There are three sites on mainland Singapore where camping is officially allowed: East Coast Park, Pasir Ris Park, and West Coast Park. Alternatively, if you’re willing to travel a little further, there are also three campsites at Pulau Ubin. To book a campsite, you need to apply online for a camping permit. While there is no minimum age requirement for camping, the person applying for the permit has to be at least 16. 

If you want to cook outside while you camp, you also need to book a BBQ permit online. This chopes your spot on the grill near your campsite. You’re not allowed to just set up your own portable BBQ in front of your tent, due to the risk of fire.

Where you set up camp can make or break your camping experience. Yvonne Chia suggests picking a camping spot near the edges of the site,  so you avoid having your sleep disrupted by crowds or inconsiderate campers. She says, “I prefer camping during weekdays instead of weekends if you can, and avoid holidays. If you have the time, it’s great to head to Pulau Ubin instead of camping in the mainland parks.” To get to Pulau Ubin, see ferry details and timetable here 

Let’s talk about where to pee. The good news is that all campsites in Singapore are equipped with toilet blocks with flushing toilets. The toilet blocks also include showers and inside and outside sinks with running water, so you can wash your hands, your kids’ faces or your dishes without even stepping inside. 

What to Take With You

To have an enjoyable camping experience, a good tent is incredibly important. 

“A big tent does not always equate to comfort,” Yvonne Chia shares. While it’s important that your tent is spacious enough for the whole family, it’s equally important that you look for something rain-proof, bug-proof, and well ventilated. “The last thing we want is for the kids to get all bitten, or for it to get too hot to sleep throughout the night.”

She also suggests pitching the tent in the late afternoon so young ones don’t get burned by Singapore’s scorching sun. 

If you’re not keen on creepy crawlies, most tents nowadays are pop-ups that come with their own sewn-in groundsheets – this makes them very easy to set up, and almost bug-proof.

Try: Coleman’s 6-person Sundome Tent ($259) has large windows and floor vents for ventilation, and an effective WeatherTec system good for keeping rain out. It’s also spacious, with a standing height of 1.82cm. 

Since the camping permits in Singapore do not allow for cooking and barbequing outside your tent, you need to bring along picnic food for dinner – and breakfast the next morning. Or you can look up dining options near your campsite.

It’s also important to bring enough water for the trip. There are drinking water taps near every campsite in Singapore, but a big insulated water cooler is easier to use than a tiny water bottle – you won’t have to keep going back and forth to the tap to refill.

Disposable cutlery is convenient because you don’t have to bring dishwashing soap and sponges, or find a place to wash your utensils. Opt for eco-friendly disposable cutlery and plates if possible. 

Try: This disposable biodegradable spoon, fork and napkin sets from NTUC ($8.50 per set). If you plan to camp a lot, it’s cheaper to buy packs of 100 disposable wooden utensils ($9 for 100 forks, knives or spoons). This Igloo insulated water cooler is made from rugged plastic and holds 22 litres. ($150), but you can get smaller models everywhere online that hold about eight cups.

It’s helpful to have some extra bottled water on hand to quickly rinse dirty or sweaty hands or faces. Wet wipes are also very handy when you are camping with young children. “They’re so useful to wipe up mess, dirt, soil, and sweat instead of having to go to the toilet block all the time,” shares Yvonne Chia. 

Unfortunately most wet wipes contain bits of plastic, so they never completely break down. The resulting microplastic bits can find their way into the ocean and create a threat to marine life.  You can use reusable cloths – or go for biodegradable wipes made from plants like cotton or bamboo. 

Try: Cloversoft Unbleached Bamboo Organic Pure Water Baby Wipes (40 sheets for $2.20), or Kinder by Nature Plant Based Baby Wipes – 100% Biodegradable & Compostable (672 pieces or 12 Packs is $115.24. So it’s about $6 for 40 sheets.) 

The last thing you want is for your camping trip to be ruined by mosquito and insect bites. So frequently apply mosquito repellent and burn a mosquito coil outside your tent

Just remember to position the mosquito coil so the smoke blows away from your tent. It might get stuffy in your tent otherwise.

Try: Lemongrass House’s Natural Mosquito Coils ($14.25 for 10) do not contain harmful substances and insecticides. Tiger Balm’s Mosquito Repellent Spray ($8.40) is plant-based and safe for children. 

Something Yvonne Chia was unprepared for when she first brought her young one camping was the stuffiness of the tent. “The portable fan we got was not powerful enough to ventilate the stuffy big tent, and didn’t last long enough,” she shares.

Invest in portable lights and fans, and bring extra batteries or charging packs so your lights and fans don’t die out halfway through the night. 

Try: This portable camping fan ($18.68) with an LED light attached. It can be placed on the ground or hung from the top of the tent. 

While sleeping bags are the norm when camping, an inflatable mattress might be more comfortable for your kids. Bringing along bed sheets and inflatable pillows might also help. And if you’re using an inflatable mattress, don’t forget to also pack an air pump. 

Try: Air mattresses that fit both one person ($24.90) and two people ($44.90).

Chances are, you won’t want to spend all your time cooped up in the tent. Preparing chairs or a picnic mat means you can sit outside comfortably. And, you’re less likely to track sand into the tent. 

Try: Decathlon has picnic mats that come in a variety of sizes and patterns. They also have foldable chairs that start from $15. 

Like any other overnight trip, you’ll want to make sure to pack extra clothes. Bring extra clothes for the kids, who are more prone to getting themselves dirty, especially when you’re at the beach. 

Anyway, if you don’t end up changing into the extra clothing, you can always use the clothes as an extra pillow at night.

To make the most of your camping trip, you’ll also want to plan activities to keep your child entertained. Whether it’s building sandcastles at the beach or taking a dip in the sea, there are activities that every child will enjoy.

Yvonne Chia shares, “We brought along our child’s bicycle, some light sticks, and a frisbee. We also brought her to walk along the park to observe nature and the greenery. It was a bonus that we also managed to wake up to some interesting animals roaming near our tent during our camping trips, which was very thrilling for our kid.”

You can also check for activities that your child might be interested in around the campsites. East Coast Park has plenty of water sports, while West Coast Park is known for its many playgrounds. Pasir Ris Park also offers a whole array of fun activities – from horse riding, to a mangrove trail. 

Oh, and do take a camera or extra chargers for your smartphone. Because you will be making lots of unique memories with your children – and taking a lot of photos!

This article was originally published on April 28, 2022 and updated on June 2, 2023.

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