Three Types of Family Camping and How To Choose Which is Right for Yours

When did camping get so complicated? It used to be that the term camping was reserved for heading out into the woods with a tent and spending the weekend with nature and not much else. These days, there are at least three different types of camping to choose from and not all of them will be a good match for you and your family. Let’s take a look at the 3 types of camping and how to choose the right one for your family.

Minimalist – The minimalist camper is the one who simply grabs a backpack with clothing, enough food to last, and a sleeping mat or roll to head off into the woods. This isn’t usually the best type of camping for families since there is usually very little guarantee of an actual shelter or other things that children may need. A lot of the time you will see backpackers doing this type of camping since they need to travel light on their backpacking trips.

Tent Camping – Tent camping is exactly what it sounds like. You take the time to find a tent that is perfect for your family, pack food and other items that you will need and all head out to the woods. Tent camping is great for families since it allows you to take the things that your kids might need without worrying too much about being overloaded. Just be sure that you have a tent that allows enough room and protection from the elements and you’ll have a great weekend.

Glamping – The term “glamping” can actually mean both tent or RV camping. Yes, there are tents that you can glamp in just as easily as you can a travel trailer or 5^th wheel. Glamping or glamour camping provides all of the comforts of home in the woods. Glampers usually connect to electricity and water, they can have plush, comfy beds, fans, electronics and more. While the idea of glamping is great, the whole point of going on a camping trip is to get away from the rat race and back to nature a bit. Glamping can do the exact opposite. It can bring the rat race to you and along with it the stress of that race.

So how do you choose which is right for your family? You’ll need to take stock of what you and your family actually want to do accomplish by camping. Do you want to relax and get away from technology? If go, glamping probably isn’t for you. Do you need to travel light and move fast? Minimalist might be your best bet. Are you taking your entire family? If so, look toward RV camping (technically glamping) or tent camping. Road trip? RV’s are your best bet.

Only you and your family know which type of camping trip is best for you. Take the time to discuss it with your family and to plan things out ahead of time. If you do, you’ll have a fantastic time no matter which option you choose.

Katie Reed

Katie Reed is a passionate writer and mother of four vivacious boys from Salt Lake City, Utah. Drawing from her own journey through TTC, pregnancy, and the joys of raising children, she offers a wealth of insight into the world of motherhood. Beyond her heartfelt tales, Katie delights her readers with family-friendly recipes, engaging crafts, and a curated library of printables for both kids and adults. When she’s not penning her experiences, you’ll find her crafting memories with her husband and sons—Dexter, Daniel, Chester, and Wilder.