Family Glamping Tips – How to Camp in Comfort with Kids in an RV or Cabin

Why Glamping Is the Perfect Family Escape

One of our favorite family camping memories was at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. It was the spring break right before our boys graduated high school, and we brought a few of their friends along for one last big adventure. My husband, our youngest, and I stayed in the RV, while the teens camped out in a tent behind it. Everyone had their own space, but we were still close enough to enjoy all the moments together. It was the perfect balance of comfort and fun. Glamping removes the stress of forgotten gear, uncomfortable nights, or weather worries. It’s easier for parents—real beds and working bathrooms mean better sleep and less hassle—and it’s more fun for kids who get a taste of nature without giving up all their comforts. You bond more, laugh more, and truly relax.

Cabin or RV? How to Pick What’s Right for Your Family

We’ve done both, and they each have their perks.

When our boys were little, we loved staying in the cabins at Fort Wilderness. They sleep six and are similar to cabins we’ve used at other campgrounds. There’s enough space for everyone to unwind without stepping on each other’s toes.

Now that the kids are older, we often glamp in cabins with friends instead of the whole family. Camp Margaritaville’s cabins are a favorite. They’re beautifully furnished, often with one-bedroom setups for adults and bunks for the kids. With a stove, microwave, and most of what you need already there, all you have to bring are your clothes and a few favorite snacks.

RV glamping is perfect if you want more flexibility and a true on-the-road adventure. You control the schedule, the setup, and the destination. It’s a cozy, self-contained way to travel, especially when camping with young kids who might need midday breaks or early bedtimes.

Create a Cozy Family Setup

A comfortable setup makes all the difference. Foam mattress toppers are a must if your kids are sleeping on bunks or fold-outs. Bring your own bedding—fun prints make it feel special—and don’t forget pillows and favorite blankets.

Battery-operated LED camping lanterns and shatterproof string lights with LED globes, add a magical glow without the fire hazard. I use these around my lanai all year long through rain and all and they are great. If one goes out, you only need to replace the one that went out, the rest stay lit.  Lay down an outdoor rug to keep dirt out of the living space and set up a folding table and chairs under the RV awning or on the cabin deck.

DIY Camp Comfort Bin Create a labeled bin for each family member with essentials like a small flashlight, water bottle, hoodie, bedtime book, and snacks. Use zip pouches or toiletry bags to separate items inside a plastic tote. Keep these by the door so everyone knows where their things are.

Family-Friendly Outdoor Dining

To keep meals stress-free, we prep ahead as much as possible. On our Fort Wilderness trip, I created a full week’s worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. Each day’s menu was written out and posted on the RV fridge using magnets (which were also perfect for family notes and reminders).

We set up a folding table under the RV awning and placed a griddle on top for cooking. Every morning meant bacon and pancakes outdoors, and we brought a coffee maker—even though the RV had one—because our teen boys drank a little coffee with lots of creamer!

DIY Cabin Pizza Night (Friday Fun Idea)

One of our favorite dinners is DIY pizza night. We usually buy premade crusts or basic cheese pizzas from Aldi or Walmart, then set out bowls of toppings—pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, diced veggies—so everyone can customize their own. If you’re in a cabin or RV with an oven, baking is simple. For extra fun, you can even use a pizza stone on the grill. It’s a perfect hands-on meal that gets the whole family involved.

Go-To Glamping Groceries

• Breakfasts: eggs, bacon, pancake mix, waffles, bread for toast, butter, syrup
• Lunches: deli meats, sliced cheese, fruit, condiments, and single-serve chip packs
• Dinners: foil-wrapped meals, grilled hot dogs, or the ever-popular pizza night
• Snacks: granola bars, trail mix, crackers, marshmallows, juice boxes, and flavored waters

DIY S’mores Station

Use a divided tray or small bin to create a portable s’mores kit. Include graham crackers, mini chocolate bars, flavored marshmallows, and roasting sticks. Place it near the fire pit with a fun sign that says “Campfire Treats.”

