Our Must-Have Camping Gear Checklist: Family Camping Trip Essentials

We are supported by our audience and appreciate you for visiting our blog. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn affiliate commission at absolutely no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Camping has quickly become one of my favorite ways to appreciate nature and spend time outdoors with my family. It’s been good practice for us, since we’ll be living off grid in our skoolie soon. Each time we go, it is always such a fun experience. Whether you’ve gone before or if it's your first time camping, it’s beneficial to have a checklist just so you won’t forget anything.

It’s good to know where you are going beforehand because each campsite is different. Depending on the campsite, the amount of items you bring may vary. Some of them have picnic tables, grills, fire pits, running water, etc., so you can tailor your list to bring whatever is necessary for your specific trip.

I have compiled a checklist that has made my camping trips easier and hopefully it will help you out as well!

Internal Gear

These are the items that are most important because they require a little prep charging, packing, freezing etc. They are also the most necessary.

• Sleeping Bags & Klymit Pads, cordless pump

  • Kids sleeping bags

• Tent (it says 10 person but with just the 4 of us it’s comfortable, we like to call it our executive suite)

• Duffle bag (If it’s just a couple days we pack our clothes in one duffle, this also doubles as a backpack)

• Hoodies, boots, beanies, Smartwool socks (everyone usually has 3 pairs of shoes: birkenstocks, sneakers & boots)

• Solar Generator

  • Blueletti solar generator

• Jackery solar generator

• Solar Panel

• Female Urinal

• Thermals

• Baby snow suit

• Cooler

• Fire gloves & wood carrier

• Tarp (to go under the tent)

• Head lamp w/ extra batteries

• Stainless steel mess kit

  • Camping plates/bowls

  • Cutlery

  • Cups

• Baby wipes & Paper towels

External Gear

These items can be considered as “extras” you don't necessarily need them but they make your experience much more comfortable.

• Camping chair for adults

  • Camping chair for kids

  • Camping chair for baby

• Camp stove, Grill (to protect the ground)

  • Can of propane

• Rope Lights

• Cast Iron Grill or Wok

• JoyOuce meat thermometer (this helps ensure our food is cooked to the right temperature)

• Wagon

• Outdoor doormat for our shoes

• Woven Blanket

• Stanley Thermos - it’s an insulated food jar that can also be used for drinks

• Cast iron teapot

• Wonderboom Speakers x2 (best part is that we can link them and have a surround sound effect or be in 2 different ends of the camp and still hear the music at a low volume)

Preparing for camping may seem like a tedious thing to do, but allocating time to gathering all the proper supplies beforehand will save you a lot of trouble. Camping is fun when you don’t have to worry about forgetting supplies at home. Once you get all of that out the way, the actual trip will be a breeze!