Camping Clothes

Packing the right camping clothes is important. You don’t want to pack more than you need, but you don’t want leave anything important at home, either!

First I'll help you decide how to pack, and then I'll talk about what to pack.

There are three schools of thought on how to pack for a camping trip with kids.

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Camping Clothes

1. Pack lots

This strategy makes sense if you have a big RV with lots of clothes storage space.

Bring along lots of changes of clothing for each child - more than you think you’ll need. When clothes get wet or dirty, just trade them for a fresh set.

2. Pack lightly - and do laundry

If storage space is limited and you stay at a full-service campground with a laundromat, this strategy might be for you.

Pack just a few changes of clothing, and plan to do laundry every few days.

Don't forget to bring along the laundry soap. A laundry basket will come in handy, too.

If you don’t mind hanging laundry on the clothesline, you can save money - and time spent in the laundry room - by hanging laundry on your clothesline. Of course, you’ll need a sturdy clothesline, somewhere to hang it, and and lots of clothespins.

3. Pack carefully

If you have limited storage space and if you're not excited about the idea of spending part of your valuable vacation in the laundry room, there is another option:

Bring clothes that are loved, sturdy, multipurpose, and quick-drying.

This is the strategy I use.

Make sure that every item you pack is going to be worn.

Pack clothing that can stand up to rough use.

Choose items that can be worn for different purposes.

When something gets too dirty, wash it out and hang it to dry.

Camping clothes packing tips

Think “layers”.

By choosing clothes that layer well, you can avoid packing bulky items - and still be prepared for any temperature.

If you are camping in fall or spring, you might encounter unexpectedly cool days. This photo was taken on an Easter camping trip. It was chilly!

Three kids wearing fleece tops, with small buckets on an expedition

Having lots of layers will let you be comfortable at any temperature.

Here are the layers you need:

a base layer (underwear)

an outer layer (fleece pants and fleece jacket)

a waterproof layer (raincoats or Gore-Tex)

Two boys in blue raincoats sitting outdoors on camping chairs

By swapping around those layers, you'll be ready for anything.

Avoid cotton

Cotton takes a long time to dry. If you need to rinse out an item of clothing, you don't want it to be cotton.

Choose synthetics

Synthetic clothing dries quickly.

Fleece jackets and pants are cozy!

Two small boys in fleece jackets and hats sitting on a big rock on a camping trip

Another advantage of synthetics: they pack small. A warm fleece sweater is much smaller than a wool sweater of comparable warmth.

Leave the blue jeans at home

Blue jeans take up a lot of space, and they take forever to dry if they get wet.

Of course, if you child wears nothing but jeans, you'll probably need to bring a pair anyway. These guidelines are just .... guidelines!

What to Pack

Camping clothes packing lists

Use these lists as a starting point. Modify them to suit your destination and season.

For babies

The secret to packing for a baby is to pack lots! That's easy, because none of it takes much room.

You might want to pack each outfit in a zipped plastic bag so you can just grab it and go, rather than having to search in the bottom of a duffle bag for tiny little socks.

diapers
sleepwear
daytime wear: pants, shorts, Tshirts, long shirts, socks
booties or shoes
bibs
sunhat
warm hat
warm layer (one piece fleece)

For children

Before we go camping, I scour the thrift stores for good quality synthetic clothing. That way, if (or when!) the clothes get trashed from too much rough play, no one minds.