Best Camping Gear For Families
Being a family of 5 that lives on one income can be a bit challenging sometimes. Especially when you want to stay on budget, and not live on credit cards. And the most challenging part of it could be family vacations.
However, we have found that planning several weekend-long camping trips is not only manageable, but perfect for us. Since we only go for 3-4 days at a time, our expenses are minimal, and we are not tired enough to need a few extra days afterwards to rest from our vacation, if you know what I mean.
For the last ten years, we have made camping our thing. So much so that, we have slowly but surely built up a nice collection of the best camping gear to fit our needs. With each passing year we have added more to it, to the point where we feel completely prepared for our trips.
And now I want to share with you all the little trinkets we own that make our camping experience amazing, hoping that it will help you as well. And trust me when I say that camping can be done right, fun, and without the need for a large house on wheels!
Best Camping Gear For Families
For your convenience, this post may contain affiliate links. That means that, if you click on a link and make a purchase, I might get a commission from the sale, at no added cost to you. For my full disclosure policy, go here.
Tent
Coleman 8-Person Tent for Camping | Elite Montana Tent with Easy Setup
Get it here.
Air mattresses
Cumbor Queen Air Mattress with Built-in Pump, Luxury Queen Size Inflatable Airbed with Air Coil Technology – Elevated
Get it here.
Intex Classic Downy Airbed Set with 2 Pillows and Double Quick Hand Pump, Queen
Get it here.
Sleeping bags
REVALCAMP Sleeping Bag Indoor & Outdoor Use. Great for Kids, Boys, Girls, Teens & Adults. Ultralight and Compact Bags are Perfect for Hiking, Backpacking & Camping.
Get them here.
Camping lantern
LE LED Camping Lantern, Battery Powered LED with 1000LM, 4 Light Modes, Waterproof, Perfect lantern flashlight for Hurricane Emergency Survival Kits, Hiking, Home and More.
Get it here.
Small flashlights
FASTPRO 10-Pack, 9-LED Mini Flashlight Set, 30-Pieces AAA Batteries are Included and Pre-Installed, Perfect For Class Teaching, Camping, and more.
Get them here.
First aid kit
Aootek Upgraded first aid survival Kit.Emergency Kit earthquake survival kit Trauma Bag for Car Home Work Office Boat Camping Hiking Travel or Adventures.
Get it here.
Portable broom and dustpan
Camco 43623 RV Broom And Dust Pan
Get it here.
Inflatable pillows
Trekology Ultralight Inflatable Camping Travel Pillow – ALUFT 2.0 Compressible, Compact, Comfortable, Ergonomic Inflating Pillows for Neck & Lumbar Support While Camp, Hiking, Backpacking.
Get it here.
Portable battery charger
Anker PowerCore 10000, One of The Smallest and Lightest 10000mAh External Batteries, Ultra-Compact, High-Speed Charging Technology Power Bank for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and More.
Get it here.
Portable grill
Coleman 2 Burner Grill Stove Combo
Get it here.
Coleman Propane Grill | RoadTrip LXE Portable Gas Grill
Get it here.
Propane fuel ( Both grills above use the same propane cylinders.)
Propane Fuel Cylinders, 4 pk./16 oz.
Get them here.
Cooking utensils
Wealers Camp Kitchen Utensil Organizer Travel Set Portable BBQ Camping Cookware Utensils Travel Kit in Water Resistant Case.
Get it here.
Pots & pans
yodo Anodized Aluminum Camping Cookware Set Backpacking Pans Pot Mess Kit for 4-5 Person
Get it here.
Foil sheets
Reynolds Foodservice Aluminum Foil Sheets – 12 x 10.75 Inches, 500 Sheets
Get them here.
Multipurpose lighters
Bic Multipurpose Lighters, 4 Pack
Get them here.
Folding table
Lifetime Height Adjustable Craft, Camping and Utility 4 ft, White Folding Table.
Get it here.
Portable folding chairs
ONIVA – a Picnic Time brand Portable Folding Sports Chair
Get it here.
Dish soap dispenser
OXO Good Grips Soap Dispensing Dish Scrub
Get it here.
