How to Start Camping With your Family Without Breaking the Bank!
A family camping trip can be a memorable experience your kids will carry with them into adulthood. Camping trips are a chance to unplug from the busyness of everyday life and spend quality time reconnecting as a family and with nature.
If you want to plan a summer camping adventure for your family but worry about the cost of gear to get started, we want to let you in on a little secret: you don’t have to spend hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars on gear to take your family camping!
Like all hobbies, camping can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. If you’re just getting started and are not sure whether this is going to be a hobby that sticks for your family, these simple tips will help you to get started camping with your family without breaking the bank.
Book a drive-up campsite
Also called “car camping” a drive-up campsite is simply a site with a spot to park your car and pitch your tent. These usually have a fire ring with a cooking grate as well. This set-up allows you to bring any “extras” such as pillows, blankets, clothes, food, etc. that you may wish to have on hand to feel more prepared for the trip, and simply store them in the car.
Schedule your trip during warm mild weather
To increase the chances of having the best possible camping experience with your family, schedule your trip during late spring, summer, or early fall. Camping during these times will allow your family to engage in the widest variety of activities at the campground and will ensure maximum comfort with minimal gear. Camping during a season when temperatures will not dip below freezing overnight will give you peace of mind and greater flexibility in the gear you bring along.
Gather the basic gear you need for shelter, bedding and eating
Shelter
The most important item you’ll need is a tent with a rain fly. You don’t need a brand-new tent, or one with lightweight properties that are intended for backpacking. The rain fly is beneficial even when dry weather is expected as it keeps dew form condensing on the walls of your tent which dampen the sleeping gear inside. Tents sizing is based on the number of occupants you’re planning to sleep inside, and it’s recommended that you look for a larger one than the numbers suggest. While a family of 4 could fit in a 4-person tent, they may be more comfortable with the extra room offered by a 6-person tent.
Beds + Bedding
Sleep systems have become scientific
You can find a variety of camping sleep systems online and in outdoor stores. Each year manufacturers release new and improved gear in this category. However, if you’re just getting started, it’s likely you already have everything you need to make camping beds for yourself and your kids.
First, you need something soft to sleep on. You could use an air mattress for adults, any type of soft mat for kids, and a pack ‘n play for babies. Next, you need something cozy to wrap around you. If you have a sleeping bag, that’s great! If you don’t have a sleeping bag, look for blankets or quilts from your linen closet. Finally, grab a pillow off your bed and your sleep system is complete!
Food
The best advice you can follow when it comes to camp cooking is to keep it simple! This is not only to save money on cooking stoves and fuel, but also to save time during your trip. The more elaborate your meal plan is, the more time you’ll spend cooking and cleaning, which can cut into your time exploring and spending time together as a family.
So, what should you eat on your family’s first camping trip? For breakfast, think about cereals, fruit and granola bars. For lunch, plan on having sandwiches, pre-made pasta salad or charcuterie (cheese, crackers, pepperoni, etc.). For dinner, pack some hotdogs to cook over the campfire, and don’t forget the s’mores for dessert!
Finally, be sure to have plenty of grab ‘n go snacks on hand for in between meals and everyone will have plenty to eat.
Source Any Essentials You Don’t Have from Friends, Neighbors, or Used Gear Sites
If you’ve taken an inventory of items around your house and find that you still need some camping gear for your trip, follow these suggestions for borrowing items or finding used camping gear.
Start by checking with friends and family to see if someone has the gear you need to make your camping trip a reality. Your next option is to ask around in your local community, for example by posting in a neighborhood Facebook group or on an online bulletin board for your neighborhood, to see if someone nearby has camping gear they can lend you for your trip.
If you’re not able to borrow the camping gear you need, ask your local outdoor stores if they have a gear rental program or a used gear section. You can also explore several online resources for finding used outdoor gear, including REI Re-Supply, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, Re-Routed, Geartrade.com and more.
Hopefully your first family camping trip feels more achievable than ever, and you’re convinced it is possible without shelling out hundreds of dollars on gear. Spending some time and effort now to plan and organize the items you’ll need will pay off in the future when you create priceless memories your family will talk about for years to come!
Happy camping!