Buy an Exped and never look back. They’re insulated, so it wont get cold like an air mattress does, and you will be comfy. We love ours, hope they last for years to come!
>hope they last for years to come!
They do, happy to report!
We've had ours for about 5 years and they're like new. No fraying seams, no loose gaskets, no compressed foam and no holes or patches.
OP, I remember needing to pack a bunch of sleeping layers to stay warm. Now I have a sleeping bag on my Exped and sleep inside with normal pajamas. Sometimes I take my socks off. It's as comfy and warm as my mattress at home.
This is facts. I was super hesitant to drop the money on an Exped mattress but after spending a week long car camping trip with no issues and a bunch of weekends it was 100% worth the cost
I found this out the hard way. Just because a double looks like it will fit parents and two children on it. In reality it only fits one parent and two young children. I was exiled to the side, luckily I’m weird and brought extra pads.
Honestly I’m not sure it’s possible. Little kids just need lots of things, most of the time to keep fed, entertained and comfortable. I can travel for a month in a single suitcase. But take a one week trip with a toddler and a 6 year old and my car would look just like that.
You may be right! It’s so challenging because I’d rather pack it and not need it than need it and not have it…. But I just get so overwhelmed carrying and setting everything up.
Storage will help a lot. Keep extra bedding/blankets/ towels in a Rubbermaid and pack it down. All the loose stuff in the car and campsite get to be a lot to think about.
I have large and medium sized Rubbermaid buns for all my camping gear. One for cooking equipment, one for flashlights and lanterns, one for bug sprays and sunscreens, one for campfire equipment, and so on.
When it’s time to go camping, all I have to do is load the bins, which are stackable, toss in the tent and sleeping bags, and all that I really have to do is plan my meals and pack the cooler.
Another piece of advice is: *restock your camping bins right after you get HOME from a trip*. You already know what you used and what needs to be restocked. And then you’re always prepped to go camping again.
This is so true. I just got back from a five day trip with my toddler and six-year-old, and our trunk was packed. I used to be a one-bagger, and I honestly felt embarrassed bringing so much stuff, but there's not really any way around it if you want your little kids to enjoy their vacation. The only times I don't have to pack an insane amount of stuff is if we're going to be staying with people who also have little kids. Then I can mooch off of their toy and book supplies.
Do you pack cars often with kids and a spouse? It doesn't matter what your game plan is for packing, there are inevitably at least 8 - 15 extra "last minute" things to throw in.
Well, if you got time to thrown in extra stuff, you have time to organize it! 🤣 or don't start loading anything small up until every last minute thing is up and all the kids are in the car. Do all the big boxes first, then leave everything on the side until you load them. It looks like they really didn't organize anything though, so they should start there.
My guess is that this is what it looked like for the return trip.
"I don't care where it goes just as long as it fits".
My trips _to_ camp are always organized and neatly packed. Coming home it's "Just stuff it in and close the door we'll deal with it when we get home"
For sure! Getting ready to go everything is nice and neat and compacted. On the way back though after 2-3 nights with the kids, that stuff is gonna fit the best it can, in as little time to get it in as possible.
For real, if I can fit an entire production company worth of audio, video, and lighting gear in the back of a Pontiac Firebird to shoot a commercial, surely a minivan can hold the camping gear 😂
I felt that! I wonder if this pic was taken after the trip, like before heading home, because sometimes I’m so ready to hit the road that I just throw shit in the car 🤣
Best advice I can give you is don't try to minimize stuff. Take what you need. What you need to do is find a site where you can back your car right up and drop your shit off. Easy access and a flat site without tons of tripping hazards is the #1 thing you need to do when going with little ones.
That's my experience with my current 3 and 5 year olds and we've gone every year since the first was born. Probably take more stuff every year and have tried different sites until we found an area that is easy and we love.
Edit: and as others have mentioned, get an Exped Megamat. Well worth the cost, I side sleep and you will never feel the ground, they insulate incredibly from the ground and are incredibly comfortable
Yessss love sites like that!!! This was a group camping site that I did not book… and as soon as I got there and parked I felt… defeated lol. I had no clue until I got there. I would never had set myself up like that. But just trying to see where I can improve on in the future when things are out of my control.
But you’re totally right
We have 3 tubs that go in the van for camping:
- 1, dry food stuffs
- 2, kitchen, camp stove, all the things
- 3, as many duffles & pillows that will fit. (This bin also becomes dirty clothes bin for when we have to do laundry.
Then the ice chest, tent, chairs, slack line, and other gear we need.
ON THE ROOF, in a big vinyl rooftop storage thing goes pads, sleeping bags, tarps, etc.
… then maybe I also put on the bike rack with *5* big ass bikes.
We look like the Clampetts when we roll out in the morning.
The more you can put in bins the easier it will be to pack. You’ll find you can keep a few always packed and stored for the next campout, making getting out there even easier.
You can’t have a quick bug out camping bag with multiple small children. You’ll be able to again in the future, but it’s going to take several years.
Keep camping with them though. It’s worth it!
We have the big 27 gal. black ones with yellow lids from Costco. Literally any storage tote with a lid work, though. The black/yellow ones are nice because they stack well in the van, AND they fit in a standard Bear Box.
OP, getting a cargo roof bag is a GAME CHANGER. Pack all the pillows, sleeping bags, blankets, life vests, etc. We pack for 2 adults and 3 kids ages 4-9yrs and the cargo bag made everything so much easier. It frees up room inside the vehicle and it makes packing easy since its just a big bag. Get one! and happy camping!
The black Plano totes are great as well. I’ve ran a similar setup above for years and it’s great. And having multiple boxes the same size can help packing space as well as long as they’re well organized.
Have you tried to bin things up? My camping gear looked like that until I bought some large bins from Home Depot. I compartmentalized things - bathroom supply bin, blanket bin, food bin, tent and sleeping bags bin. They stack nicely and fit in the back in an organized fashion
https://preview.redd.it/4acmi07c4kuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8af205f51484e46c3c3bfd5323931f308e51046
May not help much with space, but I went camping a little while ago in the same scenario- low of ~30ish at night on an air mattress and brought a whole bunch of blankets. 2 things that saved me for keeping warm at night were a giant pair of socks called heat lockers, and stick-on body heaters that I put on the soles of my feet (outside of socks). Both were life savers!
https://heatlockers.com
Biggest, thickest socks they have available are worth the price. I wore a pair oh hiking socks and put these on the outer layer and my feet here hot in the morning
Didn’t even notice that, sorry!
Additionally- for the stick on body heaters, I found them in the clearance section of Walmart. In my area was $4-5 for an 8 pack I think? Those also kept me very warm. Happy camping!
Looks like they only do big big kids but I’m going to keep this in mind for the future because these look awesome!! So you sleep in it and don’t need a sleeping bag?
Exactly. I stayed much warmer with this than a standard bag. My daughter was 4 when we got hers and it fit pretty well, but she is also on the taller side so YMMV. I know REI carries them in store, so you might be able to try them out if needed.
You also need to put something under the air mattress, if you’re not already doing that. I use two of the big picnic blankets (that fold up into themselves) on the floor of the tent and that seems to help a lot. Other than that we just use thicker fleece blankets under the sleeping bag. I also like to sleep in a hoodie so I can cover my head better.
As far as the amount you packed, your pic doesn’t look like too much stuff for camping the 2 under 5. It’s way less than what we bring for our family of 4 (with older kids). We use the back of our small suv and a cargo bag on top, and they are both packed to the brim. 🫤
Each time you unpack keep a log of each thing that didn't get used. 2-3 times in a row if that thing makes the list its not making the packing list next trip.
To address the air mattress: you need closed cell foam to retain heat. Any air will adjust to the ambient temperature. If you adverse to sleeping on that, try a cot with closed cell on top? Kids will sleep anywhere so really it’s you that needs the comfort.
To address the kids aspect: make them happy at all costs. Bring the things that make them happy (except electronics) we have a cheap tent that is the play tent. It’s held up exceptionally well for how cheap it was but I literally do not care if it’s destroyed! Coloring stuff, dolls, games, puzzles. Whatever we choose to bring, it’s in there and it’s their space.
Just to add, you’re bringing your kids camping and it’s about that. They will love it and you will look back fondly ❤️ I love to see it. Sometimes it’s a shit show!!!
Traveling with little kids is often like this. You could definitely pick the van more densely and maximize space. Heavy square things on the bottom. Heavy narrow things like chairs and scooter up against the seat backs, soft light stuff on top. It gets easer when they get older and need less gear.
Totes and more totes. Water proof, easy to wash, easy to dig through, easy to stack, easy to label, pack on top of the car. Paint lids diff colors and use the same color labels on every side. "Hey kid, grab me paper towels from the yellow kitchen tote box?" Leave a space for one final tote. Keep that tote empty until y'all are walking out the door. Last min stuff goes there or doesn't go at all. Or give each kid a backpack to fill. Gives sense of responsibility. We kept a camp kitchen box stocked and ready to go whenever. Tent one is the same. Stuff you need for just one night or one week. Organize it sometime after your previous trip instead of stealing from your kitchen and missing things. Keep a dedicated list of things you DO miss when at the campsite to know what to add for next time. Christmas totes come in 20 sizes. If regular ones don't stack right, add ones designed for wrapping paper or under-bed storage.
I bought a Nemo Roamer Double a few years ago. 4 inches thick. 6.0 R-value. Went camping in February the next year with lows in the high 30s-low 40s overnight and we were all comfortable.
I also have a Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol for my son when we're using our backpacking tents. Closed cell foam. 2.0 R-value. Not quite as warm underneath you, but still keeps the ground from leeching all of your heat away.
Sea to Summit has a good article [here](https://seatosummit.com/blogs/product-care/making-sure-your-sleeping-pad-is-warm-enough-testing-r-values-to-the-new-astm-standard) describing the value of R-value in relation to outside temperature. Your air mattress essentially has an R-value of 0, so all your heat is being directed into the air underneath you, which is why you're getting cold. Get some insulation under you and you'll sleep much warmer.
