There’s something special about packing up the kids, leaving behind the busy schedules, and heading somewhere with no internet and nowhere we need to be.
This year, we booked one of the little cabins at a State Park in Idaho, and it quickly reminded us why this has become one of our favorite family camping traditions.
The cabins are simple but cozy — with electricity, heat, air conditioning, and just enough comfort to make camping with little kids feel manageable. We could charge our phones, make coffee in the mornings, and keep the kids comfortable after long days outside… while still feeling completely off the grid.
No Wi-Fi.
No constant notifications.
Just fishing, campfires, playground adventures, sticky s’mores fingers, and slow mornings with coffee overlooking the trees.
Camping with kids definitely isn’t always relaxing, but weekends like this always remind me why it’s worth it.
In this post, I’m sharing some of our favorite memories from the trip, along with the camping gear, toddler essentials, and little things that genuinely helped make camping with young kids easier.
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Shop our favorite family camping gear, camping with kids essentials, and Amazon finds that helped make our trip easier, cozier, and more fun!
Why We Love Cabin Camping
One of the biggest reasons we keep coming back to Idaho is because it feels like the perfect balance between outdoor adventure and convenience — especially with little kids.
The cabins gave us that cozy camping feel while still having a few comforts that made the trip so much easier as parents. Having electricity, heat, air conditioning, and a small space to recharge at the end of the day made a huge difference.
Another thing we loved was how family-friendly everything felt.
The bathrooms were only about a two-minute walk from our cabin, which made middle-of-the-night potty trips and getting kids ready in the morning much easier than traditional camping.
There’s also a really nice playground just down the hill from the cabins, so the kids could run around and play whenever they needed a break from fishing or hanging around the campsite.
We spent our days rotating between the cabins, the lake, playground adventures, campfires, and boat rides — which honestly worked perfectly for keeping little kids entertained.
The campground also has shower facilities nearby. We personally didn’t end up using them during this trip, but some of our friends staying longer said the showers were really nice and convenient.
It’s one of those places that still feels like camping and being outdoors, while also making things feel manageable and comfortable for families.
What Actually Helped Camping With Kids
Camping with little kids definitely takes a little extra planning, but there were a few things that genuinely made our trip easier, cozier, and way less stressful as parents.
Here are a few of our favorite camping essentials we used constantly throughout the weekend.
Our Tiny Camping Coffee Setup ☕
Having a mini coffee maker in the cabin honestly made the mornings feel so much easier. Slow mornings with coffee while the kids played outside ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Kid Camping Chairs We Use Every Trip
The kids practically lived in their little camping chairs all weekend long — for snacks, s’mores, bubbles, and hanging around the fire.
Glow Sticks = Instant Entertainment
One of the other moms we were camping with packed glow sticks for the kids, and let me just say… she was an absolute genius.
Watching the kids run around with their little glow sticks as it started getting dark, while we sat around the fire chatting with friends and sipping cocktails, ended up being one of the most magical parts of the entire trip.
There was just something so simple and nostalgic about it. The kids thought the glow sticks were the coolest thing ever, and it gave them one more little activity to enjoy once the sun started going down.
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that end up becoming the core memories.
If you’re camping with kids this summer, definitely throw a pack of glow sticks in your bag. They added such a fun little touch of magic and wonder to the weekend. ✨
- My kids liked these thick glow sticks better than the skinny ones
Fishing Together Is One of Our Favorite Parts 🎣
Our family loves fishing, and the kids have been out on the boat with us since they were tiny. Camping at Dworshak is especially fun because there are so many great fishing spots both from the shore and out on the water.
We’ve collected all kinds of kid fishing gear over the years, which makes the experience even more exciting for them. Between the fishing poles, tackle boxes, and little life jackets, the kids always feel like part of the adventure. Honestly, some of our favorite family memories have been made out on the boat together.
- Emily’s (age 7) fishing pole
- Maddie’s (age 5) fishing pole set
- Children’s life jacket
- Infant life jacket
- Small tackle box for kids
- Insulated water bottles for the boat
- Snack containers for long fishing days
- Kids sun hats
- Sunscreen sticks for kids
The Toddler Hiking Carrier We Use Constantly 🎒
One of the most-used things we brought on this trip was our Kelty toddler hiking carrier. Honestly, this thing has been worth every penny for our family.
We were able to take our son out on the boat, keep him safe and contained, and he absolutely loved riding around on dad’s back watching everyone fish. It made the whole experience so much easier.
One feature we especially love is the little pop-up sun shade built right into the carrier. It helped keep him shaded, cool, and comfortable while we were outside for long periods of time.
We actually bought this carrier brand new when we had our first baby, and now we’ve used it through all three of our kids. It still looks almost brand new and has held up incredibly well through camping trips, hikes, fishing trips, and everyday adventures.
This is one of those baby/toddler items I genuinely could not recommend enough.
• The Kelty toddler hiking carrier we’ve used for all three kids
A Tiny First Aid Kit We Actually Used ⛑️
One little thing I threw into my bag at the last minute ended up being something we used multiple times during the trip — this tiny first aid kit.
It’s small enough to easily toss into a backpack or diaper bag, but it had everything we needed for little camping mishaps like scrapes, bumps, and tiny cuts from all the outdoor adventures.
Inside were things like:
- bandages
- waterproof bandages
- antibiotic ointment
- wound cleaning wipes
- and even little stickers for the kids after getting an “owie,” which honestly made them feel much braver. 🥹
It even included a tiny tick remover tool, which felt really nice to have while camping with kids.
