First-Time Family RV Camping: What to Pack (and What to Skip)

Your first family camping trip is exciting right up until you’re standing in the driveway wondering if you packed too much, too little, or the wrong things entirely. Good news: you don’t need half of what the internet tells you to bring. After thirty-plus years of welcoming first-timers to the lake, here’s the honest version of what to pack — and what to leave home.

Pack these — you’ll use them every trip

Start with the basics that make a site feel like home. A few of these are easy to forget and annoying to be without:

• Leveling blocks and wheel chocks. Even on a good pad, a small adjustment makes sleeping and cooking better.
• A 25-foot drinking-water hose and a sewer kit. Every site here is full-hookup, so you’ll want both.
• A surge protector. Cheap insurance for your rig’s electronics.
• Outdoor rug, folding chairs, and a small table. This is where you’ll actually spend your evenings.
• Bug spray and sunscreen. Indiana summers deliver both sun and mosquitoes.
• A first-aid kit and any medications. Skinned knees are part of the deal.
• Layers. Lake mornings can be cool even in July.

Pack these for a lake trip specifically

Since you’re coming to a campground built around the water, a few extras earn their space:

• Swimsuits, towels, and water shoes for the swim beach.
• Fishing poles and a small tackle box. The lake has bluegill and bass right off the shore.
• A dry bag or bin for wet suits and sandy shoes.
• Camp chairs you don’t mind getting a little wet.

The goal isn’t to pack for every possible scenario. It’s to pack for the trip you’re actually taking.

Skip these — they just take up room

First-timers almost always over-pack. Here’s what tends to come home untouched:

• A week of clothes for a weekend. Two or three outfits plus swimwear is plenty.
• Every kitchen gadget you own. One good pan, a spatula, a knife, and a cutting board cover most meals.
• Elaborate decorations. String lights are fun; the rest stays in the tote.
• Firewood from home. Grab it locally to avoid moving pests — and check the FAQs for park guidelines.

Don’t stress about the rest

The truth is, the office is right here, the general store has the little things you forget, and there’s a restaurant on site for the night nobody feels like cooking. Forgetting the marshmallows is not a trip-ender. Relax — that’s the point.

Ready for the first one?

Your first family camping trip should feel easy, and a full-hookup, pull-through site at the lake is about as easy as it gets. Check our sites and rates and book your first stay. We’ll take good care of you.