30+ camping hacks for families, many from the dollar store

These hacks make a family trip easier, and many use things you can pick up cheaply. They’re sorted by when you’ll use them, and we’ve marked what you shouldn’t buy at the dollar store.

Setup and Sleep Hacks

• Pool noodle pieces on guy lines. Slit a bright noodle and slide short pieces onto the lines, so nobody trips.
• A doormat at the tent door. Wipe feet before going in, and leave muddy shoes outside or in the vestibule.
• A small broom and dustpan. Sweep out dirt and leaves before bed.
• Clothes stuffed in a pillowcase. Tomorrow’s outfit makes a backup pillow, and it’s ready in the morning.
• A pair of socks just for sleeping. Keep them dry, in the sleeping bag, for cold feet at night.
• One zip bag per day, per child. Pack each day’s outfit so kids can grab their own.
• Stop your headlamp turning on in the bag. Use its lock mode, if it has one, or take the batteries out until you need it.
• Set up the tent at home first. It’s the easiest way to find a missing stake while you can still replace it.

Organization and Storage Hacks

Camping gear is easier to manage in small, labeled pieces than in one giant tote.

• Plastic bins with lids for silverware, first-aid extras and kids’ art supplies.
• 7-day pill organizers for tiny things like earplugs, hair ties and spare batteries.
• Hard plastic glasses cases to protect a phone charger or lighter at the bottom of a bag.
• Gallon and quart zip bags for wet swimsuits and dirty laundry, and to keep matches and phones dry.
• Removable hooks and carabiner clips to hang lanterns and towels, instead of leaving them on the ground.

Food and Camp Kitchen Hacks

• Frozen water bottles as ice. They keep the cooler cold with less mess, and you can drink them when they thaw. See how to keep ice longer.
• Pancake batter in a squeeze bottle. Mix it at home and keep it in the cooler until breakfast.
• Eggs in a clean bottle. Crack them at home, keep them at 40°F or below and use them within a couple of days. Cook eggs until firm.
• A pill organizer for spices. Use a clean one just for food, and label it.
• Disposable aluminum pans for foil packet meals on a campfire grate.
• Shower caps stretched over plates to keep flies off during meal prep. Use new ones, just for food.
• Chip clips to keep bread and marshmallow bags closed. Clips won’t stop animals, so store food as the park requires.
• Small containers with lids for condiments, butter and snacks, in place of glass jars.
• Disposable plates and cups for less dishwashing on a short trip. Pack out your trash.

Building your camp kitchen? See our best camping stoves and easy camping meals.

Lighting and Nighttime Hacks

• Glow sticks for kids, pets, tent stakes and guy lines.
• Battery tap lights near the tent door, so nobody fumbles for a flashlight at night.
• Glow bracelets as a simple marker for a group of kids playing near the site.
• Extra AA and AAA batteries as backups for your main gear.

Hacks to Keep Kids Busy

• Bubbles are a cheap way to fill a slow hour.
• Sidewalk chalk for pavement near the site. Keep it off natural rock, and off anything you can’t wash clean.
• Bug catchers and magnifying glasses for a look at nature. Let the bugs go where you found them.
• Small drawstring bags for a scavenger hunt. Have kids check off what they find, instead of taking it, if the park doesn’t allow collecting.
• Playing cards and travel games for the time between dinner and bed.

Want more? See our best camping games and family camping activities.

First Aid and Hygiene Hacks

• Adhesive bandages and gauze pads to top up your kit.
• Antiseptic wipes and hand sanitizer for cleaning up when there’s no sink nearby.
• Travel-size tissues and wet wipes for all the messes that come with kids. Pack used wipes out.
• A small pouch to keep it all together and easy to grab.

What Not to Buy at the Dollar Store

This is our own view. Some things are worth comparing carefully, because your family depends on them.

Item	Dollar store OK?	What to check
Glow sticks, tap lights, bins	Yes	Test them at home first
Sunscreen	Be careful	SPF, broad spectrum and the expiration date
Bug spray	Be careful	An EPA registration number and the active ingredient. See our bug spray guide
Headlamps for trails	No	Listed brightness and runtime
Rope for the tent	No	Use the guylines that came with your tent, or rated line

Common Mistakes

Buying before checking the bin. You probably have many of these at home already.

Not testing lights before the trip. Try them at home, so you’re not troubleshooting in the dark.

Overbuying disposables. A trip or two will show you how much your family really uses, and you have to pack out what you bring.

Next Steps

Pair these with our family camping on a budget guide, our family camping checklist and, for a first trip, our first time camping guide.

Sources: FDA: safe food handling · National Park Service: bears and food storage · CDC: preventing mosquito bites