Thankfully we only needed it for a few minor bumps and scratches, but having it on hand made me feel way more prepared as a mom.
Simple Activities That Kept the Kids Busy 🎨
One thing I loved about this trip was how simple the kids’ entertainment ended up being.
We packed coloring books and markers for downtime in the cabin, and one of the other moms we were camping with brought little painting craft kits for the kids — which they absolutely loved.
It ended up being such a fun way for the kids to slow down and relax after long days outside fishing, playing, and running around the campground.
Honestly, some of the best camping “mom hacks” came from the other mom on this trip. 😂 Having a few easy activities on hand made such a difference during quieter moments at the cabin.
What We Packed:
Walkie Talkies Were a Huge Hit 📻
Let’s give credit where credit is due — one of the other moms on this trip (the same mom with all the genius camping ideas 😂) packed walkie talkies, and they ended up being such a fun addition to the weekend.
The kids absolutely loved talking back and forth to each other on them all weekend long.
Since we had almost no cell service, they also ended up being a really fun way for the families to stay connected out on the lake and around the campground.
Such a simple thing, but the kids thought they were the coolest part of the trip.
• The walkie talkies we used all weekend
A Little Portable Potty for Nighttime 🚽
One thing that ended up being really helpful was bringing a little portable potty chair for the cabin at night.
My girls are almost seven and five, so they’re pretty well potty trained, but when everyone was exhausted at the end of the night, it was so much easier having a little potty in the cabin instead of walking all the way to the campground bathrooms.
During the day we used the regular campground bathrooms, but for those late-night “Mommy, I have to go potty!” moments, the little portable potty was honestly so convenient.
• The portable potty chair we brought camping
Sleeping in the Cabin With Kids 😅
I’ll be honest — the first night was rough.
If you’ve ever traveled or camped with little kids, you probably already know that the first night sleeping somewhere new can be the hardest part of the trip. Our youngest was awake at 1 a.m., then 3 a.m., and eventually decided 4:30 a.m. was the perfect time to start the day. 😅
Thankfully, once everyone settled in, the rest of the trip went so much smoother and we actually ended up getting pretty decent sleep the following nights.
One thing we’ve learned over the years is that bringing a few familiar sleep items makes a huge difference when camping with kids. Cozy blankets, favorite pajamas, our pack-and-play, and a portable sound machine always help bedtime feel a little more comfortable and familiar — even away from home.
Honestly, having a cabin instead of tent camping also made the whole experience feel much more manageable with little kids. Being able to control the temperature, plug things in, and have a cozy place to wind down at night made a huge difference for our family.
Sleep Essentials We Always Pack
- Portable sound machine
- Pack-and-play
- Favorite blankets from home
- Cozy pajamas
- Extra layers for chilly mornings
- Nightlight or dim lantern for middle-of-the-night wakeups
- Favorite stuffed animal or comfort item
Things We’d Do Differently Next Time
Every camping trip teaches us something new, and this one definitely reminded me how important meal planning is when camping with kids.
This year, we kept meals super simple with things like hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, and lots of snack food. While it was easy and convenient, by the end of the trip we were all definitely getting a little tired of the same foods over and over again. 😅
One thing I did love was the healthy muffins I made ahead of time for breakfast. Having something quick and easy in the mornings made life so much easier before heading out for the day.
Next time, I’d love to plan at least one or two more fun sit-down meals for dinner to make things feel a little more special and break up all the quick camping food.
I also wish I would have packed more fresh snack options like fruit and vegetables instead of mostly crackers, chips, and junk food.
One thing I absolutely would NOT change though was bringing our Yeti cooler. After this trip, I finally understand why people swear by them. Our ice stayed frozen for three full days, which honestly made keeping food and drinks cold so much easier while camping with kids. It completely lived up to the hype.
Here’s a link to the exact Yeti cooler we used on this trip. This was actually a birthday gift I got for my husband last year, and after this camping trip, we officially understand the hype. 😂 Keeping ice frozen for three full days while camping with kids honestly made a huge difference.
Another thing we’d definitely do differently next time is start packing earlier and slow down before leaving.
We were rushing to get out the door and somehow completely forgot the kids’ coats and sandals. 😅 We ended up having to stop at a small Target on the way to grab replacements, which definitely added unexpected expense to the trip — especially knowing we already had perfectly good jackets and sandals at home.
I was also still finishing laundry and packing clothes the morning we left, which honestly added a lot of unnecessary stress before the trip even started.
Next time, I definitely want to have more packed and organized the night before so we can start the trip feeling a little calmer and less rushed.
Why Camping With Kids Is Worth It
Camping with kids definitely isn’t always easy.
There are late bedtimes, early wakeups, messy cabins, too many snacks, forgotten things, and moments where you wonder why you packed up half your house just to sleep somewhere else for a few days. 😅
But then there are the moments I know we’ll remember forever.
Watching the kids fish together on the lake.
Glow sticks lighting up the campsite after dark.
Slow mornings with coffee in the trees.
Sticky s’mores fingers around the fire.
Kids making friends at the playground.
Watching our children experience the kind of simple childhood memories that feel harder and harder to find these days.
Trips like this always remind me that the extra work is worth it.
The kids won’t remember whether everything was perfectly planned, but they will remember the feeling of being together, spending all day outside, and making memories as a family.
And honestly… I already can’t wait to go back.
One of our other favorite family adventures? Disneyland! You can read all of our favorite Disneyland tips and tricks here 🏰
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