Collapsible water container
Gowithwind Collapsible Water Container with Spigot,FDA BPA Free Portable Water Carrier,Foldable Water Storage Jug for Outdoor Camping Hiking and Emergencies.
Get it here.
Cooler
Coleman 100 Quart XTREME 5 Day Cooler with Wheels and Handle, Extra ThermoZone Insulated that Holds Cold Longer CFCs HFCs and HCFCs FREE.
Get it here.
Outdoor blanket
Aitey Sand Free Beach Blanket, Waterproof Beach Mat Compact Outdoor Blanket with 4 Stakes, 4 Corner Pockets and Bag – 82″x 79″
Get it here.
Camping cutlery set
Camping Utensils Cutlery Set – 4 in 1 (Fork/Spoon/Knife/Bottle Opener) -5 Pack- Stainless Steel Folding & Detachable
Get them here.
Camping dinnerware
Camping Mess Kit 4 Person Dinnerware Set with Mesh Bag
Get it here.
Roof top cargo carrier bag
BougeRV Roof Top Cargo Carrier Bag Waterproof Car Roof Bag Rooftop Cargo Luggage Bag Travel Storage Box (15 Cubic Feet)
Get it here.
Pop up trash can
Coghlan’s Pop-Up Trash Can
Get it here.
Hammock
Cutequeen Grey/Sky Blue Lightweight Nylon Hammock with Tree Straps
Get it here.
Coffee percolator
Granite Ware Coffee Boilers, Graniteware, 100 oz
Get it here.
Hitch cargo carrier
CURT Basket Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier, 500 lbs. Capacity, 60-Inch x 23-1/2-Inch x 5-1/2-Inch, Fits 2-Inch Receiver
Get it here.
Water shoes
VIFUUR Water Sports Shoes Barefoot Quick-Dry Aqua Yoga Socks Slip-on for Men Women Kids
Get them here.
Rechargeable emergency station
Kaito KA340 5-way Powered Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern & Emergency AM/FM/SW NOAA Weather Alert Radio with Bluetooth, Flashlight, 5V USB Mobile Phone Charger, MP3 Player & Siren
Get it here.
Axe
Estwing Sportsman’s Axe – 14″ Camping Hatchet with Forged Steel Construction & Genuine Leather Grip
Get it here.
Life jackets
Stohlquist Youth Fit Life Jacket
Get it here.
Stohlquist Fit Adult PFD 4 Pack Coast Guard Approved Universal
Get them here.
Tarp
B-Air GTRP810 Grizzly Tarps 8 x 10 Feet Blue Multi Purpose Waterproof Poly Tarp Cover 5 Mil Thick 8 x 8 Weave
Get it here.
OFF
Repel Insect Repellent Sportsmen Max Formula Spray Pump 40% DEET, 2/6-Ounce
Get it here.
Sunscreen
Coppertone SPORT Continuous Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (5.5 Ounce per Bottle, Pack of 2)
Get it here.
Outdoor game set
Franklin Sports Fun 5 Combo Set — Badminton, Volleyball with Pump, Ring Toss, Flip Toss, and Flying Disc — Carrying Bag Included
Get it here.
Waterproof deck of cards
Plastic Playing Cards, Waterproof Cards. Set of 2 Decks (1 Red and 1 Black) – By Home-X
Get them here.
Waterproof UNO Cards
Uno H2O To Go Card Game
Get them here.
Best Camping Gear For Families
Before we are done here I wanted to remind you that it took us years to get all this. We did not just go and get it all. We started out with only our tent (smaller than what we have now), inflatable mattresses, and a tiny grill my father in law gave us.
For the longest time we made do with our old kitchen pots and pans, old cooking utensils, and blankets, instead of sleeping bags. Then, every year, we would list all we had, and what we wanted, and decide what would be our next investment.
Getting all the goodies listed above at once was not doable for us, and I don’t want you to go on debt to get it all. Start small, making sure you have all you need for a short, simple trip. Then, as you get more comfortable, and your budget allows you to, start adding other things that, while not needed, will definitely make your trips more fun.
Did I miss something? What other items you and your family feel are must-haves for an amazing camping trip? Please, share with us in the comments. Inquiring minds want to know!

Best Camping Gear For Families
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