How to Plan a Fall Camping Trip with the Whole Family
Fewer things are more fun and memorable than a family camping trip. Every child should experience that at least once in their lifetime. If you are planning a fall camping trip for your family, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure the planning process is stress-free and the trip itself is unforgettable and jam-packed with fun. In this post, we will take a look at everything you need to do to plan a fall camping trip with the whole family.
Start With a Checklist
If you don’t have the time to sit down and write a checklist of all the camping supplies your family will need, look up “camping supplies checklist,” and you’ll find many helpful resources. There are premade checklists online that you can use as a reference and add anything else to it that you think your family might need. Give yourself at least a few days in advance to start gathering and shopping for everything you will want to bring on the trip. Nothing is worse than trying to do everything last minute, especially without a checklist. Having a checklist to guide you will make the planning and packing process much more streamlined and stress-free.
Check Out the Activities on and Around the Campground
The first step in planning a camping trip is figuring out where you actually want to go. Is there a campground within a short distance from your home that will make the planning process less involved? Or is there a certain national park your family has been dying to visit, and you plan to set up camp there? Know where you want to go, check out reviews of the campsite online, and then start doing research on what the campground has to offer. Some places are much more rugged and minimalist, so if your family wants to rough it, there’s always that option. However, families with kids may want a campground with lots of amenities like a pool, rec center, café, and indoor bathrooms. In addition to researching what the campground has to offer, check out what attractions are around the campground. From there, you can start creating a trip itinerary filled with lots of fun things to do and see.
Plan Your Meals
One of the best things about camping is all the delicious camp food you get to eat around a toasty, idyllic campfire. What is going to make those campfire meals far more pleasant is having them planned out in advance. Take a survey and ask your kids what foods they may like to eat during the trip. There are plenty of yummy camp meal recipes, including classics like hot dogs and hamburgers, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, fire-roasted veggies, and steak. Have a plan for drinks and a cooler large enough to store your trip’s supply and ice. Things that are easy to pack include coffee, tea, bottled water, bottled juices, and alcoholic beverages for the adults. In addition to a cooler for your drinks, pack a cooler for your food products that need to be kept refrigerated.
Pack Warm Clothes
No one wants to set out for a fun, relaxing camping trip only to end up shivering all night because of cool temperatures. Even in the dead of summer, the temperature drops significantly in the evening, and if you are planning a fall camping trip, it’s even more important to pack extra clothing. Make sure everyone has at least a couple of extra layers like boys’ hoodies. For sleepwear, consider slipping into soft, warm women’s joggers or men’s lounge pants instead of lightweight pajamas. In addition to good-quality outerwear and multiple layers, make sure you have several extra blankets on hand. This is especially important if you are tent camping instead of bunking up in a cabin or an RV.
Make Sure Everyone Has What They Need
In addition to general camping supplies like shelter and food, each family member will have their own personal belongings they will want to bring with them. For the kids, it could be a stuffed animal they need to sleep with or some fun pool toys. Give everyone their own backpacks that they can use to fill up with personal items they want for the trip. This will help keep everything more organized and give each family member a sense of having their own space.
Finish Up With the Little Details
Once you have all the basics covered—knowing where you are camping, having all your supplies packed, and creating a trip itinerary—the real fun can begin. Don’t forget to bring your phone or a polaroid camera to snap lots of pics of your hikes and other camping excursions. When you arrive at your campsite, assign a different responsibility to each kid. This will be a fun and educational experience, allowing them to acquire new skills and lend a helping hand when it comes to setting up.
Planning a camping trip for the whole family? Shop supplies at Lands’ End!