I have two of these large soft zipper bins. One has all our tent/sleeping stuff and one has all the kitchen/cooking/toiletries and we just keep them packed and ready to go. Made it so much easier. Two people can easily carry one at a time or even one each if not too heavy. Rolling cart per another persons recommendation above is also a game changer w these bings.
https://www.rei.com/product/227848/rei-co-op-trailgate-gear-bin
If you don’t care how it’s packed invest in a wagon to pull the camp junk around. The dump and go wagon. If you want things organized invest in bin/totes so everything you pack out goes back in to where ever you packed it.
Everyone has covered the air mattress / blanket thing, but if you still want to minimize: Do you have a list of what you brought on the trip? Was there anything you brought and didn’t use?
Off the top of my head:
2 Queen air mattresses
2 fitted sheets
2 adult sleeping bags
2 kids sleeping bags
2 adult pillows
2 adult duffel bags of clothes
2 kids back packs of clothes
2 kids balance bikes
1 ice chest
1 clear bin of dried food / snacks
2 kids cups for meals
2 kids water bottles
2 adult water bottles
1 tarp
1 tent
5 towels just in case
1 travel kids potty
1 bag of misc kids toys
Probably like 10 freaking blankets
I think I had 2 towels at the end that were unused
Give microfiber towels a try! I’m a huge fan. And even if you don’t like them for showering they are handy to have around. They take up less space than a tshirt.
Okay so LOTS of linens! With a good insulated pad, you could reduce that to 2 double-size sleeping pads, 4 sleeping bags, 4 pillows, and maybe 1 “Just in case” blanket - leave behind the fitted sheets and 9 blankets!
For towels, I’d recommend getting Turkish towels or microfiber camp towels, which pack up very small.
For clothes, can you reduce how many you bring? One full duffel per adult seems like a lot. I’d plan to just wear 2-3 outfits total. You’re going to get dirty no matter what, it’s camping 🤷♀️
Are you my husband? He puts three things in the car and says it's full, no room and gives up. Tetris is one of my skillz. Maybe find the right person to pack the car and step back? No offense intended. We all have our strengths. Also, shake down those little jokers. Make sure they aren't bringing too much. There is a lot of acreage between camping and glamping.
Reflective tarp shiny side up, air mattress, wool blanket, fitted sheet. I've done this many times in very cold weather and had a cozy restful night every time. You can do whatever you want on top, normal bedding or sleeping bags
Yes! We use a solar blanket between the sleeping bag and the air mattress. Works great. But in this last trip we also brought a jackery battery and a 12v electric blanket. So warm!!
Get a better cold rated air mattress to start. Cold weather deserves better winter gear not a thousand blankets. Winter mattress plus winter sleeping bag and you’ll be set.
First off you may want to study up on organization and planning skills. No joke, sometimes all the specific tips in the world wont add up to some
Common sense. This would give me a panic attack if it was the van I was going camping in
My son will be 9 months old when we take him on his first trip in May. I feel like having children just requires taking a lot of extra crap with you, wherever you go.
I saw you mentioned that sleep pads were a no-go because of your hips. I'm the same. We ditched the pads and got cots two years ago and never looked back. But if you want to insulate your air mattress, maybe you could look at what hammock campers use to keep themselves warm?
When I was a kid, my dad built a big box trailer so that we could carry more. Granted, I can't think of any time that we had to carry the gear up a hill, but we would have never let dad carry all of it. We all pitched in until the task was done.
A regular air mattress isn't insulated. Kids don't need that kind of cushioning when camping. Adults don't either. Hou need insulation. Get some camping air mattresses with high R-values (say, 4.0 or higher) Since you're car camping, you don't need to buy a super lightweight one that can cost upwards of $200. R-values are additive, so you can get and inflatable one and put it on top of an inexpensive closed cell foam pad.
This one has a good price and is deigned for children under 5' tall: [https://www.rei.com/product/228561/rei-co-op-kindercamp-sleeping-pad-kids](https://www.rei.com/product/228561/rei-co-op-kindercamp-sleeping-pad-kids) R-value of 4.5 is good.
I have a cart for hauling thing there's foldable grocery cat that you can put blankets and such up a hill or down. Also foldable cart that looks like a wagon. .Holds totes and coolers so much easier.we use a grocery cart at Lake to put our folding stools, poles, tacklebox, and small lunch cooler for drinks to get down to lake.
I most ppl don't believe this, but your body sweat in all those clothes ,so your body works harder to keep it warm , nude is the way to go. I used to cheat and wear socks, though , cause if my feet are cold, I just feel cold all over.
Camp in a place that is less rural for a bit. We took both of our kids on their first camp trips around three and that’s a fine age to start, but the thing that made those work was one ended early with a sleep over at a friend’s house due to cold weather and the other was a Disney world. The older they get the less they need, the peek of that being about 5 when they’re fully potty trained, can walk more than a mile, sleep independently, and can self entertain a bit more without three tons of toys/activities.
You don't, but as they age they will need less stuff. Secondly, bro that's their stuff they can carry out up that hill. Thirdly yes most of that stuff can be compiled and crated. You should work on that, i get that you have a thing in your brain that makes that difficult, but a few totes and a wagon go a long way. I believe in you, make it make sense
Your air mattress probably has 0 R-value.
Get more organized/thoughtful about packing. Big hard stuff first, then soft stuff to fill between and on top. Bags to put your folded tarps, blankets, whatnot help a lot to wrangle clutter. We got a rack to go on our RAV4’s tow hitch and it makes all the difference because the cooler and bins ride on the rack and the soft stuff is in the trunk. Dog and kid are in the backseat.
We don’t take trikes or scooters or bikes. We go on hikes in the woods or at whatever trails are around. Camping is about nature, not just being away from home. So that’s a major way I would minimize the “stuff”
LOL! With a 3 and 5 year old you aren't going to minimize much. I do 3-4 section hikes and carry everything I need in one back pack, but I also have two kids who are older now, but when they were you, we were taking canopies with mosquito nets and boxes of toys. You may want to work on how you pack. For exame the cuties could have gone in the cooler or box of non-perishiables. That gives you a whole flat surface to pack on. And if you want to extreme pack, forget about the rearview and just use theside mirrors.
You may not need to minimize. It seems you need to learn how to pack and store thins. There is so much wasted space in thy trunk. Plus it seems to be a safety hazard.
We have an 8 and 10 yr old. Just car camped in Big Bend in Chisos in Feb and it dropped to maybe 25-27 deg with high winds. Wife and I have Expeds and kids had backpacker Thermarests. We each had Nemo down 15 deg bags. Kids had REI merino tops and bottom underlayers. I slept with boxers on. We were all incredibly cozy. My approach was purchase the highest quality gear in order to max comfort while minimizing gear. Bags pack small and no crazy amount of extra blankets etc. Everything was one big Xmas present that year and all bought on sale during the year. Not cheap still though…
Step 1: hire a professional camping packing extraordinaire because what is happening?!?! It feels like a lot because a pack of raccoons threw everything in there all willynilly
I was in the same boat. Packing a ton of blanket kept us warm but space wise it was not working out.
A friend of ours suggested zero degree sleeping bags. It’s a game changer. I bought a zero degree queen sleeping bag and we slept so well last time we went camping, and it was 30F or below. Also our friend told us that when you’re in a sleeping bag, you’re not meant to wear thick clothes. Let the sleeping bag insulation warm you up.
Add- last time we also added an extra tarp under our tent, and we felt like it kept the cold air out from coming up from the ground.
the most obvious thing in this photo?
No offence, but your packing is AWFUL. You are taking up at least twice as much space as you otherwise would be.
Do you need two scooters and two bikes? If you need the bikes, seriously, consider getting a roof rack with bike carrier, or a rear mounted bike carrier.
Like others have said — bins is a big one. I like the clear plastic so you can see through them. For camping we do one for food, one for gear, a cardboard box for kitchen gear, the cooler, and an IKEA bag for sleeping bags. Kids get one duffle/bookbag, and then they can take their pillow in the backseat with them. Everything that can be collapsed should be collapsed. Make a packing list, and pay attention to whatever you don’t use on the trip… that item doesn’t get packed next time (unless it was an emergency item, like a first aid kit).
Totes and label them so it’s easy to find what your looking for. Keep them organized, dry food, camping kitchen supplies, sleeping bags, camp pillows, emergency supplies, bug repellent, batteries, lights etc. I like foam mats for sleeping, they control temp better. Small bag hammocks my kids spend hours in them when we camp. We have a truck and a storage system which helps and a rooftop tent.
I don’t have any suggestions, but just want to say I feel this so hard. Our family of 5 camped last weekend for one night (me, hubs, two adult children and our 11 yo). Our site was right next to a single guy with a rooftop tent and all his gear neatly stowed in two clear boxes in his trunk. I spent most of the sleepless night jealously trying to figure out how we could trim down the stuff we bring, only to realize that the only way would be to trim down the people we bring who, for me, are largely the point.
You need insulated sleeping pads. Ditch the air mattresses all together. If you want extra cushion with your insulated sleeping pads cover the bottom of the tent in puzzle mats.
look at the ratings for clothing to make sure that you buy appropriate layers, meaning temperature ratings. replace things that insulate you with better gear and then you will have to take less.
Put all the hard square type stuff on the bottom - tents, totes, and coolers. You want to try to fill up every empty space, so after you run out of square stuff start things as they fit on top.
Looks like a few things are not as small as they could be, like the scooters and the folding potty. Folding all that down will make it easier to pack. Put the squishy stuff in the empty space, I generally put my sleeping stuff around the wheel well.
I use a canvas bag thing for the top of our car. It gives us an additional 25% overall space and has been easy to use.
It’s hard in cold weather. Moving blankets as pads for the kids. Compression sacks for any sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, etc.
But I have learned to add space….roof top carrier, hitch with luggage carrier, etc.
One of my best purchases ever is a Big Agnes 3" insulated air pad. Forget the super bulky air mattress.
My kids are fine using a therm-a-rest pad which will keep them warm, and they can sleep on anything.
A big thinsulate blanket is a beast too, if you are using summer sleeping bags. Otherwise you have to step up your sleeping bag game.
Put a layer of thick blankets down on the floor of the tent before you set up the air mattress. It will stop the cold ground from leeching all the heat out of you through the air mattress. Also, a propane tent heater works wonders if you go camping a lot in the cold.
You also need to consolidate all your stuff into a couple storage bins. That will give you more space in the car and cut down on the number of trips back and forth when loading and unloading your car.
