30 Glamping Essential to Put on Your Family's Packing List
Being fully prepared with all the essentials can help your family truly enjoy their epic glamping adventure!
What is Glamping?
Glamourous glamping, which is more commonly referred to as “glamping” has gained lots of popularity among outdoor-loving families over the past several years. And there’s no surprise why!
Glamping offers families the opportunity to experiences the joys for traditional camping with out the stress of having to schlep tons of expensive gear or the inconvenience of not having a decent place to shower.
Because of its growing popularity, glamping resorts have been popping up all over my home state of California and beyond!
However, even though glamp sites offer some of the basic accommodations like beds and tents, not all glamp sites are created equal. This can pose a bit of a dilemma when deciding what to pack for family’s next glamping adventure.
No need to stress, though, because we’re about to dive into 30 essential items to add to your family’s glamping packing list. This list includes tons of items that will make your stay in nature more comfortable along with items that many people simply don’t realize is something they need while glamping.
And stick around until the end for more great glamping inspiration for next Northern California vacation.
What should I pack for a family glamping trip?
Before we dive into this list of essential items to pack on a glamping trip, it’s important to remember that glamping sites offer a ton of great amenities that will make your stay mush more comfortable, convenient, and stress free compared to traditional glamping.
As you work your way through this list, you’ll want to consider the following questions because while this is a thorough list of essential items , you may not necessary need to pack everything mentioned on this guide if your glamping site already has them there.
So consider the following questions:
- Does your glamping site provided linens, pillows, heated blankets?
- Does your glamping site offer towels?
- Does the site provided dishwashing supplies like dish soap and sponges?
- Do they provide basic toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash?
- Does the site give daily complimentary breakfasts?
- Does the site provide complimentary coffee, tea, and hot cocoa?
- Will there be onsite barbecue grills and/or outdoor kitchens for you to cook your meals on?
- What types of entertainment is provided with your stay?
- Is there electricity at your glamping site?
- Does your glamping accommodations come with lanters and/or flashlights?
- What type of outdoor seating does your glamping accomodations come with?
Also remember, as mentioned earlier, that not every glamping site is created equal. So don’t hesitate to call your glamping site directly to ask this questions before you start packing!
30 Glamping Must-Haves to Put on Your List
1) first aid kit
The first glamping essential to add to your family’s packing list is a first aid kit. Even though most glamping resorts will have on-site first aid kits, it is always more convenient to have your very own at your glamp site.
This is because if someone in your family quickly needs an ice pack or bandage, you won’t have to go get one from the resort front office, which might require a long walk from your personal glamp site.
Always have your very own first aid kit.
2) insulated mug or cup
Another must-have item to have with you while glamping is an insulated mug or cup.
Mornings can be chilly, so there’s nothing like a warm cup of coffee or hot cocoa to help keep you nice and toasty while walking around the glamping site. With an insulated mug, you’ll be able to keep your cup of joe nice a warm during your slow morning at the glamp site.
3) ear plugs
This next essential item is especially so if you are a light sleeper.
Having a pair of ear plugs can come in handy when you are trying to get some rest in a canvas tent. Remember that tents are not soundproof. That means you can literally hear everything just outside your tent.
You might hear other campers nearby, owls hooting, and maybe even staff trucks driving around for security. Without ear plugs, some of these sounds might prevent you from having a good nights rest.
4) oven mitts
Oven mits are an item that are super useful item that many people don’t considering bringing to a glamping site.
With oven mitts you can easily and safely handle hot campfire grills and hot pans when cooking. Protect those hands and fingers by remember to put oven mitts on your packing list.
5) citronella candles
Citronella candles can be a huge help in areas that might have mosquitos.
Mosquito bites are no fun and can definitely make a glamping trip very uncomfortable. One way to prevent mosquito bites are with citronella candles. Simply light a few citronella candles around your site to ward those pesky bugs aways.
As an added bonus, lighting these candles around your site adds a warm, romantic glow to your space.
6) twinkle lights
Speaking for warm, romantic glows, this next must-have item will add some fun magic to your glamping site that your kids will love.
Battery-operated string lights are portable and easy to string up around your tent or yurt to make your outdoor space a little extra special. Plus, having strings of lights around your space can make your glamping spot more identifiable at night, when things are harder to see.
