I searched and couldn't find a thread about this so apologies if its been covered before.

I'm taking my wife and young daughter (3yo) tent camping for the first time in a few weeks. I grew up camping and did it heavily through college but am no doubt rusty. I've made a packing list and tried to contemplate issues that could arise. My hope is that if enough stuff doesn't go wrong, maybe it'll inspire the family to do this more frequently.

I'm looking for advice and pitfalls to prepare for. We're going to Lake Mineral Wells SP so we can hike and fish. Cooking will be kept simple to avoid the pain of cleaning dishes at a campsite and to get food ready faster. I've got sleeping bags, cots, a tent, stove, pots/utensils, shade, chairs and lanterns. I've loaded up some bug spray and extra matches/lighters.

Other than preparing everybody to expect the unexpected, what else can I do? Also, additional tips for helping a first time camping wife? She's enjoyed hiking trips in the past but she always had a place to go that was indoors afterwards. I anticipate my daughter will enjoy herself easily since she's pretty easy going and we'll be running around outdoors and having s'mores.

Battery power fan for the tent and toilet paper.

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when we camp, we always bring a canopy tent for a little shade to eat/sit under. Will you have one of these? if so, get a closet organizer like this:


To hang up and use as storage/pantry type thing. It helps keep snacks and such for a little one organized. Bring several gallons of water (we freeze them and basically use them as ice in the cooler). Little ones get reall dirty, and its nice to be able to wipe them down before bed. If you will be using a stroller at all, get a stroller mosquito net, they are cheap, but VERY useful.

My kid (younger than yours) refuses to sleep by himself when we camp, so we ended up having to buy a double size air mattress for us to use so he could sleep with me, and my husband uses the cot (by the way, this would likely help your wife as well).

For your wife, have her pack dry shampoo, its at least a bit of a comfort. Toilet paper is also a great thing to bring (the single ply in the vault toilets really sucks). If its going to be a windy night, get her ear plugs.

Bring a couple of small flashlights for your daughter. Little kids love flashlights. Also, ant spray for the campsite. Bring binoculars or telescope to look at the stars.
The state park will have nice showers and flush toilets, but bring your own toilet paper. State parks have the John Wayne toilet paper.
Maybe bring some games to play right before bed, to settle down a bit.
Have fun.

+1 on kid flashlights
let them explore the bugs and stuff
I've heard a game of will it burn, melt or nothing is fun (she gives you the things to put on the fire)
make sure you have rain gear and extra layers of warm clothes.
my daughter liked playing with the worms more than the fishing when she was that age.
bug spray
be sure to have a TON of extra games to play in case you get rain

Good luck, I hope you have perfect weather so that you convert your wife to the joys of camping.

Better prepare/pack for some rain this weekend

Maybe some water toys for the lake?

The earlier you go the better spot you'll get.

Buy a state park pass, i think they'll always worth it.

Have fun!

Tent camping - wait and go later in the year. It is still very hot, and most likely your wife and daughter will be unfortable and might not like camping. Plus there is a chance you will get rained on, and that really sucks in a tent.

Weather is a huge factor in a successful camping trip, wait until it will be in the 70s or so, especially since you won't have an AC.

canopy tent or some large shaded area for hangimg out under and eating. S'mores. Flashlights. We just went camping and my son built stuff along the river all day and watched the sky all night. Have fun

I always say this when camping with young children for the first time: only travel far enough from home so that you are willing to pack everything at 2:00 am and drive home. There is no quicker way to sour a child (and a spouse for that matter) on camping by forcing everyone to be miserable.

Your going to have a blast, hope it gets cool for sleeping though. I hate camping in the heat.

Great advice!

We would be going later but due to work/life/vacation the next available weekend is after thanksgiving so I'm gambling our weather will work out. At this point, we could see lows in the 60s which wouldn't be bad.

This place is just over an hour away so we can bail if needed, but hopefully the weather doesn't interfere.

I was told state parks have check in at two but that you can sometimes get in early if space permits. Anybody had any luck showing up early (like 8am) and doing this? I'm thinking late September will not have as many weekday campers so Friday morning might result in availability.

Once you are past Labor Day site availability isn't usually an issue

I've taken many daytime siestas in camping trips in the Texas summer with temps darn near 100f. Find some good shade, and a fan helps a lot.

Should have clarified. I've got a reservation but the actual site selection is apparently first come-first served. Some sites seem much more conducive to privacy and have better views. I wanted to get there early for that purpose.

Most sites have electricity and water. So i recommend a string of lights (like a strand of Christmas lights) to hang from tree to tree for light as needed so they can play as it gets dark

Following because we are going to Northern New Mexico the first week of October. Trying out some awesome tents we had imported after we stayed in them this past summer in South Africa. appreciate your pinteresty ideas!

I always take: electric griddle & a single burner electric cook top. It just takes 1 rainstorm to soak your firewood/charcoal. If you have those 2 electric appliances you can still cook.

I haven't camped in a couple decades and I'm taking 12 camping over Christmas with a 1 yo, a 3 yo, and two more under 8. I don't have much advice, but I wish you good fortune.

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actual site selection is apparently first come-first served. Some sites seem much more conducive to privacy and have better views. I wanted to get there early for that purpose.

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Exactly! I worked as a park ranger in high school. Never hurts to be early unless the rangers up front aren't any good.

Don't hesitate to drive around the sites to check them out before picking one. Also once you decide you can still change your mind no problem.

Wet wipes. Lots of them

Pintresty idea-
put charcoal brickettes in an egg carton (not the Styrofoam ones!). Throw in fire pit and light the egg carton. Easy way to start a fire without all the hard work

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Should have clarified. I've got a reservation but the actual site selection is apparently first come-first served. Some sites seem much more conducive to privacy and have better views. I wanted to get there early for that purpose.

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All state parks I have been to, the Rangers will let you in early if spots are available. Since school and kids sports have started back and it is not a holiday, I would be surprised if it is anywhere near full.

Update from our trip. Perfect weather for the camping trip and the advice was spot on. The flashlights provided as much nighttime entertainment as we could have hoped for with the young one.

In the future I would definitely take a griddle. That would have mad a lot of meal work even easier and would have been easier for everything we cooked other than hot water.

The only troubles we had were that our daughter wouldn't go to bed in the tent without one of us there because she was scared of being alone. Fair enough. The other was that the bathrooms kept getting clogged on the women's side. Meaning my wife and daughter kept driving to the next set of campgrounds.

Other than that Lake Mineral Wells SP is great. Beautiful park with great options for active kids as long as they don't need a playground.

We do colonial/ Rev War reenacting now. No electronics until night, but by golly flashlights ate key for the nights. I've got every cheapflashlight imaginable, but by far this ladybug lashlight has been the biggest hit. It is really easy for my 3 year old to use:


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Sunny-Mollie-Flashlight/dp/B003AHBX1U&ved=0ahUKEwjTvsGXw73PAhUETCYKHbP1A00QFgg5MAA&usg=AFQjCNHUIawyN3qYTqUNvyX66knTrXSzyw&sig2=s6t0jbP9sBB16aFxvEKSQw

I didn't read all of the replies, but my advice is make a trial run in the backyard. Assemble your list of stuff and try to mimic the anticipated conditions as best as you can. You'll figure out pretty quick what else you'll need.

As a father with children aged 4-1/2 and 2, I expect the worst problem you'll encounter is getting your 3 year old to fall asleep in the tent.

Enjoy!!!