Find out how to plan your family camping holiday in no time! Get ahead of the holiday planning curve to save time and money so your family can slide into the warmer seasons ready for adventure.
Table of Contents
- Get Ahead of the Family Adventure Planning Curve
- 1. Choose a Destination for Your Family Camping Holiday
- 2. Plan Activities for Everyone
- 3. Pack Smart for Your Family Camping Holiday
- 4. Meal Planning for a Family Camping Holiday
- 5. Test Camping Equipment in Advance
- 6. Safety First
- 7. Stay Organised
- 8. Plan for Comfort
- 9. Be Flexible
Get Ahead of the Family Adventure Planning Curve
Spring will soon be sniffing around the corner and we’re excited for another great season at Mendip Basecamp! We’re already planning our summer adventures and thought it was a great time to create a guide to planning your next camping holiday.
1. Choose a Destination for Your Family Camping Holiday
Think about how far you are willing to travel. If it’s your first family camping trip, consider somewhere relatively close to home in case circumstances change. Research sites with family-friendly amenities and activities, like toilets and showers, play areas, free activities and anything else you think would make your family adventure fun and hassle-free. We recommend booking well in advance, which can help manage your holiday budget and ensure you get the dates you want.
Basecamp Bonus
- Only 45 minutes from Bristol
- Toilets and showers
- Weekend themes
- Free campsite activities
- Bookable adventure activities
- Free music and storytelling on weekends
- Giant sandpit
- Camp shop and cafe
- Local walks and nature watching
- Check out whenever you like
- Campfires encouraged
- Well-behaved dogs welcome
Availability is limited so make sure you book in advance for the perfect family camping holiday!
2. Plan Activities for Everyone
Once you’ve chosen your destination, plan activities that cater to everyone in your family group. To get the most out of your experience, look for a mix of self-led and instructor-guided activities, and remember to bring games, books, and playing cards for downtime and evenings.
Basecamp Bonus
Guests can try free activities and entertainment like Circus Skills, Live music and Storytelling every weekend. Plus, look out for fun themed stays at Basecamp like our Nature Weekend and Astronomy Weekend, with special free activities perfect for a mini family getaway.You can also wander a few minutes through the woodland down to Mendip Activity Centre and try one of our popular adventure activities like Air Rifle, Archery, Kayaking, Stand-up Paddle Boarding or Snow Sports. Alternatively, take the family on a self-led activity like Tobogganing, Disc Golf, Orienteering or Bat Detecting.
If you have specific adventure activities in mind, we suggest booking in advance because they fill up quickly! For free campsite activities, talk to the staff when you check in to find out when and where they are running.
3. Pack Smart for Your Family Camping Holiday
Make a checklist so you don’t forget the essentials! We like to split our list into categories, such as Food, Sleeping, Relaxing, Activities, Toiletries, and Miscellaneous. You can organise your categories how you like, but we’ve found it a great way to avoid last-minute purchases for forgotten items.
Check the forecast and bring suitable clothes, plus extra to leave in the car just in case. Pack things like medication and toiletries so they are accessible, and if routine is important to your family think about how you can pack to help accommodate morning and evening habits.
Some essential basics to include:
- Warm clothes
- Waterproofs
- Torch and batteries or charging cable
- First aid kit
- Sleeping bags, pillows, mattresses, spare blankets
- Tent, tent pegs, mallet
- Camp stove and gas
- Matches or lighter
Basecamp Bonus
Basecamp offers pre-pitched accommodations such as Bell Tents, Safari Tents and Bunk Tents so there is less for you to bring (though you need to remember your bedding and cooking equipment), and there is a camp shop on site in case you leave the tent pegs behind or fancy a cheeky drink after setting up camp.
