Autumn Family Camping Guide in 2025: 7 Top Tips to Read
Discover the best autumn family camping guide. From essential gear to cosy activities, everything you need for memorable family camping trips this autumn.

Last Updated on 7 August 2025
Autumn is one of the best seasons for family camping in autumn. With fewer crowds, out-of-season prices, amazing scenery, and cooler temperatures, this is probably the one time of the year when we frequent more campsites.
After years of autumn camping with my kids across the UK, I’ve learned exactly what works, which is why I’ve put together this comprehensive autumn family camping guide to help create unforgettable family autumn adventures.
I hope it will help you navigate everything from essential gear to safety considerations, ensuring your seasonal family camping trips are both memorable and successful.
Letās read on to find out more.

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Autumn Family Camping Guide: Why Autumn is the Perfect Time
Before I had kids, I never thought Iād take them on autumn family camping trips. I mean, why take them when the weather starts getting colder? Those feelings, however, changed around three years ago when we took our eldest camping in September for her birthday. She was only two, and it was just the three of us at the time, but it was a great introduction to camping in autumn.
For me, the biggest thing was seeing a drop in the number of visitors compared to the summer months. Last October, we pitched up at a New Forest site that would’ve been busy in summer, and we practically had it to ourselves. Another added benefit of camping in autumn is that our kids can run freely without disturbing other families.
I also love the foliage at this time of year. Every photo we took was great, showing the changing colours of the seasons, and our kids loved finding those leaves just starting to go crispy to stand on.
A major advantage of camping in autumn is that the temperature is cooler, making it easier for hiking. We also hear fewer complaints from our kids when we go on walks on nearby trails. For me, autumn camping weather is perfect for longer family autumn adventures. Just ensure your autumn camping clothing is sorted because temperatures drop quickly after sunset.
But honestly? The cosy campfire evenings seal the deal. There’s something magical about gathering around a fire when there’s a chill before turning in for the night. These moments make autumn camping memorable and create special family moments.
Essential Autumn Camping Gear for Families
If you have a 3-season tent, you should be okay to camp in autumn. Youād only need to consider a 4-season tent if you had to withstand harsh winter weather in high winds. Generally, a 3-season tent can handle light winds, rain, and even a little snow.
In the UK, we’re lucky enough to see a spoke in temperature in autumn after the schools go back before dropping again. Typically, September and, sometimes, October can be warm months, but itās all about packing the layers.
Even though it might be warm during the day, at night the temperature does drop, so layers are your friends. Our autumn camping checklist includes base layers, insulating layers, and waterproof shells for everyone. We love our base layers and have merino and synthetic ones to keep us warm.
Never use cotton as it absorbs moisture and doesnāt dry quickly, which can leave you feeling cold for longer.
Whenever weāve gone camping in autumn, we always use our sleeping bags rated to -5°C, keeping our kids warm all night. As well as warm sleeping bags, we also pack waterproof trousers and jackets for everyone, plus extra for our kids. Living in the UK, the weather is unpredictable, so I always make sure we have everything on hand on our autumn family camping guide, just in case.
Also, make sure to pack your LED lanterns as daylight disappears early. We make sure to pack extras plus head torches for each of us. And donāt forget to include spare batteries on your autumn family camping guide, as the cold weather can drain batteries faster.
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Best Autumn Family Camping Destinations in the UK

