There are few things better than taking the family on a camping trip. Just consider what recent years have shown. In 2010, 40 million people went camping for a grand total of 515 million outings. In 2011, families spent 534.9 million days camping altogether. Then, in 2013, Americans went camping for a total of 516.6 million days.

Autumn camping, in particular, is one of the best things you can do with the family. The crisp, cool breeze blowing. There’s fresh air, the vibrant colors of the foliage, and the wonderful harvests that are coming in.

Before you go family camping this fall though, you’re going to have to pack. Here’s just a few things you should take with you to the campgrounds.

• Shelter. – To set up camp, you’re going to need your tent, a ground cloth, tarps, extra stakes, rope, a hatchet, a hammer, a mat for the tent’s entrance, a broom, and a dust pan.

• Bedding. – If you don’t sleep well, you’re not going to have a good time. This is why you need to bring a good sleeping bag, an air mattress or a foam bed pad, sheets, blankets, a good pillow, an air pump (if you take an air mattress or a blow up pad), and a repair kit for said air mattress. If you make a nice little nest, you’ll sleep just fine, no matter how hard or cold the ground is.

• Clothing. – Though the fall weather can be warm during the day, it can get pretty chilly at night. You need to pack a variety of different clothes, including jeans, sweatpants, t-shirts, sweatshirts, extra underwear, extra socks, a cap, shoes, boots, a jacket, sleeping clothes, rain gear, towels, and a laundry bag to put it all in when it gets dirty.

• Cooking Gear. – Food cooked over a campfire just seems to taste better, but you’re going to need to remember to bring your cooking stuff with you. Depending on what you plan to make, you’re going to want to bring a water jug, a water bucket, coolers, thermoses, propane stove, a lighter, pans, pots, campfire grill, firestarters, plates, bowls, silverware, garbage bags, measuring cups, aluminum foil, paper towels, dish soap, cooking oil, plastic containers for leftovers, potholders, oven mitts, spatulas, knives, cooking spoons, tongs, skewers, can openers, bottle openers, a folding table, mugs, paper cups, mixing bowls, cutting boards, napkins, dish pans, dish rags, scrubbing pads, and condiments.

So long as you remember to take all this with you to the campgrounds, you’ll undoubtedly have one of the best camping trips of all time.