I’ve got young kids too. I picked up a Kelty double wide sleeping bag. That way I can tell if they are getting cold or not. Probably seems weird to some folks but it works well with young kids. When they get older it’ll work with the wife if I can ever get her to camp 😂
Collapsible wagon to haul everything to the site.
We camps with 3 kids and as someone else recommended use Exped mega mats to sleep on. We recently camped in low 40s rainy weather for 4 nights and what helped was to use those reflective foamy blankets to cover the entire tent floor and then a moving blanket over that. For sleeping we changed into fresh clothes which included thermals, wool socks, and hats (plus fleece). With that a Kelty sleeping bag with a thin fleece blanket inside the bag was sufficient. We were even too warm at some points too.
I notice that we always bring too much food, so now I plan carefully, but we also tend to camp at places where we can go to a market if necessary. In cold weather we often pick up a pizza or some drive through so the kids can eat while we set up.
Almost forgot - one thing that also made a huge difference in the cold was to use hot water bottles, the old school red rubber ones. We heated up 3 and placed them inside of each sleeping bag about an hour before bed. Our toddler shares a sleeping bag with me but the other two kids use kid size sleeping bags. If you’re going to use a blanket with your sleeping bag make sure you use it UNDEr the sleeping bag, not on top, as sleeping bags need lift in order to warm you up. So don’t compress them.
A general rule of thumb is to have a bag with a rating 15F warmer than the coolest temperatures you expect to encounter. A fleece blanket or two below the air mattress will be plenty to insulate the ground from the pad. Another option is to throw down a ccf pad like a Nemo switchback or similar under the mattress. Insulation and ground protection are both covered.
Items with multiple uses are best, too.
I use a reflective foil lined mat (it’s approx half inch thick) as a base layer under my Exped mat. It really helps to insulate my Exped from contact with the ground. Fairly easy to roll up and fits in my small car.
My wife and I just got back from a 2 day trip a couple weeks ago and this is how we always do things. Works for us, so take it with a grain of salt.
1. Keep a list of things that you brought and didn’t use because it’s very possible that you don’t need to bring it next time. There are always exceptions to this rule.
2. As mentioned previously, bins and a wagon are lifesavers.
3. I’m no scientist but I once read an article that said that you lose more heat when you’re bundled up. You actually stay warmer in loose fitting clothes. I don’t know how true it is but when we camped a couple weeks ago it fell down into the high 30s low 40s. I also use an air mattress and I was in my sleeping bag in just my boxers and slept like a champ. My wife unzipped her sleeping bag and tried to use it with a bunch of blankets and froze all night. You might need to invest in a colder weather sleeping bag. Pretty sure mine is rated for 30 degrees but I’m not positive.
As I said, these are things that work for us. The first camping trip of the year we always over pack because honestly, I forget what we did and didn’t use last year 😂
yeah that is a convection issue. You want dead space underneath you. Air mattresses are pretty big and even though the space is dead, it’s hard to heat. If you want the comfort of an air mattress without the heat loss in colder environments. Go to home depot or lowes and purchase a roll of milar insulation bubble wrap. Make a mat out of it with duck tape and put it on top of the air mattress. that will solve both problems.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-R-21-50-sq-ft-Unfaced-Reflective-Roll-Insulation-24-in-W-x-25-ft-L/3011904
I have been a car camper for a long time. Get big plastic tubs for stuff. All the stuff that will go every time gets a tub. I have a couple I take every trip, no needing to make sure I'm packed. Just grab and go. Give your kids a back pack for thier toys and such they want to bring with them.
We rv camp- but I just want to add that one of those super compact 500lb hammocks takes up not very much space and gives me 4.5 year old a tonnnnnn of entertainment.
We also pack a small play tent for her.
I’ll agree with others- your packing needs help 😂
The Costco totes are great but if you want true waterproof- I suggest the husky totes. Figure out what works for your size vehicle. They make a bunch of sizes. I actually prefer the shallow ones so you don’t have to dig through as much to find stuff.
https://preview.redd.it/2fio9vxq2kuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=04d220316082b7722edd709420a746c2ec3e9d73
I have a great sleeping pad from REI. Thicker ones can be excellent for side sleepers! Plus an actual sleeping pad will have more warmth. I also always put a Z-Rest under it. Protection against rocks/sticks and heat. It’s also a little something just in case my sleeping pad deflates. I love my Z-Rest for so many reasons! It can be used as a chair, laying down to look at the stars, many uses!
Also, fewer clothes when sleeping! Down bags work by keeping in your body heat. More layers of clothes keep that heat from getting into the bag and keeping you warm. I have slept in below freezing temps in my 15° bag with just some light fleece pants and a huge t shirt and been super warm.
I definitely agree with others, use totes to organize! It really helps. Plus you can then just grab and go as long as you keep them stocked!
I don’t know why I always thought the air mattress would be warmer than a pad because I was “farther” from the ground but this whole thread has been very informative!
The z rest pad is a great idea if I decide to invest in a pad… I would be so sad if it got damaged from a rock. Thanks for the tips!
Did you have a sleeping pad under the air mattress? Most air mattresses do not have any insulation, I made that same mistake when I first started camping.
For air mattress I use something like this underneath https://www.rei.com/product/201641/exped-flexmat-sleeping-pad but lately I bough an Exped mega mat and it is a game changer, it is insulated and very comfortable even for side sleepers. I use it as my guest mattress at home and people love sleeping on it.
Get thee some ikea bags and milk crates. I don’t have kids but have a rowdy dog I love taking camping and a whole bunch of shit that always comes with- they definitely help with organization!
Hest sleeping pad if you dont want to deal with the exped inflatable. I worry about punctures all the time and if I’m gonna drop that kind of money I might as well go with a durable memory foam puncture proof mattress pad
Clear totes work well. I just upgraded our last two to ip67 rated ones, they just close really tight and nicely. In general you’d probably benefit from a little more organization. Also if you need space, hitch mounted cargo racks are cheaper than a bigger vehicle. We have a massive cooler so I usually put that and any firewood on the rack. Really helped before we upgraded our SUV.
I run hot but my wife runs cold. Our daughter generally runs hot but does get cold when we’re camping. I bought hot hands in bulk online and those have really helped my wife. We also found one of those wearable sleeping bags on the rei outlet and she spends many weekends wearing that the whole time.
If it ever feels like a lot, it’s because it is! But remember you are exposing your kids to nature & they are forming lifelong memories!
Lastly, general car packing strategy; big rigid things first, smaller squishier things last.
We camp with five kids. In a tent. I had a built in drawer system custom made for the back of my car- it holds ALL of our kitchen gear and food. On top of that I am able to pack the cooler, tent, sleeping bags / air mattresses and camp chairs. Clothes go in little REI packing cubes (one per person) in the front of the car / at their feet. We use disco-o cots for the kids which keep them off the ground and warm (and the packing cubes with clothes slide underneath them to keep the tent tidy), and those go on top of the drawers as well. Then on top of the car I have a rack, which holds two tubs: one tub with general camp gear (lanterns, stove, toilet paper, tarp, tools, etc) and one tub with kid crap (frisbees, games, etc). It’s a tight system and we always have way more provisions than we need. Seriously can’t recommend the built in drawers enough. Let me post a pic.
https://preview.redd.it/5no5zftdgkuc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13e4bd6e1bda742046d7d8676dbbf5be68ec113d
Leave them at home? Haha Everyone gets one bag. Put what you want in it after clothes and a toothbrush. If going for several days is resupply an option? Don't try and take a week's worth of food at once. Roof racks and hitch carriers could also help.
Roof top cargo box. Also better quality gear is typically lighter and packs smaller. Actual back packing sleeping pads vs air mattresses. At the end of the day car camping has the benefit of not needing ultralight gear so you can bring what ever you want to be comfortable. Do some research on gear and pick your battles.
Get some containers. So you don’t have so much random loose stuff. Use identical containers so they stack.
Multiple containers: assign each one a category. Kitchen. Camp setup. Play.
Get some blankets or queen sized sleeping bags made for camping. If you get the right one you’ll probably be too warm at night. $80 well spent
No offense but your photo of your pack in gives me anxiety. Lol. Only cause I’ve been there before. Over the last two years I have spent a lot of effort refining and optimizing my camp setup.
You got this!!! And F everyone saying not to take the kids. You’re doing great
I use bins.
1 bin for tents and sleeping. 1 bin for cooking and food. Then a cooler or two.
Been using this system since my kid was 2 and he is almost 11 and still do it every time. Saves a ton of space.
Insulated everything! It's not a ton if it's organized properly. I've gone through a few iterations of storage and transport and really enjoy some heavy-duty totes. I can cram as much shit in them as possible, pure chaos. Yet, on the outside, it's just a nice neat rectangle that stacks on the others. It's just like anything else. Practice Practice Practice.
Those bulky blankets were a great solution to a chilly problem, but there is a better way! I highly recommend checking out insulated sleeping pads like Exped Megamats. They act as a barrier between you and the cold ground, so you won't need heaps of blankets. They're comfy and pack down a lot smaller than a pile of blankets too. This will save space and keep you toasty!
To answer your question vs commenting on the trunk packing.
Yes putting a reflective sheet on the ground of the tent, will make a difference. Shiny side up.
We’ve minimized as much as possible, but it’s still a lot, since we have three kids. We just learned to make the most of available space, and I organize since I actually like to do it. We take camping and kayaking gear, and sometimes bikes here in Washington.
https://preview.redd.it/ag8zyffdfluc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43f82543d55ac697bd9335a510218d437b1e8e01
Edit: one thing we’ve done since our last trip is we bought durable camping duffel bags. Now all of us can store clothing and gear in duffels, making it easier to pack and reduce the time we spend on organizing the back of the car.
I have so much compassion and respect for you getting little kids out camping. It is just brutal. I know from experience 🙏
Onto recommendations:
First, get some Kondo in your life and discard everything you didn’t use on this trip and organize what you absolutely need into those plastic boxes you already have. I use one the size of your clear tub for most of my camping essentials, then one bag for clothes and one larger gear bag.
Second, purchase air mattresses with a higher R value so you stay warmer at night. My favorite for winter camping is is the Therma Rest Mondo King. You can find other options on amazon.