4. Meal Planning for a Family Camping Holiday
How much cooking would you like to do on your family holiday? Think about easy crowd-pleasing meals that can be made in one pot or partially prepared ahead of time. Bring loads of snacks and think of a few options that children can prepare themselves. Things like jarred/tinned sauces, stews, curries and soup sachets are incredibly convenient, and snacks like dried fruit, nuts, protein bars and apples travel well and are quick to reach for. We have heard from families that freeze pre-portioned meal components like pasta sauces, soups and stews for an easy evening meal, keeping them in a cool box with ice packs so they stay frozen for the duration of the trip.
Some easy meal ideas are:
Breakfast
- Bacon/sausage/egg baps
- Porridge
- Crumpets
- Weetabix
Lunch
- Tinned meals like soup or stew
- Sandwiches
- Ploughman’s picnic
Supper
- Burgers or hot dogs
- Bangers and mash
- Spaghetti bolognese
Ultimately you and your family are on holiday, so give yourself a break and indulge in easy, convenient meals that allow you to focus on each other and the adventures in front of you. Just don’t forget the red or brown sauce!
Basecamp Bonus
The Pavilion at Basecamp is open from 8 am to 9 pm every day and offers barista coffee, breakfast rolls, cold drinks, fries and pizza to fuel you up for the next adventure.
5. Test Camping Equipment in Advance
Even if you’ve used the equipment before, at the start of the season it’s always a good idea to set up the tent and check the pegs, poles and lines. It’ll help refresh your memory and highlight anything you need to fix or replace. Try out your camp stove, check the torches, shake out the sleeping bags and inflate the air beds to avoid any surprises on the first night. Try to get in the habit of checking the equipment again when you pack up and take note of any issues so you can spread the cost of repairs or replacements for the next trip.
Basecamp Bonus
Even if you are prepared for every eventuality, sometimes you still need a tent peg, a spare sleeping bag, or an extra gas canister for the cooker. You can find anything you need at the Pavilion camp shop, plus some refreshing extras like cold soft drinks, cider and beer!
6. Safety First
Familiarise yourself with the rules of the campsite and review them with your family, especially the children. Everyone should be aware of the Countryside Code and it is important to pay attention to correct campfire safety.
The Countryside Code
Respect everyone | Protect the environment | Enjoy the outdoors | Follow advice and local signs
Campfire Safety
- Fire pits must be raised above the ground
- You must have a fire bucket filled with water nearby when your fire is lit
- Please do not forage wood from our woodland – it is a protected site and firewood and kindling are available to purchase in the Pavilion
- Make sure the fire is out before you go to bed
- Do not leave a fire unattended
7. Stay Organised
When you’ve packed smart, it’s easier to stay organised and avoid repeat purchases. One way to maintain organisation throughout the trip is to have designated locations for your stuff. Think one or two containers for food and cookery, one for sleeping equipment, one for games and entertainment and one for shoes and outdoor clothes. Bring a collapsible laundry basket or mesh bag for dirty laundry, and a washing up bowl to carry your dishes in.
Top Tip
Make every family camping holiday a breeze by organising your camping equipment so it’s always ready for the next trip. Use clear stackable bins to store your kit in the off-season and use the same bins during your trip to help keep you organised. Anything that needs fixing should be left out so it’s accessible and ready to be repaired. At the end of the trip or season, check and clean your equipment then pop it back in the bins for next time. We’ve even been known to use old suitcases to organise cooking equipment!
8. Plan for Comfort
Check that your tent is the right size for your family; consider if older children would prefer their own tent or if you would like a tent with internal partitions for ‘rooms’. You’re going to have some leisure time on your hands, so make sure to bring things that will let everyone relax in comfort! Camp chairs, extra blankets, straw mats, awnings and windbreaks are all accessories that can contribute to a comfy camping experience.
9. Be Flexible
Have a few alternative entertainment and activity options in your back pocket, and a backup plan in case circumstances change. Be prepared to go with the flow, and embrace the family bonding opportunity!
Family camping holidays are a fantastic way to spend time together, immerse yourselves in nature and take a step back from hectic daily schedules. If you take the time to organise your family’s trip well in advance you can save time and money, and look forward to a hassle-free holiday perfect for campers of all levels.