Here are some of my favourite places to add to your autumn family camping guide around the UK.
- The New Forest, England: This is one of my top places for family camping in autumn. The ponies roam freely, captivating our children, and the autumn colours are incredible. I love that the New Forest is accessible and youāre never far from facilities. Camping sites are well-maintained with good shower blocks, which is important when autumn camping weather turns chilly.
- The Lake District, England: Another firm favourite for autumn camping destinations, but it can be challenging for younger kids. If youāve got older children who enjoy hiking, the Lake District is amazing. We camp near Windermere, and the autumn foliage reflection in the lake is breathtaking.
- Snowdonia, Wales: I love Wales, and Snowdonia is somewhere we visit frequently. I like to say weāre in a land of giants when weāre there. Dramatic landscapes and amazing views (when the weather is in your favour). We stay near Betws-y-Coed, and our kids love the waterfalls and woodland walks. I always joke that it starts raining when we enter Wales, so make sure your autumn camping clothing covers all conditions.
- Cornwall and Devon, England: Iāve been visiting Cornwall and Devon for years, and both counties are perfect for families who want to experience more coastal areas as well as inland spots. Whenever we go to Devon, we always head to Dunkery Beacon (the highest point in Devon), and in Cornwall, we tend to visit Porthcurno beach, which has the amazing Minack Theatre nearby.
Autumn Weather Preparation and Safety
Even though autumn camping weather can be nice during September and October in the UK, it can also change quickly. One minute youāll have lovely sunny mornings, and the next minute the wind will pick up and itāll start raining.
Hopefully, youāll have ideal conditions on your autumn camping trip, but always assume the weather will be worse than forecast. This is especially true if youāre camping with kids who canāt regulate their body temperature as effectively as adults.
Autumn camping safety includes hypothermia prevention in children. Kids lose body heat much faster than adults and don’t always recognise when they’re getting too cold. Signs include excessive shivering, confusion, clumsiness, and behaviour changes. If you spot these, get them warm immediately: dry clothes, warm drinks, and shelter.
We all have waterproofs, including trousers, and my youngest has a warm puddlesuit as thereās no way sheād go past a puddle without splashing in it first.
If youāre planning on cooking outside, you might want to consider windbreaks to provide wind protection and bring extra tent pegs to keep your tent secure.
Daylight hours are something to think about as well. In October, and depending on where you are in the UK, youāll have between 9-10 hours of daylight, with the sun setting closer to 5 pm at the end of the month. Try to plan any major activities during the day with backup plans in case youāre stuck in your tent if the weather changes.
And always monitor the weather, even before you head off on your autumn camping with kids trip. I use multiple weather apps because they often disagree. The Met Office app provides detailed forecasts, while the Mountain Weather Information Service is essential for higher ground.
The key lesson with your autumn family camping guide? Respect the weather, prepare for the worst, and always have an exit strategy. Your autumn family camping guide should include emergency contact numbers, nearest hospital locations, and alternative accommodation options.
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Cosy Autumn Family Activities for Kids

Shorter days and unpredictable autumn camping weather mean you need activities to keep your kids happy. Here are some things we enjoy doing on our camping trips:
Leaf Collecting: My kids love collecting all the different types of leaves at this time of year. Last autumn, my eldest made a leaf book collection with leaves of all shapes and colours. Itās also great that it doesnāt cost a thing to do!
Nature Crafts: We bring PVA glue, paper, and colouring pencils, which are also handy for leaf creations. Perfect when the weather turns horrible and you need quiet autumn family activities. Plus, they create lovely keepsakes from family autumn adventures.
Autumn Scavenger Hunts: Who doesnāt love a scavenger hunt? I create different lists for my kids based on their ages: picture cards for my youngest showing acorns and pinecones, while my eldest will have different things to look out for, such as specific trees or wildlife spotting.
Wildlife Spotting: This is great to do during autumn camping trips because animals are getting ready for winter. We’ve spotted red squirrels gathering nuts, deer foraging, and countless bird species. Donāt forget to bring wildlife identification books and binoculars to help your children see what they find.
Campfire Cooking: Thereās something magical about cooking over an open fire when the temperature drops. Some of the recipes we love making include red beans with rice and vegetables, sweet potato hash, and spaghetti bolognese. Hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows are also highly recommended.
Stargazing: Stargazing during autumn is amazing because the nights are longer and there’s less light pollution when we go camping. We love lying back and looking up to see what we can find. My kids love pointing out Orion’s Belt, finding the North Star, and the Plough.Ā
Autumn Family Activities for Rainy Days: Our autumn camping checklist includes card games, travel board games, colouring books, and audiobooks downloaded with good battery life. Include these in your autumn family camping guide, and you’ll be able to handle any bad weather situation.
Story Telling: We take turns making up stories, often including things we’ve seen during the day.
Meal Planning and Seasonal Recipes
Food planning for autumn family camping differs from summer trips. Nowās the time when you need food warming you from the inside out. When weāre autumn camping with kids, these are some of the things we do:
One-pot meals became my saviour for family autumn adventures. There’s something magical about bubbling stew or chilli warming us as an autumn wind howls.
A firm favourite for my kids is macaroni cheese or anything pasta-related. Other go-to meals include hearty stews prepped at home and heated at campsites.
We like to use seasonal ingredients when we’re making autumn family camping meals, and often visit local farm shops to pick up fresh root vegetables, apples, and seasonal produce. Butternut squash soup cooked over a campfire is amazing.
Hot drinks are another necessity during autumn camping. I pack our camping kettle and enough tea, coffee, and hot chocolate supplies. My secret weapon? Mulled apple juice made over a campfire with apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange slices. The smell is incredible, warming everyone beautifully.
Before heading out on your camping trip, prep ahead of time. I tend to spend time at home the day before getting food ready that can be reheated at campsites, like the butternut squash soup. The last thing I want to do is cook from scratch at a campsite while dealing with autumn weather and tired children.
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Budget-Friendly Autumn Camping Tips

