camping trip game

32 Camping Games For Families, Kids, Teens, & Adults

From scavenger hunts to campfire charades, you'll never be bored with our curated list of camping games.

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Get your competitive juices flowing and assert your dominance over your family and friends by playing a few games on your next camping trip!

Whether you’re camping with kids, teens, or adults, there are plenty of fun camping games that everyone can enjoy.

My list of favorite games to play when camping includes all the classics plus a few creative options you won’t want to miss.

So, pitch your tent and let’s play some games!

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Table Of Contents

Three-Legged Race

Water balloon dodgeball, giant jenga, ladder toss, outdoor checkers, scavenger hunt, nature tic-tac-toe, cup stacking, camping bingo, glow-in-the-dark ring toss, connect four, outdoor obstacle course, would you rather, glow in the dark hike, capture the flag, monopoly national parks edition, settlers of catan, apples to apples, cards against humanity, kan jam ultimate disc game, frisbee golf, camping games for families.

The memories you and your family will make playing these games will last a lifetime! Keep in mind the goal is to have fun and to be safe!

Cornhole is a classic camping game that everyone can enjoy. It’s a perfect activity to play with your friends, family or even strangers you meet at the campsite. All you need is some bean bags and two boards with holes in them which are set up about 20 feet apart.

The goal of the game is simple: throw the bean bag into the hole on the board across from you while standing on your side. I know of one family that hosts a family cornhole tournament each year on their annual camping trip and the winner gets a medal and everything! I love this portable cornhole set because it’s less bulky and easier to pack than the one we use in our backyard.

The Three-Legged Race is another classic camping game. My family loves this game and no matter who wins, everyone always ends with giant smiles on their faces. All you need is a partner and a sack or bandana to tie your legs together. The goal of the game is to race against other teams while hopping on one leg with your partner. It’s all about teamwork and coordination! You can set up different race courses around the campsite or even play a relay where each member of the team gets a turn racing with their partner.

Tug of war is an awesome game to play when camping that will get the whole family involved in some friendly competition. Tug of war can be played with as many players as you want on each side, but it works best when there are even numbers on both teams. So, gather your crew and let the games begin!

One of the best camping games for all ages is called “Human Knot”. To play, everyone stands in a circle and holds hands with two other people who are not next to them. Then, without letting go, they have to untangle themselves until they form a circle again.

This game requires teamwork and communication, making it perfect for team building and group bonding activities. It’s also a great way to get some physical activity into your camping trip.

Water Balloon Dodgeball is a fun camping game that never fails to be exciting for all ages. It’s perfect for hot summer days when you need to cool off while having fun with your family and friends. The game involves two teams throwing water balloons at each other, trying to hit their opponents without getting hit themselves.

To play Water Balloon Dodgeball, divide your group into two teams and set up a boundary line in between them. Each team should have an equal number of water balloons ready for use. When the game starts, both teams will try to throw the balloons at each other while dodging incoming ones from their opponents. If a player gets hit by a balloon, they’re out of the game until the next round starts.

Kubb is a traditional Swedish game that has become popular among campers in recent years. It is a strategic and challenging game that can be played on various surfaces, making it perfect for any camping trip. The game involves knocking over wooden blocks (kubbs) with batons, aiming to knock down the king block at the center of the field. This Kubb set for sale on Amazon comes with a nifty carrying case and all the instructions you’ll need.

My family takes this game very seriously and we play it all the time, both at home and when we go camping. The premise is simple; players take turns removing blocks from the tower and stacking them on top until someone topples it over. This game encourages teamwork as players work together to keep the tower standing while trying to make it challenging for their opponents.

Ladder Toss is another fun game to play on a camping trip that is easy to set up and can be played by all ages. All you need are two ladders and some bolas, which are basically golf balls attached to a string. The aim of the game is to throw your bolas onto the rungs of the ladder from a distance. I personally prefer Ladder Toss to cornhole and it’s also easier (and lighter) to pack.

I have always loved playing checkers with my family and friends, but playing it outdoors while camping takes the experience to a whole new level. Playing outdoor checkers is easy. All you need is a large board made from paper or cloth, and some rocks or pebbles as your pieces. You can even make the board yourself by drawing squares on the ground or using chalk on the pavement.

Charades is a classic game to play around a campfire that never gets old! Divide into teams or play as individuals, and take turns acting out phrases, songs, movies, or anything else that can be conveyed through gestures. The other players have to guess what you’re portraying before the timer runs out. It gets especially hilarious when people start getting creative with their interpretations!

