Rooftop tent with the family – A camping adventure with the family and a rooftop tent offers a unique opportunity to explore nature, spend time together and create unforgettable memories.
To ensure that camping with a roof tent and children goes smoothly, good planning and preparation are crucial.
Here are 23 practical tips for camping with a rooftop tent and family to help you have a great time in the great outdoors and take full advantage of the benefits of camping with a rooftop tent.
Camping Ratgeber:
Family Edition: Camping with a roof tent and children
Camping is an activity that is particularly attractive to families with young children, according to the results of an ADAC study.
But whether you’re a camping novice or a seasoned adventurer, these tips will help you make the most of your camping vacation with a rooftop tent and the family.
From choosing the right campsite and making the most of limited storage space to involving the kids in the planning, there are plenty of tips and tricks that can help make your camping experience as carefree, relaxed and memorable as possible. Here are our detailed tips:
Make sure there is enough space in the roof tent
Before buying a roof tent, make sure that it offers enough space for all family members.
Check the dimensions of the tent and make sure that there is enough sleeping space for each family member and that everyone feels comfortable on the road.
Especially on longer trips, it is important that you can sleep comfortably and are not cramped.
Take a look at some recommended models here: Rooftop tent models.
- Choose a roof tent with enough space
- Make sure that all family members feel comfortable
Depending on how many family members are traveling with you, you should also have a correspondingly large roof tent! 
Familiarize yourself with the handling in advance
Before you set off on your camping trip, you should take the time to practise pitching and folding the roof tent.
This saves time on the road and minimizes stress as you are already familiar with the process.
It can get stressful on the road, especially with lots of people.
It is therefore very helpful if you can set up and take down the roof tent quickly and smoothly.
- Practise using the roof tent beforehand
- This makes for a more relaxed vacation
Think about comfortable sleeping accessories
Comfortable sleeping bags and pillows are crucial for a good night’s sleep when camping.
So bring enough blankets and pillows to create a cozy sleeping environment, especially for the children.
It also makes sense to pack familiar pillows for the children so that they immediately feel comfortable in the roof tent.
You should also make sure that the sleeping bags are adapted to the local temperatures and provide sufficient insulation.
Read more here: Sleeping accessories in the roof tent.
- Care for cozy sleeping accessories
- Bring familiar pillows for children
- Sleeping bags should be adapted to the local temperatures
Take clothes for cold temperatures with you
Don’t forget to take enough warm clothing with you, as temperatures can cool down at night.
Even if it’s warm during the day, temperatures can drop significantly at night.
So also pack warmer clothes for all family members, including sweaters and jackets.
Layering clothes is useful to be prepared for sudden drops in temperature.
This way, you’ll all stay warm and cozy when the sun goes down and can end the evening with a nice chat in the open air at the campsite.
- Take warmer clothes with you even in summer
- Temperatures can drop significantly at night
- So you can still sit comfortably at the campsite in the evening
With warmer clothes, you can also sit around the campfire in the evening! 
Heating accessories for cooler days and nights
Especially if you are camping in colder months or the weather cools down considerably at night, an electric blanket, for example, can improve the comfort and warmth in the roof tent.
Place the electric blanket on the mattress or directly in the sleeping bags to create a cozy sleeping environment.
However, make sure that the electric blanket is used safely and has an automatic switch-off function to prevent overheating.
Think about a heater and heated seats for the campsite, especially when winter camping.
- Take an electric blanket with you for cold nights in the roof tent
- Also think about heating and heated seats in winter
Set clear rules when camping
Especially as a family, it is important to discuss certain rules so that the vacation runs smoothly and everyone is happy.
Campsites can sometimes be crowded and there are certain rules of conduct that must be followed to ensure everyone’s safety.
So discuss with your children the rules for behavior at the campsite and encourage them to be responsible with the rooftop tent and follow safety rules.
Also make it clear to them that they are being environmentally conscious by disposing of their garbage and respecting nature, and showing consideration for other campers by reducing noise during quiet periods.
- Set rules for the vacation
- Practice responsible handling of the roof tent
- Be considerate of other campers
Less is more: don’t pack too much
When camping with a roof tent and your family, it is important to limit your equipment and personal items to the bare essentials.
The car only offers limited storage space during the trip, so you should only pack what is really necessary.
Avoid unnecessary items to save space and reduce the weight of the vehicle.
If necessary, individual items of clothing can still be washed en route.
- The storage space in the car is limited
- Reduce objects to the bare essentials
- If necessary, you can wash on the go
Only take a few toys with you
Children can often be happy with simple things and nature as toys.
Rather than bringing a variety of toys, encourage your children to play with stones, sticks, leaves and other natural materials.
This encourages their creativity and connection to nature.
Remember that camping itself is an adventure for children, so they will make lots of exciting discoveries!
However, you can pack something to do for longer car journeys or rainy days.
Books or games are an excellent way to keep your children happy and occupied.
- Pack only a few toys
- Nature offers plenty to do
Especially when camping, children can keep themselves busy in nature without toys! 
Use boxes instead of suitcases
To make optimum use of the limited storage space in the roof tent, it is advisable to use stackable boxes for storing camping equipment.
Crates are robust, easy to transport and make it easier to organize items.
For example, you can store different categories such as clothing, cooking utensils, food and toiletries in separate boxes and label them accordingly, for example with stickers.
This allows you to keep an overview and quickly find what you need.
You can find suitable storage boxes for more order in the store here:
- Take stackable boxes instead of suitcases
- Sort the boxes by category for a better overview
Cable ties as an all-rounder gadget
Cable ties or thick cords are practical aids when camping.
