National Park Service: Camping Grades 6 to 8🚐 Campers and RVs🌲 Nature

Camping with Kids

National Park Service: Camping · 2020-01-17 · 1 min read
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A woman and three kids set up a tent

NPS Photo

why people camp.

Two little boys wearing backpacks sit and rest

NPS Photo / David Restivo

A little girl stands next to a tent

NPS Photo / David Snyder

A child sets up a tent
A woman and a youth roast marshmallows over a campfire

NPS Photo / Neal Herbert

Cooking in Camppage for more tips, tricks and

recipesfor meals.

A woman hikes with two little children

taking a hike, remember that little legs are shorter than yours, and not as fast. (And if your kid’s legs are longer than yours, they might still have a little trouble keeping up!) There will be a lot of stop and go. Choose family-friendly hikes on nature trails. Break up hikes with opportunities to look at things on the trail (binoculars are fun!), drink some water out of that new water bottle, or pull out a snack you let them carry in their day pack. If you have a backpack kid carrier, wear it. The walking motion provides an opportunity for your little one to catch a nap while you hike.

A little girl looks through binoculars
A mother and child sit in a camp chair reading a Jr. Ranger booklet

Plan Your Visit section of NPS.gov(or the park you are visiting) for available activities. Also consider a

camping activityor

Jr. Ranger books.

Last updated: January 17, 2020