Last updated: March 2026 Written by Mike — dad of three (14, 12, 9), camps regularly in NJ and PA. Has a cabin in the PA mountains. I’ve packed for enough family weekends, solo overnighters, and extended trips to know exactly what makes the difference between a great trip and a miserable one. Here’s the thing about packing for camping — you’re not going to forget the tent. You’re not going to forget the sleeping bags. The big stuff is obvious. What kills a trip is the sma