fbpx
Close

Uh oh...

It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. Many features won't work correctly, and functionality can't be guaranteed. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused!

Read More about this safari issue.
Statewide Travel 0

Camping with Teens: Building Family Memories One Campfire at a Time

F

Family vacations with teenagers can be a juggling act. Between sports schedules, part-time jobs and a growing social life, it can feel nearly impossible to carve out time together. That’s why local camping trips are such a great option. You don’t have to go far to get away—just far enough to slow things down and reconnect. And if your teen needs to head back early for a game or a shift, it’s no big deal.

Bringing along family friends with kids the same age is another smart move. It gives everyone someone to hang out with, and let’s be honest—boredom is the quickest way to tank a family trip with teens. When they’re having fun, the whole trip goes smoother.

Give Them a Role

Teens may act like they want to be left alone, but they still like feeling useful and included, especially when the job comes with a little responsibility.

  • Help Set Up the Site – Let them hook up the trailer, guide the driver while backing in or level the camper. These skills come in handy later in life.

  • Gear Crew – When the inevitable rainstorm rolls in, teens are great at hustling to grab chairs, lower canopies and make sure your gear (and Mom) stays dry.

  • Camp Chef Assistants – Team them up with Dad (or Mom!) at the grill. Outdoor cooking is the perfect mix of fire, food and bonding.

Things to Do While Camping with Teens

Thankfully, camping is not all chores and setup. Here are some ways to make sure your teens stay engaged and actually enjoy the trip:

  • Play Games – Card games, dominoes and strategy games like Codenames or Uno Flip work great around the picnic table. Bonus points if they invite the adults to join in.
  • Hammock Time – String up a hammock and let them hang out with a book, earbuds or just a good view.

Make Space and Be Flexible

Teenagers are still figuring themselves out, and that often comes with mood swings or quiet spells. That’s okay. The goal isn’t constant entertainment—it’s connection. Give them space to be themselves, offer choices instead of forcing participation, and celebrate the moments when they choose to join in.

Camping might not be their favorite thing today, but these trips plant seeds. One day they might look back and remember not just the s’mores or the view from the overlook—but how it felt to sit around the fire with people who loved them.

Looking for more camping content? Check out these articles.

Planning Your Camping Trip in Arkansas
Camping with Kids: Enjoying Arkansas Outdoors as a Family
Camping During a Burn Ban
Packing for Your Arkansas Camping Trip

Photos courtesy of Katie Hartis.

Meet the
author.

Learn more about .

A little about .

Julie Kohl works from home as a writer and teaches art part-time at a local private school. A former Yankee who was "converted" to the south by her husband, Julie has grasped on to rural life in a sleepy, blink-your-eyes-and-you'll-miss-it town in central Arkansas where they raise chickens, farm hay and bake bread. Julie loves adventure and sharing it with her husband and son. They frequent the trails, campgrounds and parks of Arkansas, always on the hunt for new adventures and new stories to share. Learn more on her blog Seek Adventures Media.

Read more stories by Julie Kohl

 

Visit Julie Kohl’s Website

Like this story? Read more from Julie Kohl

0
0
0
0
0
0

Join the Conversation

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Submit a photo

We select one featured photo per week, but we show many more in our gallery. Be sure to fill out all the fields in order to have yours selected.

  • Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 5 MB.

Regions Topics
Social

What are you looking for?

Explore Arkansas

Central Arkansas

Little Rock, Conway, Searcy, Benton, Heber Springs

Northwest Arkansas

Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, Fort Smith

South Arkansas

Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, Arkadelphia

Explore by Topic