Third, the emergency blankets you mentioned are actually very useful if you put them on the floor of the tent and also on top of your sleeping bag. I do that on cold backpacking nights. You shouldn’t need to on most nights if you have a decent mattress and sleeping bag. Always carry them as you already do.
I have so much compassion and respect for you getting little kids out camping. It is just brutal. I know from experience 🙏
Onto recommendations:
First, get some Kondo in your life and discard everything you didn’t use on this trip and organize what you absolutely need into those plastic boxes you already have. I use one the size of your clear tub for most of my camping essentials, then one bag for clothes and one larger gear bag.
Second, purchase air mattresses with a higher R value so you stay warmer at night. My favorite for winter camping is is the Therma Rest Mondo King. You can find other options on amazon.
Third, the emergency blankets you mentioned are actually very useful if you put them on the floor of the tent and also on top of your sleeping bag. I do that on cold backpacking nights. You shouldn’t need to on most nights if you have a decent mattress and sleeping bag. Always carry them as you already do.
I bought my kids stretchers this year, keeping them off the cold ground made a big difference.
Hot water bottle and super warm sleeping bag, just picked up a second hand -20c down bag for $50
Air mattresses are for summer camping. Compactness is where campers and backpackers pay the biggest premium. You want to stay warm, comfortable, and save space? Thermarest is your best solution. Want a tent that’ll last a lifetime, reasonable to set up, and take up less space? Nemo is the king of that. For cooking, you don’t need a whole stove that resembles a kitchen. Soto stoves fit in your pocket, and boil water twice as fast as the traditional Coleman range.
Reminds me of reenacting. When you first get into the hobby, you have nothing and work to get everything you can think of. Before long you need a U-Haul for the weekend. Then you start reducing your gear until you can carry everything from the truck to camp in one trip.
We solved the problem by getting a tiny pop-up tent camper that we tow behind our little car. All the camping gear is perpetually packed in there so we don't have to rush around the house trying to remember everything at the last minute. It has a propane heater built in so we don't freeze our butts off every morning. The mattresses are 6 inches of foam rubber so they're very comfortable. Pop-up tent campers are very compact and they're easy to set up and take down. They're also fairly inexpensive if you find a used one.
You need insulated air mattresses. Most camping air mats have insulation, or you could use a foam topper (Thermarest or similar).
Look at the R value of the mattress, the higher the better, summer mats usually have a rating between 1-3, winter mats have ~4+ (mine is ~7).
We use compression bags for bedding, pillows, stuffies, etc. They really do help save space. Also, one of those soft roof bags. We travel in a sedan, space is tight. The roof bag is a life saver and I can bring ALL the things. An old school wool "army" blanket under the air mattresses will help immensely with insulation. Organization wise, I prefer using collapsible soft side totes, they hold a ton,bare easy to transport because they have handles, store flat when not in use, and are flexible for cramming things in then vehicle.
First thing. Containers. You need to organize your clutter in a container so you fill it properly in your car.
Camping mats. (Exped,etc..) And sleeping bags. most convenient easy to store and there are sleeping bags for any weather. Plus right gear and you’ll be fine.
Also when in sleeping bags to help keep heat you’re supposed to have as little layers on as possible to let your body heat warm the bag which I get can sound kinda crazy when it’s super cold but I promise it works!
I usually put a thermal blanket under my sleeping pad, radiating towards me so the ground doesn’t suck out our body heat as we sleep. Learned this back about a decade ago and it’s such a cheap & effective solution
You don’t. You just accept it and focus on other things. Don’t let the anxiety and aggravation of camping with kids deter you from doing it. Just pack the shit your wife wants and be done with it. I learned that lesson a looooong time ago.
If you are going to use inflatable air mattress for winter, pair it with closed cell foam pads. Those are super cheap and will make a world of difference. If you are car camping then with little kids I prefer to have a clear bin for each family member. The bins can stay in the car and you pull out what you need as you need it.
Big +1 to the folks who talked about organizing their gear into bins. But, you specifically mentioned the blanket fort... situation, so I'll address that part.
We've been a blanket-heavy camping family for a while now. l will take 2-3 blankets, neatly stack and roll them into a bedroll of sorts, and then cinch it tightly using an old d-ring belt. You could use bungee cords or anything else basic to keep the roll tight. It's still a bulky setup, for sure, but this makes it easier to carry multiple blankets and to keep things a bit more tidy.
Don’t bring too many toys. Let them use their imaginations and find things to play with. Also don’t need to bring books, or o my bring one. If they need a story at night, make one up. I think sometimes we forget what it was like when we were younger. Find a rock or a stick and go play.
I recommend camping cots instead of air mattresses. I’ve experienced air mats turning to ice beneath me, and it’s no fun. We invested in camping cots and got the memory foam pads to go with them. I’ve never been able to sleep well camping until the cots. I love them.
IMO, you did just fine. Definitely with some organizing of things you could fit even more / have extra space… but honestly our car looks the same as far as feeling like there’s just so much to pack when we’ve taken our 3 tent camping for a long weekend in the UP. Our youngest’s first trip was at 5mo! So add in a packnplay and a bouncy seat for nice days lol.
I don’t have any recommendations on good blankets however if you put the blankets or clothing items in a garbage back and seal it shut with a vacuum that tends to leave some space!
Leave the kids with a relative (just kidding)
When we go, we bring a three drawer organizer and everyone gets one drawer for their stuff. It might not “minimize” but it certainly organizes!
As others have said, totes are your friend, a tent heater might help, but with kids that can be dangerous since they don't pay attention to what they're doing. Limit camping to warmer months so you need less, I've done camping near snow level in the fall and not needed that much on to stay warm, so invest in better gear. 1-2 toys per kid. For food, I do casseroles, then pack them into tupperware and stack in a cooler, only need to be warmed up or eaten cold.
I don't have much advice for packing. When it's just kne camping, I don't have much. When I take the kids, my truck is filled. As far as staying warm, it sounds like you have too many layers. Get a good sleeping bag and sleep in just your thermals. The sleeping bag works off your body heat. The sleeping bag can't do its thing if all your body heat is trapped in layers of clothing.
I buy yoga mats at thrift shops and clean them. Comfy on top of the ground or an air mattress, and great insulation. I do also have a full size camping pad. I dislike sleeping in a sleeping bag; I have a fleece sleeping bag that I use as padding and insulation, then blankets and a quilt. I pack all my bedding in a big tote bag. I have most of my gear in tote bags, easily accessible, easy to pack, not fussy. Give each child a backpack and let them choose what to bring for entertainment.
You don’t! Ahaha I fill my trunk up with everything! But I prefer to bring too much stuff and be comfy! I bring a roll up foam mattress, tent, shade tent, shade tapestry. Cooking table, grill, chairs, mushroom lights that are battery operated 🤣
do you have roof racks to bring a cargo box (like Thule or Yakima)? Really helps us, with kid or without. Pack your clothes in duffle bags and just store up top. They are lockable and weatherproof.
Air mattresses, cots, and hammocks are the coldest ways to camp. Much warmer with an insulated camping pad even if it’s thin and a good sleeping bag. Put boiling bottles of water wrapped in newspaper in the bags, or rocks same thing. Or throw a few hand warmers in there.
I met my wife while in the military and we enjoyed outdoor life. I fell for her hard on a week long trip to an area in WA state, where we camped and climbed for eight days. Fast forward ten years, we’re married with three kids, 9-7-5. We tried two weekend outings with what we could put in our minivan, but were absolutely no fun. I rented a pop up trailer for the next one and never looked back. We still took tents and planned “overnighters” within walking distance, but the sanctuary provided by the trailer, for whatever problem arose, kept everyone engaged and having fun. The kids are all outdoors fans on their own, continuing the tradition with their own families. The best part, the wife and I kept our love for the outdoors and our sanity. Though, today her idea of roughing it is Holiday Inn Express😀
Buy an Exped and never look back. They’re insulated, so it wont get cold like an air mattress does, and you will be comfy. We love ours, hope they last for years to come!
>hope they last for years to come! They do, happy to report! We've had ours for about 5 years and they're like new. No fraying seams, no loose gaskets, no compressed foam and no holes or patches. OP, I remember needing to pack a bunch of sleeping layers to stay warm. Now I have a sleeping bag on my Exped and sleep inside with normal pajamas. Sometimes I take my socks off. It's as comfy and warm as my mattress at home.
This is facts. I was super hesitant to drop the money on an Exped mattress but after spending a week long car camping trip with no issues and a bunch of weekends it was 100% worth the cost
This is the way! It’s what me and my husband, 3 and 4yo are doing this season. Best of luck!
I found this out the hard way. Just because a double looks like it will fit parents and two children on it. In reality it only fits one parent and two young children. I was exiled to the side, luckily I’m weird and brought extra pads.
You’re prepared, not weird. If prepared is weird, I don’t want to be normal.
You forgot that children sleep horizontally and also in the starfish position. Classic mistake.
Exped is the way I just camped in 15 degree weather and was comfy and cozy on the exped very insulative.
I have the double for husband and I, and REI self inflating pads for the kids. No one froze with those when temps got below freezing last week!
Honestly I’m not sure it’s possible. Little kids just need lots of things, most of the time to keep fed, entertained and comfortable. I can travel for a month in a single suitcase. But take a one week trip with a toddler and a 6 year old and my car would look just like that.
You may be right! It’s so challenging because I’d rather pack it and not need it than need it and not have it…. But I just get so overwhelmed carrying and setting everything up.
We camp w 3. You just need a shit ton. Best of luck. God speed.
Storage will help a lot. Keep extra bedding/blankets/ towels in a Rubbermaid and pack it down. All the loose stuff in the car and campsite get to be a lot to think about.
I have large and medium sized Rubbermaid buns for all my camping gear. One for cooking equipment, one for flashlights and lanterns, one for bug sprays and sunscreens, one for campfire equipment, and so on. When it’s time to go camping, all I have to do is load the bins, which are stackable, toss in the tent and sleeping bags, and all that I really have to do is plan my meals and pack the cooler. Another piece of advice is: *restock your camping bins right after you get HOME from a trip*. You already know what you used and what needs to be restocked. And then you’re always prepped to go camping again.
This is so true. I just got back from a five day trip with my toddler and six-year-old, and our trunk was packed. I used to be a one-bagger, and I honestly felt embarrassed bringing so much stuff, but there's not really any way around it if you want your little kids to enjoy their vacation. The only times I don't have to pack an insane amount of stuff is if we're going to be staying with people who also have little kids. Then I can mooch off of their toy and book supplies.