One of the best things about charades is that it’s an inclusive game – anyone can join in on the fun regardless of age or physical ability. Plus, it’s a great way to bond with others at the campsite and get some laughs in while enjoying nature. Bonus points if you come up with themed rounds like “animals” or “camping activities”. Trust me – this game will keep everyone entertained for hours on end!

Camping Games For Kids

When it comes to kids and camping, having some fun games on hand is essential. From scavenger hunts to glow-in-the-dark ring toss, these fun and unique camping games for kids will keep your little ones entertained for hours.

Scavenger hunts are a great way to keep kids engaged and curious about their surroundings during camping trips. You can customize your scavenger hunt list based on the location, age range of the kids, and even include items found in nature. A scavenger hunt can also be a fun competition between families or groups of friends to see who can complete the list first.

To make it more exciting, you could hide clues around the campsite leading to various locations where they’ll find different things on their list. Alternatively, you could give them each a map with marked locations that they need to visit and check off as they find each item. Or, just get this set from Amazon and sit back and relax while your kids entertain themselves.

Nature Tic-Tac-Toe is a fun and easy game that kids of all ages enjoy. To play this game, draw a large tic-tac-toe board on the ground using sticks or rocks. Then, instead of X’s and O’s, use natural objects such as acorns and leaves as markers. Players take turns placing their chosen object in a spot on the grid until one person gets three in a row.

Not only does Nature Tic-Tac-Toe provide entertainment for children, but it also encourages them to explore nature and learn about different plants and materials found within the campsite environment. It’s an excellent way to supplement activities like hiking or animal watching by making learning more interactive and engaging for young ones.

Kickball is a classic game that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults during camping trips. All you need is a large open space, a rubber ball, and some friends to play with. The objective of the game is simple: kick the ball and run around the bases before getting tagged out by an opposing player. It’s similar to baseball but without all the complicated rules.

Telephone is a classic game that’s easy to play and perfect for any camping trip. To start, everyone sits in a circle and one person whispers a message to the person next to them. The message is then passed from person to person until it gets back to the original speaker. The final message is usually hilarious and different from the original!

This game is great for all ages, but especially fun for kids who love silly secrets and giggles. It doesn’t require any materials or set up, making it perfect for playing around the campfire or during downtime at the campsite.

Cup Stacking is a fun camping game that kids of all ages love. It’s easy to set up and requires only a few materials, making it a great option for families on the go. The objective of the game is simple: players race against each other to stack cups in a particular pattern as quickly as possible.

You’ll need plastic cups and a flat surface such as a picnic table or bench. To begin, each player starts with their stack of cups upside down on one side of the table. Players then turn over their first cup and try to build pyramids by alternating between up/down orientations using several cups at once.

The winner is whoever finishes stacking all their cups in the correct order first, so be quick! 

Simon Says is a classic game that’s sure to bring some laughter and fun to any camping trip. It’s simple yet challenging, making it perfect for all ages. Players must follow the commands given by “Simon” only if he says “Simon Says.” If not, then they shouldn’t move or act at all. The catch is that Simon can try to trick people into doing something even when he doesn’t say “Simon Says.”

This game can be played anywhere – whether on a hiking trail or around the campfire. It’s quick and easy to set up, and everyone can join in on the action! Plus, since this game requires no equipment or materials, it’s an excellent option for those who want to have some fun without bringing anything extra.

Camping Bingo is a great addition to your family camping trip. It’s easy and fun for everyone to play, from the youngest to the oldest camper. The game encourages nature exploration while also pulling in some healthy competition, making it perfect for kids and adults alike.

The game is simple, and all you need are bingo cards with different items commonly seen in the wilderness (like trees, bugs or animals) instead of numbers. When you see one of those items during your camping trip, mark it off on your card until someone gets a ‘bingo.’ You could even turn this into a learning experience by using educational cards featuring plants or wildlife specific to that area.

I absolutely love playing night games when camping, and one of my all-time favorites is Glow-In-The-Dark Ring Toss. It’s a simple game that involves throwing glow-in-the-dark rings onto pegs placed on the ground. You can buy pre-made sets or easily DIY your own by painting wooden dowels with glow-in-the-dark paint and using plastic rings from a dollar store.

Not only is this game loads of fun for kids and adults alike, it also adds an extra level of excitement to nighttime activities in the great outdoors. Plus, the glowing rings make it easier to see as you play under the stars. Give it a try at your next camping trip – I guarantee it’ll be a hit!

Just remember to turn off any lights around your campsite before playing so that the glow-in-the-dark paint really shines bright! And if you’re feeling competitive, keep score between teams or set up multiple stations for everyone to participate in at once.

