Great Wolf Lodge Packing List (with printable)

I made this Great Wolf Lodge packing list so that you don’t forget anything at home and miss out on any fun at the water park. I will also make a PDF that you can download and print. That way you can keep it handy while you are packing.

Click here to download a Great Wolf Lodge Printable PDF

Packing for Great Wolf Lodge is always a challenge for me because we go in the winter. That means all of their summer things are packed away in the attic. After I dig them out, I have to make sure they actually fit. Bathing suits can be hard to find in the winter, so plan ahead.

There are 15 minute parking spots right at the entrance of Great Wolf Lodge to help you unload. We usually park there, I go in to check us in and my husband unloads the car while the kids sit by our luggage in the lobby.

Check-in time at the lodge is very busy. The trolleys are in high demand, so if you see one, grab it. If there are none to be found, look over by the conference entrance. Not many people think to go in that way. I also bring our collapsible red wagon.

To read all about our experience staying at Great Wolf Lodge, click here.

Table of Contents

What to pack for Great Wolf Lodge:

The Basics

1 outfit for each day, plus 1 extra (in case of a mess)
2-3 pairs of underwear for each day (my boys wear them under their bathing suits)
Sneakers and socks (some of the activities require close-toed shoes)
Two pairs of pajamas (one is just for emergency)
Slippers (GWL is one giant slumber party)
Toiletries

Packing for the Water Park

2 bathing suits (so there is always one dry)
Swim cover up
Flip flops or water shoes
Swim goggles
Waterproof phone case (fun for underwater pics & it protects your phone)
Ziplock gallon bag (to keep important things dry)
Beach bag
Swim diapers
Wet bag to bring home wet stuff (a trash bag works in a pinch)

Note: you do not need to pack towels. They are provided just outside of the water park entrance, but they do have to be returned before you head back to the room. If you have a small child or a child who gets cold easily, I would recommend bringing them a hooded towel they can wear back to the room.

Great Wolf Lodge also provides life jackets and puddle jumpers so you don’t have to pack those.

Food to pack for Great Wolf Lodge

You can save a lot of money by bringing your own snacks and drinks. Heck, I have seen people carry crock pots into the lodge. The rooms have a mini fridge, small coffee maker and a microwave. There are no dishes or cutlery in the rooms. If you do plan to have a meal in the room, you will want to bring along paper plates, plastic cutlery and napkins.

Prep as much as you can ahead of time (cut up veggies, wash berries, bring pre-sliced cheese). Otherwise you will want to bring a cutting board and knife, but remember YOU are on vacation too. If you plan to pop popcorn, bring a bowl to put it in.

We usually hit up the Dunkin’ Doughnuts in the lobby for breakfast, pack a lunch and then eat at the lodge for dinner. The first night, we head to the dinner buffet at The Lodge Wood Fired Grill. The next night, we are usually so tired, we order pizza at Hungry as a Wolf and eat it in the room. The new Great Wolf Lodge app allows you to order your food ahead. You will get a text when your food is ready for pick up. This saves so much time.

Snacks (Ideas: Z-bars, chips, popcorn, cut up veggies, berries, cheese & crackers)
Bowls for handing out snacks
Drinks (water bottles, juice boxes)
Breakfast fixings (cereal, milk, bagels, cream cheese)
Sandwich fixings
Cooler bag with ice pack for water park
Napkins or wet wipes

Miscellaneous things to pack for Great Wolf Lodge

Magiquest wand (wands work at every GWL location and they can be saved for the next trip)
Build-a-bear (my kids bring their bears from home and get a new outfit)
Games or toys to entertain kids in the room
Electronics and chargers
A charging bank
Empty handle bag (if you are anything like our family, we magically accumulate a lot of stuff on trips. Arcade prizes, stuffed animals, etc)
Collapsible wagon (to help you get your things to your room and also haul stuff to the water park)

If you forget any swim gear, Great Wolf Lodge has a great shop right by the entrance of the water park. They sell just about anything you could need in there. I actually purchased a waterproof phone case in there for $29 and we had so much fun filming under water. I could wear my phone around my neck and know that it was safe.

I hope this Great Wolf Lodge packing list helps you get ready for your trip. My kids love going to Great Wolf Lodge. It can feel overwhelming to pack for. Just keep this list handy and you should be able to relax and enjoy your time.

To book your next trip to Great Wolf Lodge, click here.