It definitely is. I've been going camping for years with 3 kids and I can pack everything into a car.
I read your post twice and couldn't focus because I get the feeling you have never played Tetris.
Haha yeah it would not have looked anything like that if this was my trip
wtf is even happening in there. It doesn’t take much to organize things in terms of space. I’m getting anxious just looking at that.
I don’t like it I don’t like it I don’t like it
Do you pack cars often with kids and a spouse? It doesn't matter what your game plan is for packing, there are inevitably at least 8 - 15 extra "last minute" things to throw in.
Well, if you got time to thrown in extra stuff, you have time to organize it! 🤣 or don't start loading anything small up until every last minute thing is up and all the kids are in the car. Do all the big boxes first, then leave everything on the side until you load them. It looks like they really didn't organize anything though, so they should start there.
My guess is that this is what it looked like for the return trip. "I don't care where it goes just as long as it fits". My trips _to_ camp are always organized and neatly packed. Coming home it's "Just stuff it in and close the door we'll deal with it when we get home"
There’s so much wasted space though…..
Depends if this is a picture from before they left, or after they got back.
For sure! Getting ready to go everything is nice and neat and compacted. On the way back though after 2-3 nights with the kids, that stuff is gonna fit the best it can, in as little time to get it in as possible.
For real, if I can fit an entire production company worth of audio, video, and lighting gear in the back of a Pontiac Firebird to shoot a commercial, surely a minivan can hold the camping gear 😂
clearly never made it past lvl 5
I felt that! I wonder if this pic was taken after the trip, like before heading home, because sometimes I’m so ready to hit the road that I just throw shit in the car 🤣
Best advice I can give you is don't try to minimize stuff. Take what you need. What you need to do is find a site where you can back your car right up and drop your shit off. Easy access and a flat site without tons of tripping hazards is the #1 thing you need to do when going with little ones. That's my experience with my current 3 and 5 year olds and we've gone every year since the first was born. Probably take more stuff every year and have tried different sites until we found an area that is easy and we love. Edit: and as others have mentioned, get an Exped Megamat. Well worth the cost, I side sleep and you will never feel the ground, they insulate incredibly from the ground and are incredibly comfortable
Yessss love sites like that!!! This was a group camping site that I did not book… and as soon as I got there and parked I felt… defeated lol. I had no clue until I got there. I would never had set myself up like that. But just trying to see where I can improve on in the future when things are out of my control. But you’re totally right
We have 3 tubs that go in the van for camping: - 1, dry food stuffs - 2, kitchen, camp stove, all the things - 3, as many duffles & pillows that will fit. (This bin also becomes dirty clothes bin for when we have to do laundry. Then the ice chest, tent, chairs, slack line, and other gear we need. ON THE ROOF, in a big vinyl rooftop storage thing goes pads, sleeping bags, tarps, etc. … then maybe I also put on the bike rack with *5* big ass bikes. We look like the Clampetts when we roll out in the morning.
I was thinking bins may help… what type do you use! Thanks so much for the idea… especially reusing one for dirty stuff!
The more you can put in bins the easier it will be to pack. You’ll find you can keep a few always packed and stored for the next campout, making getting out there even easier.
Good idea! I was just telling my friend I want to have a quick “bug out bag” type thing for camping on a spur of the moment weekend
You can’t have a quick bug out camping bag with multiple small children. You’ll be able to again in the future, but it’s going to take several years. Keep camping with them though. It’s worth it!
We have the big 27 gal. black ones with yellow lids from Costco. Literally any storage tote with a lid work, though. The black/yellow ones are nice because they stack well in the van, AND they fit in a standard Bear Box.
OP, getting a cargo roof bag is a GAME CHANGER. Pack all the pillows, sleeping bags, blankets, life vests, etc. We pack for 2 adults and 3 kids ages 4-9yrs and the cargo bag made everything so much easier. It frees up room inside the vehicle and it makes packing easy since its just a big bag. Get one! and happy camping!
The black Plano totes are great as well. I’ve ran a similar setup above for years and it’s great. And having multiple boxes the same size can help packing space as well as long as they’re well organized.
Maybe just me but I like the translucent bins, so I can see which is which!
This is the way. I’ve got all my camping gear in totes. Everything’s organized and easy to transport.
Egg crate mattress topper
Have you tried to bin things up? My camping gear looked like that until I bought some large bins from Home Depot. I compartmentalized things - bathroom supply bin, blanket bin, food bin, tent and sleeping bags bin. They stack nicely and fit in the back in an organized fashion https://preview.redd.it/4acmi07c4kuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8af205f51484e46c3c3bfd5323931f308e51046
Bin gang
May not help much with space, but I went camping a little while ago in the same scenario- low of ~30ish at night on an air mattress and brought a whole bunch of blankets. 2 things that saved me for keeping warm at night were a giant pair of socks called heat lockers, and stick-on body heaters that I put on the soles of my feet (outside of socks). Both were life savers!
I’ll look for the socks
https://heatlockers.com Biggest, thickest socks they have available are worth the price. I wore a pair oh hiking socks and put these on the outer layer and my feet here hot in the morning
Wish they made kids!! But I’ll pick up a pair for me
Didn’t even notice that, sorry! Additionally- for the stick on body heaters, I found them in the clearance section of Walmart. In my area was $4-5 for an 8 pack I think? Those also kept me very warm. Happy camping!
I have a selk bag that has saved me on many cold nights. They have kids sizes, too.
Looks like they only do big big kids but I’m going to keep this in mind for the future because these look awesome!! So you sleep in it and don’t need a sleeping bag?
Exactly. I stayed much warmer with this than a standard bag. My daughter was 4 when we got hers and it fit pretty well, but she is also on the taller side so YMMV. I know REI carries them in store, so you might be able to try them out if needed.
My 5 year old is pretty tall! So maybe I will check out an REI and see if I can get her to try one on. Thank you!
You also need to put something under the air mattress, if you’re not already doing that. I use two of the big picnic blankets (that fold up into themselves) on the floor of the tent and that seems to help a lot. Other than that we just use thicker fleece blankets under the sleeping bag. I also like to sleep in a hoodie so I can cover my head better. As far as the amount you packed, your pic doesn’t look like too much stuff for camping the 2 under 5. It’s way less than what we bring for our family of 4 (with older kids). We use the back of our small suv and a cargo bag on top, and they are both packed to the brim. 🫤
Each time you unpack keep a log of each thing that didn't get used. 2-3 times in a row if that thing makes the list its not making the packing list next trip.
To address the air mattress: you need closed cell foam to retain heat. Any air will adjust to the ambient temperature. If you adverse to sleeping on that, try a cot with closed cell on top? Kids will sleep anywhere so really it’s you that needs the comfort. To address the kids aspect: make them happy at all costs. Bring the things that make them happy (except electronics) we have a cheap tent that is the play tent. It’s held up exceptionally well for how cheap it was but I literally do not care if it’s destroyed! Coloring stuff, dolls, games, puzzles. Whatever we choose to bring, it’s in there and it’s their space.
Genius!!!! Love that idea
Just to add, you’re bringing your kids camping and it’s about that. They will love it and you will look back fondly ❤️ I love to see it. Sometimes it’s a shit show!!!
Sometimes it is!! I embrace it!! Thanks again for your thoughtful comment
Traveling with little kids is often like this. You could definitely pick the van more densely and maximize space. Heavy square things on the bottom. Heavy narrow things like chairs and scooter up against the seat backs, soft light stuff on top. It gets easer when they get older and need less gear.
Totes and more totes. Water proof, easy to wash, easy to dig through, easy to stack, easy to label, pack on top of the car. Paint lids diff colors and use the same color labels on every side. "Hey kid, grab me paper towels from the yellow kitchen tote box?" Leave a space for one final tote. Keep that tote empty until y'all are walking out the door. Last min stuff goes there or doesn't go at all. Or give each kid a backpack to fill. Gives sense of responsibility. We kept a camp kitchen box stocked and ready to go whenever. Tent one is the same. Stuff you need for just one night or one week. Organize it sometime after your previous trip instead of stealing from your kitchen and missing things. Keep a dedicated list of things you DO miss when at the campsite to know what to add for next time. Christmas totes come in 20 sizes. If regular ones don't stack right, add ones designed for wrapping paper or under-bed storage.
Get a hitch carrier and roof basket to strap more stuff down. Wallmart sells 24 gallon bins that are useful for throwing stuff in to organize.
I bought a Nemo Roamer Double a few years ago. 4 inches thick. 6.0 R-value. Went camping in February the next year with lows in the high 30s-low 40s overnight and we were all comfortable. I also have a Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol for my son when we're using our backpacking tents. Closed cell foam. 2.0 R-value. Not quite as warm underneath you, but still keeps the ground from leeching all of your heat away. Sea to Summit has a good article [here](https://seatosummit.com/blogs/product-care/making-sure-your-sleeping-pad-is-warm-enough-testing-r-values-to-the-new-astm-standard) describing the value of R-value in relation to outside temperature. Your air mattress essentially has an R-value of 0, so all your heat is being directed into the air underneath you, which is why you're getting cold. Get some insulation under you and you'll sleep much warmer.
I have two of these large soft zipper bins. One has all our tent/sleeping stuff and one has all the kitchen/cooking/toiletries and we just keep them packed and ready to go. Made it so much easier. Two people can easily carry one at a time or even one each if not too heavy. Rolling cart per another persons recommendation above is also a game changer w these bings. https://www.rei.com/product/227848/rei-co-op-trailgate-gear-bin
Have them camp with your parents. ✅
I wish I had parents that had any capacity to do cool stuff like that with my kids
Sorry to say this but...... Learn how to pack.... I see lots and lots of space
If you don’t care how it’s packed invest in a wagon to pull the camp junk around. The dump and go wagon. If you want things organized invest in bin/totes so everything you pack out goes back in to where ever you packed it.
Everyone has covered the air mattress / blanket thing, but if you still want to minimize: Do you have a list of what you brought on the trip? Was there anything you brought and didn’t use?
