Tents vs swags vs caravans vs camper trailers….Explorer Sarah has compared all versions of family camping setups so you can find the best one for you for a successful family trip to the outdoors.


It’s the number one question on all adventure parent’s minds – what’s the best camping setup for the fam? Is there one camping setup that can be used for all eventualities or are you destined to have a garage full of swags, tents, and camper trailers so you can tackle any adventure? I asked around families who use different setups to find out the pros and cons of each. Let’s dive in.

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Best Camping Setups for Families

1. The Big ‘Ole Family Tent

The OG of camping, the tent has been around in some form or another for thousands of years. 

Tents come in many shapes and sizes — from pop-up, to inflatable, to good old click-together poles. These days the technology is such that you should stay dry and snug inside your tent even in the wildest of weather. And, depending on the size of your family, you can get tents with separate rooms and sleeping areas, too.

Read more: 5 Easy Set Up & Spacious Family Sized Tents

We Are Explorers’ Josh Fletcher from Southeast QLD told me about his experience with setting up for family camping trips. ‘Going from an ultralight 2P hiking tent to something that accommodates three (or 2.5) has taken a bit of time to get used to — mainly because of its size and weight’, he told me.

‘For camping we now use an Oztent RS4 which has heaps of room and you can even stand up in it, which helps with getting changed’.

Pros: Some people consider tents to be the only real camping experience. Cheap to buy compared to other options, you don’t have to tow it or have a car that can tow. No rego or maintenance costs either. 

Cons: You have to buy everything separately to go inside it – cooking gear, beds, and bedding. Set up and pack up may take longer. If it’s very hot, cold or wet it might not be as comfortable as a van or trailer. Tents can go mouldy if you don’t dry them out before you pack them away.

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2. The Squeeze-Your-Family-Inside Hiking Tent

Lightweight and packable in your backpack or bikepack, these tents keep it real simple.

You might think your days of using your beloved ultralight tent are over when you have kids, but We Are Explorers Founder, and Papa Bear to two kids, Henry Brydon, has taken his tiny Explorers on overnight hikes using the Blackwolf Mantis 2P hiking tent and had a blast.

‘What I love most about camping is simplicity and finding quiet places to call home for the night. Hiking into the bush with my kids has always been my preferred escape route! Whilst peace, solitude, and beautiful experiences can be found this way, the main drawback to this form of camping is the added weight I have to lug around on my back! As they get older they start to carry more themselves’, he said.

‘But when your kids are small you have to be well prepared – it’s all about embracing your inner pack-horse’.

Pros: Perfect for walk-in camping (if you and the kids can pack light!) for one to two nights. Easy to carry and small to store.

Cons: Hiking/ultralight tents can be more expensive than a regular tent. Due to the compact size, it’s unlikely you’re going to want to use one for a few weeks, so you might have to have separate tents for trips of different durations.

 

3. Family Swag

What’s a swag? The Australian swag developed over time from the travelling farmworkers and miners in the 1800s who used to carry their possessions or swag, including a simple bed, on their backs. These days, it refers to a single or double tent with a bed rolled inside.

Some come on a stretcher so you sleep raised off the ground. On initial inspection, you might think they’d be no good for family camping, but a lot of families use them.

Read more: How to Choose a Swag – The Ultimate Guide

Whether you have teenagers that want a bit of independence from the family caravan, or you have young kids and can bundle into a double swag with them — swags can be an excellent solution to the family camping setup conundrum.

Pros: Quick and simple to set up, usually well built, and will last for many years.

Cons: Can be more expensive and more bulky/heavy than a tent, but has the bed already included.

 

4. Family Rooftop Tent

The rooftop tent has evolved in recent years and can be anything from a simple fold-out canvas structure to a hella fancy electric automatic number.

NSW Explorer Carly, and Mum of two groms, told WAE about her experience with a family rooftop tent.

‘Our rooftop tent is the perfect getaway accommodation because of how quick the set up and pack down is. I know as a family of four we’ll outgrow it quickly, but whilst the kids are little we will enjoy our compact setup.’

Pros: Cheaper than a caravan or camper trailer. Don’t have to have a car that can tow or pay to register a trailer. Spacious and has good airflow because you’re up a bit higher. The mattress is already included so you don’t have to buy a bed.

Cons: You have to pack up every time you want to drive anywhere, but you can overcome this by attaching it to a trailer (which you would then have to maintain and pay to register). There’s also nowhere undercover that is standing height, but you can get a zip-on awning that creates an extension of your indoor area under the tent and also means you can access your car without going outside.

Read more: Roof Top Tent vs Swag – What’s The Best Car Camping Set Up?

 

5. Family Camper Trailer

Camper trailers can be anything from a small trailer with a bed and a soft floor, to a large trailer with the footprint of a caravan that has a kitchen, seating, storage, and unwinds with pull-out canvas beds on each end.

We travelled around Australia with our Jayco Swan camper trailer and six-month-old bub and had a blast. The set up and pack up was quick once you got the routine down, but I did wish a few times that we had our own grey water tank and toilet because we would have been able to take advantage of a lot more campsites in Tassie and the NT that require them.

Pros: Can be 4WD. Can get one with a heater if you’re going somewhere cold. Camper trailers are easier to tow and to store than a full caravan because they pack down lower to go in garages.

