Camping with Children – What We Really Needed (and What We Didn’t!)

We’ve taken our three young children away in the campervan before, but never for over a month. This summer’s road trip across France and Spain was going to be a whole new adventure – and a big learning curve – when it came to what we actually needed to pack for them.

We quickly discovered what was essential, what barely got touched, and what we could have left at home. Here’s our honest list from a parent’s perspective.

Our Must-Haves for a Month on the Road

🍽 Camping Table & Chairs

This simple set-up was in constant use – for colouring, writing, games, and all our mealtimes together. The height was perfect for all three kids, making it a hub for daily activities.

🎧 Toniebox Player

Our absolute hero of the trip. The Toniebox is a screen-free audio player designed for independent play, and our children love it. They can choose their own Tonies characters, pop on their headphones, and lose themselves in stories. It kept them entertained during long drives, and for our son, especially, it became part of his bedtime and morning routine.

🎯 Wooden Skittles Game

A lovely gift before we left – this outdoor number skittles game got us all involved, and even helped with a bit of maths practice.

🃏 Small Games

Go Fish, Yahtzee, and a standard pack of cards were worth their space in the van. They’re small, quick to set up, and fun for everyone.

✏ Colouring & Travel Learning

I packed colouring books, a fresh pencil case of pens and pencils, plus a few extras – word searches, country-themed spot-the-difference, and a blank diary so the children could document our trip. These came out almost daily, especially while we were cooking dinner.

👕 Minimal Clothes

This was my biggest win. Last year in Italy, I massively overpacked. This time, each child had one clothing pod: seven pairs of underwear, seven pairs of socks, and five outfits (seven for Dotty, because, well… toddler spills happen). We used campsite laundry facilities along the way, and the hot weather meant everything dried in no time. I also packed the clothes in a neat, rigid, foldable storage container, which kept everything compact and tidy. Check it out here.

🛹 Wheels for Exploring

With space tight, we chose skateboards and a scooter for our youngest rather than bikes. They still gave the children freedom to explore the campsites, and when we hired bikes locally, they were in their element.

🌊 Blow-Up Bodyboards

An impulse buy in France that quickly became a favourite. Easy to store, perfect for wave-catching, and just as much fun for adults as the kids.

🏖 A Bucket with a Twist

Dotty’s novelty “ice cream” bucket and spade set provided hours of beach entertainment, plus it doubled up for crab-catching adventures. We only packed one bucket and a spade set to save space, and sharing worked fine.

🤿 Snorkels & Flippers

Snorkelling was a highlight of our trip. Our daughter loved a full-face snorkel mask, while our son preferred the traditional kind. Flippers made them speedy swimmers and added to the fun.

📚 Bedtime Books

For Dotty, I packed just three of her favourite bedtime books. Familiar stories meant she was always excited for the same tales – and we saved a lot of space.

What We Could Have Left at Home

I overdid it on the games – Monopoly and Mapominos both came, and both were only played once. They were bulky to store and took up space better used for things we actually reach for every day. I also took watercolour sketchbooks and paints for our trips to scenic spots, but they only came out once.

What surprised me most was how little the kids needed to be “entertained” when nature was all around them. Pinecones became fairy gardens, sticks became magic wands, and shells became treasure.

What I Wish We Took

If there’s one thing I would add for next time, it’s a stash of pouches or zip-up fabric bags for all the little “treasures” the children collect along the way. From shells and pebbles to pinecones and postcards, these bits and pieces tend to spread across the van unless they have a home. Having each child keep their finds in one contained place would have saved us from a lot of “Mummy, where’s my…?” moments.

What We Learned

When it comes to packing for children on a long campervan trip, less really is more. The things they enjoy the most often aren’t the biggest or the fanciest – they’re the things that give them freedom to explore, play, and use their imagination.

And if you’re heading off in a campervan yourself, trust me – leave the “just in case” items at home. The road (and a little creativity) will provide more entertainment than you think.