The first thing to do when planning a camping trip is to make a list on paper. Start a couple of weeks before the trip and find a campsite or wilderness area for your experience, especially for weekends and holidays. Start with a small plan and you can expand later. Know your limits and make alternate plans for rain-outs, take activities to do inside. Camping is to be enjoyed by all involved so if you have a child that is against camping trips, make alternate plans for that child, especially a teenager.

Check the weather before you leave on you trip, don't forget your pillow. Be sure you have enough supplies for the time you are going to be out. If you are wilderness camping there may not be a grocery near by so take enough food and toilet tissue for everyone. Better to have too much than to run out. Don't forget the cooking utensils and dinner ware.

If you are RV camping these tips may not be to relevant since you would surely stock the RV for the occasion. Be sure you have extra water and drinks, have plenty of water for drinking and bathing in the wilderness setting. Always contain any trash you make, have a galvanized trash can to contain odor or you may find some unwelcome guests in your camping area. Be mindful of your surroundings and build a campfire and roast at least one marshmallow. Make your experience an unforgettable one and leave nothing behind at the campsite but your footprints.