Autumn presents a wonderful time to take your family to enjoy the great outdoors. As the weather gets cooler, you and your loved ones have the opportunity to explore without feeling too hot or cold. Plus, the leaves change color, turning the world into a gorgeous kaleidoscope for a few weeks. But, successful family fall camping trips come with a few must-haves. If you get these items, you’re more likely to enjoy your trip and spend less time stressing over what you need.
Whether you’re a seasoned camper or going on your first family trip, this list of supplies will help ensure your vacation is a success!
Where to Shop for Your Family Fall Camping Trips
Bass Pro Shops appreciates the outdoors just as much as you do, and they want to make sure you have the best supplies. From campsite items to fishing and hiking gear, they offer many high-quality and top-selling brands.
To celebrate Labor Day, they’re offering a massive sale on many of their items. So, you get access to top-notch products that will improve your overall camping experience.
What to Get
A Large Tent
For more comfortable family fall camping trips, you need a tent that’s large enough to accommodate everyone. When consider which tent to get, think about how many people you have in your party and then add some room to store luggage and other supplies.
Keep in mind that unexpected rain showers might happen, so you’ll want a waterproof tent, and you might also want to buy a tarp to put over it.
Warm Sleeping Bags
On camping trips, it’s much harder to regulate the weather in your tent. As the temperatures get cooler, you’ll want durable, comfortable, and warm sleeping bags to get everyone through the night.
Fortunately, some sleeping bags have been specially designed for colder temperatures. For example, some come with the ability to keep you toasty when it’s as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside!
A Portable Kitchen
One of the most memorable aspects of family camping involves preparing unique food and enjoying them outdoors. However, cooking outside also poses unique challenges. With a little planning, though, you can still create flavorful meals and have some of the conveniences of home at your fingertips.
Portable kitchens help you bridge the comfort of an at-home kitchen with your camping conditions. Look for one that comes equipped with a griddle, a sink, and a small table, along with counter and storage space.
First Aid Kit
No one wants to think about getting hurt on vacation, but the truth is, there’s always a small risk of injury during your family camping trip. So, you’ll feel more confident and safe if you bring a first aid kit!
A good first aid kit includes antiseptic wipes, gauze, band-aids and butterfly-closure bandages, gloves, forceps for splinter and tick removal, common pain relievers and allergy medications, and a thermometer.
The kit offered at Bass Pro Shops also has a pamphlet with instructions for caring for children while you’re camping or hiking.
A Durable Lantern
When you go camping, you often don’t have light after the sun goes down. So, bringing along a lantern is a smart idea for navigating the camp site after dark. In particular, you’ll want lanterns that feature LED lights so that you get the most brightness for your battery power. Choose one with an easy on and off button so that you can turn them on without additional lighting.
GPS-Equipped Smart Watch
Exploring nature often creates wonderful family memories. Still, you want to be able to navigate back to your campsite every night. With a GPS-equipped smart watch, you’ll be able to tell exactly where you are, even when you don’t have cell service.
Plus, smart watches have a variety of other benefits, including allowing you to listen to music, tracking your runs and hikes, and showing you what’s up ahead on the trail. In addition, smart watches help you keep track of various body functions, such as heart rate, hydration levels, and breathing.
Compass
Even though we have other navigation devices at our disposal nowadays, teaching kids to navigate using a compass often proves a fun and rewarding experience. So, invest in a high-quality compass and let them enjoy using it!
Hydration Packs
If you’re going camping in the fall, you’ll need to bring enough water with you to keep everyone well-hydrated. Most natural water sources don’t contain liquid that’s safe to drink. So, you’ll need to have access to water when you’re hiking or hanging around the campsite.
These bladders are designed to carry a large amount of water and can easily be placed in hiking backpacks.
Portable Heater
Fall nights can get chilly, especially if you’re camping in a northern area. To keep everyone comfortable, bring along a portable heater that runs on either gas or electricity (depending on how your campsite is equipped).
For safety, get a heater that automatically shuts off if it tips over. In addition, keep blankets and other flammable items away from the heater.
A Heated Chair
After long days of exploring the outdoors, you and your family members will want nothing more than to relax by the fire with your favorite drinks in hand. Having a heated camping chair will keep your muscles warm and loose while allowing you to give your feet a break.
Non-Perishable Food
When you’re on an outdoor adventure, having non-perishable food items at your disposal will keep everyone feeling well-nourished throughout the trip. These foods can either be eaten as-is or cooked for a more flavorful meal. If you want, you can even take them on your hikes!
If your family members have a variety of food likes and dislikes, buy a bucket filled with different non-perishable meals and let them pick their favorites!
Get More Out of Your Camping Trip
Now that you know what you need for your family fall camping trips, you’re more equipped to have a good time! But, knowing where to camp might prove difficult because there are so many great options. Check out some of these great U.S. destinations and look for camping sites nearby!
If you’re seeking a family-friendly destination for fall camping, consider Kampgrounds of America (KOA). With diverse locations and amenities suited for families, KOA makes it easy to enjoy the outdoors while ensuring comfort and convenience for everyone.