Keep the Kids Busy – Without Screens

Glamping offers the perfect opportunity to get creative with low-tech fun:

• Set up a nature scavenger hunt (laminate a printout so it lasts all trip)
• Bring a glow in the dark rock-painting kit with brushes and outdoor-safe paints
• Create a bug observation station with magnifying glasses and jars
• Make pinecone bird feeders (roll pinecones in peanut butter, then birdseed)
• Play glow stick games after dark like tag or ring toss

DIY Camping Activity Bucket

Use a five-gallon bucket with a lid and fill it with activities: card games like Uno Junior for all ages over 3, bubbles with wands, chalk, ultra bright glow sticks, bug kits, and more. Let the kids decorate the bucket with stickers before the trip. It becomes their personal fun stash. I can’t wait for my grand-daughter to get old enough to go glamping with all of us. I think i am going to buy her an Outdoor Explorer Kit & Bug Catcher so she can have all the fun tools necessary to explore nature. It comes with a cute vest and hat, plus binoculars, a magnifying glass, and so much more. It looks like a really cool kit and it has 4.7 stars!

Evenings That Feel Like Magic

After dinner, we love gathering around the fire pit with blankets and storytelling. Some nights we read aloud from a favorite family chapter book. Other nights we would make popcorn over the fire and stargaze with a telescope or binoculars.

DIY Storytime Blanket Fort

In the cabin, use clothespins and twinkle lights to drape blankets over a bunk or corner nook. Add pillows and a “story bag” with books, flashlights, and snacks. Kids love it—and so do adults. These twinkle lights are great! I purchased them for our lanai and I love the fact that there are so many light combinations. Several colors for holidays and 12 different light modes that can chase, blink, fade, or twinkle in many different colors.

Comfort Station: Toiletries & Essentials for Families

Keep a shared shower caddy ready with mini versions of everything: shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, and band-aids. Turkish towels are lightweight and quick-drying—perfect for camping.

Bring baby wipes for everything (trust me) and set up a single power strip (I purchase the power strip surge protector in the link in December of 2023. It still works great, and I love that you can also plug your devices into the USB C or USB ports on the unit. Or purchase the family charging station to avoid outlet chaos and it will double as a portable generator for storms as well. A portable clip-on rechargeable fan with ED lights helps on hot nights, and a sound machine can help everyone sleep through campground noise.

How to Create It: Your Family Glamping Setup

1. Choose a cabin or RV with the right layout for your group.
2. Pack in zones: comfort, food, and play.
3. Set up your outdoor space first: rug, chairs, table, lighting.
4. Keep meals simple but delicious—use your griddle or grill.
5. Pick three go-to activities: morning, afternoon, night.
6. Leave room in your schedule for downtime and spontaneous fun.

Imagine This

You’re wrapped in a fleece blanket, coffee in hand, listening to the kids laughing as they make pancakes under the awning. Later, you’ll explore the trails, paint rocks, and roast marshmallows before tucking into a cozy cabin bed. The best part? No screens. No stress. Just connection.

Family glamping gives you the magic of camping—without the discomfort—and the gift of time together that everyone will remember for years to come.

Bonus Download: Printable Add-Ons

• Family Packing List for Glamping: Everything you need for comfort, fun, and meals

• Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable: Keep kids entertained with outdoor adventure

** If you want the campground experience at Disney’s Fort Wilderness but don’t own an RV, there’s still a great option. For our last four trips, we’ve rented from one of the only two companies approved by Disney to deliver RVs directly to your site. It’s been a fantastic way to enjoy the parks while having space to spread out, relax, and feel at home. An RV that sleeps 6–8 often costs less than even a value resort on property— and you still get full access to Disney transportation and campground amenities (think: campfire sing-alongs with Chip and Dale and outdoor Disney movies under the stars). The rental company we use handles everything: they deliver the RV, set it up with a rug on the patio, lights strung over the canopy, and chairs ready for lounging. All you have to do is reserve a full hookup site at Fort Wilderness through Disney first, then book your RV.  Meacham’s RV is Disney approved, and we have personally rented from them multiple times and I highly recommend getting the golf cart with them at the same time. Pricing is much better than Disney.

We’ve also stayed at Camp Margaritaville in Auburndale, Florida, and loved it. This resort-style campground has cabins, RV sites, glamping tents, and even treehouses. There’s nightly entertainment, mini golf, fire pits with Adirondack chairs, bars, eateries, and multiple pools by the lake. If you’re not headed to Florida, just search for RV rentals in your destination—many offer delivery and setup so you never have to drive or tow anything yourself.