30 Summer Camp Packing Hacks + Free Packing List

Getting ready for summer camp is easier with these 30 smart packing hacks that help kids stay organized, avoid lost belongings, and feel more prepared for their adventure. Plus, grab the free printable summer camp packing list to make sure nothing important gets left behind.

If you’re looking for more ways to stay organized, be sure to check out the organizational systems in the Making Lemonade Store.

Summer camp is one of those childhood experiences kids remember forever: campfires, late night cabin giggles and new friendships all packed into one unforgettable week. It is also, from a behind-the-scenes view as a camp counselor, a little chaotic. If you have ever seen a boys’ cabin midweek, you know what I mean. Clothes everywhere, wet towels on every surface, missing socks, and water bottles that seem to multiply overnight.

This is my second year at summer camp with my kids as a counselor, and last year I quickly realized something: no matter how excited everyone is, packing can make or break how smoothly the week goes. I kept thinking of things I wished I had brought or done differently. So this year, I went back with a better plan.

After learning what actually works in the middle of camp chaos, I put together my favorite summer camp packing hacks to help kids stay organized and make life easier for everyone. And because I know packing can feel overwhelming, I also created a FREE Printable Summer Camp Packing List to help you feel confident nothing gets forgotten. It is the same checklist I use for my own kids.

But first, let’s get to those summer camp packing hacks.

1. Label absolutely everything.

If your child takes it to camp, put their name on it. Towels, water bottles, sunscreen, shoes, socks, flashlights, hats, everything. There are still no promises it will come home, but this will increase the likelihood that you will see the item again.

2. Pack complete outfits in gallon sized bags.

Put a shirt, shorts, underwear, and socks together for each day. Label each bag with the day of the week so kids can grab and go. This helps keep their luggage from turning into a pile of messy clothes from digging through it each day for the right item. Plus, the empty bags end up being used for all sorts of things throughout the week.

3. Bring a trash bag for dirty laundry.

Often counselors will ask the kids to pick everything up off the floor each day (at least in the girl cabins). If your kiddo doesn’t have anywhere to put their dirty clothes, they will likely go back into their suitcase with their clean clothes. A simple trash bag keeps clean and dirty clothes separated. I honestly prefer it over a mesh laundry bag because if it gets put back with clean clothes, there is a solid barrier.

4. Pack an extra trash bag.

Camp cabins can be noisy and bright sometimes. If your child is used to a dark, quiet room, it may be difficult for them to fall asleep at camp. Pack a sleep mask and earplugs in case they needs to drown out the cabin chaos.

Last year we had a heavy rain one day, and it didn’t take long for the kids to end up covered in mud from head to toe. Having an extra trash bag just for muddy clothes and shoes was a lifesaver. Label it “For Wet/Muddy Clothes” so your child knows exactly where to toss anything that comes back covered in dirt.

5. Use packing cubes.

Your complete outfits can go in resealable bags, while the rest of the items can be organized into packing cubes by category. For example, keep swimsuits, goggles and a beach towel in one cube and pajamas in another so everything is easy to find and stays neatly separated.

6. Bring a hanging shoe organizer.

Hang a shoe organizer on a bunk bed for shoes, sunscreen, bug spray, books, and small items that tend to disappear. It will help your camper stay organized and prevent them from having to dig through their suitcase for the items they use daily.

7. Pack over the door hooks.

Our cabin had a few hooks but not nearly enough for ten girls wet swimsuits, beach towels and bath towels. Packing a couple over the door hooks helps everyone have a spot to dry their clothes.

8. Bring a TV Tray.

A folding TV tray makes an excellent bedside table for camp! Set an alarm clock, water bottle, retainer case, book, book light, glasses, or any other bedtime essentials on it so everything is easy to find. It’s a simple way to keep the area around your bunk a little more organized. A bedside caddy is a great option if you don’t have the space for a TV tray.

9. Use a shower caddy.

This is one of my favorite summer camp packing hacks because it makes shower time so much easier. Pack all of your camper’s toiletries in a caddy with drainage holes, so they can carry everything to and from the bathhouse in one trip and are a lot less likely to “accidentally” skip washing their hair all week.

10. Put toiletries inside resealable bags.

Even sealed bottles can leak and resealable bags make a great toiletry bag. Be sure to stick shampoo, conditioner, bodywash or other liquid products in ziploc bags so your camper doesn’t start the week with a mess to clean up.

11. Choose travel sized products.

Travel size products are a camp lifesaver because they take up way less space and are easier for kids to manage on their own. Plus, there’s something about a tiny bottle of shampoo that somehow makes it through the whole week without turning into a leaky disaster in the suitcase.

12. Use a pill organizer for small items.

Pill organizers are especially helpful for the girls who can’t leave for camp without all of their accessories. Hair ties, medicine, earrings, and tiny essentials stay sorted.

