Long-distance Camping with a Two-year Old

I think camping is great, and little kids usually enjoy being outdoors. We camp several times throughout the year. My kids were as little as 6 weeks going for the first time.
However remember that the amount of gear you'll need to bring doesn't change much whether you stay for 2 nights or 1 week. Getting to the East coast by plane and then camping for just a couple of nights logistically would be too much for me.
BTW, there are grocery stores on the East coast :).

Our easiest camping trips were when my son was younger. He loved everything and could entertain himself just in the campsite.
The one thing I remember doing that helped was buying a small plastic tote to put our stuff in and then we used it as a bathtub each evening.
Other than that, go have fun, take lots of pictures. It should be a blast.

two nights is nothing :) i just spent two nights camping with my 3 1/2 year old, and it was great. if it had been longer it might have been less fun lol. sounds like a grand adventure, i say jump on board with hubby and have fun!

With a little planning I don't see why it would be any different than camping here. We just took our boys camping for the weekend...they are four and 1 1/2 years and they LOVED it. Worked out great. Relax and have fun!

-M

I don't know how crazy this is, but it can be crazy taking a 2 year old to the East Coast in the first place! :) No offense intended.
My kids were camping from the time they were infants and absolutely loved it. I found that I always packed about 100 times more stuff than we ever needed or ever even unpacked. Since you will be going for a family reunion, have them help you with a list of things you might need that they can get for you and not want to bring back. Maybe they can pick him up his own little sleeping bag and you can tote that home if he falls in love with it. But just take some changes of clothes. You can't take a bunch of liquids on the plane, so have them gather up baby wash, shampoo, baby wipes, a sippy cup, extra towels....t
things like that.
Believe me, I get so trippy about packing everything but the kitchen sink, but you don't have that luxury and there's no need to ship things ahead in my opinion if you have things planned out on that end. We ALWAYS take more than we ever use so you just want to stick to the basics and anything they can get for you there makes less work for you on this end. If your baby needs diapers, have them pick some up for you. (The nice thing about camping is you can let little ones run free so to speak.) Pottying while camping is much more fun than at home.
Surely you would be within some distance to get ice for ice chests and little things you need.
I know it sounds insane, but you might really have a great time.
Being prepared on both ends is good, but I would't worry about shipping things, etc. If it's a family reunion, surely there is a pack and play available and you can just let your little one sleep with you. Let them have a flashlight and get dirty and rinsed off with some water and a wash rag if there are no showers.
I know it sounds crazy, but my kids were so happy camping and easy to go to bed and slept so well.
I hope you will be able to have a great time. My daughter and I went camping in NC when she was little with my dad and we took absolutely nothing camping-wise on the plane. We figured it out when we got there and it was the best time. My dad is gone now and I can't tell you how special that time was. Take lots of pictures.

Best wishes.

Not crazy at all. We've been camping with both our girls since they were under a year. And what a great time to be with all the family.

My brother in law and his wife took their 2 year old camping on a beach a few years ago for about a week.

They also had to travel there since it was in a separate state. They packed what they could, and then when it came to provisions, they went shopping one time before they settled at the campsite. Surely there is a place to get food/supplies within a 45 min or so drive from the site.

I agree with a lot of the other moms -- don't ship anything, make a list and buy everything you need on your way to the campground. You didn't say if you're roughing it in tents, camping cabins, ???? Another solution (although possibly more expensive) is to rent an RV. Then you don't have to worry about coolers, etc. Oh, not crazy, but will require lots of advance planning. Have fun.

I have 4 kids and they were 6 months, 3, 6, adn 12. We camped across country. It took us about two and a half weeks. Two year olds can play with sticks and stones and shells. You are never more than a few miles away from a Walmart should you run out of diapers. He'll have fun.

Some of my happiest memories are about camping. You'll be with family and have lots of people to help keep an eye on your little one. I say, go for it!

And....as Shane B. said you probably don't need to ship anything ahead. You are camping, not taking home with you. Your baby will need clothes, food, some toys. That's it.

What you have family provide and what you buy on your way to the campground depends greatly on what kind of campground it is. I've seen some very luxurious ones as well as basic, rough it, ones. Many campgrounds can be previewed on the Internet. Oregon has their state parks and campgrounds on the Internet. Check out the campground, take what fits in your luggage, ask family to bring what you think you really need but can't take on the plane. Go and have fun!

You expressed concern about the lack of amenities. Since you're flying in you will have access to amenities before you get to the campground. Two days is not very long. What could you need once you're there?

If you've not been camping I understand feeling anxious. And if you've never been and are the perfectionist sort then I wouldn't recommend it. But if you can roll with the waves and enjoy his family, go and have fun.

honestly, sounds a little ambitious - especially for only 2 nights.

but....if he's willing to be an equal partner in managing your child's needs, you have the help of the extended family & you have a flexible, easy going kid (one who will be ok with an altered routine, sleep acomodations, etc.), then go for it! who knows, it may be the trip of a lifetime!

maybe you could even extend your vacation past the reunion and spend some time either with family or in a nice hotel with a pool so that you're not spending 2 days traveling for 2 days of vacation.

good luck!

Here are some tips for a happy camping trip.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/ourcorner/535

Dear L., i wouldn't even cosider camping that far from home and shipping camping equipment will be expensive. Does his family have things you can borrow or know of a place to rent. If it was me, even if it is sort of far i would get a hotel/motel and travel back and forth for the day. J. H.

Yep. In my opinion anyway... my son is almost 2 and I can't imagine taking him camping for two nights. Out of routine, bugs/wildlife, too many things to get into... and toddlers, as we all know, are not the best listeners... if he were to run off or disobey in an environment like that, it might be more than just an annoyance.

I'd leave that kind of a trip to either A) an avid outdoorsman who is camping near home.... or B) wait a few years.

Good luck!