Tent Camping Basics For Beginners

Growing up tent camping with my family, I fell in love with the outdoors. I can still picture my parents totes stacked in the back of our green Explorer, holding all their tent camping basics. Camping is something I always wanted to explore with my husband & kids one day.

Brad, on the other hand, had never been camping until we got together. Our very first experience camping together was during our senior year in high school. I found a tiny tent on clearance at Wal*Mart, we slept on the ground & took more beer than food. It was an absolute disaster! Brad vowed to never camp again after that trip.

Fast forward to 2020, all of our travel plans had been canceled & we were stuck at home – driving each other crazy. After watching so much YouTube that we basically reached the bottom – I had an idea. Let’s give camping a try! Brad was instantly against it, and I knew I had my work cut out for me. 

I researched on Pinterest, YouTube, & Instagram. I read & watched every blog & vlog I could find about how to have a successful camping experience with kids & a hesitant husband. Even after all that, our first trip did not go as planned – BUT – it was amazing, and we instantly fell in love with the camping lifestyle. 

After tent camping for a year, there are a few things we realized we could NOT live without. In this blog, I will share the tent camping basics we found were must haves for newbies, and how to make your first trip successful!

Basic Shelter Needs

Tent Camping Basics 101: Find your tent!
We purchased a Coleman Montana 8 person tent from Amazon, and it was perfect for us. Our tent will always hold a special place in my heart!
Things to think about when shopping for your tent is how much space you NEED for your family. We camped with 2 adults, 2 kids & a GIANT Lab puppy. I knew we were going to need extra space for Chip’s kennel, as well as all the crap that comes along with traveling with kids.
If there are 2 of you camping, I would suggest you go no smaller than a 4-6 person tent. The more people or pets you bring along with you the bigger tent you’ll want to purchase. 

Shelter:
*Tent (size depending on the # of people/pets you camp with)

*Rain Fly – this should come with your tent, make sure you put this on under the heavy duty tarp to keep moisture out of your tent overnight.

*2 XL Tarps – putting a simple tarp down as a base for your tent will keep the moisture out, as well as protecting your tent floor from sticks & rocks that may be around your site. We also purchased a heavy duty tarp from Wal*Mart (the one we bought was silver & brown) to put over our tent at night or when it was very cold outside. This tarp helped us keep our tent VERY warm on those cold days (we have tent camped in 40*).

Sleeping & Comfort

We started out using a queen size air mattress & it was the best decision we made to make our trip comfortable. However, the kid size air mattresses I originally purchased for the girls seemed to rip & leak air easily. After some research online, we found this amazing Kid-O-Bunk system, and it was a game changer! When looking to get started with tent camping basics, an air mattress for your kids should work fine! We chose to upgrade to the Kid-O-Bunk system after a year of tent camping.

While sleeping bags are great, Brad & I prefer to use sheets & blankets. Brad sleeps cold & I sleep hot, so a sleeping bag would never work for us! However, I did use sleeping bags for the girls as a base layer on their cots. Finally, the #1 tip for getting A good nights sleep is bring your own pillows! I purchased cheap pillows for camping & they were awful. ALWAYS bring your favorite pillows!  

Sleeping:
*Sleeping pad, cot or air mattress
*Sleeping bags & blankets
*Pillows

First Aid & Safety

Let’s face it – with kids & pets, accidents are going to happen. Being prepared is the best way to handle the inevitable.

Always make sure you pack any medication you take, particularly prescriptions (and bring extras, because i’ve definitely dropped medicine on a shower house floor, and I was not putting that in my mouth!) Both of our girls have a pretty nasty reaction to mosquito bites. Remembering to pack lots of citronella bug bands & anti-itch cream is at the top of our first aid list! Of course, bring the basics for first aid as well.

First Aid & Safety:
*First Aid Kit
*Sunscreen
*Bug Spray
*Pain Killers (Acetaminophen & Ibuprofen)
*Any script meds
*Allergy meds
*Anti-Itch Cream/Spray
*Bear Spray
*Whistle
*Age specific meds (for kids AND pets)

Toiletries

While packing toiletries for your trip, think about the basic things you use on a day to day basis. I’ve packed my straightener, curling wand & makeup many times, and never touched them! It’s best to stick to the basics for tent camping in your first few trips to see what you really can’t live without!

Toiletries: 
*Hair Brush/Hair Ties
*Baby Wipes (for sticky s’more hands & sandy toes)
*Toothbrush/Toothpaste
*Chapstick
*Body wipes
*Body wash & washcloth/scrubby
*Shampoo/Conditioner
*Deodorant

Camp Kitchen

Camp cooking can feel REALLY overwhelming. How do you cook without a kitchen, in the elements & without a dishwasher?! I know, I know – but I promise it’s not THAT bad!

Do some research on camp meals (I prefer looking on Pinterest) that best fit your family, that have simple ingredients & will have easy cleanup. We like to cook on our Blackstone, and use foil pans for things like rice & baked beans – so we can throw them away when we’re finished instead of washing pans.
I always prep as much food at home as possible. For example, I chop & season the meat before placing in a ziplock bag to freeze. Once we get to the campsite I can easily dump the bag on the Blackstone & cook up dinner! Things like rice I cook in advance & reheat on the Blackstone. I will also wash & chop any produce we plan to take with us for easier snacking.

Cooking: 

*Camp Stove/Grill
*Propane or Charcoal
*Foil Pans
*Aluminum Foil
*Water
*Coffee/Filters
*Drinks
*Paper Plates/Napkins
*Plastic Cutlery/Cups
*Seasonings for cooking
*Sandwich & Gallon Ziplocks
*Knife(s)
*Coffee Pot (if on an electric site)
*Camp Kettle (if using campfire to heat water) 
*Wash Bin/Soap/Sponge
*Cooking Utensils for your meals

Preparing for tent camping can seem overwhelming at first. If you stick to a basic list of items needed, not only will you be able to budget your trip easier – you will eliminate much of the stress that can come with camping. Taking your family out & making memories is the most important part of camping. I hope our list helps you make your first trip a success!

Read our FIRST tent camping blog HERE !

Watch our Tent Camping Basic Packing video HERE!