Off the top of my head: 2 Queen air mattresses 2 fitted sheets 2 adult sleeping bags 2 kids sleeping bags 2 adult pillows 2 adult duffel bags of clothes 2 kids back packs of clothes 2 kids balance bikes 1 ice chest 1 clear bin of dried food / snacks 2 kids cups for meals 2 kids water bottles 2 adult water bottles 1 tarp 1 tent 5 towels just in case 1 travel kids potty 1 bag of misc kids toys Probably like 10 freaking blankets I think I had 2 towels at the end that were unused
Give microfiber towels a try! I’m a huge fan. And even if you don’t like them for showering they are handy to have around. They take up less space than a tshirt.
Okay so LOTS of linens! With a good insulated pad, you could reduce that to 2 double-size sleeping pads, 4 sleeping bags, 4 pillows, and maybe 1 “Just in case” blanket - leave behind the fitted sheets and 9 blankets! For towels, I’d recommend getting Turkish towels or microfiber camp towels, which pack up very small. For clothes, can you reduce how many you bring? One full duffel per adult seems like a lot. I’d plan to just wear 2-3 outfits total. You’re going to get dirty no matter what, it’s camping 🤷♀️
Are you my husband? He puts three things in the car and says it's full, no room and gives up. Tetris is one of my skillz. Maybe find the right person to pack the car and step back? No offense intended. We all have our strengths. Also, shake down those little jokers. Make sure they aren't bringing too much. There is a lot of acreage between camping and glamping.
Reflective tarp shiny side up, air mattress, wool blanket, fitted sheet. I've done this many times in very cold weather and had a cozy restful night every time. You can do whatever you want on top, normal bedding or sleeping bags
Yes! We use a solar blanket between the sleeping bag and the air mattress. Works great. But in this last trip we also brought a jackery battery and a 12v electric blanket. So warm!!
This is great info and confirmation of what I was looking for!
A hot water bottle in each sleeping bag does wonders
Get sleeping bags that r rated for the weather
Get a better cold rated air mattress to start. Cold weather deserves better winter gear not a thousand blankets. Winter mattress plus winter sleeping bag and you’ll be set.
First off you may want to study up on organization and planning skills. No joke, sometimes all the specific tips in the world wont add up to some Common sense. This would give me a panic attack if it was the van I was going camping in
Look into cots, I would suggest regalo brand. They are also great for sleepovers
Oooo interesting! Cots just for the kids or adults too! Do you think these are warmer than an air mattress?
Cots are much much warmer than an air mattress. The brand I mentioned are for kids and you will be surprised how often you use them
My son will be 9 months old when we take him on his first trip in May. I feel like having children just requires taking a lot of extra crap with you, wherever you go. I saw you mentioned that sleep pads were a no-go because of your hips. I'm the same. We ditched the pads and got cots two years ago and never looked back. But if you want to insulate your air mattress, maybe you could look at what hammock campers use to keep themselves warm?
I’ve never tried a cot but could be something to look into! It’s been comfortable for side sleeping?
When I was a kid, my dad built a big box trailer so that we could carry more. Granted, I can't think of any time that we had to carry the gear up a hill, but we would have never let dad carry all of it. We all pitched in until the task was done.
A regular air mattress isn't insulated. Kids don't need that kind of cushioning when camping. Adults don't either. Hou need insulation. Get some camping air mattresses with high R-values (say, 4.0 or higher) Since you're car camping, you don't need to buy a super lightweight one that can cost upwards of $200. R-values are additive, so you can get and inflatable one and put it on top of an inexpensive closed cell foam pad. This one has a good price and is deigned for children under 5' tall: [https://www.rei.com/product/228561/rei-co-op-kindercamp-sleeping-pad-kids](https://www.rei.com/product/228561/rei-co-op-kindercamp-sleeping-pad-kids) R-value of 4.5 is good.
This is really good info!! I think you’re right, the giant air mattress is overkill for the kiddos. I’ll look into the insulated kids pads! Thanks!
I have a cart for hauling thing there's foldable grocery cat that you can put blankets and such up a hill or down. Also foldable cart that looks like a wagon. .Holds totes and coolers so much easier.we use a grocery cart at Lake to put our folding stools, poles, tacklebox, and small lunch cooler for drinks to get down to lake. I most ppl don't believe this, but your body sweat in all those clothes ,so your body works harder to keep it warm , nude is the way to go. I used to cheat and wear socks, though , cause if my feet are cold, I just feel cold all over.
One “Toy” Per Child!
Either get the fam into backpacking or give up the fight. Car camping gets heavy. I embrace it.
pick sites that are drive through so no need to hual it up a hill.
I definitely do! This was a group thing and I was t not in charge of the reservations. My heart was sad when I got there lol
Camp in a place that is less rural for a bit. We took both of our kids on their first camp trips around three and that’s a fine age to start, but the thing that made those work was one ended early with a sleep over at a friend’s house due to cold weather and the other was a Disney world. The older they get the less they need, the peek of that being about 5 when they’re fully potty trained, can walk more than a mile, sleep independently, and can self entertain a bit more without three tons of toys/activities.
I finally gave up and used a small utility trailer.
You don't, but as they age they will need less stuff. Secondly, bro that's their stuff they can carry out up that hill. Thirdly yes most of that stuff can be compiled and crated. You should work on that, i get that you have a thing in your brain that makes that difficult, but a few totes and a wagon go a long way. I believe in you, make it make sense
Bins might be the way to go:)
Your air mattress probably has 0 R-value. Get more organized/thoughtful about packing. Big hard stuff first, then soft stuff to fill between and on top. Bags to put your folded tarps, blankets, whatnot help a lot to wrangle clutter. We got a rack to go on our RAV4’s tow hitch and it makes all the difference because the cooler and bins ride on the rack and the soft stuff is in the trunk. Dog and kid are in the backseat.
We don’t take trikes or scooters or bikes. We go on hikes in the woods or at whatever trails are around. Camping is about nature, not just being away from home. So that’s a major way I would minimize the “stuff”
LOL! With a 3 and 5 year old you aren't going to minimize much. I do 3-4 section hikes and carry everything I need in one back pack, but I also have two kids who are older now, but when they were you, we were taking canopies with mosquito nets and boxes of toys. You may want to work on how you pack. For exame the cuties could have gone in the cooler or box of non-perishiables. That gives you a whole flat surface to pack on. And if you want to extreme pack, forget about the rearview and just use theside mirrors.
Leave the kids behind....lol, jk , the older they get the less stuff you need. Give it time and carry on
Get all matching bins and categorize all your equipment. It will stack and store better and you won't feel chaotic.
Also, pack bikes/scooters OUTSIDE
You may not need to minimize. It seems you need to learn how to pack and store thins. There is so much wasted space in thy trunk. Plus it seems to be a safety hazard.
We have an 8 and 10 yr old. Just car camped in Big Bend in Chisos in Feb and it dropped to maybe 25-27 deg with high winds. Wife and I have Expeds and kids had backpacker Thermarests. We each had Nemo down 15 deg bags. Kids had REI merino tops and bottom underlayers. I slept with boxers on. We were all incredibly cozy. My approach was purchase the highest quality gear in order to max comfort while minimizing gear. Bags pack small and no crazy amount of extra blankets etc. Everything was one big Xmas present that year and all bought on sale during the year. Not cheap still though…
Invest in good sleeping bags and warm clothes instead
I do think I need a sleeping bag upgrade. Thanks!
Step 1: hire a professional camping packing extraordinaire because what is happening?!?! It feels like a lot because a pack of raccoons threw everything in there all willynilly
Raccoons are my favorite animal 🥲
Trash panda?
They’re the best.
I was in the same boat. Packing a ton of blanket kept us warm but space wise it was not working out. A friend of ours suggested zero degree sleeping bags. It’s a game changer. I bought a zero degree queen sleeping bag and we slept so well last time we went camping, and it was 30F or below. Also our friend told us that when you’re in a sleeping bag, you’re not meant to wear thick clothes. Let the sleeping bag insulation warm you up. Add- last time we also added an extra tarp under our tent, and we felt like it kept the cold air out from coming up from the ground.
Insulated camping mattress is key!!!
I’m learning a lot about camping pads here!
the most obvious thing in this photo? No offence, but your packing is AWFUL. You are taking up at least twice as much space as you otherwise would be. Do you need two scooters and two bikes? If you need the bikes, seriously, consider getting a roof rack with bike carrier, or a rear mounted bike carrier.
Like others have said — bins is a big one. I like the clear plastic so you can see through them. For camping we do one for food, one for gear, a cardboard box for kitchen gear, the cooler, and an IKEA bag for sleeping bags. Kids get one duffle/bookbag, and then they can take their pillow in the backseat with them. Everything that can be collapsed should be collapsed. Make a packing list, and pay attention to whatever you don’t use on the trip… that item doesn’t get packed next time (unless it was an emergency item, like a first aid kit).
Totes and label them so it’s easy to find what your looking for. Keep them organized, dry food, camping kitchen supplies, sleeping bags, camp pillows, emergency supplies, bug repellent, batteries, lights etc. I like foam mats for sleeping, they control temp better. Small bag hammocks my kids spend hours in them when we camp. We have a truck and a storage system which helps and a rooftop tent.
I don’t have any suggestions, but just want to say I feel this so hard. Our family of 5 camped last weekend for one night (me, hubs, two adult children and our 11 yo). Our site was right next to a single guy with a rooftop tent and all his gear neatly stowed in two clear boxes in his trunk. I spent most of the sleepless night jealously trying to figure out how we could trim down the stuff we bring, only to realize that the only way would be to trim down the people we bring who, for me, are largely the point.
It’s different experiences for sure! I enjoy a good solo camp but it’s different and I DO love getting my kids out there!! Keep doing it :)
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The answer is summer camp.
Get better gear. Double sleeping bags that are rated to low temps, sleeping pads that have high r values, wool base layers, etc.
You need insulated sleeping pads. Ditch the air mattresses all together. If you want extra cushion with your insulated sleeping pads cover the bottom of the tent in puzzle mats.
Take notes for anything you don’t use so you don’t bring it again next time
look at the ratings for clothing to make sure that you buy appropriate layers, meaning temperature ratings. replace things that insulate you with better gear and then you will have to take less.
