Last Updated on 04/2025 by Mom Goes Camping

Why You Should Always Use a Camping Checklist (Trust Me on This)

There’s something magical about camping — fresh air, crackling campfires, and the feeling of being totally prepared (or not!) for whatever nature throws at you.
Well… unless you forget half your gear because you didn’t use a checklist. Another side benefit, if you are anything like me, you will have a better sleep on the eve of your trip. I usually have a disturbed sleep, waking up multiple times and making mental notes not to forget a particular item. Have faith in your checklist Refine it each time you go. Your will soon be a camping (and packing) super mom.

True story: A few years ago, we packed up the whole family for a weekend camping trip. I was feeling pretty smug about how fast we got ready. We hit the road, singing songs and munching snacks. Life was good… until we got to the campsite and realised something important: we had packed the tent poles, but not the tent.
Yep. We had a beautiful bag full of poles, pegs, and absolutely no tent. Luckily I had a few tricks up my sleeve.
We spent the night awkwardly draped under a tarp like a family of raccoons. It was not my finest moment.

Moral of the story?
Use a checklist. Always.

Here’s why checklists are camping lifesavers:

You won’t forget the essentials. (Like, say, the actual tent.)
You save time packing. No more running back and forth wondering if you packed the matches.
You feel more relaxed. When you’re confident you have everything, you can actually enjoy the adventure.
You avoid those “uh-oh” moments. Trust me, sleeping under a tarp sounds a lot more fun than it actually is.
It helps the whole family pitch in. Give everyone a section of the list to check off — it’s teamwork made easy.
You will sleep better the night before!

Bottom line:
If you want your camping trip to be full of memories and not full of mishaps, do yourself a favour: make a checklist (or use one of mine!).

👉 Check out all my free printable camping checklists to make your next trip smooth, fun, and stress-free!