Winter camping with kids works best when you start small: one night, close to home, at a campground with a cabin, yurt or electric site as a backup. Keep everyone dry, layer clothes, use an insulated pad and a bag rated below the night’s low, and serve warm food and drinks. Never use a fuel-burning heater in a tent, and know the signs of hypothermia.
Snow, quiet campgrounds and hot cocoa make winter camping magical, and kids feel the cold faster than adults do. Here’s how to plan a first cold trip that ends with everyone wanting to go again.
Start Small
- One night, close to home, so you can leave if it’s too cold.
- Pick a campground with a backup: a cabin, a yurt or glamping site or a site with electricity. See our cabin camping checklist.
- Check the forecast and the campground, since many close roads, water or bathrooms in winter.
- Try a backyard night first, to test your gear.
Sleep Warm
- Insulate from the ground: an insulated sleeping pad matters as much as the bag.
- Use a bag rated below the night’s low, and a bag sized for each child, so there’s less empty space to warm.
- Change into dry clothes for bed, with a warm hat and dry socks.
- Choose a tent made for cold. See our tents for cold weather.
Dress in Layers and Stay Dry
The CDC says hypothermia can happen even above 40°F if a person gets chilled from rain, sweat or cold water. So the goal is to stay dry as much as to stay warm: a base layer that wicks sweat, a warm middle layer and a waterproof shell, plus hats and mittens. Take layers off before kids get sweaty from playing, and put them back on when they stop.
Food and Warm Drinks
Warm meals and drinks help everyone feel warmer, and the CDC lists warm drinks as one way to warm someone up. Keep snacks handy, and cook outside the tent. See our easy camping meals.
Know the Signs of Hypothermia
The CDC lists these warning signs:
| Who | Warning signs |
|---|---|
| Adults | Shivering, exhaustion or feeling very tired, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness |
| Babies | Bright red, cold skin and very low energy |
The CDC calls hypothermia a medical emergency: if a person’s temperature is below 95°F, get medical help right away. Until then, get them into a warm shelter, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body and give warm, non-alcoholic drinks if they’re awake. If a child seems too cold, end the trip. That’s a good call, not a failure.
Keep It Fun
Plan short activities close to camp: a snow hike, tracking animal prints, sledding or stargazing on clear nights. Go to bed warm and dry, and save the long hikes for spring.
Before you pack, use our winter camping checklist and read how to stay warm camping.
Sources: CDC: preventing hypothermia · CDC: carbon monoxide basics
Frequently asked questions
Is winter camping safe for kids? 
It can be, with good planning: start with one night close to home, keep everyone dry, use warm sleep gear, never use fuel heaters in the tent and know the signs of hypothermia. Have a backup like a cabin or your car.
How cold is too cold to camp with kids?
There’s no single number. It depends on your gear, wind and wet weather. The CDC says hypothermia can happen even above 40°F if someone gets wet, so plan a way to leave if a child is too cold.
How do I keep my kids warm in a tent at night?
An insulated pad, a bag rated below the night’s low and sized for the child, dry clothes, a warm hat and a warm snack before bed.
Can I use a heater in the tent?
Never a fuel-burning one. The CDC warns about carbon monoxide. Electric heaters need power and clearance, so most families do better with a warm sleep setup.
What are the signs of hypothermia in kids?
The CDC lists shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness, and in babies bright red, cold skin and very low energy. Get medical help if the temperature is below 95°F.
What should we do for a first winter trip?
One night at a campground with a cabin, yurt or electric site nearby, close to home, with a backyard test of your gear first.
