Tried and tested family camping packing list for your camping trip in Ireland!

When I tell people I don’t particularly like camping, they usually take it I don’t like the ‘sleeping in a tent part of if. But this is very much not the case: sleeping in a tent is actually the part of camping I like the most!

What I don’t like about camping is the STUFF or rather, the amount of it!

When we travel internationally, I am the queen of light packing (super light, we always travel carry on only even for weeks of travel) so when I see the bar boot packed to the brim, I genuinely get palpitations.

I guess this is why I eventually decided to make a list of camping essentials and I am now always forcing my family to use it instead of randomly throwing stuff in the car.

It is far from a shortlist and has way more than sheer ‘essentials’ however, it works!

With this family camping packing camping list, we seem to have found a balance that allows avoiding camping misery but also over packing hell. We don’t bring everything on the list every time however, it is incredible how much of it actually does come in handy, even for just a night away.

I hope it works for you too! Happy camping!

This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Family camping packing list

When we go camping, we stay in our tent so this list is heavily biased towards tent camping.

Setting up and sleeping essentials

Tent
Camping mallet/hammer
Tent pegs
Mattress – camping mattresses come in all shapes and sizes but we find the best ones are the self-inflatable ones. They are super easy to use, comfortable and take up very little space when deflated.
Mats for under the beds
Sleeping bags: we use a very warm one, even in summer and it made all the difference between miserable nights and cozy ones. I highly recommend a high tog sleeping bag in Ireland!
Pillows and pillow covers
Pajamas
Warm socks
Booklight or kindle for reading without disturbing others

Family camping packing list: cooking and eating

Gas camping stove
Gas
Matches
Pan
Pot
Potholder – we have a really cool camping cooking set with pts and pans with a removable handle/potholder. It works great as you can use the same handle for all the pots and pans in the set and you can store it away nicely with them when you are done/
Coffee maker
Water bottle
Salt and condiments
Cooler bag
Sealed containers to protect from ants, mice etc and/ or pegs to close oper packets of pasta etc
Bottle opener / cork screwer
Cutting boards and knife
Dishes
Cups
Cutlery
Napkins
A bowl to wash dishes once done
Foil
Tin opener
Scourers and cloths to wash dishes
Dish washer soap
Tea towel
Rubbish bags

Comfort and nice to have

Camping table
Chairs
BBQ fire
Lamps / lanters
Insect repellent
Camping entertainment (board games, printable games, outdoor toys)
Binoculars
Guitar or another instrument for nights around the fire
Hammock

For the tent

Tent shoes (or socks)
Wet bags
Laundry bag
Mini hoover – a lifesaver for the car too, especially if you go to the beach!
Repair kit / sewing kit
Air pump
Pocket knife /Swiss knife multi tool

Safety gear

Lamps
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher/Blanket
Safety pins
Scissors
Safety pins

Personal items/ essentials

Shoes
Shower shoes/flip flops
Underwear and socks
Trousers/skirt/belt
Shorts
T-shirts
Jumpers
Night wear
Sun hat
Rain gear
Swimming trunks/ swimsuit
Wetsuit
Towels/face cloth
Soap/shampoo/shower gel
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Deodorant
Comb/brush
Razor
Sunscreen/chapstick
Sunglasses
Toilet paper
Personal medications
Baby wipes
Hanging toilet bag

Family camping packing list: laundry essentials

Washing powder
Clothes Pegs
Collapsible clothes drying rack
Rope/clothesline (this one needs no pegs)
Laundry bag
Wet / dry bags

Baby gear for camping in Ireland

Baby travel cot (perfect not just for sleeping but for naps and playtime outdoors
Changing bag
Baby toiletries and insect repellent
All terrains stroller / baby carrier

I hope you enjoyed this list and you found it useful to star planning tour own camping trip!

Printable camping packing list for families

How pack for camping in Ireland

Detailed family camping packing list for Ireland. This is my master packing list for when we go camping with the kids. It is a long one and you will not need all of this stuff every time you go camping. However, I found that having the right gear truly makes a big difference when you are tent camping!

The first time we went, we had no chairs and sure enough, we were able to eat sitting on the grass but that gets very tiring very fast and also meant we never truly felt like longing around the tent to relax: it was just too uncomfortable.

And the same goes for a lot of other stuff: my willingness to go camping shot up once we were able to set the tent up with a nice fire, a cup of warm coffee in the morning and a space to sip a glass of wine in the evening while the kids run around like mad things!

Instructions

Tent
Camping mallet/hammer
Tent pegs
Mattress
Mats for under the beds
Sleeping bags
Pillows and pillow covers
Pajamas
Warm socks
Booklight or kindle for reading without disturbing others
Gas camping stove
Gas
Matches
Pan
Pot
Potholder/oven gloves
Coffee maker
Water bottle
Salt and condiments
Cooler bag
Sealed containers to protect from ants, mice etc and/ kitchen pegs
Bottle opener / cork screwer
Cutting board and knife
Dishes
Cups
Cutlery
Napkins
A bowl to wash dishes once done
Foil
Tin opener
Scourers and cloths to wash dishes
Dish washer soap
Tea towel
Rubbish bags
Camping table
Chairs
BBQ fire
Lamps
Insect repellent camping candles
Camping entertainment (board games, printable games, outdoor toys)
Guitar or other instrument for nights around the fire
Tent shoes (or socks)
Wet bags
Laundry bag
Mini hoover - a lifesaver for the car too, especially if you go to the beach!
Repair kit / sewing kit
Air pump
Pocket knife /Swiss knife multi tool
Lamps
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher/Blanket
Safety pins
Scissors
Safetypins
Shoes
Shower shoes/flip flops
Underwear and socks
Trousers/skirt/belt
Shorts
T-shirts
Jumpers
Night wear
Sun hat
Rain gear
Swimming trunks/ swimsuit
Wetsuit
Towels/face cloth
Soap/shampoo/shower gel
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Deodorant
Comb/brush
Razor
Sunscreen/chapstick
Sunglasses
Toilet paper
Personal medications
Baby wipes
Washing powder
Clothes pegs
Collapsible clothes drying rack
Rope/clothesline
Hammock
Laundry bag
Wet / dry bags