Planning your first family camping trip is exciting, but if you’re anything like we were, you’ll probably make a few mistakes along the way.
The good news? Every experienced camping family has been there.
Over the years, we’ve camped with our kids everywhere from the mountains of Colorado and California to the forests of Tennessee and state parks across Texas. We’ve forgotten things, packed far too much, learned lessons the hard way and discovered plenty of simple tricks that make camping with kids so much easier.
If you’re planning your first family camping adventure, here are the biggest beginner camping mistakes to avoid.
1. Buying Too Much Gear
It’s easy to believe you need every camping gadget before your first trip.
The reality is that you don’t.
Borrow equipment from friends, rent gear if your local outdoor store offers it, or start with the basics and upgrade over time. After a couple of trips, you’ll have a much better idea of what your family actually uses.
Remember, camping is about spending time together—not owning the fanciest equipment.
New to camping? This one’s for you: Family Camping for Beginners
2. Not Practising Putting Up Your Tent
The campsite isn’t the best place to learn how your tent works.
Pitch it in your backyard before your trip so you know exactly where everything goes.
You’ll also discover if anything is missing before you’re miles from the nearest outdoor store.
Our 17-year-old neighbor recently went camping for the first time with his friends. His parents suggested he put his new tent up in the yard before he left, but he was convinced he’d just figure it out when he got there!
For a group of teenage boys, a bit of trial and error probably isn’t the end of the world. But imagine arriving at your campsite with young kids, only to discover there’s a pole missing, a rip in the tent, or you can’t work out how it all fits together. That’s a stressful way to start a family camping trip.
Set your tent up at home before you leave. It’s the perfect opportunity to check that all the parts are there, make sure nothing is damaged, and learn how everything fits together. Your future self will thank you when you’re pitching your tent quickly and confidently at the campsite.
3. Arriving at the Campsite After Dark
This is one of the biggest mistakes first-time campers make.
Everything takes longer than you expect.
Setting up tents, organizing sleeping bags, preparing dinner and helping excited children explore all takes time.
Aim to arrive during the afternoon so you can settle in without rushing.
You’ll enjoy your first evening so much more.
Setting off in the dark works, arriving in the dark does not.
4. Packing Too Many Clothes
One of the biggest surprises about camping?
Nobody cares what you’re wearing.
Children get muddy.
Adults get muddy.
Everyone wears the same fleece around the campfire!
Pack plenty of underwear, socks and t-shirts, but don’t feel you need a different outfit for every day.
You’ll save space and spend less time searching through bags.
Don’t forget the essentials! Grab my free Family Camping Checklist before you leave.
5. Wearing Cotton Instead of Layers
Camping weather can change quickly, especially in the mountains.
Cotton holds moisture and can leave you feeling cold once temperatures drop.
Instead, pack lightweight layers that can easily be added or removed throughout the day.
Comfortable clothing makes a huge difference to everyone’s enjoyment.
6. Forgetting Comfortable Camp Shoes
After wearing hiking boots all day, everyone appreciates changing into something more comfortable around camp.
Crocs or similar waterproof shoes are ideal because they’re lightweight, easy to clean and perfect for trips to the bathroom or around the campsite.
If you’re camping in areas with wildlife, it’s also worth remembering not to leave shoes outside overnight.
7. Not Pre-Chilling Your Cooler
Many beginners fill a warm cooler with cold food and hope for the best.
Instead, chill your cooler the night before with ice or frozen water bottles.
Start with cold food rather than food straight from the pantry.
Your ice will last much longer and your food will stay fresher throughout the trip.
One of the biggest game changers for us was learning how to use a cooler properly.
A colleague of my husband’s—last name Yoder (real name, true story)—pulled up outside our house one day in his truck, towing a giant fifth-wheel RV. He unloaded his cooler and proceeded to give us a masterclass in keeping food cold. His advice? Always pre-chill your cooler before you leave and keep frozen meat in a smaller cooler inside your main one so you’re not constantly opening it.
Basically, the Jedi Master of coolers turned up on our driveway and schooled us in the ways of keeping food cold for up to five days!
It completely changed the way we camp.
Before every trip now, we pre-chill our cooler with ice or frozen water bottles (for 24hrs), refresh the ice, make sure all our food is cold before it goes in, and only open the cooler when we really need to. These simple steps help your ice last much longer and keeps food fresh throughout your trip.
Keep drinks in a separate cooler or insulated container. That way, thirsty kids can help themselves without opening the food cooler every five minutes, helping your ice last much longer.
8. Planning Meals That Are Too Complicated
After spending the day outdoors, you’ll be tired and hungry.
Now isn’t the time to cook a three-course meal.
Keep your menu simple.
Some of our favorites include:
- Hot dogs
- Tacos
- Foil packet dinners
- Burgers (beef or veggie)
- Pasta
- Pancakes
- Breakfast burritos
Easy meals mean more time enjoying the campfire.