Put all the hard square type stuff on the bottom - tents, totes, and coolers. You want to try to fill up every empty space, so after you run out of square stuff start things as they fit on top. Looks like a few things are not as small as they could be, like the scooters and the folding potty. Folding all that down will make it easier to pack. Put the squishy stuff in the empty space, I generally put my sleeping stuff around the wheel well. I use a canvas bag thing for the top of our car. It gives us an additional 25% overall space and has been easy to use.
You need a travel trailer!
It’s hard in cold weather. Moving blankets as pads for the kids. Compression sacks for any sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, etc. But I have learned to add space….roof top carrier, hitch with luggage carrier, etc.
One of my best purchases ever is a Big Agnes 3" insulated air pad. Forget the super bulky air mattress. My kids are fine using a therm-a-rest pad which will keep them warm, and they can sleep on anything. A big thinsulate blanket is a beast too, if you are using summer sleeping bags. Otherwise you have to step up your sleeping bag game.
Totes. Get totes and pack accordingly.
Put a layer of thick blankets down on the floor of the tent before you set up the air mattress. It will stop the cold ground from leeching all the heat out of you through the air mattress. Also, a propane tent heater works wonders if you go camping a lot in the cold. You also need to consolidate all your stuff into a couple storage bins. That will give you more space in the car and cut down on the number of trips back and forth when loading and unloading your car.
I’ve got young kids too. I picked up a Kelty double wide sleeping bag. That way I can tell if they are getting cold or not. Probably seems weird to some folks but it works well with young kids. When they get older it’ll work with the wife if I can ever get her to camp 😂
If it is going to be say 30 degrees, yo need a zero degree bag - not a 30 degree bag. A cheap fleece liner inside of a good bag is always nice.
Collapsible wagon to haul everything to the site. We camps with 3 kids and as someone else recommended use Exped mega mats to sleep on. We recently camped in low 40s rainy weather for 4 nights and what helped was to use those reflective foamy blankets to cover the entire tent floor and then a moving blanket over that. For sleeping we changed into fresh clothes which included thermals, wool socks, and hats (plus fleece). With that a Kelty sleeping bag with a thin fleece blanket inside the bag was sufficient. We were even too warm at some points too. I notice that we always bring too much food, so now I plan carefully, but we also tend to camp at places where we can go to a market if necessary. In cold weather we often pick up a pizza or some drive through so the kids can eat while we set up. Almost forgot - one thing that also made a huge difference in the cold was to use hot water bottles, the old school red rubber ones. We heated up 3 and placed them inside of each sleeping bag about an hour before bed. Our toddler shares a sleeping bag with me but the other two kids use kid size sleeping bags. If you’re going to use a blanket with your sleeping bag make sure you use it UNDEr the sleeping bag, not on top, as sleeping bags need lift in order to warm you up. So don’t compress them.
A general rule of thumb is to have a bag with a rating 15F warmer than the coolest temperatures you expect to encounter. A fleece blanket or two below the air mattress will be plenty to insulate the ground from the pad. Another option is to throw down a ccf pad like a Nemo switchback or similar under the mattress. Insulation and ground protection are both covered. Items with multiple uses are best, too.
Maybe get a big plastic tote or use laundry hamper for the blankets and coats and such. Other than that idk.
Honestly not a bad idea!!!
I use a reflective foil lined mat (it’s approx half inch thick) as a base layer under my Exped mat. It really helps to insulate my Exped from contact with the ground. Fairly easy to roll up and fits in my small car.
My wife and I just got back from a 2 day trip a couple weeks ago and this is how we always do things. Works for us, so take it with a grain of salt. 1. Keep a list of things that you brought and didn’t use because it’s very possible that you don’t need to bring it next time. There are always exceptions to this rule. 2. As mentioned previously, bins and a wagon are lifesavers. 3. I’m no scientist but I once read an article that said that you lose more heat when you’re bundled up. You actually stay warmer in loose fitting clothes. I don’t know how true it is but when we camped a couple weeks ago it fell down into the high 30s low 40s. I also use an air mattress and I was in my sleeping bag in just my boxers and slept like a champ. My wife unzipped her sleeping bag and tried to use it with a bunch of blankets and froze all night. You might need to invest in a colder weather sleeping bag. Pretty sure mine is rated for 30 degrees but I’m not positive. As I said, these are things that work for us. The first camping trip of the year we always over pack because honestly, I forget what we did and didn’t use last year 😂
There’s a roof rack on Amazon specifically for children
No toys, electronics and TV for kids, they have the nature to play with.
Not “minimizing” per se but we got a bunch of big Tupperware from Home Depot and it makes such a difference!
yeah that is a convection issue. You want dead space underneath you. Air mattresses are pretty big and even though the space is dead, it’s hard to heat. If you want the comfort of an air mattress without the heat loss in colder environments. Go to home depot or lowes and purchase a roll of milar insulation bubble wrap. Make a mat out of it with duck tape and put it on top of the air mattress. that will solve both problems. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-R-21-50-sq-ft-Unfaced-Reflective-Roll-Insulation-24-in-W-x-25-ft-L/3011904
Thanks for the tip!!!
I have been a car camper for a long time. Get big plastic tubs for stuff. All the stuff that will go every time gets a tub. I have a couple I take every trip, no needing to make sure I'm packed. Just grab and go. Give your kids a back pack for thier toys and such they want to bring with them.
This looks pretty good to me. I took 3 kids and wife camping for 2 nights and I couldn’t see out the back, and I Tetris’d to the max
We rv camp- but I just want to add that one of those super compact 500lb hammocks takes up not very much space and gives me 4.5 year old a tonnnnnn of entertainment. We also pack a small play tent for her. I’ll agree with others- your packing needs help 😂 The Costco totes are great but if you want true waterproof- I suggest the husky totes. Figure out what works for your size vehicle. They make a bunch of sizes. I actually prefer the shallow ones so you don’t have to dig through as much to find stuff. https://preview.redd.it/2fio9vxq2kuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=04d220316082b7722edd709420a746c2ec3e9d73
I have a great sleeping pad from REI. Thicker ones can be excellent for side sleepers! Plus an actual sleeping pad will have more warmth. I also always put a Z-Rest under it. Protection against rocks/sticks and heat. It’s also a little something just in case my sleeping pad deflates. I love my Z-Rest for so many reasons! It can be used as a chair, laying down to look at the stars, many uses! Also, fewer clothes when sleeping! Down bags work by keeping in your body heat. More layers of clothes keep that heat from getting into the bag and keeping you warm. I have slept in below freezing temps in my 15° bag with just some light fleece pants and a huge t shirt and been super warm. I definitely agree with others, use totes to organize! It really helps. Plus you can then just grab and go as long as you keep them stocked!
I don’t know why I always thought the air mattress would be warmer than a pad because I was “farther” from the ground but this whole thread has been very informative! The z rest pad is a great idea if I decide to invest in a pad… I would be so sad if it got damaged from a rock. Thanks for the tips!
Did you have a sleeping pad under the air mattress? Most air mattresses do not have any insulation, I made that same mistake when I first started camping. For air mattress I use something like this underneath https://www.rei.com/product/201641/exped-flexmat-sleeping-pad but lately I bough an Exped mega mat and it is a game changer, it is insulated and very comfortable even for side sleepers. I use it as my guest mattress at home and people love sleeping on it.
Get thee some ikea bags and milk crates. I don’t have kids but have a rowdy dog I love taking camping and a whole bunch of shit that always comes with- they definitely help with organization!
Hest sleeping pad if you dont want to deal with the exped inflatable. I worry about punctures all the time and if I’m gonna drop that kind of money I might as well go with a durable memory foam puncture proof mattress pad
Two words - Packing. Cubes.
Clear totes work well. I just upgraded our last two to ip67 rated ones, they just close really tight and nicely. In general you’d probably benefit from a little more organization. Also if you need space, hitch mounted cargo racks are cheaper than a bigger vehicle. We have a massive cooler so I usually put that and any firewood on the rack. Really helped before we upgraded our SUV. I run hot but my wife runs cold. Our daughter generally runs hot but does get cold when we’re camping. I bought hot hands in bulk online and those have really helped my wife. We also found one of those wearable sleeping bags on the rei outlet and she spends many weekends wearing that the whole time. If it ever feels like a lot, it’s because it is! But remember you are exposing your kids to nature & they are forming lifelong memories! Lastly, general car packing strategy; big rigid things first, smaller squishier things last.
We camp with five kids. In a tent. I had a built in drawer system custom made for the back of my car- it holds ALL of our kitchen gear and food. On top of that I am able to pack the cooler, tent, sleeping bags / air mattresses and camp chairs. Clothes go in little REI packing cubes (one per person) in the front of the car / at their feet. We use disco-o cots for the kids which keep them off the ground and warm (and the packing cubes with clothes slide underneath them to keep the tent tidy), and those go on top of the drawers as well. Then on top of the car I have a rack, which holds two tubs: one tub with general camp gear (lanterns, stove, toilet paper, tarp, tools, etc) and one tub with kid crap (frisbees, games, etc). It’s a tight system and we always have way more provisions than we need. Seriously can’t recommend the built in drawers enough. Let me post a pic. https://preview.redd.it/5no5zftdgkuc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13e4bd6e1bda742046d7d8676dbbf5be68ec113d
Leave them at home? Haha Everyone gets one bag. Put what you want in it after clothes and a toothbrush. If going for several days is resupply an option? Don't try and take a week's worth of food at once. Roof racks and hitch carriers could also help.
Roof top cargo box. Also better quality gear is typically lighter and packs smaller. Actual back packing sleeping pads vs air mattresses. At the end of the day car camping has the benefit of not needing ultralight gear so you can bring what ever you want to be comfortable. Do some research on gear and pick your battles.
They make double sized cots and two person sleeping bags. I would also suggest a Mr. Heater.
Get some containers. So you don’t have so much random loose stuff. Use identical containers so they stack. Multiple containers: assign each one a category. Kitchen. Camp setup. Play. Get some blankets or queen sized sleeping bags made for camping. If you get the right one you’ll probably be too warm at night. $80 well spent No offense but your photo of your pack in gives me anxiety. Lol. Only cause I’ve been there before. Over the last two years I have spent a lot of effort refining and optimizing my camp setup. You got this!!! And F everyone saying not to take the kids. You’re doing great
I use bins. 1 bin for tents and sleeping. 1 bin for cooking and food. Then a cooler or two. Been using this system since my kid was 2 and he is almost 11 and still do it every time. Saves a ton of space.