Cons: Need a towing vehicle. You can’t tow other things like a boat (although people do put tinnies on the roof!). The canvas needs maintenance and can’t be packed away wet. Usually there’s no toilet or shower.

 

6. Family Caravan

A caravan is a home away from home, with all the modern conveniences you can think of. You can have anything from a fairly simple interior to a modern affair with a full height family fridge, oven, and even a washing machine!

Size and price vary hugely depending on the type of van you choose. National stats show that caravan and campervan registrations across Australia have grown 21% in the last five years. In 2023 there were almost 859,000 caravans and campervans registered across the country.

We Are Explorer’s Josh Fletcher has a Jawa Infinity 13 Hybrid Caravan.

‘It’s fully off-grid and off-road, which is great for escaping to somewhere quiet, while still having the comforts needed to work remotely. Plus it has a designated single bed for the grom’, he told me.

Pros: Practically no set up time. You can get 4WD options, they usually have a toilet, shower, and grey water collection so you can be self-sufficient and use most free camps. With the addition of solar panels on the roof you can easily travel off the grid.

Cons: This is probably the most expensive family camping setup. You have to be confident reversing a trailer and have a car with a large towing capacity. Maintenance and servicing, rego, and safety certificates are all extra yearly costs. Not all campsites accept caravans.

 

7. Family Motorhome

A motorhome or van is a caravan and car all in one.

Like a caravan, you do have to do some tidying before you set off to make sure everything is secure and isn’t going to fly around when you turn your first corner, but you’ve got everything you need close to hand.

Pros: When you turn up to a campsite all you have to do is park. You don’t even need to get out of the motorhome to go from the driver’s seat to the living and sleeping area in most instances. Depending on the size, motorhomes often have a toilet and shower.

Cons: You have to pack up every time you want to drive anywhere because your transport and accommodation are one and the same.  If the car part stops working it can be an expensive fix or involve writing off the van.

 

What to Consider When Choosing a Family Camping Setup

Toilets

Whether you opt for a setup with its own toilet will depend on where you plan to camp and the types of trip you do.

My husband always laughs at people ‘taking their poo for a walk’ as they wheel their caravan’s toilet cassette across the campsite to the dump point, and vows he will never get a caravan with a toilet for that very reason. But, I’m sure he might change his mind once our kids are out of nappies and he’s done a few midnight runs to the toilet block in the rain.

 

Showers

The weather has a huge impact on the shower sitch. If you’re up north swimming all day, a solar shower to rinse everyone off will probably be ok. But if you’re somewhere with cooler weather, a hot shower inside your caravan might make all the difference.

Cooking

Camp cooking looks different to every adventure family. There’ll be foodies that cook elaborate fare and other families that quickly throw together a sausage sizzle to feed everyone between activities.

From caravans with ovens, grills, cooktops, and full fridges, to a BBQ and an esky with ice in the back of your car – there’s no right or wrong! You do have to consider what type of camp cook you’re planning to be and choose your setup accordingly.

 

Sleeping

Since having kids sleep has become more important than ever. Bed choice both for parents and kids could mean the difference between cranky family camping and fun-filled memories.

One of the best things we did when we got a new setup was doing a tester night close to home. If you have space you could even do it in your yard. You don’t want to be surprised by something out in the bush, so always try it out first.

Things to consider with sleeping arrangements are: type of bed, separate sleeping areas, how to keep cool/warm, how many beds you need, and mattress size. As with everything, money will come into it. You don’t want to spend a lot if you know it won’t last long and the kids will grow out of it, but equally, you want everyone to love camping as much as you do, so good equipment is a must.

 

Fun

Another thing to consider is why you’re going camping and what you’ll do for fun while you’re there. If you love fishing or water skiing and want to camp at the dam for the weekend, towing a boat means you either need a non-towable camping setup, or you have to take two cars.

If fun for you means 4WDing on remote sandy beaches you need a setup that can handle the terrain.

If your idea of a great weekend away camping is pulling up to a family-friendly caravan park, you might not need much in the way of equipment because they usually have pretty great camp kitchens and amenities blocks.

 

Family Camping Setup Buyers Checklist

Before choosing the ultimate family camping setup, consult this list to make sure you’ve considered every aspect to make the right choice for you and your family. 

  • Cost
  • Set up and pack up time
  • Packing and unpacking at home
  • Comfort
  • Ease of cooking and cleaning while camping
  • Maintaining equipment
  • Storage
  • Toilets
  • Showers
  • Cooking
  • Sleeping
  • Fun

Shot by Explorer Carly

@sarah.tayler.writer

FAQs Family Camping Setups

What’s the best camping setup for families?

The best camping setup for your family depends on your family’s needs, but options like tents, camper trailers, and caravans offer different levels of comfort and convenience.

Are tents good for family camping trips?

Tents are great for families looking for an affordable classic camping experience. Depending on the size of tent you choose, you can have separate rooms or something nice and light.

What’s the benefit of a camper trailer for family camping?

Camper trailers are easy to tow and set up, and they often come with a built-in kitchen and sleeping areas that are ready to go from the moment you park the car.

Can families use swags for camping?

Yes! Double or family swags can be an excellent, compact option for families who want a quick and simple setup.

Are rooftop tents practical for families?

Rooftop tents are ideal for families with younger kids, offering easy setup and great airflow. They may feel cramped as children grow.

More Family Adventures in the Outdoors

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