33 Awesome Family Camping Hacks | The Most Useful Camping Tips

Camping as a family can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work. These 33 family camping hacks will help you make camping easier and more enjoyable. Using these camping tips will allow you to have more fun while tent camping, car camping, and general family camping. Let us know what you think and if there are any other family camping hacks or tips you feel should be added to the list.

1. Use glow sticks as nightlights

Using glow sticks is one of the camping hacks that our kids really enjoy. Glow sticks are a great way to provide a little light in your tent that isn’t too bright for sleeping. Just hang one or two in your tent, and you will have just enough light to see if you need to get up in the middle of the night.

2. Arrive before dark

Arriving at your campsite before dark will make things much easier. Setting up a tent and other necessities becomes a lot harder when you try and do it in the dark. It’s a good idea to plan and arrive at least 2 hours before sunset. That should give you enough time to set up your gear and get settled before it gets too dark.

3. Place dry firewood under your car

It’s a good idea to place dry firewood under your car so that if it rains, it will remain dry. There is nothing worse than waking up on a cold morning and not having any dry wood to start a fire. Keeping wood under your car will ensure it’s always dry and ready to use for your next fire.

4. Use fans inside your tent

When camping in warm weather, heat can be a real problem. A great tip is to use a couple of tent fans. Using these fans can make a real difference and make sleeping a lot more pleasant. You can find lots of great tent fan options on Amazon for really great prices.

5. For cold weather, use a heater

When camping in cold weather, it really helps to have a small heater going in your tent when you are going to bed and waking up. This makes it really easy to get kids changed and in or out of their sleeping bags. Mr. Heater is probably the most popular option, but there are a bunch of options you can choose from on Amazon.

If you have access to electricity, then it is super easy to use any small space heater. If you don’t have access to electricity, then you can use a propane header like Mr. Heater Buddy. I don’t sleep with the heater running because propane heaters can produce carbon monoxide, but I run it a little before we go to bed and right as we are waking up. Be cautious with propane heaters to avoid carbon monoxide. Make sure to have proper ventilation, use a carbon monoxide detector, and I wouldn’t recommend sleeping while the heater is running.

6. Remove large objects on your tent site

Removing large objects like pinecones, sticks, rocks, etc. will ensure you have a flat area to sleep in. While we remove the large objects, I actually like to keep a layer of pine needles (if you are camping in the pines) under the tent. It provides a thin layer of cushioning and makes things a little more comfortable.

7. DIY Camp Shower

This is one of my favorite family camping hacks. You can create your own camp shower/washing station. Use a 2-gallon sprayer with a kitchen sprayer attached. You can even paint it flat black to absorb solar heat. This is a lot cheaper than buying a real camping shower and makes it super easy to get kids clean after a long day of playing.

8. Solar-powered string lights

A solar-powered string of lights is a great way to light up your campsite or tent in the evening. You won’t have to worry about having access to electricity or bringing extra batteries. There a quite a few options to choose from on Amazon, and you can get them in different lengths, depending on the area you are wanting to light. Personally, this set of lights has worked great for us.

9. Bring a rug for the inside and outside of the tent

Dirt is always an issue when camping. If you want to try and cut down on the amount of dirt that ends up in your tent, bring a rug for both the inside and outside of your tent. Simply wiping your feed before and after getting in your tent will help a lot to control the dust and dirt that ends up in your tent.

10. Freeze gallons of water to use in your ice chest

Instead of buying a bag of ice to put in your cooler, freeze a gallon or two of water and place it in your cooler. It will last longer than a normal bag of ice, it won’t fill up your cooler with water, and once it melts, you will then have a gallon of water to drink.

12. Use swimming noodles on the guy lines of your tent

No one likes tripping of the guy lines of the tent. Cut up a couple of swimming pool noodles and place them over the guy lines. It will make them a lot easier to see, less likely to trip over, and is a very easy camping tip.

13. Lots of bug repellent

Having to deal with mosquitoes and other insects is never fun. Make sure you bring enough bug and insect repellent for your entire trip. Additionally, it’s not a bad idea to bring a few insect traps for inside your tent and around your campsite. One great campsite option is the Thermacell Patio Shield. This will give you a mosquito-free area, which is awesome for an eating area or a general gathering area.

14. Bring sunscreen and use it

Nothing is less fun than dealing with kids who have a sunburn. While camping, kids will be out in the sun most of the day. Using sunblock throughout the day will prevent sunburns and eliminate the complaining that comes from kids when they have a sunburn. If you get the spray-on sunblock, it is super easy to apply and only takes a couple of minutes.

15. Bubbles for kids

Bubbles are a great way to entertain younger kids. They can spend a long time blowing bubbles and chasing them. If you have slightly older children, you can try a larger bubble maker as older kids tend to have more fun with them.

16. Use a screened-in canopy as a play area

For younger children, toddlers, and babies use a screened-in canopy as a play area. This will keep them from wandering off as well as keep the insects away. Additionally, it makes for a great bug-free eating area when the kids are not playing in them. You can find a lot of options on Amazon, but our favorite one is this one from Coleman.

17. Ensure you have extra blankets

Extra blankets often come in handy. Whether it is cold and the kids need an extra layer to stay warm, or you want to lay out a blanket for a picnic, we always find a use for extra blankets. This camping tip might not seem like a very special idea, but you’ll be surprised how often the extra blankets will come in handy.