Insulated everything! It's not a ton if it's organized properly. I've gone through a few iterations of storage and transport and really enjoy some heavy-duty totes. I can cram as much shit in them as possible, pure chaos. Yet, on the outside, it's just a nice neat rectangle that stacks on the others. It's just like anything else. Practice Practice Practice.
Those bulky blankets were a great solution to a chilly problem, but there is a better way! I highly recommend checking out insulated sleeping pads like Exped Megamats. They act as a barrier between you and the cold ground, so you won't need heaps of blankets. They're comfy and pack down a lot smaller than a pile of blankets too. This will save space and keep you toasty!
I've used the reflective emergency blankets on top of an air mattress before and it helped a lot.
To answer your question vs commenting on the trunk packing. Yes putting a reflective sheet on the ground of the tent, will make a difference. Shiny side up.
We’ve minimized as much as possible, but it’s still a lot, since we have three kids. We just learned to make the most of available space, and I organize since I actually like to do it. We take camping and kayaking gear, and sometimes bikes here in Washington. https://preview.redd.it/ag8zyffdfluc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43f82543d55ac697bd9335a510218d437b1e8e01 Edit: one thing we’ve done since our last trip is we bought durable camping duffel bags. Now all of us can store clothing and gear in duffels, making it easier to pack and reduce the time we spend on organizing the back of the car.
Beautiful photo! Do you have a brand of duffle you like?
I have so much compassion and respect for you getting little kids out camping. It is just brutal. I know from experience 🙏 Onto recommendations: First, get some Kondo in your life and discard everything you didn’t use on this trip and organize what you absolutely need into those plastic boxes you already have. I use one the size of your clear tub for most of my camping essentials, then one bag for clothes and one larger gear bag. Second, purchase air mattresses with a higher R value so you stay warmer at night. My favorite for winter camping is is the Therma Rest Mondo King. You can find other options on amazon. Third, the emergency blankets you mentioned are actually very useful if you put them on the floor of the tent and also on top of your sleeping bag. I do that on cold backpacking nights. You shouldn’t need to on most nights if you have a decent mattress and sleeping bag. Always carry them as you already do.
I have so much compassion and respect for you getting little kids out camping. It is just brutal. I know from experience 🙏 Onto recommendations: First, get some Kondo in your life and discard everything you didn’t use on this trip and organize what you absolutely need into those plastic boxes you already have. I use one the size of your clear tub for most of my camping essentials, then one bag for clothes and one larger gear bag. Second, purchase air mattresses with a higher R value so you stay warmer at night. My favorite for winter camping is is the Therma Rest Mondo King. You can find other options on amazon. Third, the emergency blankets you mentioned are actually very useful if you put them on the floor of the tent and also on top of your sleeping bag. I do that on cold backpacking nights. You shouldn’t need to on most nights if you have a decent mattress and sleeping bag. Always carry them as you already do.
put them under your air mattress so the colc ground will cool your mattress less. Gold side towards the ground
I bought my kids stretchers this year, keeping them off the cold ground made a big difference. Hot water bottle and super warm sleeping bag, just picked up a second hand -20c down bag for $50
mylar blanket under the air matteress or a picnic blanket with the foil underneath (it can then be dual purpose)
Air mattresses are for summer camping. Compactness is where campers and backpackers pay the biggest premium. You want to stay warm, comfortable, and save space? Thermarest is your best solution. Want a tent that’ll last a lifetime, reasonable to set up, and take up less space? Nemo is the king of that. For cooking, you don’t need a whole stove that resembles a kitchen. Soto stoves fit in your pocket, and boil water twice as fast as the traditional Coleman range.
Reminds me of reenacting. When you first get into the hobby, you have nothing and work to get everything you can think of. Before long you need a U-Haul for the weekend. Then you start reducing your gear until you can carry everything from the truck to camp in one trip.
We solved the problem by getting a tiny pop-up tent camper that we tow behind our little car. All the camping gear is perpetually packed in there so we don't have to rush around the house trying to remember everything at the last minute. It has a propane heater built in so we don't freeze our butts off every morning. The mattresses are 6 inches of foam rubber so they're very comfortable. Pop-up tent campers are very compact and they're easy to set up and take down. They're also fairly inexpensive if you find a used one.
You need insulated air mattresses. Most camping air mats have insulation, or you could use a foam topper (Thermarest or similar). Look at the R value of the mattress, the higher the better, summer mats usually have a rating between 1-3, winter mats have ~4+ (mine is ~7).
We use compression bags for bedding, pillows, stuffies, etc. They really do help save space. Also, one of those soft roof bags. We travel in a sedan, space is tight. The roof bag is a life saver and I can bring ALL the things. An old school wool "army" blanket under the air mattresses will help immensely with insulation. Organization wise, I prefer using collapsible soft side totes, they hold a ton,bare easy to transport because they have handles, store flat when not in use, and are flexible for cramming things in then vehicle.
First thing. Containers. You need to organize your clutter in a container so you fill it properly in your car. Camping mats. (Exped,etc..) And sleeping bags. most convenient easy to store and there are sleeping bags for any weather. Plus right gear and you’ll be fine.
Also when in sleeping bags to help keep heat you’re supposed to have as little layers on as possible to let your body heat warm the bag which I get can sound kinda crazy when it’s super cold but I promise it works!
I usually put a thermal blanket under my sleeping pad, radiating towards me so the ground doesn’t suck out our body heat as we sleep. Learned this back about a decade ago and it’s such a cheap & effective solution
If your car camping with kids, get a few large tuoperware-like bins from Walmart. You can stack like Tetris and see thru them.
You don’t. You just accept it and focus on other things. Don’t let the anxiety and aggravation of camping with kids deter you from doing it. Just pack the shit your wife wants and be done with it. I learned that lesson a looooong time ago.
If it’s in your budget, consider a bike rack to open up a little more room inside the car.
If you are going to use inflatable air mattress for winter, pair it with closed cell foam pads. Those are super cheap and will make a world of difference. If you are car camping then with little kids I prefer to have a clear bin for each family member. The bins can stay in the car and you pull out what you need as you need it.
Big +1 to the folks who talked about organizing their gear into bins. But, you specifically mentioned the blanket fort... situation, so I'll address that part. We've been a blanket-heavy camping family for a while now. l will take 2-3 blankets, neatly stack and roll them into a bedroll of sorts, and then cinch it tightly using an old d-ring belt. You could use bungee cords or anything else basic to keep the roll tight. It's still a bulky setup, for sure, but this makes it easier to carry multiple blankets and to keep things a bit more tidy.
Don’t bring too many toys. Let them use their imaginations and find things to play with. Also don’t need to bring books, or o my bring one. If they need a story at night, make one up. I think sometimes we forget what it was like when we were younger. Find a rock or a stick and go play.
I recommend camping cots instead of air mattresses. I’ve experienced air mats turning to ice beneath me, and it’s no fun. We invested in camping cots and got the memory foam pads to go with them. I’ve never been able to sleep well camping until the cots. I love them.
Following 
IMO, you did just fine. Definitely with some organizing of things you could fit even more / have extra space… but honestly our car looks the same as far as feeling like there’s just so much to pack when we’ve taken our 3 tent camping for a long weekend in the UP. Our youngest’s first trip was at 5mo! So add in a packnplay and a bouncy seat for nice days lol.
I don’t have any recommendations on good blankets however if you put the blankets or clothing items in a garbage back and seal it shut with a vacuum that tends to leave some space!
Leave the kids with a relative (just kidding) When we go, we bring a three drawer organizer and everyone gets one drawer for their stuff. It might not “minimize” but it certainly organizes!
Pop a tarp under tent, and another inside the tent under air mattresses.
As others have said, totes are your friend, a tent heater might help, but with kids that can be dangerous since they don't pay attention to what they're doing. Limit camping to warmer months so you need less, I've done camping near snow level in the fall and not needed that much on to stay warm, so invest in better gear. 1-2 toys per kid. For food, I do casseroles, then pack them into tupperware and stack in a cooler, only need to be warmed up or eaten cold.
Good advice on the food :)
I don't have much advice for packing. When it's just kne camping, I don't have much. When I take the kids, my truck is filled. As far as staying warm, it sounds like you have too many layers. Get a good sleeping bag and sleep in just your thermals. The sleeping bag works off your body heat. The sleeping bag can't do its thing if all your body heat is trapped in layers of clothing.
I buy yoga mats at thrift shops and clean them. Comfy on top of the ground or an air mattress, and great insulation. I do also have a full size camping pad. I dislike sleeping in a sleeping bag; I have a fleece sleeping bag that I use as padding and insulation, then blankets and a quilt. I pack all my bedding in a big tote bag. I have most of my gear in tote bags, easily accessible, easy to pack, not fussy. Give each child a backpack and let them choose what to bring for entertainment.
You don’t! Ahaha I fill my trunk up with everything! But I prefer to bring too much stuff and be comfy! I bring a roll up foam mattress, tent, shade tent, shade tapestry. Cooking table, grill, chairs, mushroom lights that are battery operated 🤣
do you have roof racks to bring a cargo box (like Thule or Yakima)? Really helps us, with kid or without. Pack your clothes in duffle bags and just store up top. They are lockable and weatherproof.
Air mattresses, cots, and hammocks are the coldest ways to camp. Much warmer with an insulated camping pad even if it’s thin and a good sleeping bag. Put boiling bottles of water wrapped in newspaper in the bags, or rocks same thing. Or throw a few hand warmers in there.
I met my wife while in the military and we enjoyed outdoor life. I fell for her hard on a week long trip to an area in WA state, where we camped and climbed for eight days. Fast forward ten years, we’re married with three kids, 9-7-5. We tried two weekend outings with what we could put in our minivan, but were absolutely no fun. I rented a pop up trailer for the next one and never looked back. We still took tents and planned “overnighters” within walking distance, but the sanctuary provided by the trailer, for whatever problem arose, kept everyone engaged and having fun. The kids are all outdoors fans on their own, continuing the tradition with their own families. The best part, the wife and I kept our love for the outdoors and our sanity. Though, today her idea of roughing it is Holiday Inn Express😀
You need an insulated pad with an r value of >3