Mad Libs area a fun creative way to get people thinking outside the box and laughing together around the campfire. The best part about Mad Libs is that it requires very little preparation or equipment – all you need is some paper and pencils.

To play Mad Libs , one person fills in the blanks of a story with different types of words (such as adjectives, nouns, or verbs) without knowing what the story is about. Then everyone reads out loud the completed story with their funny word choices filling in each blank. It always leads to hilarious results!

Connect Four is a classic board game that is perfect for camping trips. It’s simple to play, yet provides hours of entertainment and competition for all ages.

One of the reasons why Connect Four is such a great addition to any camping trip is because it requires minimal setup and can be played almost anywhere. Whether you’re sitting around the campfire or lounging in your tent during bad weather, this game will keep everyone entertained.

Camping Games For Teens

Looking for games that will keep your teens entertained during camping trips? Look no further than our list of exciting options, which includes glow-in-the-dark night hikes and outdoor obstacle courses.

An outdoor obstacle course is a perfect way to add some excitement and challenge to your camping experience. It’s a great activity for teens who love adventure, but it can be just as enjoyable for adults as well. You can head out into the woods, find natural obstacles like logs or rocks, and use them in your course.

To make things even more fun, try challenging yourself or your friends with timed runs through the course. You’ll get exercise while enjoying the great outdoors at the same time.

“Would You Rather” is a great camping game for teens and adults who love to think outside the box. The rules are simple: one person presents two options, and everyone else has to choose which they would rather do. This game can be tailored for any age group, making it perfect for family camping trips. Whether you’re trying to decide between jumping in a freezing lake or eating a handful of bugs, “Would You Rather” will provide hours of entertainment.

There’s nothing quite like a nighttime hike in the woods, especially one that involves glow-in-the-dark elements. If you’re looking for a fun and unique camping activity for your teenagers or young adults, consider planning a glow-in-the-dark night hike through the wilderness. Bring along some flashlights and headlamps to light up the trail, as well as some glowing sticks, bracelets or necklaces to add an extra element of fun.

Spikeball is a fun and energetic game that’s perfect for teenagers who love to spend their time outdoors. It’s similar to volleyball, but instead of hitting the ball over a net, you are hitting it onto a small trampoline-like surface on the ground. The aim of the game is to make sure your opponents can’t return the ball back onto the trampoline in three touches or less.

One of the games I used to play on every camping trip when I was in Boy Scouts is Capture The Flag. The game involves dividing players into two teams, each with a flag placed on opposite ends of the playing field. The objective of the game is to successfully “capture” your opponent’s flag and bring it back to your side without getting caught by the other team members. With plenty of running, hiding, and strategic planning involved, this game is both competitive and hours of fun.

Monopoly National Parks Edition is a great addition to your camping game collection. This outdoor-themed board game offers players the chance to explore some of America’s most famous national parks while buying, selling and trading properties. It’s a fun way for families and friends to learn about the history and features of these natural wonders.

The Monopoly National Parks Edition is perfect for groups that enjoy playing board games after dinner or during rainy days inside tents. The game includes six collectible tokens modeled after iconic items from different national parks such as Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser, Yosemite’s Half Dome, and Acadia’s lighthouse. It’s also educational as it teaches players about American landmarks like Mount Rushmore National Memorial or Grand Canyon National Park while counting their money in each turn!

Camping Games For Adults & Couples

Fear not fellow adults, I didn’t forget about you! These are my favorite games to unwind with my friends.

It may not be fancy, but whether I’m car camping or on a backpacking trip, I also have a deck of cards with me. Cards offer and thy endless possibilities of entertainment, even when you’re stuck by yourself. I personally prefer class card games, but there are also plenty of newer options like Zombie Kittens .

Pro Tip : Get a waterproof deck of cards or else risk them getting ruined the first time it rains.

Settlers of Catan is an award-winning board game that has gained a massive following, and with good reason. It’s easy to learn, but challenging enough to keep you entertained throughout your trip. The game revolves around building settlements, trading resources, and interacting with other players in order to gain victory points.

Apples to Apples is a perfect camping game for adults and couples who enjoy friendly competition. This popular card game involves players choosing the best “red apple” card from their hand of seven to match with the “green apple” word card drawn by the judge. The player whose red apple gets chosen as the best match wins that round. It’s a great way to get people laughing, thinking creatively, and bonding over funny connections.

If you’re looking for a game that’s not for the faint of heart, Cards Against Humanity is definitely one to consider. This adult-oriented party game is a hilarious and irreverent take on Apples to Apples. The rules are simple: each round, one player asks a question from a black card and everyone else answers with their funniest (and often raunchiest) white card.

