13 Eye-Opening Truths About Camping With Kids
Who doesn’t dream about camping with kids? Wide open spaces, lots of fresh air, and endless adventure. No one prepares you for the chaos in packing up your little tornadoes and heading into the wild. Yes, it can be magical, but it’s also a test on your patience, creativity, and ability to laugh when everything goes hilariously wrong.
Camping with kids is a rollercoaster of feelings—from forgotten marshmallows to midnight bathroom emergencies. You will have some moments of pure joy and some where you’ll be questioning your life choices. Camping with kids is awesome, but like every great adventure, it comes with its bumps.
Kids Never Stick to the Plan
You can plan an ideal camping itinerary, but the kids? They will throw it out the window. You can expect to spend your time chasing butterflies rather than hiking or making five trips to the lake because skipping rocks never gets old.
You’ll Pack Way Too Much
You think you’re packing light, but you’ll somehow end up with a car full of essentials. You’ll bring everything from toys and snacks to extra clothes ‘just in case’ and think you’re moving to the forest rather than camping.
Bathrooms Will Be a Hot Topic
Bathroom breaks will occupy your trip, whether it’s finding a bush for an emergency or dealing with campground restrooms. Pro tip: Younger kids should bring a portable potty—it’s a lifesaver, especially at night.
A Campfire is Both Magical and Stressful
While kids love the idea of a campfire, keeping them safe around it is nerve-racking. Half the time you’ll be making s’mores and the other half you’ll be saying, ‘don’t get too close!’
Sleep? What’s That?
Excitement, unfamiliar surroundings, and kids rolling off their sleeping pads will keep sleep hard to come by. You won’t wake up refreshed—coffee will be your best friend.
Bugs Are a Big Deal
Bugs will be all over this thing—from mosquito bites to finding beetles in the tent. Bring bug spray and prepare to answer a million and one questions like, ‘what’s that crawling on me?’
Rain Will Test Your Patience
A light drizzle can ruin your camping trip. You’ll be asking yourself why you left your cozy home, with wet clothes, muddy shoes, and kids bouncing off the tent walls.
Mealtimes Take Twice as Long
Cooking over a campfire is already tricky enough, but then add hungry and impatient kids, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos. Hot dogs and sandwiches are simple meals that will save your sanity.
Exciting and Terrifying Wildlife
Animal spotting is kid-approved, but squirrel raids on snacks can turn into a major event. So have some animal safety basics in place to keep things fun and safe.
Someone Will Lose Something
Shoe, flashlight, favorite stuffed animal—something will go missing. In a 2018 outdoor family study, 68 percent of parents said they had lost at least one item while camping.
The Hikes Will Be Slow and Filled With Detours
There is no more talk of reaching the summit in record time. Hikes with kids are less about the destination and more about the journey. You’ll stop for every cool rock, every leaf, every bug on the way there.
Bedtime Stories Feel Special
There is something magical about being under the stars for storytime. However tired you are, you’ll remember this part of the trip forever.
You’ll Leave With a Million Memories
All the chaos aside, you will leave with memories you will never forget. Roasting marshmallows and stargazing are memories you’ll laugh about and treasure for years.
