How to Set Up Camp With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)

You pull into the campground — everyone’s tired, hungry, excited, and somehow your toddler already has dirt on their face. Setting up camp with kids around can feel chaotic, but with a little planning, it doesn’t have to be a disaster.

Here’s what’s worked for us after years of family camping trips:

1. Before You Even Arrive: Pack Smart

Remember packing smart does not equal packing perfectly or neat.. our van usually looks chaotic but we know where everything is thanks to designated bins and keeping the tent as the easiest item to grab when we arrive!

• Keep critical gear easy to grab: tent, tarp, sleeping gear, camp stove.

• Group similar items together in bins (kitchen, bedding, clothing).

• Keep a small "miscellaneous" bin handy. Filled with bug spray, snacks, and wipes (all those items you need in a pinch but never know where they are, put them into one bin in a central location).

2. Give the Kids a Job (Even Tiny Ones)

Kids LOVE to feel helpful! Assign simple tasks based on their age:

• Toddlers: collect small sticks for the fire pit, stomp on bubbles

• Preschoolers: help unload pillows, hand you tent poles

• Older kids: help stake down the tent, inflate mattresses, organize chairs

  
  

Pro Tip: Bring a few outdoor toys (think bubbles, a ball, or nature scavenger hunt cards) so once their "jobs" are done, they can entertain themselves safely while you finish setting up.

3. Pitch Your Shelter First

No matter what’s happening, get the tent up first.

• If it’s hot: shade = survival.

• If it’s raining: dry gear = happiness.

• If it’s buggy: enclosed space = sanity.

  
  

Once the sleeping tent is up, if were using the screentent that's the next item to be set up, it gives a place for the kids to hang out even if the weather turns and gets the 'hardest' jobs out of the way.

4. Set Up the Sleep Zone Immediately

Kids crash hard after a day outside. As soon as the tent’s up:

• Lay out sleeping bags/mats

• Set up pillows

• Create a cozy “home base” they can run back to

  
  

You’ll thank yourself later when they start melting down and you can immediately tuck them into something familiar.

5. Expect It to Take Longer — It's normal when you camp with kids!

Everything with kids takes longer. Camping setup is no different — and honestly, that’s part of the fun.

Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for:

• A safe, dry place to sleep

• A working cooking setup

• A chill vibe that tells your kids, "We’re here to have fun."

  
  

The rest? It’ll come together.

✨ Related Posts:

• Essential Camping Gear for Families: What You Really Need

• Camping with Kids: How to Actually Make it Easier (After a Rough Start)

With love,

The Duquette's