Best for families packing for sleepaway camp (trunks, labels, bedding)
Camp gear store; items from $4.99 (trunks $164.99–$289.99)
Visit Everything Summer CampSummer Camp Packing List (Printable): Day Camp and Overnight Camp
A printable summer camp packing checklist for day and overnight camp, with how-many-to-pack math by session length, Colorado weather notes and a no-pack list.
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Your camp’s own packing list always comes first. The checklist below fills in what those lists usually leave out: how many of each item to pack for the length of the session, what changes for a Colorado mountain camp, and what to leave at home. It’s split into a day-camp list and an overnight-camp list, so you can print only the one you need.
To print: use your browser’s Print command (Ctrl+P, or Cmd+P on a Mac). The checkboxes print as empty boxes, so you can tick them off as you pack.
Before you pack: three things to check with the camp
- What the camp supplies. Bedding, pillows, sleeping pads, life jackets and towels are sometimes provided and sometimes not. Don’t buy what’s already there.
- The electronics and phone policy. Some overnight camps don’t allow phones. Find out before your child counts on bringing one.
- Laundry. Whether the camp does laundry mid-session changes how many clothes you pack more than anything else. See the math below.
Day camp checklist
Pack this in a backpack your child can carry and open on their own. Label everything.
- Backpack with your child’s name inside
- Refillable water bottle (labeled)
- Lunch and two snacks, if the camp doesn’t provide food (check nut rules)
- Sunscreen, already applied in the morning, plus a small bottle to reapply
- Hat and sunglasses
- Closed-toe shoes for activities (sandals only if the camp allows them)
- Light jacket or fleece for cool mornings
- Rain jacket (it packs small)
- Swimsuit, towel and a plastic bag for wet things, on swim days
- Full change of clothes in a zip bag (younger kids especially)
- Any medication, handed to staff with the camp’s form, not left in the backpack
- Bug spray, if the camp allows campers to apply their own
Overnight camp checklist
Quantities are for a one-week session with no laundry. For longer sessions, use the formula in the next section.
Clothes
- T-shirts: 7–8
- Shorts: 4–5
- Long pants: 2 (one pair that can get dirty)
- Underwear: 9 (days + 2)
- Socks: 9 pairs (days + 2), plus 1 pair of warm socks
- Pajamas: 2 sets
- Warm layer: fleece or sweatshirt
- Warm jacket for cold nights (essential at mountain camps)
- Rain jacket
- Swimsuits: 2 (one dries while the other is worn)
- Hat and sunglasses
- One “nice” outfit, if the camp has a banquet or dance
Shoes
- Sneakers or hiking shoes, worn in before camp
- Second pair of closed-toe shoes (for when the first pair gets wet)
- Water shoes or sandals, if allowed
- Shower shoes
Bedding and bunk
- Sleeping bag or sheets for the camp’s bed size (cots and bunks can be narrower than home beds)
- Pillow and pillowcase
- Extra blanket for cold nights
- Flashlight or headlamp, plus spare batteries
- Laundry bag for dirty clothes
Bath and toiletries
- Shower caddy or toiletry bag
- Towels: 2 bath, 1 beach or pool
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, comb or brush
- Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
- Bug spray
Everything else
- Refillable water bottle
- Small daypack for hikes
- Stamped, pre-addressed envelopes or postcards, if your child will write home
- A book, cards, or a journal for quiet time
- Medications, in original containers, with the camp’s medication form
- Name labels on everything
How many to pack: the math for any session length
Use this to scale the overnight list:
| Item | No laundry | Camp does laundry every week |
|---|---|---|
| Underwear | Days + 2 | 9 (a week plus 2 spares) |
| Socks | Days + 2 | 9 pairs |
| T-shirts | Days + 1 | 8 |
| Shorts | About half the days | 5 |
| Swimsuits | 2 (3 if the session is over 2 weeks) | 2 |
| Towels | 2 bath + 1 beach per week | 2 bath + 1 beach |
Two-week session, no laundry? That’s 16 pairs of underwear and socks, which is why so many camps offer laundry service. Ask before buying a duffel big enough for a month of socks.
Packing for a Colorado camp
Camps in the Colorado mountains need more warm clothing than a summer list suggests. The University of Colorado Boulder’s outdoor program notes that temperatures are lower at high altitude even in summer, mornings and evenings are cooler even along the Front Range, and early or late summer can bring cold rain, hail or light snow. It recommends non-cotton clothing (polyester, wool and similar), because cotton stays wet and cold.
For a mountain overnight camp, that means:
- A real warm jacket, plus a hat and light gloves, even in July
- At least one synthetic or wool layer, not just cotton hoodies
- Wool or synthetic socks for hikes
- A rain jacket that fits over the warm layer
For Denver-area day camps, a light layer for the morning and strong sun protection cover most days. For camp dates and deadlines, see camps in Denver, the Bay Area, the Triangle and Austin.
What not to pack
Check your camp’s list, but these items usually stay home:
- Valuables and jewelry
- Phones, tablets and gaming devices, unless the camp allows them
- Food and candy in cabins, unless the camp says otherwise
- Cash beyond what the camp asks for
- Anything brand-new that would upset your child if it got lost or ruined
Where to buy camp gear
You don’t need special gear for most camps. A duffel bag and what you already own will do. If your child is heading to sleepaway camp and you want camp-specific items, Everything Summer Camp sells them in one place. On its homepage, name labels (Stick-On Everything labels, or a clothing name stamp) are $29.99, a 9-pocket quick-dry shower caddy is $13.99, a cot sheet set is $29.99, and steel footlocker trunks are $269.99–$289.99. It also has a “Find My Camp” tool for camp-specific discounts and a personal shopper service.
Everything Summer Camp
Best for families packing for sleepaway camp (trunks, labels, bedding)
Pricing: Camp gear store; items from $4.99 (trunks $164.99–$289.99)
What we like
- Camp packing gear: footlocker trunks, name labels, cot sheets, shower caddies
- "Find My Camp" tool for camp-specific discounts, plus a personal shopper service
Watch out for
- Sells camp gear only; does not book camps
Worth it for: name labels, which are the single most useful purchase on this list, and a cot-sized sheet set if your camp’s beds are narrow. Skip unless your camp requires it: a footlocker trunk. A duffel works for most camps and costs far less.
FAQ
What should I pack for a week of sleepaway camp?
About 8 T-shirts, 9 pairs each of underwear and socks, 2 swimsuits, 2 pairs of closed-toe shoes plus shower shoes, bedding, a warm layer, a rain jacket, toiletries and labeled everything. Start from the overnight checklist above and adjust to your camp’s list.
Should I use a trunk or a duffel bag for camp?
Use whatever your camp’s list says. Without a requirement, a large duffel is usually enough and easier to store. Trunks give more structure and storage under a bunk.
How do I label clothes for camp?
Stick-on labels, iron-on labels or a fabric name stamp all work. Label the inside of every piece of clothing, plus the water bottle, flashlight and shoes.
Can kids bring phones to summer camp?
It depends on the camp. Some overnight camps don’t allow phones. Check the camp’s electronics policy before you pack.