Is Winter Camping With Kids a Good Idea?
It can be, with the right plan. Winter campgrounds are quieter, the scenery is different, and children often enjoy snow, hot chocolate, and a fire. But cold affects children differently from adults. They are smaller, they may not tell you they are cold, and they can lose heat quickly when they stop moving or get wet.
A sensible approach is to start gently: a mild-weather weekend, a site close to the car, and a plan to leave if anyone is miserable. A first trip near home helps you test your gear before trying something more ambitious.
Choose the Right Trip
Pick an Easy Site
- Look for a campground that is open in winter. Many close or reduce services. Confirm opening dates, road access, and which loops are plowed.
- Pick a site close to restrooms and the car.
- Consider campgrounds with heated restrooms, cabins, or yurts as a lower-risk step before tent camping (our cabin camping packing guide helps). Some state and national park campgrounds offer these.
- Choose lower elevations and milder regions if you are new to cold-weather camping. California’s coast and desert are covered in our guide to California camping in November.
Check the Forecast
Look at overnight lows, wind, and precipitation. Wet snow or freezing rain can be worse than steady dry cold. Have a threshold in mind, such as a minimum temperature your kids’ sleeping gear is built for, and cancel or move to a cabin if the forecast goes beyond it.
Keep Trips Short
Two nights is often plenty. Short days with plenty of breaks tend to be happier than ambitious hikes. Daylight is short in winter, so aim to arrive and pitch the tent well before dark.
Dress Children for the Cold
Use the same layer system as adults, scaled down.
- Base layer: wool or synthetic. Avoid cotton.
- Mid layer: fleece or similar.
- Outer layer: waterproof, windproof jacket and snow pants.
- Hands and head: warm hat, waterproof mittens, which are usually warmer than gloves for small hands, and a neck gaiter.
- Feet: wool socks and waterproof insulated boots with a little room. Pack at least one spare pair of socks per day.
Children get wet more easily, through snow play, puddles, and sweat. Bring spare mittens, socks, and a change of base layers for each child. Check hands, feet, ears, and noses regularly. Cold, numb, or very pale skin means it is time to go inside and warm up.
Sleeping Warm
Sleep is where winter trips are won or lost. Our guide to staying warm while winter camping goes into detail, but the main points for families are:
- Pads matter most. Give each child an insulated pad, ideally with a foam pad under it. Children lose heat to the ground just as adults do.
- Use appropriately rated bags. Children’s bags are available in warmer ratings. Check the temperature rating and choose something suited to the forecast. If a child is small, extra blankets or a bag liner may help, but make sure nothing covers the face.
- Warm up before bed. A snack, a warm drink, and a few minutes of play before bedtime helps children begin the night warm.
- Dry sleep clothes. Change out of daytime clothes. A warm hat is useful for sleeping.
- Hot water bottles. A well-sealed bottle wrapped in a sock can go in the foot of the bag. Check the lid is tight, and keep it away from skin.
- Consider sharing tents. A smaller tent is easier to keep warm, and family body heat helps. Make sure there is adequate ventilation.
Do not use fuel-burning heaters or stoves inside the tent, because of fire and carbon monoxide risks. If you need more warmth than your gear provides, consider a cabin or going home.
Plan Activities
Children stay warmer when they are moving and having fun. Winter activities families often enjoy include:
- Building snow forts or snow sculptures
- Sledding or snow tubing where allowed
- Snowshoeing or an easy walk to a viewpoint
- Wildlife and bird watching
- Roasting marshmallows, if fires are permitted
- Games, cards, or reading inside the tent or a shelter in the evening
- Stargazing on clear nights
Bring a backup plan for bad weather, such as a nearby visitor center, library, café, or a motel. Having one makes the decision to leave easier.
Food and Drink
Cold-weather meals should be simple and warm. Hot soup, oatmeal, pasta, hot chocolate, and warm drinks make a big difference to morale. Keep snacks within easy reach and eat often, since children use a lot of energy staying warm. Bring more water than you think you need, and keep bottles from freezing by storing them in the tent or upside down. For the full gear list, including cooking equipment, see our winter camping checklist.
Safety Basics for Families
- Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite (see camping survival skills): shivering that will not stop, clumsiness, sleepiness, confusion, numbness, or waxy skin.
- Keep children close, and set boundaries around frozen water, which may not be safe.
- Keep fires and any heat source well away from tents and children.
- Carry a first aid kit, a headlamp for each adult, and a charged phone or other way to call for help.
- Do not let children sleep in damp clothes.
- Watch your own condition as well. Tired and cold adults make poor decisions.
If a child is shivering hard, quiet and unusually sleepy, or cannot warm up, take it seriously. Move to a warm, dry space, add dry layers, and seek medical help when symptoms do not improve.
Know When to Call It
Plan in advance what will make you leave: a temperature drop past what your gear can handle, wet gear that you cannot dry, a child who is unwell or very upset, or a bad forecast. Leaving early is a good decision, and children who have a positive first experience will be keener to try again.