Need inspiration? Browse my favorite simple family camping meals for easy breakfasts, lunches and dinners that are perfect for cooking at the campsite.
9. Forgetting Entertainment
Nature provides plenty of entertainment—but there are always quiet moments too.
Pack a few simple activities such as:
- Uno
- Playing cards
- Coloring books
- A football
- Frisbee
- Nature scavenger hunt
They don’t take much room and can be lifesavers on rainy afternoons.
10. Choosing the Wrong Campsite
Not every campground is ideal for beginners.
Sometimes you have to rough it to stay in some truly spectacular places. Many campgrounds in U.S. National Parks, for example, don’t have showers, and some only have pit toilets. Others require you to hike into your campsite, carrying all of your gear.
There’s nothing wrong with that—but you know your family best.
If you’re brand new to camping, I’d recommend starting somewhere with a few familiar comforts, such as flush toilets, hot showers and easy access to your car. Once everyone has fallen in love with camping, you can gradually venture further off the beaten path and experience some of those incredible remote campgrounds.
For your first trip, look for campsites with:
- Flush toilets
- Hot showers
- Drinking water
- A playground (if you have younger children)
- Easy parking
- A short walk from your car
- Shade (if you’re camping in summer or somewhere hot like Texas)
A few extra comforts can make the difference between a family wanting to go camping again next weekend… or deciding camping just isn’t for them.
A few extra facilities can make everyone’s first camping experience much more enjoyable.
Our campsite in Sequoia National Park didn’t have showers, but waking up to deer wandering through the campground more than made up for it. There was also a surprisingly well-stocked camp store, so we could easily pick up any essentials we’d forgotten. It was the perfect balance of feeling immersed in nature without being completely off the grid.
11. Trying to Do Too Much
One hike.
One swim.
Dinner.
A campfire.
That’s enough.
You don’t need to squeeze in every activity each day.
Some of the happiest camping memories come from slowing down and simply enjoying being outside together.
12. Forgetting About the Weather
Always check more than just the daytime temperature.
Look at:
- Overnight lows
- Chance of rain
- Wind
- Humidity
A sunny afternoon can quickly become a chilly evening. Make sure you have sleeping bags that are appropriate for overnight temperatures.
Packing for changing conditions helps everyone stay comfortable.
13. Forgetting Lighting
Once the sun goes down, campsites become surprisingly dark.
Give every member of the family their own headlamp.
They’re much easier than trying to juggle a flashlight while cooking dinner or helping children find the bathroom.
14. Doing Everything Yourself
Children love helping when camping.
Give everyone their own job.
Younger children can collect sticks or help unpack.
Older kids can fill water bottles, help prepare meals or set up camp chairs.
Not only does it help you, but it also gives children a sense of ownership and responsibility.
15. Ignoring Wildlife Safety
One of the joys of camping is seeing wildlife.
The safest way to enjoy it is from a distance.
Store food properly, never feed animals and teach children to respect nature.
A little preparation helps protect both your family and the wildlife you’re there to enjoy.
We’ve been lucky enough to see a black bear in a campground before. Thankfully, it wasn’t anywhere near our tent, but it was a powerful reminder that if a campsite provides bear lockers, they’re there for a reason.
16. Buying Expensive Gear Too Soon
It’s tempting to buy premium equipment before you’ve even spent your first night under canvas.
Don’t.
After a few trips you’ll discover what matters most to your family.
Spend money gradually as your confidence grows.
17. Expecting Everything to Go Perfectly
Something will probably go wrong.
Someone might forget a pillow.
Dinner might get slightly burnt.
It might rain.
The tent might take longer to put up than expected.
And that’s completely normal.
The best family camping memories usually aren’t the perfect ones—they’re the funny stories you’ll still laugh about years later.
Camping isn’t about perfection.
It’s about adventure. But take earplugs and sleep masks because it’s hard to adventure on broken sleep!
Final Thoughts
Every experienced camping family has made these mistakes at some point—including us.
The important thing is not to let them put you off.
Start simple, keep your expectations realistic and remember that every trip teaches you something new.
Before long you’ll have your own family camping traditions, favorite campsites and funny stories to share around the campfire.
Whether you’re pitching a tent for the very first time or planning your next family adventure, the most important thing is simply getting outside together.
Happy camping!
Continue Planning Your Family Camping Trip
If you found these tips helpful, you might also enjoy some of my other family camping guides. Whether you’re planning your very first camping trip or looking to make your next adventure even smoother, these articles are packed with practical advice based on our family’s own experiences.
- Family Camping for Beginners
- Ultimate Family Camping Checklist
- What to Wear Camping
- Simple Family Camping Meals
- US National Park Guides for Families (and Camping)
I hope they help you feel prepared, confident and excited for your next adventure outdoors.
© On Family Vacation 2026 all rights reserved