13. Create a first night bag.

Create a first night bag with everything your camper will need for that first evening, like pajamas, toothbrush, and any bedtime comfort items. It helps take the stress out of that first tired, slightly overwhelming night when everything still feels new.

You can also tuck in a sweet little note wishing them an amazing week at camp, reminding them how loved they are and how excited you are for all the fun they’re about to have.

14. Bring Rainy Day Games

Pack a few small card games in case your campers get stuck inside due to rain. If you need a new fun game, check out this list.

15. Pack extra outfits.

Summer camp is hot, wet and messy. I bring two outfits per day to ensure I’m not a stinky, wet mess all day. Don’t forget plenty of extra undergarments as well.

16. Help them drown out noise and light.

Camp cabins can be noisy and bright sometimes. If your child is used to a dark, quiet room, it may be difficult for them to fall asleep at camp. Pack a sleep mask and earplugs in case they needs to drown out the cabin chaos. 

17. Pack two swimsuits.

Two is the minimum. If your kid will be doing water activities daily, you may want three.

18. Choose quick drying clothes.

Athletic fabrics work best for camp. Wet jean shorts can be kind of miserable. Your kid will be a happier camper if they can stay cool and dry.

19. Bring a sweatshirt or hoodie.

This is one you might not consider, especially if you live in Texas like us. But the cabins and indoor buildings are usually quite cool and my kids always pack a hoodie or jacket. Don’t forget that label though, because they will definitely take it off and leave it somewhere.

20. Bring an extra pair of sneakers.

If you’ve ever walked around in soggy shoes, you already know why this is a must. Camp is full of wet, muddy adventures, and having a backup pair means your camper can stay comfortable and keep enjoying the fun instead of spending the day with squishy, uncomfortable feet.

21. Tuck dryer sheets into shoes.

There’s really no smell quite like a post-camp suitcase. After a week of heat, sweat, wet towels, and muddy clothes sealed up together, it can get intense fast. Do yourself a favor and tuck a few dryer sheets inside to help keep the odor under control.

22. Label flip-flops.

Raise your hand if your kid has a pair of Crocs. So do all the other kids. Be sure to label them so they can quickly find them in the poolside pile. If they’re a dark color, white paint markers on the bottom work great.

23. Pack a day backpack for your camper.

Pack a small backpack with all of your camper’s daily essentials, like a water bottle, sunglasses or a hat, travel size sunscreen and bug spray, tissue and chapstick. They’ll be much more likely to use these items if they’re within easy reach instead of having to make a trip back to the cabin every time they need something.

24. Pack shower shoes.

Camp showers can’t be trusted. Pack shower shoes and remind your kid to wear them in the shower. They help protect kids from fungal or bacterial infections and slippery floors in shared bathrooms.

25. Bring a small fan.

A small handheld fan on a lanyard will help keep your child stay comfortable on hot days. Another great option is a cooling towel.

26. Pack a book light.

Winding down after a long day at camp can be hard for some campers, especially if they aren’t used to being away from home. Be sure to pack them a book and book light to help them wind down after lights out.

27. Be rain ready.

Send a poncho or rain jacket with your camper. If the forecast looks especially rainy, you may even consider rain boots. Rubber sandals, water shoes or crocs work great too.

28. Clip a flashlight inside the suitcase.

Grab a caribiner and clip a small flashlight inside the suitcase. This will be handy if your kid needs something from their suitcase in the early morning hours or after lights out.

29. Pack blister bandaids

Most kids walk more at camp than they are used to and often get blisters. I’ve seen it ruin the week for some kids. Pack some blister bandaids in case they need some relief.

30. Include a repacking checklist.

If there are items you really don’t want your camper to come home without, a repacking checklist can be a huge help. Be as specific as possible with quantities like “three pairs of shoes” instead of just “shoes.” They may still come home missing a few socks, but at least you have a better chance of all their bigger essentials making it back with them.

Camp Memories are Worth the Mess

Summer camp is never going to be perfectly organized, and honestly, that’s part of the fun. There will probably still be muddy shoes under the bunk, a few missing socks, and at least one mystery water bottle that somehow makes its way home with your camper. But a little extra planning can make the week run a whole lot smoother and help your child spend less time searching for clean clothes and more time making memories.

I hope these summer camp packing hacks help take some of the stress out of getting ready for camp and make the experience a little easier for both you and your camper. Before you zip up that suitcase, don’t forget to grab my FREE Printable Summer Camp Packing Checklist. It includes all the camp essentials, plus those easy-to-forget items that can make a big difference. Just enter your email below, and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.

Here’s to muddy shoes, happy campers, lifelong friendships, and a summer full of unforgettable adventures.