These Products Will Make Camping With Kids More Fun for Everyone (2024)

Some tents marketed for kids can be flimsy in quality, and intended more for backyard campouts than for the real deal. But don’t skimp on this crucial camping purchase, Cheley-Klebe says. “Having a high quality and sturdy tent is imperative to a good night's sleep,” she notes, sharing that Big Agnes tents are a go-to for her own excursions. The tent offers enough space for two kids (or one child and an adult when your child changes their mind in the middle of the night and wants company) without a huge footprint. It’s also compact and lightweight enough that you won’t mind packing more than one if you have a larger family or older kids who need a separate space and more privacy. It’s durable, easy to set up, and holds up incredibly well to high winds and heavy rain. And though it’s not a kid-specific tent, its bright color and plentiful gear pockets will appeal to younger campers.

If you’re planning to share a tent with your kids, do your whole family a favor and invest in a roomy model. We love the Nemo Aurora Highrise Camping Tent for its extra-tall dome: even campers over six feet tall can fully stand up in this model. It’s intuitively designed with plenty of gear pockets for stashing necessities, and a nightlight pocket to hold a small flashlight or headlamp for gently illuminating the entire tent.

The tent also features impressive ventilation — crucial for a tent this size. Even in the rain, the interior stays dry, thanks to rain covers that allow the zip windows to stay open for airflow without letting in moisture. This is also the one major drawback to this tent: the rainfly doesn’t reach all the way to the ground on all sides, allowing colder air to come in during inclement weather. Still, its roominess, durability, and playful pattern make it ideal for family campouts.

A pint-size camping chair might seem like an unnecessary luxury, but trust us, you’ll want somewhere safe and clean to park your little one while they’re enjoying s’mores or downtime. We love that the Coleman Kids’ Quad Chair looks and feels just like a grownup camping chair, so kids won’t feel left out while everyone gathers around the fire.

It has its own cup holder to keep kids’ beverages off the ground and within reach, and it’s a manageable size even for small campers to carry. Our favorite feature is the collapsible legs that can be locked into place while it’s in use, ensuring it doesn’t collapse on an excited child.

Keeping little ones safe and stationary is crucial while you’re stoking the campfire or digging into a meal, and a high chair designed for the outdoors is a game-changer for families with youngsters. The Baby Delight Go With Me Venture Chair is a lightweight, sturdy option with tons of thoughtful features. It includes a canopy to shield little ones from the sun, and a removable tray for meals and snacks (although the tray is on the small side and can be difficult to put on and remove). The chair can adapt to a range of ages and sizes: babies can be strapped in using the harness and toddlers can stand using the optional leg holes exersaucer-style. The chair has a weight limit of 75 pounds and the straps, canopy, and tray are all removable, so as your kiddo grows, they can continue to use it as a basic camping chair.

Need a break from pulling dirt and leaves out of your child’s mouth? We love this Safety 1st InstaPop Dome Playard for giving babies a safe and clean place to play while camping. It sets up quickly and easily, and has mesh sides for visibility and airflow. The playpen’s roof is also designed to protect babies from sun, debris, and bugs, and has individual panels that can be unzipped separately to control ventilation and exposure to sunlight.

This playpen also includes sandbags and stakes for windy campsites, beach hangs, or extra wild play sessions — a feature most outdoor play yards need, but few offer. This model is, however, truly a play yard, not a travel crib. This set is great for playing, but the bottom is very firm and not ideal for comfortable sleeping.

Nothing ruins a camping trip faster than a painful sunburn, but choosing the right sunscreen can be harder than setting up a tent in the dark. Ideally, you want a formula that’s non-greasy, unscented to avoid attracting bugs, and stays put while hiking or swimming. Baby Bum’s Mineral Sunscreen Stick checks all our boxes, and it meets the Environmental Working Group’s rigorous standards for safe and effective sunscreens for kids and babies.

The face stick offers both UVA and UVB protection with an SPF of 50, and is mineral-based, which is a safer option for sensitive skin. The stick format means it can be applied without mucking up your hands, and older kids can apply it themselves. This sunscreen is travel-sized and can easily be thrown into a backpack or day bag for on-the-go application.

Choosing an insect repellent for kids requires a careful balance: you need a formula that is effective at warding off mosquitos, but also gentle enough to use on children’s skin. This picaridin-based spray from OFF! is more gentle than DEET-based sprays, but it works like a charm: we didn’t experience a single bite while using this spray. Although picaridin is a chemical (thus, this is not a natural bug spray), it isn’t as potent as DEET, so many families prefer it. This formula in particular is lightly scented, doesn’t feel sticky, and keeps working even in sweaty conditions.

