Camping in a tent is a great way to get away from it all and connect with nature. And unlike with a camper, you don’t have to worry about hooking up your trailer and making sure everything’s secure. You just grab it and go!
There are some things you need to make sure you bring to upgrade your trip. So here it is, my advice on what to bring camping in a tent. These are 12 of my favorite items to bring when I go camping in a tent.
Table of Contents
1) SLEEPING BAGS
OK. This one may seem obvious, but that’s fine. A good sleeping bag for each member of your family is key to successful tent camping.
Some people may suggest you opt for an air mattress, and that’s fine if you do. I recommend using sleeping bags on this kind of trip. Sure, it may be a little less comfortable, but your family can get a more authentic and memorable experience using this iconic sleeping tool.
2) TENT STAKES
If you’re like me, you want your kids to view you as a camping master. Even if you don’t know a lot about camping itself, it feels good when your kids look up to you.
By bringing some extra, heavy-duty tent stakes can impress them when the wind picks up and other people are struggling with their tents. If you really want to impress your kids and teach them a valuable skill, you can even try your hand at making your own wooden tent stakes.
3) RAIN FLY
Along the same lines, your tent can be extra secure and dry with the addition of a rain fly. This cover is essential in helping protect your tent from harsh weather elements.
Many a camping trip is destroyed by bad weather like rain, but having that rain fly goes a long way to protect your tent and your trip. Rain flies sometimes come with your tent purchase, but make sure it covers a large portion of your tent or just get an additional one like this one from Amazon.
4) TENT FOOTPRINT
A tent footprint is a large, portable mat that provides protection for your tent floor from damage due to friction with the ground. The floor of your tent is actually the part that wears down the fastest. A footprint can help prevent this and keep your tent in good condition for longer.
While you can go buy official tent footprints, I actually don’t think it’s worth it. Go find a tarp the same dimensions as your tent floor or a little bigger. This is probably enough to get you through all but the roughest of ground and weather situations.
5) NAVIGATION/MAP
OK. This one’s pretty obvious.
That’s probably what you’re thinking, but hold on. I don’t mean keep a navigation method or map around just for safety. That’s pretty standard.
When you go camping, check around at local stores or DNR offices for maps. Ask the people who work there where the good places to explore are.
Having the navigation and maps can help you feel more secure in finding nature’s treasures you may not have found unless you ventured off the beaten path.
Once, before my wife and I had kids, we went tent camping at a state park we hadn’t explored before. Sticking to the trails, it was beautiful, but once we left the trail a bit we found something even cooler.
The woods fell away into an awesome little bend in the river where no one else was. This became our place to go, relax, and connect with nature.
I would never have ventured off the path if we hadn’t been given a map of the area that pointed it out to me. These little hidey holes are all over the place if you can safely look.
6) OUTDOOR GAMES
No list on what to bring camping in a tent is complete without outdoor games. Being outdoors on its own is great. There is a lot to see and do as it is, but bringing along or doing some camping games can be an excellent way to bond with those you’re going with and have fun.
Games can be purchased or made on your own. You can also check out our list of fun, camping games (coming soon). Here are some ideas you may want to check out (with links to Amazon where applicable):
- Nature scavenger hunt
- Ladder ball
- Flashlight tag
- Water relay
- Red light, green light
- Corn hole
- Shadow puppets
- Horseshoes
- Any game with playing cards
- Lawn Yahtzee
- Bocce ball
Pro-tip: If you’re backpacking while camping with a tent, you may not want to bring games that are heavy. As you probably know, every ounce counts while backpacking.
7) FLASHLIGHTS AND LANTERNS
Good flashlights and lanterns are invaluable when camping but especially when tent camping. On top of that, they can provide a better overall experience.
If you’re camping with a camper, trailer, or in a cabin, chances are that electricity is available to some degree (or at least with a generator). This means that at night you can always just stay in and turn the lights on.
Good flashlights help you find where you’re going, and good lanterns can make it easier to move around at night. Some of the best parts of camping are sitting around the campfire when it’s really late and hanging out with your friends and family. If you’re tent camping without good light at night, it becomes dangerous to move around.
Plus, it’s always fun to use flashlights to play flashlight tag and make shadow puppets.
8) FIRE STARTER
No one wants to spend hours and hours trying to start a fire. There’s nothing wrong with bringing along a little help to get it all going.
I do love trying to start fires on my own using more primitive techniques just to try it out and say that I can. But when it comes right down to it, you may not have the time or the energy to do that.
Bring along a good lighter or fire starter to help get things lit quickly. Many of these are very small and light. Some even fit into your knife like this one from Bear Grylls.
Don’t be caught without a fire.
9) ALL WEATHER CLOTHES
Nothing shuts down a camping trip like bad weather. Whether it’s too cold, hot, or rainy, your much-anticipated trip can be cut short if you’re not prepared.
The first time I went tent camping with my young family (three boys 5, 3, and 1 at the time) I was totally prepared for everything to be fun and awesome…well…almost.
The forecast showed warm days and mild nights the whole three days we were planning to go. As I learned (and should have known), that doesn’t mean that’s what you’ll get. Each night we plummeted to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
I didn’t plan for that, and forgot to pack extra clothes for all weather. Our fun trip was cut short because of this and the young age of our boys.
Learn from my mistakes.
10) COOKING EQUIPMENT
Sure, you could get by cooking with sticks over a fire and bags of chips, but what if you want more? There is a lot of fun camping food you can have if only you bring along some simple tools that don’t take up a lot of space.
If you can only bring one cooking tool, you may want to consider a portable wood burning camp stove. This tool makes it easy to start a cooking fire and place any pots or pans on top.
It’s really easy and quick, and it can make you seem like a camping pro. It’s small size makes it great for storing in a tent when not in use or carry on a backpack.
11) CAMPING FOOD
If you brought some good cooking gear, then you have to have some good camping food to cook. There are tons of great recipes and snacks to try. Plan out your meals to have a great time eating on your trip.
Here are a few of my personal favorites:
- S’mores
- Hot Iron Pies
- Hot dogs/brats
- Grilled chicken with cheese and peppers
- Walking Tacos
- Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
If you want to know more camping food ideas, check out our food articles (COMING SOON).
12) MUSIC
My background and training are as an elementary music teacher, and music is a big part of my family. Whenever we get together, but especially while camping, we sing songs together.
From the traditional camp songs to current pop tunes, we love it all. Singing and playing bring us together.
You don’t necessarily need to be able to play an instrument to sing and make music, but it does offer a deeper experience. If you can’t do that, then just belt it out with your friends.
You can also consider getting a portable speaker for your phone or a radio. Give it a shot!
Related reading: 50 greatest campfire songs of all time
CONCLUSION
This list isn’t about what you need to be safe, but what you need to make the most out of your tent camping experience. I hope you enjoyed learning about what to bring camping in a tent to upgrade your trip.
Now get out there and enjoy the fresh air!
Scared about camping with your family? Don’t be. The benefits of camping for families far outweigh the stress.