18. Lots of baby wipes

Baby wipes aren’t just for babies….they are for everything. Seriously, you will be surprised how useful they are and how many things you end up using them for. Things and kids get dirty when camping, and baby wipes will help you manage that dirt and keep things and kids at least moderately clean.

19. Bring sidewalk chalk

If you will be camping in a designated campground with roads, sidewalk chalk is a great item to bring with you. Kids love to draw and color. What better than to let them draw on the ground with chalk and spent time creating and using their imagination?

20. Pre-cook as much food as you can

Cooking from scratch while camping can be difficult. When possible, pre-cook as much food before your trip and heat it up at your campsite. There are a lot of great recipes that make cooking while camping a lot easier. Try a few out and find a few meals that work for you and cut down on the amount of cooking you have to do while camping.

Photo by elsmofour.com

21. Plan games and activities

Having a handful of games to play as a family is a great way to mix up your day and add some additional fun on a camping trip. A couple of board games or card games that your kids enjoy playing are a great option when the sun goes down, and activities become more restricted. Additionally, this is one of the best family camping hacks if you might get rain.

22. Portable potty for really young kids

If you have young kids who are still potty training or still need to go to the bathroom frequently, a kids portable potty is a great item to have. The best use for it will come in the evening when getting ready for bed or in the middle of the night when your child just can’t hold it any longer.

Having a small portable potty for #1 needs is a great way to prevent the need from trekking through the woods in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. I would definitely recommend that this potty be only used for #1 needs. With #2 needs, I’m sorry, you’re out of luck and will need to trek through the woods to the bathroom. You don’t want that smell in your tent.

23. Pack socks and underwear in Ziploc bags

When things get wet, having dry socks and underwear will go a long way helping everyone feel more comfortable. Hopefully, you’ll stay dry but if it does end up raining and your gear gets wet, you’ll be grateful to have some dry socks and underwear for your self and your kids. Packing important items like socks and underwear in Ziploc bags will ensure they stay dry if things happen to get wet.

24. Suspend a tarp over the top of your tent

Having a tarp over the top of your tent will help you in a couple of different ways. If you are camping in warm weather, adding some shade directly over your tent will help to noticeably lower the temperature inside your tent.

Additionally, if it does end up raining having that extra layer of protection will help to safeguard all your camping gear from getting wet. You can find lots of different sizes on Amazon, which allows you to get the best fit for your situation. Additionally, you can find more tips about rainy camping in our post with tips for camping in the rain.

25. Keep a rolling checklist

Start a camping checklist and make sure you keep it for your next camping trip. It is much easier to start with what you had on your last outing and add to or subtract from it. It will help you ensure you don’t forget anything and within a couple of camping trips, you will have an ultimate camping checklist customized to you and your family.

26. Dryer lint inside used toilet paper rolls

A super-easy way to start a fire is to prepare some free firestarters from things you usually throw away. Save a few of the cardboard toilet paper rolls from used rolls and fill them with dryer lint from your dryer.

These DIY firestarters light easy and are a great way to get your campfire going without having to search around for lots of kindling.

27. Bring solar stake lights

Taking kids to the bathroom in the middle of the night is never easy but you can make it easier with solar-powered stake lights. Use these stake light to create a path to the bathroom so that you don’t have to worry about finding a flashlight in the middle of the night.

Additionally, these stake lights offer a great way to light your campsite at night. If you have younger kids, it is a great way to create a perimeter around your campsite and tell your kids they are not allowed to go past the lights when it is dark.

28. Manage dirt with a handheld broom with a dustpan

No matter how much you try, when camping with the family, you are going to end up with a lot of dirt in your tent. Bring a small handheld broom and dustpan to quickly clean up the dirt that is tracked in.

You will be surprised at the amount of dirt that finds its way into the tent each day. A quick clean once a day can keep that dirt under check.

29. Extra rope always comes in handy

Whether you need to make a clothesline, hang food in the air at night, or whatever else, extra rope is a great item to bring along. We always find a use for it and are always glad we brought it with us.

30. Bring a pack n play or toddlers

If you have an infant or young toddler, consider bringing a pack and play. A pack n play is a great place to have your infants sleep at night. Similarly, you can bring it out during the day, which gives you a place to play them down while you need to do other things.

31. Use a warm bunting for toddlers

Keeping infants and toddlers warm at night can be challenging because they don’t stay under blankets or in sleeping bags. A great option is to find a bunting that is suited for the temperatures you will experience.

Buntings are great because it is basically a wearable sleeping bag for infants and young children. We’ve used buntings on multiple occasions and they have worked great for our needs.

32. Bring medicine for common ailments

Inevitably our kids end up getting sick at the most inopportune times. Being prepared for some of the more common ailments will go a long way. We always bring extra medicine for the kids. Medicine for colds, headaches, coughs, diarrhea and upset stomach are the most common medicines we bring.

Photo by livingonalatte.com

33. Plastic storage bin bathtub

All kids get dirty, but young children tend to get the dirtiest. They end up rolling around in the dirt and in some cases even trying to eat it. Keeping them reasonably clean can be a challenge. An easy solution for bathing is to simply bring along a plastic storage bin as a makeshift bathtub. It is portable, light, and inexpensive.