First-time family camping: everything to pack (and what you don't need)

A packing list for families who've never tent-camped or RV-camped before. The essentials, the surprisingly skippable, and the must-pack-anyway-because-kids items.

If this is your family's first RV or tent trip, the packing-list problem is real. Most of what's online is either written by people whose kids are 14 (the gear stays useful for years) or people who've been camping for 20 years (they've forgotten what beginners actually forget).

Here's a list aimed at the family that's never done this before. Bias: we'd rather you over-pack a few things you'll use than skip the things you'll wish you brought.

The essentials (most parks don't have these)

• Folding camp chairs — one per person. Don't borrow these from the patio; they get destroyed.
• Lantern + headlamps for the adults — phone flashlights die fast.
• A first aid kit with bandaids in three sizes, Neosporin, kid + adult ibuprofen, and tweezers (for ticks and splinters).
• Bug spray — coastal NC mosquitoes in summer are real. DEET-free if you have toddlers; picaridin if you can swing it.
• Sunscreen. Reef-safe for beach days.
• A power strip — one outlet at the site, ten things to charge.

The food kit

Most first-time families either pack like they're on a backpacking trip (granola bars and Pop-Tarts) or like they're catering a wedding (somehow all six pans). The middle path:

• One big cooler + one snack cooler that lives outside the rig / tent.
• Eggs, bacon, bread, butter, coffee — every morning is breakfast at camp.
• Dinner: aim for one cook-night, one easy night, one "go out" night.
• Snacks for the in-between — pretzels, fruit, cheese sticks.
• Marshmallows + chocolate + graham crackers — non-negotiable. (S'mores nights at camp will happen.)

The kid kit

• One favorite stuffed animal. Not three. One.
• A book per kid + a card game that travels (Uno or Skip-Bo).
• Pool gear: goggles, towel, sunscreen.
• Bike helmets if your kids bike — most parks have safe roads kids can ride, but helmets are still required.
• An extra pair of shoes per kid. They will get wet.
• Pajamas they don't mind getting a little dirty.

What you don't need

• A second cooler full of "what if we want hot dogs Tuesday." You won't.
• Three coffee-making methods. Pick one.
• An umbrella for every person. One per family.
• The complete Magic Treehouse series. One book per kid is plenty.
• "Just-in-case" extras. Most camp stores stock the forgotten essentials at a markup — fine — and the Walmart in Wilmington is 15 minutes away if you really need something.

The packed-but-rarely-discussed list

• A roll of paper towels. Everything spills.
• Trash bags. More than you think.
• Wipes. Even if your youngest is 9.
• Duct tape. Something will tear.
• A backup phone charger + cable. See above re: phone flashlights.

That's enough for a 3–4 night first trip. If you're staying longer, add more clothes — the rule is one outfit per day plus one spare for spills. The pool will eat at least one outfit.

When you book, you'll get a pre-arrival email with the specific check-in instructions for Island Creek. If you have a packing question we haven't answered, ask us on the Contact page.