They can be used to repair objects, fasten things or hang things up, making them the perfect all-rounder for your camping vacation.
- Take cable ties, gaffers or a thick cord with you
- Multifunctional camping gadget
- Secure, hang up or repair things
Always have a first aid kit to hand
Bring first aid supplies and medication in case someone in the family gets sick or injured.
Especially if you are camping with children, it is important that you have a well-stocked first aid kit that includes bandages, disinfectant, painkillers and other necessary medication.
Also find out about the nearest medical facility just in case.
- Take first aid equipment with you just in case
- Find out about the medical facilities nearby
Ensuring safety for children
Make sure that the children are careful when getting in and out of the roof tent to avoid falls.
Show them where they can hold on and encourage them to be slow and careful.
Always supervise children when handling the roof tent and do not allow small children in particular to play alone in the roof tent!
- Show children how to use the roof tent correctly
- Always supervise them and don’t see the roof tent as a toy
Responsible handling of the roof tent is the be-all and end-all! 
Provide flashlights for the night
Camping lamps, flashlights and headlamps are essential to have light for night activities or going to the toilet.
Make sure you have enough light sources available and make sure your children know where to find them in an emergency.
Here is a suitable lamp in the store:
- Take camping lamps and flashlights with you
- Make sure that all family members know where to find them
Carpet or tarpaulin as a base
For the area in front of the roof tent, you can use a carpet or tarpaulin as an ideal surface.
This can make the entire recreation area more cozy and increase comfort.
The carpet creates a pleasant surface so that you can move around barefoot in the area in front of the tent without stepping on stones or the like.
It also means you don’t carry as much dirt into the roof tent.
- Lay a carpet in front of the roof tent
- This increases coziness and comfort
- Pleasant area with less dirt that can get into the roof tent
Fairy lights for atmosphere and function
A light chain can not only provide atmospheric lighting in the roof tent, but can also be practical.
It provides cozy light in the evening so that everyone can find their way safely into the roof tent and no tripping accidents occur.
You can connect the light chain to a cable reel or use a USB light chain.
Just make sure you use a weatherproof string of lights and follow the safety guidelines for handling electrical devices outdoors.
You can find a recommended string of lights here: Fairy lights provide a cozy atmosphere and a little more light in the evening! 
Find a safe power solution
If you want to use electrical devices in the roof tent, make sure that you use safe and weatherproof power solutions.
Only use designated sockets in the vehicle or use special waterproof sockets with built-in fuses.
All cables should be neatly routed, protected from moisture and located so that they are inaccessible to small children.
- Use safe and weatherproof power solutions
- Cables should be neatly laid and protected from moisture
Child-friendly campsite
If you are traveling with small children, choose a child-friendly campsite with suitable facilities.
It’s best to find out in advance which campsites on your route offer special facilities for children, such as playgrounds, swimming pools or family-friendly activities.
This will allow the little ones to let off steam, have fun and make new friends.
- Search for child-friendly campsites
- Look out for offers such as playgrounds and swimming pools
If you choose a family-friendly campsite, your children can make new friends and you can relax! 
Make sure you are protected from insects
Make sure that your roof tent has mosquito nets or insect nets on the windows and door to keep insects and annoying midges out.
Just in case, you should also take insect repellent with you to prevent mosquito bites and ensure a comfortable night.
If you do get bitten, you should have a suitable ointment to hand to soothe the itching quickly and effectively.
- Make sure you have mosquito nets on doors and windows
- Take an insect repellent and an ointment with you
Organizer for order in the roof tent
Use the inner walls of the roof tent to attach storage pockets.
This creates additional storage space for small items such as flashlights, books or other personal items.
Tidiness is particularly important when camping with the whole family to avoid chaos while you’re out and about.
Take a look at our practical organizer here in the store:
- Attach storage bags to the tent walls
- Additional storage space for small items
Especially when you’re traveling with the whole family, things can quickly get mixed up.
With storage bags, you can keep everything neatly together! 
Use the ladder for hanging
The ladder of the roof tent is ideal for hanging up all kinds of things.
For example, you can use meat hooks that can simply be hung on the step.
You can now hang clothes or towels here.
This not only saves space, but is also ideal for drying wet items.
- Use the ladder and hooks to hang things up
- This saves space and is suitable for wet cloths or clothing
Involving children in the organization
Involve all family members, including the children, in the planning and organization of the camping vacation.
Ask them for their opinion when choosing the campsite, activities or meals.
This increases their anticipation and participation and gives them the feeling that their opinion counts.
Children should also help pack the roof tent and camping equipment to learn responsibility and organization.
Older children can also be involved in putting up and taking down the roof tent, for example.
- All family members should be involved in vacation planning
- Involve children in daily tasks as well
On a camping vacation with the family, even the little ones should be included in the planning – that way everyone is happy and content! 
Allow sufficient time for breaks
Although outdoor activities and exploring are important, you should not forget to plan enough time for relaxation and recreation.
Children in particular often tire quickly from a tight program.
So let them enjoy nature, relax and play at the nearest playground or campsite.
This allows all family members to enjoy the camping experience to the full.
- Plan enough time for relaxation
- Relaxing time in nature is also part of it
Enjoy the time together
The most important thing on a camping vacation is always to enjoy time with the family and create unforgettable memories.
Consciously take time to experience nature, play games, tell stories and simply enjoy time together.
The camping experience will become a precious family time that you and your children will remember forever. 