Autumn family camping can get expensive quickly when adding extra gear for cooler weather, but you don’t need to break the bank. Here are some great ways Iāve saved hundreds of pounds on our camping gear.
Off-season camping discounts are brilliant once you know where to look. Most outdoor retailers drop their prices after the school holidays, sometimes by 40-50%. Have a look online as well, as you can always find discount codes when you sign up to a retailerās website and make your first purchase with them. I also book autumn camping destinations for late September or October when prices are out of season.
Itās also easy to do free autumn family activities. Nature scavenger hunts should be part of your autumn family camping guide, as they cost nothing and entertain kids for hours. Family autumn adventures don’t require expensive entertainment when you’ve got changing leaves, wildlife spotting, and geocaching available.
Another great way of saving money is through meal planning. Instead of buying expensive camping food, I batch-cook meals at home and freeze portions. A big pot of chilli costs about £8 and feeds our family nicely, compared to £25+ for equivalent camping meals.
Second-hand autumn camping equipment offers good savings as well. Check out places like Facebook Marketplace. People who decide to try camping buy all the equipment they need, only to find out they donāt like it as much or donāt plan on camping as often as they thought. You can find great stuff thatās only been used once or twice at a fraction of the original price. Thatās how I found our family tent that sleeps 6 for Ā£120 instead of the original Ā£350.
Final Thoughts on Autumn Family Camping Guide
Autumn family camping truly offers some of the most magical outdoor experiences you can share with your children. From crunching leaves underfoot to cosy campfire evenings, these memories last lifetimes. Remember, successful seasonal family camping is about preparation: the right autumn camping gear, flexible planning, and embracing autumn’s unique beauty.
This autumn family camping guide has covered everything from autumn camping essentials and autumn camping safety to budget-friendly seasonal camping tips and engaging autumn family activities. Whether you’re exploring autumn camping destinations in the New Forest or tackling the Scottish Highlands, the correct preparation makes all the difference.
Ready to plan your family’s autumn adventures? Start by choosing your destination, checking autumn camping weather forecasts, then work through this autumn family camping guide to ensure you’re fully prepared. Your family’s autumn camping story is waiting to be written, so grab your autumn camping equipment, bundle up the kids, and head out into the beautiful British countryside this autumn.
For more outdoor inspiration, check out our related guides:
- Hiking with Children: The Best Guide for Parents in 2025
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- Hiking with Toddlers in 2025? Read These Handy Tips First
Happy camping!
Have you found this autumn family camping guide useful? Are you planning any autumn family camping this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!