What to Buy for a Family Camping Weekend

A family camping weekend needs more than tents and sleeping bags. Plan food by meal, then cover cooking, serving, lighting and the small items that are easy to miss when packing the car. Buy shelf-stable groceries several days ahead, and leave fresh food and chilled drinks until the day before or the morning of departure. Check dietary requirements against the final participant list before you shop, so every family has something suitable to eat.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Camping

Family tentsqty 6
Sleeping matsqty 20
Sleeping bagsqty 20
Herringqty 48
Hammerqty 4
Ground tarpsqty 6
Tarpaulinsqty 4
Paracordqty 2

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 24
Picnic blanketqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 30
Reusable bowlsqty 30
Reusable cupsqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 30
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving jugsqty 4

Kitchen

Gas stoveqty 2
Gas cylindersqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Pansqty 4
Tongs and spatulasqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 3

Equipment

Barbecuesqty 2
Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Power banksqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
Lanternsqty 6
Headlampsqty 8

Sports equipment

Footballsqty 2
Frisbeesqty 3
Tug of war rope
Board gamesqty 6

Decorations

Buntingqty 4

Cleaning

Washing-up basinsqty 4
Dishpanqty 2
Hand broomsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Lemonade - 4 bottles
- Bread - 12 loaves
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Pistolets - 30 pieces
- Croissants - 24 pieces
- Butter - 3 packs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Ham - 1,5 kilo
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Jam - 3 jars
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Yogurt - 5 liters
- Muesli - 3 packs
- Cornflakes - 2 packs
- Bacon - 1.5 kilos
- Chicken skewers - 3 kilos
- Hamburgers - 30 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 10 pieces
- Barbecue sausages - 30 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 30 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Baby potatoes - 5 kilo
- Pasta - 3 kilos
- Pasta sauce - 6 jars
- Corn - 8 cans
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Bell peppers - 3 kilos
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Onions - 2 kilos
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snacks - 4 bags
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Herb mix - 4 sachets
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Wet wipes - 4 packs
- Charcoal - 4 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes

Tips

Allow about 2–3 drinks per person for the first evening hour, then 1 drink per person per hour. Chill coolers before loading them and separate drinks from food so the food stays cold longer.
Plan at least 2 main meal portions per person for the weekend, plus breakfast, fruit and snacks. Add 10% extra for children asking for seconds or food that is dropped outdoors.
Pack one reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per person, plus 2–4 spare sets. Serving platters and jugs are often forgotten until the first meal is ready.
Take one sleeping mat and sleeping bag per person, and check every family tent before leaving. Count one ground tarp per tent and bring extra tarpaulins and paracord if rain is forecast.
Buy non-perishable food and gas cylinders 3–5 days before departure. Pick up fresh groceries the day before, wash fruit and vegetables at home, and keep chilled items in coolers until arrival.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a family camping weekend?: Plan breakfast, lunch and dinner for every participant, plus 2 snacks per person per day. Add around 10% extra portions, especially when children are attending or meals are shared.
How many drinks should I buy for a camping weekend?: Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1 per person per hour. For a two-day weekend, calculate separately for water, hot drinks and other beverages so water is not crowded out by soft drinks.
When should I buy groceries for a camping trip?: Buy shelf-stable groceries, gas cylinders and supplies 3–5 days ahead. Buy fresh food the day before departure, and load chilled items into pre-cooled coolers immediately before leaving.
What camping kitchen equipment do I need for a family weekend?: Pack a gas stove, enough gas cylinders for all planned hot meals, coolers, cutting boards, kitchen knives, pans and cooking utensils. Take one serving platter and jug per shared dish or drink, plus reusable tableware for each person.

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