A family camping trip should feel like a break from everyday routines, not another complicated project to manage. With a little preparation and the right expectations, families can spend less time worrying about schedules, meals, and forgotten supplies—and more time enjoying the campground together.
At Elizabethtown / Hershey KOA Holiday, families can choose the type of camping experience that fits them best, settle into one comfortable home base, and enjoy both campground time and nearby Central Pennsylvania attractions. The goal is not to plan every minute perfectly. It is to prepare just enough that everyone has room to relax.
Start With the Right Way to Stay
A stress-free trip begins with choosing accommodations that match your family’s needs and comfort level. Some families feel most at home bringing their RV and settling into a full campsite. Others prefer traditional tent camping, while families who want fewer setup responsibilities may feel more comfortable in a Log Cabin or Deluxe Cabin.
Think honestly about what will make the trip enjoyable for your family. If sleeping on the ground will leave everyone tired and uncomfortable, a cabin may be the better choice. If your family enjoys cooking outdoors and having familiar belongings nearby, an RV site may feel easiest.
You can compare available options on the Ways to Stay page before making your reservation.
Pack for Comfort, Not Perfection
It is easy to overpack when preparing for a family camping trip. Parents often imagine every possible weather change, activity, spill, and emergency—and then try to bring something for all of them.
Instead, focus on the items that will make everyone comfortable: weather-appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes, medications, toiletries, flashlights, sunscreen, insect repellent, reusable water bottles, and a few favorite items from home.
Pack clothing in simple outfits rather than bringing every option in the closet. Include layers for cooler mornings and evenings, and keep rain gear somewhere easy to reach. A labeled bag or bin for each family member can also make it easier to find clothing without unloading everything.
Keep Meals Simple
Camping meals do not need to be complicated to feel special. In fact, the easiest meals often create the most relaxing evenings.
Choose foods your family already enjoys and prepare what you can before leaving home. Wash and cut vegetables, portion snacks, prepare sandwich ingredients, and organize each meal together in a container or reusable bag.
Breakfast might be cereal, fruit, muffins, or breakfast sandwiches. Lunch can be packed before heading out for the day. Dinner might include grilled burgers, hot dogs, foil-packet meals, or another familiar favorite.
It also helps to plan one meal that requires almost no preparation. After a long attraction day, everyone may be happier with sandwiches, leftovers, or takeout than with an elaborate campsite dinner.
Plan One Main Activity Each Day
One of the fastest ways to make a family trip feel stressful is to schedule too much. Hershey, Lancaster County, and Central Pennsylvania offer many attractions, but your family does not need to visit all of them during one stay.
Choose one main outing for each full day. That might be Hersheypark, a Lancaster County attraction, a scenic drive, or another favorite destination. Leave the rest of the day flexible for meals, campground activities, and rest.
Before visiting Hersheypark, review current hours, ticket information, and visitor details on the official Hersheypark website. Confirming the basics ahead of time can prevent unnecessary surprises once the day begins.
Leave Room for Campground Time
The campground should be part of the vacation—not simply the place where everyone sleeps between outings.
Leave time for the children to ride bikes, visit the playground, go fishing, play outside, or join a scheduled activity. Parents may enjoy a slower breakfast, reading beside the campsite, or relaxing at the picnic table while the children play nearby.
Families can learn more about recreation and guest conveniences on the campground amenities page.
Unscheduled campground time often becomes one of the most memorable parts of the trip because nobody is rushing to arrive somewhere else.
Give Everyone a Small Job
Parents do not need to manage every part of the camping trip alone. Even young children can help with simple responsibilities.
One child might be responsible for filling water bottles. Another can gather outdoor toys or help set the picnic table. Older children may assist with meal preparation, campsite organization, or checking that lights and doors are secure before leaving for the day.
Small jobs give children a sense of ownership and help the family work together. They also reduce the number of times one parent has to stop what they are doing to find a missing item or complete another task.
Campfire Tip
Pack one small “easy evening” bag with pajamas, toothbrushes, flashlights, medications, and a favorite bedtime item. When everyone is tired after a full day, you will not have to search through the RV, cabin, tent, or car for the things you need.
Expect Plans to Change
Weather changes. Children get tired. Attractions become busier than expected. Someone may decide they would rather spend the afternoon fishing than take another day trip.
A flexible plan is often more useful than a perfect itinerary. Build one or two backup options into your trip, including something that can be enjoyed at the campground.
If the weather changes, consider a shorter outing, a quiet meal, games inside the RV or cabin, or an earlier evening around the campsite. Changing the plan does not mean the day was unsuccessful. It may simply become a different kind of family memory.
End the Day With Something Familiar
Children often handle busy vacation days better when the evening includes a familiar routine. That might mean changing into pajamas before the campfire, reading the same bedtime story, having a favorite snack, or talking about the best part of the day.
Familiar routines help children settle down, especially when they are sleeping somewhere new. They also create a gentle ending to the day instead of letting everyone become overtired.
The routine does not need to be complicated. A simple walk around the campground, a few minutes together at the picnic table, or preparing clothes for the next morning can help everyone feel organized and relaxed.
Remember What the Trip Is Really About
A successful family camping trip does not require perfect weather, perfect meals, or a flawless schedule. Children are unlikely to remember whether every bag was neatly packed or dinner was served exactly on time.
They are more likely to remember eating breakfast outside, laughing at the picnic table, riding bikes through the campground, catching a fish, or sitting together after a full day of adventures.
Prepare what matters, keep the schedule manageable, and allow the vacation to unfold naturally. That is often the simplest path to a camping trip everyone genuinely enjoys.
Make Your Next Family Camping Trip Feel Easier
Choose the way to stay that fits your family, leave room for campground fun, and enjoy a Central Pennsylvania vacation without trying to schedule every minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can families make packing for a camping trip easier?
Focus on comfort and essential items rather than preparing for every possible situation. Pack simple outfits, use labeled bags or bins, prepare an easy evening bag, and keep frequently needed items within reach.
What are some easy meals for a family camping trip?
Easy options include sandwiches, grilled burgers, hot dogs, foil-packet meals, prepared salads, fruit, cereal, muffins, and other familiar foods that require limited preparation and cleanup.
How many activities should we plan each day?
One main activity per full day is often enough. Leaving open time allows the family to enjoy the campground, rest, adjust for weather, and avoid feeling rushed.
Do we need an RV to stay at Hershey KOA?
No. Guests can choose from RV campsites, tent sites, Log Cabins, and Deluxe Cabins, allowing families to select the camping experience that best matches their needs and comfort level.
