The Daily Dad First Camping Trip With Kids (What Could Go Wrong?)
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Apr 11, 2026 A dad recounts planning a two-night kids' camping trip full of logistic hiccups and weather luck. He describes makeshift gear, a tent collapse, and lessons learned about sleeping setups. Simple outdoor play with sticks, rivers, and sunrises brings unexpected joy. Organization tips include an AI-made spreadsheet for dividing tasks and meals.
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First Real Camping Trip With Kids
- Ryan Holiday took his two boys on their first real camping trip to Garner State Park with other dads and inexperienced gear.
- The trip had small failures (thin sleeping pads, missing pillows, a collapsing tent) but still felt rewarding and memorable.
Prioritize Comfortable Sleep On Family Trips
- Do bring comfortable sleeping gear rather than assume 'character building' will be worth miserable nights.
- Ryan used thin backpacking pads and quickly replaced them after one night because poor sleep threatened future trips.
Kid Unexpectedly Loves Sunrise
- A surprise early-morning burst of enthusiasm came from Ryan's son who wanted to see sunrise despite normally resisting early wakeups.
- They got up, watched the sunrise, started a campfire, and Ryan noted the joy of shared simple moments.