7) storage bags and containers
This next glamping essential is one that gets easily forgotten about: storage bags and containers.
When you cook at a glamping resort, there is likely going to be left over foods you might want to munch on later in your glamping trip. Because of this, you’ll want to have storage bags and containers on hand. This way you can easy keep food safe in the cooler until you’re ready to use them.
In addition, if you’re planning on packing snacks or meals with you on your daily adventures, you’ll need so something to put them in.
8) aluminum foil
Foil can be another way for you to store food. It also can provide you with a clean surface to cook on when you’re using the shared, outdoor kitchens.
9) reusable water bottle
Sure, buying a pack of bottle water at the grocery store is much for convenient. However, if you’re going to be spending some time in nature, you should also do your part in taking care of nature.
With a reusable water bottle, you’ll produce less plastic waste and also do a really good thing for our one and only Earth.
10) trash bags
Trash bags are an absolute must when glamping. Make sure it’s on your glamping packing list.
Since you’ll be cooking your meals out in nature, you’ll also likely have waste like food scraps, wrappers, paper towels, and aluminum foil. And with this, you’ll want a place close by to dispose of your trash at your glamp site so you’re not always running to the shared trash receptacles to get ride of waste.
11) card games
Another glamping item you’ll definitely want to put on your list is card games. You can simply back a deck of cards or even an Uno deck. You will likely have some downtime from all your outdoor activities and playing a game of Uno or Go Fish with the kids is a great way to spend time with the family.
12) insect repellent spray
While not all glamping sites have mosquitos, it’s always better to be safe than sorry and pack the bug spray.
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11) wine key
Often times, glampers pack a nice bottle of wine to enjoy by the campfire at the end of the day. This is why a wine key is a must-have glamping item to add to your glamping list.
You don’t want to be stuck with a great bottle of wine without a way to open it.
12) closed-toed shoes
Sturdy, comfortable, closed-toed shoes are a must whenever you go glamping.
Having your feet fully protected from things like sticks, thorns, rocks, sticks, and uneven trails is so important. Getting a bad scrape or scratch while glamping can really make the trip uncomfortable. It’s no fun for any member of your family.
13) paper towels
Paper towels are something you simply cannot forget when your on a glamping adventure.
When glamping, you will likely experience spills or your kids might need to wipe their hands dry. Regardless, you will definitely need a lot on your adventure
14) biodegradable baby wipes
Baby wipes are essential to any family glamping trip whether you have a baby or not. The they ultimate clean-up tool for any situation.
Got dirt on your face? Do you have sticky fingers from roasted marshmallows? Want a quick way to freshen up between activities? Don’t fret. Baby wipes are perfect for all those things.
15) frisbee or ball
Another great item to have on your glamping packing list is a frisbee or a ball.
You and your family will be spending a good chunk of your time at the glamping resort, so you’ll like something fun activities to do that keep you entertained and disconnected from electronic device.
Having a frisbee or a ball for you and your family to play with that don’t require wifi or electricity.
16) portable speaker
A bluetooth portable speaker is another must-have item you should consider putting on your packing list. While there’s nothing like listening to the tranquil sounds of nature, there is also something really nice about incorporating music into your glamping experience.
Imagine roasting marshmallows at the end of the day with some nice, relaxing music serenading you in the background. Or envision playing some fun morning tunes while sipping on your coffee in the morning. Nice right?
One thing to note, however, is that glamping sites have different guidelines around playing music at the site. Some are completely okay with it, while some regulate guests’ abilities to project sound.
With this said, be sure to check in with your glamp site’s guidelines AND always be considerate of your neighboring glampers.
17) sunscreen
As with most outdoor vacations, sunscreen is an absolute essential!
Many people neglect to apply sunscreen when the weather is cloudy or overcast. However, even if the sun isn’t visible, it’s still super important to keep you skin protected when you plan on spending lots of time enjoying outdoor activities
18) folding camping chairs
Something that most newbie glamping neglect to put on their packing list are fold-up camping chairs.
Not all glamping resorts provide outdoor chairs for their guests, so it’s important to know what your accommodations include.
Regardless of whether or not your glamp site provides outdoor seating, haven’t extra seating around your campsite comes in handy at the end of a long day hiking or kayaking.
