Prepping for your first family camping trip? Then you need our ultimate family camping checklist. We'll tell you exactly what to pack.
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, we’ve included a camping checklist PDF that you can print. Happy camping!
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The world of words/ShutterstockLike any trip you take, it’s always possible to forget things. As long as you have the basics to build your tent, keep you and your family fed and you brought all the necessary safety equipment, you should be golden. If you left your favorite coffee mug or the cornhole set at home, it won’t be the end of the world. Take this time to breathe deeply in the open air and enjoy the simplicity of the outdoors and all they have to offer.
More Campfire Favorites
Bratwurst Supper Here's an easy camping meal that 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 Go to Recipe
Ham & Jack Pudgy PiePepper jack cheese adds spicy flavor to these warm, melty pudgy pies. —Terri McKitrick, Delafield, Wisconsin
Grilled Corn in HusksIf you're new to grilling corn in the husk, season the ears with butter, Parmesan cheese and parsley. It's especially good! Be sure to give the corn a long soak before putting it on the grill. Hot off the grate, the kernels are moist and tender with a wonderful, sweet flavor. — Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Blueberry-Cinnamon Campfire BreadA 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
Use your trusty pot in these other Dutch oven camping recipes.Camper’s Breakfast HashWhen we go camping with family and friends, I'm always asked to make this hearty breakfast. This camping breakfast is a favorite at home, too. —Linda Krivanek, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Foil-Packet Potatoes and SausageMy family enjoys camping and cooking over a fire. These easy foil-packet potatoes turn out beautifully over a campfire, on the grill or in the oven at home. —Julie Koets, Elkhart, Indiana
Skillet Herb BreadMy mom created this recipe more than 40 years ago. Thanks to the trusty cast-iron skillet, you can make it at home or over a campfire. —Shirley Smith, Yorba Linda, California
Pizza Mountain PiesBecause we liked this pudgy pie recipe as an easy camping meal, I started making them for my daughter on our stove at home. —Pam Weik, West Lawn, Pennsylvania
Cheesy Ham & Potato PacketI found the technique for grilling ham, potatoes and cheese in foil and changed the recipe for our tastes. —Molly Bishop, McClure, Pennsylvania
Easy Grilled Corn with Chipotle-Lime ButterGrilling corn in the husks is so easy. There's no need to remove the silk and tie the husk closed before grilling. Just soak, grill and add your favorite flavored butter. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Really Good Snack MixI grew tired of my family picking through a snack mix for their favorite ingredients and leaving the rest. So I experimented using only their most-loved mix-ins and came up with this recipe. Now there's never any left! —Lori Genske, Waldo, Wisconsin
Stay cool with these no-cook camping food ideas.Lemon-Dill Salmon PacketsGrilling 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
Camping in an RV? Try these camper meals!Dutch Oven Cheesy Bacon & EggsFor campouts, my sister and I escape on horseback into the woods. We make this Dutch oven breakfast casserole the first morning, then love the leftovers for the rest of the trip. —Mary Burris, Okeechobee, Florida
Campers Favorite DipOur 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 SyrupMy 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 CobblerThis dutch oven peach cobbler recipe 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 RibsIf 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
Campfire Cheese Hash Brown PacketsDining 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
Root Beer Apple Baked BeansAll 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 GrillMy 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 BurritosWhen we camp out, we want our meals ready in a hurry. We make these hearty burritos at home, freeze them and reheat them over the campfire. —Kristen Stecklein, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Pot of S'moresMom’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
Cherry-Chocolate Pudgy PieHere’s an ooey-gooey treat that’s just right for campfires and cookouts. —Josh Carter, Birmingham, Alabama
BBQ Hot Dog & Potato PacksFor 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 TacosWhen sitting down to tacos isn't an option, walking tacos are the answer. These self-contained mini-meals are just the thing for eating on the go or around a campfire.
Grilled Sausages with Summer VegetablesAfter 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 TwistsCinnamon 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
Campfire HashIn our area we are able to camp almost all year-round. My family invented this easy camping meal. It tastes so good after a full day of family camping activities. —Janet Danilow, Winkleman, Arizona
S'mOreosMy 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
Fluffy Scrambled EggsWhen 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
Campfire BundlesI 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
Sheepherder’s BreakfastMy sister-in-law always made this delicious breakfast dish when we were camping and had to come up with good, easy breakfast ideas. 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 DinnerYour 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