Sleeping pads are must-haves for tent camping to ensure a good night’s sleep. Not only do they provide cushioning from the hard ground under your tent, they also offer insulation and warmth. All sleeping pads are assigned an R-value, which indicates how well the pad insulates you from cold surfaces. For kids, aim for an R-value of at least 2, which should keep them comfortable down to 30-degree Fahrenheit temperatures at night.

We’re fans of this no-frills Therm-a-rest RidgeRest Classic, which uses a closed-cell foam design to trap heat and keep little bodies cozy. It’s lightweight, incredibly durable, and doesn’t risk losing air like inflatable pads. As a bonus, the textured design helps keep sleeping bags put, so kids don’t slide off their pads and onto the cold tent floor overnight.

The best way to make sure your kid stays squarely on their cozy camping pad overnight? Outfit them with a bag that literally attaches to their pad, like the Big Agnes Little Red sleeping bag. “Big Agnes sleeping bags have a sleeve for your sleeping pad so that you do not slide off of it at night,” Cheley-Klebe says. “At first, I was leery of this system and now I love it.”

This bag fits over any 20-inch sleeping pad, and is soft, thick, and warm. Kids can burrow even deeper in colder temps by pulling up and cinching the hood, keeping drafts out and coziness in. And since this bag is designed like an adult model, it’s high-quality and durable.

A dependable water bottle is a non-negotiable for camping, and our experts unanimously recommend Nalgene’s bottles for little campers. “There is not another water bottle better for backpacking or camping than a Nalgene,” Cheley-Klebe says. “It does not leak or break and holds a large amount of hot or cold water.”

This lightweight, narrow-mouth version is the right size for little hands and comes in a range of fun colors. Plus, the simple design means less room for error — or mold. “What I like about these products is that there are very few pieces, no straws, and not so big that they are too heavy to carry when they are playing and hiking,” Kimmelman says. As a cold-weather hack, Cheley-Klebe recommends filling up a Nalgene with hot water, wrapping it in a t-shirt, and using it for extra coziness in sleeping bags on chilly nights.

Small hiking packs get kids used to carrying their own supplies while camping and help them be selective about what comforts they bring from home. Kimmelman loves this version from REI for her campers and her own kids. “It is well organized, not too big (so no extra room to take unnecessary things), and it's very durable,” she says. “Plus, it always makes my kids feel like little adventurers/Junior Rangers.”

This bag comes in three sizes to fit kids from age five up to the teen years, depending on height and preferred fit, and has padded shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and a hip belt to keep kids comfortable and safe while they’re trekking. No matter the age of your child, encourage them to be mindful about what they bring along camping and hiking. “A good rule of thumb for kids over four is that if they can't carry it themselves, it's too heavy,” Kimmelman says.

Although we recommend packing a large high-powered camping lantern to illuminate twilight meal prep and family card games, consider bringing along this inflatable, long-lasting version for your kids to light their own way as well. “I just returned from hiking to the top of Kilimanjaro in Africa with an amazing group of women and this product made me happy,” Cheley-Klebe says.

The lantern runs for over 50 hours on a single charge, and recharges using any USB-C charger. This lantern is also rechargeable via solar power, but this feature is less reliable. It’s super easy for little hands to operate, and waterproof for rainy conditions or accidents. “Make sure to bring along a little carabiner so that you can hang it from the top of your tent after the sun goes down,” Cheley-Klebe recommends.

Welly bandages are cute and supremely sticky, and the brand’s thoughtfully designed First Aid Kit is our top choice for camping with kids. The kit includes a range of bandages in all shapes, sizes, and patterns, plus a helpful arsenal of cleansing wipes, ointment for scrapes, hydrocortisone cream for insect bites, and ibuprofen for bumps and bruises.

The essentials are packed in one of Welly’s signature tins, so it’s durable while you’re out in the elements. Plus, the whole kit is brightly colored and playful, which makes the experience of getting patched up much less frightening for youngsters.

Sleeping bags will keep your kids cozy at night, but an outdoor blanket is a must-have for sitting around the fire, cozying up in the mornings over breakfast, or toting along on a day hike. Cheley-Klebe highly recommends the Rumpl Outdoor Puffy Blanket for campers, especially when space is limited.

This blanket is surprisingly durable and warm, and can be thrown in the washing machine after your trip. It has a cape clip to keep kids snug even while they’re moving around, and has loops on all four corners for staking down to picnic or relax. The blanket is made entirely from recyclable materials, and comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. You might even find your kids toting it around at home.

