Camping with Toddlers Checklist for Packing + Free Download

If you’re looking for a thorough Camping with Toddlers Checklist for Packing, you have come to the right place. Our toddler LOVES camping, and we just got back from a 5 night camping road trip in Colorado. I will share everything you need + a free downloadable packing list.

Be sure to read How to Go Camping with a Toddler as well; it has some awesome advice to make your trip a success.

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Camping with Toddlers Checklist Jump To:

Advice for Packing for a Camping Trip with a Toddler

Try to be organized when packing and loading the car. It’s helpful to have stuff separated by items/what you need them for. For example: Keep all your clothing together in a duffel bag or suitcase. Then keep all your food prep stuff in a bin. Put all your food in another bin. I use a large bag for our sleeping bags, sleeping pads, pillows, etc. The goal is to not be digging around every time you need a specific item.

If you’re camping in bear country, keep all your smelly stuff together in its own bin.

Bring a garbage bag or two to put all your dirty clothes.

Have toddler activities readily available for the car ride.

Always have snacks and water accessible.

Don’t overpack. Bring the necessities, but don’t bring extra stuff that you won’t use.

Keep all your camping gear together in your house too. It’s easy to just grab a bin with your camping items already in it.

Camping Gear & Sleep

These are the usual camping items that you need. You’ll want at least a 4 person tent if you’re camping with kids, and they have so many different tent options. We’re currently using a cheap 4 person tent that I wouldn’t super recommend. But I’ve read about blackout tents, huge pop-up tents, and more. Don’t spend an extravagant amount if you’re not sure how much camping you’ll actually do.

Choose wisely when determining where your toddler will sleep. We used a pack n play in our tent with a slumber pod / blackout tent over it. Crazy, I know, but she slept pretty well. You can also try giving your toddler their own mattress if you think they’ll sleep ok that way. Or you can all share a blow-up mattress.

• Tent, Rainfly, and Footprint
• Sleeping Bags
• Sleep Surface: Sleeping Pads or Air Mattresses
• Pillows
• Toddler Air Mattress + Air Pump or Pack n Play and Slumber Pod
• Your kiddo’s usual sleep stuff: Blanket, stuffed animal, etc.
• White Noise Machine (this helped us to block out busy campground noises, and the charge lasted all night! Just re-charge it in the car during the day.)
• Head Lamps and/or Lanterns

Clothing & Footwear

Bring an outfit per day plus a couple extra outfits if they get dirty or wet. Pack a pair of pajamas for every night, so they can hang out in the morning in their jammies. Temperatures can drop in the evening, so be sure to bring layers for everybody.

Try to keep your clean clothes separate from all the dirt and dust of camping.

• Tops: Long sleeves, short sleeves, tank tops depending on the weather
• Bottoms: Shorts and/or pants
• Underwear or pull-ups
• Socks
• Hat: Sun Hat and/or Warm Hat
• Pajamas
• Jacket and/or Sweatshirt
• Warm Stuff: Hat, fleece pants, mittens
• Rain Jacket or Rain Suit
• Shoes: Bring 2 pairs and a pair of water shoes if needed
• Morrison Sleeping Bag Sack: If it’ll be cold at night, this is the BEST way to keep them warm

I have a whole post about how to keep a toddler or baby warm while camping in cold weather – it really stressed me out when we first started camping with our little one!

Meal Prep/Kitchen

Figure out your meals ahead of time. We did a car camping road trip, so we actually got takeout a handful of times to A. experience meals in the places we were staying, B. lessen our time spent cooking/doing dishes, and C. eat good food. We kinda figured we were saving so much money on accommodations by camping, we could treat ourselves to some good meals.

But if you prefer to pack and cook all your meals, go for it!

Your packing list for this will depend on what you’re cooking. We used a small backpacking stove and cooked stuff on the fire pits at our campsites. If you’re into bringing a camping stove, add that and whatever you need for it to the list!

Keep most of these things in a bin together. It’s helpful to just keep the bin packed for your next camping trip!

• Plates (use paper plates if that’s helpful to not do dishes)
• Utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
• Cooking Utensils (wooden spoon, spatula, etc.)
• Matches and/or Lighter
• Backpacking or Camping Stove and Fuel
• Spray Oil
• Marshmallow/Hot Dog Sticks
• Tin Foil if needed
• Camping Cookware – pots/pans/cast irons
• Can Opener
• Paper Towels
• Biodegradable Camp Soap
• Knife – with a cover! I weirdly kept our sharp kitchen stuff (knife, can opener) in the glove box of our car…
• Garbage Bags
• Charcoal and Lighter Fluid (if needed)

Food and Snacks

Make a list of the meals you’ll be cooking, and write down every ingredient/thing you will need to cook them. Bring a ton of snacks, and bring small ziplocs/personal size snacks to bring on hikes. Don’t let anyone go hungry while camping.

• Water Bottles
• Extra Water
• Everything for Meals
• SNACKS
• S’mores Stuff (marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers)

Toiletries – Camping with Toddlers Checklist

I keep the stuff we use daily in a big ziploc bag. And then I keep the stuff for when we shower in a different ziploc bag. It’s easier to just grab what you need. If one of you always takes your toddler to the bathroom, keep their stuff with yours.

• Travel Potty with Bags: SO helpful. Or diapers/pull-ups
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Hair Brush
• Wet Wipes
• Bath Wipes (if it’s an extended trip without a shower)
• Ponytail Holders
• Soap/Shampoo
• Toilet Paper
• Hand Sanitizer
• Chapstick
• Bath Towels (if bathing)

Miscellaneous

• Swim Stuff if you’ll be swimming: Swimsuits, floaties/life jacket, towel.
• Sunscreen
• First aid kit
• Medications (any prescriptions + anything you might need – tylenol, ibuprofen, tums, etc.)
• Cash (for firewood, parking, etc.)
• Maps (helpful if you won’t have cell service)

Optional Items (Nice to Have)

• Toys: Bubbles, a drawing board, bucket and shovel, a ball
• Flashlight for your toddler
• A Carrier and/or Hiking Backpack

Camping with Toddlers Checklist Download

Toddler Camping Checklist

Camping with Toddlers Checklist for Packing – that’s it!

That’s it? Ha. Feels like a lottttt of stuff. Our car is always packed when we go camping. But I really feel like these are all necessary items to have a good time camping with a toddler. If I missed anything, please comment below, and I’ll add the item to the post!

Happy Toddler Camping!!

Read Next for Toddler Travel:

• The Amazing Toddler Travel Essentials You Need
• Grand Haven, Michigan with a Toddler
• Iceland Family Vacation