With all of the distractions people have these days, it can be tough to plan fun family vacations. What makes planning a trip even more difficult is finding one that the whole family will enjoy. Camping is one of the most popular vacations for families — 42.5 million people went camping in 2011 — probably because it often requires less money and travel than other types of vacations. Just because you choose camping, however, doesn’t mean that the trip will go smoothly. Here are a few tips to ensure that your family camping trip will be fun for the whole family.

1. Find the Right Campsite
When you’re looking for family campgrounds, you need to find one that accepts reservations and will accommodate your family. You also need to think about what amenities you need and keep them in mind in your search.

2. Be Prepared
Another important step for planning a successful family camping trip is to make sure that you’re well prepared. Take note of what will be available to you at the site and what you’re going to need. Make sure each member of the family packs enough clean clothing for any type of weather you might experience while camping (chilly nights or rain). Family campgrounds sometimes have bathrooms, but you should still make sure to pack extra toilet paper and other essentials just to be sure.

3. Unplug
There are a number of different things to do at family campsites, but that’s not necessarily going to keep the kids from staring at their smartphones. Make an agreement with the family to do certain activities together and build a tentative itinerary of things you want to do together. Family camping resorts usually have water sports and activities like boating, water slides, and pools. Additionally, hiking is always an option while you’re camping. Whatever you do, make sure that you spend as much time together as a family as possible, since that’s the purpose of the trip.

Do you have any tips for planning family camping vacations? Feel free to ask us in the comments section below.