It's Saturday morning. You've been planning for this long weekend away and spent the previous 3 days packing and preparing. You're aiming for an 8 am departure - and here you are at 9.40 am, scrambling to remember all the food, the kids' toys, your toothbrush, the chairs etc.
Recognize this scenario and want to find ways to make a quicker escape for your camping and overlanding trips? Read on! I've found 7 ways that help ease the stress and get us much closer to our intended departure time.
1. Keep checklists - and check them before you leave for camping
I love my todoist app which is connected to our home spy, a.k.a. Google Home. Whenever I remember something to add to the shopping list or packing list I say "hey Google, add wipes to the camping list". A good old fashioned pen and paper works very well too. I keep a list for food, a to-do list, what to pack for me, for E, and for O. Make sure to actually check items off the list before you take off or you will still forget things (happens too often to us).
2. Keep camping clothing bags semi-packed
The kids have a few dedicated pieces of clothing that they really only use while camping. Keep them packed during camping season along with other things you know the kids will only need or use when away.
It’s also great to keep a toy bag packed and ready to go. We usually bring the same toys (bucket, shovel, bubbles, books, water color no-mess books, random trucks, glow sticks, blocks, figurines and the like). The kids love seeing these toys again on our roadtrips and camping trips, and I stress less knowing that I don’t have to repack toys every time we go, although I sometimes rotate or add new toys for frequent trips. Just make sure to ask your child if there is a special toy he or she wants to bring.
I also keep my own bag half packed (or unpacked, my hubby might argue) during the weeks where we often go. It helps having dedicated camping outfits: pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets etc. that you know you use and prefer for every trip. Find out what few items you always use and stick with those every time. No need for bringing more than needed.
What I keep packed down in between camping trips
I keep a zip lock bag of mittens, hats, socks and underwear in the kids’ duffel bag. I also keep rain boots, rain jackets and pants and thermal suits and bunting suits in there during summer time when it's too hot for them to wear it at home anyway.
For a weekend away I bring my borrowed nursing sweater, maternity jeans (postpartum times) or hiking pants, 1 pair of shorts, 1 tank top, 1-2 t-shirts, 1 jacket, hat, thin gloves, ski underwear to sleep in and socks and underwear. Everything but the t-shirts and shorts stay in the bag (or is returned to it after washing) in between frequent trips.
3. Keep a TOILETRY-BAG permanently ready for camping
Keep a bag a toiletries for yourself and the kiddos ready as well. As a woman, it can take quite some time remembering all those little things. But trust me, you need very little when you’re exploring the wilderness.
I use the promotional gift bags from Clinique (any small bag will do) and bring: comb, detangler (I have dry curly hair), travel size facial cream, toothbrush, small toothpaste, tweezers, ibuprofen, floss, travel size mascara (if attending a meet-up), ear plugs, q-tips and a mini deodorant.
For the kids: infant Tylenol and syringe, nose Frida, saline drops, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mini nail clippers, antihistamine, O's prescription cream, a thermometer, wash cloths and baby soap.
These bags are never unpacked but live under the sink in our bathroom or in our duffel bags.
4. Keep the car or camping boxes packed too
We have installed drawers in the back of our car which create a permanent storage system for our camping kitchen as well as tools and miscellaneous gear. In addition, we keep our compact folding tables, stove top, hammocks, dog bowl, slow cooker, wipes, toilet paper, cloths, dish soap, sponge, sink, sun screen lotion, extra sun hat, picnic blanket, buckle carriers, head lights and lamps, playing cards, wipes and more in there.
You can do the same with big plastic boxes that you just load into your car when taking off.
We also keep a small diaper changing kit in the car which I just check and restock for each trip.
Keeping everything organized and in the same spot makes it much easier to remember it all and to get out the door quicker. Just remember to put everything back in the right boxes if you bring it inside to wash (dishes, for example).
5. Keep your camping gear on one shelf
By putting the gear we always bring on one shelf in the garage, we know every time to just pack what's on the shelf. It's ready to go in no time. If you think of an item that normally doesn't live on that shelf, add it to the pile as you think of it (for example life jackets or fishing rods).
Similarly, organize the food you plan to bring from the fridge on one shelf the day before. We always used to forget ketchup or butter because they live in the door of the fridge.
Make sure to use your checklists for this step, just in case.
6. Pack in stages for for a quick camping getaway
Pack non-perishables first
We use and old cardboard box cut to height for our dry goods in one of the drawers. You can also use big plastic containers. I advice against using multiple bags thrown into the back of the car since you easily loose track of what you packed and where it is.
I pack our box during the week as the first thing before there is any stress. Items that usually always go in that box are: cup sized Mac and cheese for E, popcorn kernels/chips, rice rusks/wafers for baby O, baby purees in pouches, spices, cereals (bran and oats), bananas (unless it’s too hot outside), tortillas/bread, peanut butter (if we're bringing it), oil, onion, garlic, candy, coffee, coffee creamer, granola bars and dog food. We also keep foil and zip lock bags in this box.
Non-perishables live in a cardboard box next to more permanent gear in our drawer.
Pack toys
I usually pack 1-2 backpacks of their designated camping toys early as well (or leave them unpacked for frequent trips, as mentioned above). I often have to add a favorite toy that can't be packed early, but that's easy to add. For frequent trips, I like having two different backpacks to choose from so the kids have enough time to forget about some of their toys in between trips.
Fill up propane, water, gas and car fluids
This can easily be done on the way home from work 2-3 days before. No need to do it all the day you're leaving or the night before.
You can also get the family's personal water bottles ready in the car the day before. That's the type of item we often scramble last minute to remember.
Clothes and toiletries the day before
The bags are mostly packed during our busy season the day before, but I sometimes need to wait for something to be washed. If it's been a while since our last trip, I start with the clothes we're not using at home at the moment but will be needing for the trip (rain boots, bunting suits and the like). As long as you have your list, it's easy to throw the remaining few pieces in the bag the day before.
7. Aim to leave earlier than you actually have to
If we aim for an 8 am departure, we're out of here 8.15 at the very very earliest. And that's still pretty good. We're more than likely looking at 8.30/8.45 am. If we aim for leaving at 7.30, we're out by 8 am. Perfect!
The more you go, thee easier it gets to find out what packing system works for you. But being organized is key, especially when camping with kids of all ages.
Let me know what systems work for you in the comments below!
Happy camping packing!