19) a lighter
Nights at your glamping site would be quite dark without this essential item: a lighter.
This is one of those essential glamping items you simply cannot go without, but is often times forgotten about. With that said, make sure you put it on your packing list so that you can light your campfire to enjoy fire-side mornings and toasted marshmallows
20) medications
Pain medications are another essential item to add to the list. Some medications to consider putting your kit include:
- ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief
- allergy medicine
- dramamine for motion sickness
21) battery-operated puck lights
This must-have is super helpful for young kiddos who might be afraid of the dark: battery-operated puck light.
These lights are super light-weight and small so they don’t take up a lot of space in your cargo. However, they provide the perfect amount of light in your tent to make things less scary for young glampers.
What’s also nice is that some puck lights have a magnetic backing that allowed you to secure them to metal surfaces, like the frame of your tent.
22) flashlights
Please, please, please, make sure you have a flashlight with your on your next glamping adventure.
Many first-time glampers assume that their glamping site provides flashlights for them as part of their accommodations, but this is not always the case. While some sites do, many others simply may not, so check with your glamp site to be sure.
However, even if the glamp site you stay at comes with flashlights or lanterns, having a couple of extra flashlights couldn’t hurt and also allows everyone to have their own source of light at night.
23) books
Books are a wonderful must-have on any glamping adventure.
From graphic novels to personal development, coloring books to word search books, having a couple of books on your packing list will give you some much-needed relaxation time after a long day adventuring in the great outdoors.
24) dish soap and dish sponge
Dish soap and a dish sponge is a must for your family’s glamping list.
While some glamping resorts provide these items, as always, not all do. Just in case, bring along your own soap and sponge so you can have everything you need to wash all the cooking utensils you’ve used during your trip.
25) picnic table cloth
Another essential to consider adding to your packing list is a fun, picnic table cloth.
It may not seem like a big deal, but it can really liven up the picnc table at your glamping site. In addition, having a water-resistant table cloth can make it easy to wipe off the morning dew, light rain, or any spills.
26) portable chargers or external battery pack
Having an extra battery back is something any glamper should have on their glamping list.
While glamping is all about disconnecting from technology, in this day in age, our phones can help us navigate the great out doors with ease. And this is especially reassuring for parents with little kids.
Having an extra battery source can ensure that your devices are ready to go in moments when you absolutely need them.
27) tweezers
Having tweezers on your glamping packing list is an absolute must. It another one of those items that is often times overlooked, but can come in handy in many occasion while out in nature.
Tweezers are used to handle tiny objects that are too hard to hold with your hands. This includes things like placing a screw back onto your glasses or plucking out a splinter.
28) nail clipper
Another glamping essential that often times gets overlooked are nail clippers. Putting this item on your packing list can help you out a lot during your glamping trip.
Hangnails are super annoying and can be quite painful, which is something you absolutely don’t want to fuss with when glamping. Having a nail clipper handy would solve this problem quickly. Also, fingernails that break close to the nail bed can really hurt. In this case, clipping some of the nail away with a nail clipper can provide some relief.
29) cooler
You do not want to forget the cooler!
It may seem like an obvious thing, but better safe than sorry. Make sure the cooler is on your packing list. It’ll ensure that your perishables don’t go bad and that you have some ice ready in events when you need an ice pack for any bumps, aches, and other injuries.
30) aloe vera gel
The last thing you should bring with you on your next family glamping trip is aloe vera gel.
Aloe vera gel is great for sunburns. Not only does it have the ability to soothe burns, it is also really moisturizing, which can help heal your sunburn a bit faster.
While you may not get a sunburn on your trip, aloe vera gel is still really nice to have on hand so you can use it right away in the event of a bad sunburn.
In Conclusion
Be prepared for your next glamping trip with these 30 essentials!
And there you have it — 30 essential packing list items for your next family glamping trip. With this list, you can embark on your family getaway, fully prepared for lots of epic adventures.
From ensuring a comfortable night’s rest and necessary health aids, to cooking must-haves and outdoor entertainment, this comprehensive list contains all the things you never thought you’d need on your nature-based vacation.
With this list you can fully enjoy your trip and focus on creating lasting memories with your family, without worrying that you forgot any necessary items.
So pack up your gear, embrace the glamp life, and fully enjoy this special time with your family!
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