harsh than that of your typical bright white LED light. You also have the ability to switch it to the bright light at any time if needed, so it’s like two in one!
Child’s Flashlight: Annie loved using her new flashlight! This one is durable enough for a two-year-old and bright enough to navigate a dark night in the forest.
Water Cooler: Instead of buying plastic gallon jugs at the grocery store for camping trips, we fill this cooler up at home and use it all weekend long to refill water bottles, wash dishes or to fill our percolator up for morning coffee.
Water Bottles: CamelBak bottles have always been our favorites for camping and hiking.
Pocket Knife: You just never know when you’re going to need one!
First Aid Kit: A must-have on all camping lists. We keep this one in the trunk of our car most of the time and always make sure to pack it on vacations, especially camping trips. It’s also available at Academy and I like that it comes in a larger “family size” with enough necessities to treat a number of people if need be.
Bug Spray: Another obvious must-have! I like this one by Cutter when camping because you typically don’t get a shower in before bedtime on these types of trips and sometimes sleeping covered in bug spray can be a bit icky. This bottle comes complete with Aloe and Vitamin E for a smoother feeling and less intense scent.
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Do you and your family have any favorite camping spots that you visit year after year?! I always like trying someplace new each & every time. To me, that’s half the fun! But what I always keep constant is our gear. Does you have any must-haves in your family camping checklist that I’m missing above? If so, please inspire me and share them in the comments below!
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Big thank you to Academy for sponsoring this family camping checklist. It was such a treat to share one of my favorite activities in the world with you all through this partnership. As always, thanks to you all for stopping by the blog and supporting the brands that make Lone Star Looking Glass possible.
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xo, alice