For car campers, a beach wagon to haul gear to, from, and around your campsite can be a life-saver. We love this spacious, collapsible Beau Jardin Folding Wagon Cart for everything from family camping trips to beach excursions. Its rugged, oversized wheels roll easily over rough terrain, and the wagon’s fabric is removable for easy cleaning at the end of your trip. It can hold up to 300 pounds worth of gear, and the telescoping handle makes it easy for anyone in the family to haul. This wagon is also lightweight when empty and collapsed, and there’s no assembly required — it just unfolds and is good to go.

“Kids love to lounge in a good camping hammock,” Cheley-Klebe says. “It is the perfect spot to read a book or take a nap in the fresh air.” She recommends this ENO DoubleNest Hammock, which comes in fun colors and has enough room for two people.

It’s cool and breezy, and packs up small. If you’re a new hammock user, be sure to invest in the suspension system for hanging — this hammock, and most others, doesn’t come with it. And of course, make sure any hammock is used safely, says Cheley-Klebe “For example, not stacking them on top of each other and making them too high off the ground, or using them for a crazy swing,” she says.

Ditch your hodge podge enamelware and pick up this lightweight nesting mess kit for family camping meals. This set includes four bowls and four insulated mugs; the mugs also come with silicone lids and neoprene sleeves to keep hot cocoa warm and protect little hands. The bowls and mugs are made of BPA-free polypropylene, which can withstand higher temperatures than other plastics, so they can safely handle boiling water or bubbling meals without melting. When you’re ready to pack up, the whole set nests together into an impressively small bundle to save space.

Even if you plan your camping trip for fair weather, you never know what Mother Nature will bring — and you don’t want to get rained out of an otherwise pleasant trip. “We recommend that our campers make sure to bring a high-quality Gore-tex rain jacket — this is an essential,” Cheley-Klebe says.

We’re fans of this lightweight, waterproof shell from Marmot. It’s thin and packable, so your camper won’t overheat while hiking, and it can easily be removed and packed in a daypack when the sun peeks out. It’s also a great layering piece — just add a cozy fleece or hoodie underneath when conditions get wet and cold.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does a kid need on a camping trip?

  When packing for a camping trip, less is more. The more you pack, the more you have to carry, keep track of, clean, and repack at the end of the trip. “However, being comfortable and prepared goes a long way to help campers transition,” Kimmelman says. In addition to camping staples (like sleeping bags, tents, and water), Kimmelman recommends always bringing along a backpack, water bottle, travel-size sunscreen, and snacks — lots of snacks. “The quickest way for a day out in nature to go downhill is when someone starts to get hungry,” she says. “We (as a family) even take special treats with us on long, multi-mile hikes: things like lollipops, special snack mix, chips (salty snacks are key) can be used as incentives to get just around that corner or just to the next mile marker.”

  Cheley-Klebe also recommends a comfortable chair, a hammock, a headlamp or lantern, a blanket, and of course, the all-important rain jacket. And both of our experts recommend skipping screens on camping trips. “Leave all the toys and tech behind,” says Kimmelman. “Nature provides all the fun you need.”

• What should kids sleep on when camping?

  For most tent campers, a comfortable sleeping pad and a weather-appropriate sleeping bag will make for a solid night’s sleep. If you’re using a large dome tent, you may want to consider lightweight camping cots to make new campers feel at home. Some kids may also sleep better with the extra padding of a camping pillow, but Cheley-Klebe warns against inflatable models. “If a pillow is important to you for your sleep, I would stay away from inflatables and go with a packable one,” she says.

  Whatever you choose, you’ll also want to make sure you’ve invested in other items for a good night’s sleep: a high-quality tent, warm layers, and, according to Cheley-Klebe, “earplugs in case you get a windy mountain evening or noisy neighbors if you are camping in a highly populated area.”

• What should kids wear camping?

  In a word: layers. “Being out in the elements is a lot on a little body,” Kimmelman says. Long underwear can be a helpful layering piece for chilly nights, and blister-resistant socks will keep whining to a minimum on the trail.

  “Make sure they have plenty of layers for changes in weather and to make sure they stay dry and warm,” Cheley-Klebe recommends. Depending on the time of year and your destination, you may even want to invest in a puffer jacket, fleece, rain gear, well-fitting sneakers, water shoes, and of course, quality hiking boots.

The Best Camping Gear We’ve Ever Tested