Pro Tip: Do NOT play this game with anyone that you aren’t ready to say lewd things in front of. So, if this is the first time meeting your partner’s parents or anything like that…maybe skip this one.

Related: Ideas For Your Next Couples Camping Trip

Playing Cards Against Humanity at your next camping trip can be an excellent way to bond with friends or family members who share your sense of humor. Just keep in mind that this game is definitely not appropriate for young children—some of the cards can get pretty crude! Some people even choose to bring along “expansion packs” which include even more outrageous cards than the original pack.

Kan Jam is a fun and exciting game that’s perfect for camping trips. It involves throwing a frisbee into a plastic can to score points, making it great for all ages. The best part? You can play it on sand, grass, or any other outdoor surface.

One of the reasons why Kan Jam is so popular among campers is because it’s incredibly easy to set up and doesn’t require much space. All you need are two cans and a frisbee, which can easily fit in your camping gear. Plus, the game promotes teamwork and friendly competition among players, making it an excellent activity for family bonding or team building exercises.

Frisbee Golf is a popular camping game that combines the fun of throwing a frisbee with the strategy and skill of golf. Instead of hitting a ball into holes, players throw their frisbee towards targets, usually metal baskets or poles. The goal is to complete each hole in as few throws as possible.

To play Frisbee Golf while camping, you will need to bring your own frisbees, which are relatively lightweight and easy to pack. Many campgrounds have designated Frisbee Golf courses on site with marked tee-off areas and numbered baskets throughout the course. If there isn’t one available, you can also create your own course using natural landmarks like trees or rocks as targets.

Thomas Coleman

The Outdoor Authority

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• Tales from the Trails

21 Best Camping Games for Adults For a Memorable Trip

BACKPACK / CAMP — General , Camping | 0 comments

Camping is all about getting back to nature, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave all the fun behind. In fact, playing funny camping games while camping is the fun part of bonding with your fellow campers and adds some excitement to your whole trip . In this article, we’ll share 21 of the best camping games for adults that are sure to spice up your next camping adventure.

Table of contents

Why play games while camping, murder in the dark, giant jenga, scavenger hunts, bouldering or rock climbing, capture the flag, cards against humanity, never have i ever, ladder toss, truth or dare, flashlight tag, two truths and a lie, frisbee golf, frequently asked questions, get more gear advice for your next trip:.

Before we dive into our list of the best camping activities for adults, let’s talk about why playing games while camping is such a great idea.

First and foremost, camp games for adults are a great way to pass the time. While it’s important to take time to relax and enjoy the natural beauty around you, there are always going to be moments when you find yourself with nothing to do. Whether you’re waiting for dinner to cook or just enjoying a lazy afternoon, having a few games on hand can help keep everyone entertained and engaged.

Additionally, adult summer camp games are a great way to build camaraderie among your camping group. Whether you’re playing a competitive game of cornhole or working together on a scavenger hunt, playing games together is a great way to bond and get to know each other better.

The best camping games for adults

Now that we’ve covered why you should play games while camping, let’s dive into our list of 15 adult-approved fun camping activities. Whether you’re looking for something competitive or just a fun way to pass the time, there’s a game on this list for everyone.

Murder in the Dark is one of the perfect playing around-the-campfire games. To play, one person is designated as the “murderer”, the second person a “detective” and the third player, the “victim”. The detective must figure out who the murderer is.

Once the detective leaves the area the murderer “kills” a fellow player in the dark, which causes them to scream and pretend to be dead. Thereupon hearing the scream, the detective returns and interrogates all players to identify the murderer. Another key point, the game involves players telling the truth, except for the murderer who must lie.

• Do not use actual weapons
• No pushing or fighting
• Only the murderer, figuratively, kills people

Cornhole is a fun and easy game that’s perfect for playing at the campsite. To play, teams take turns throwing beanbags at a raised platform with a hole in it. The goal is to get your beanbag into the hole, or at least onto the platform, while your opponents try to do the same.

Jenga is a classic game that’s been around for decades, but have you ever played giant Jenga? To play, simply stack a bunch of wooden blocks on top of each other and take turns pulling them out one by one. The catch? The blocks are giant-sized, so they’re much harder to handle than the regular-sized ones.

One fun game that’s gaining popularity amongst adults is geocaching. It’s a modern-day treasure hunt that involves using GPS coordinates to find hidden containers, also known as geocaches. It’s a great way to explore the natural surroundings around your campsite and get some exercise in the process.

As a result, there’s a sense of satisfaction when you finally find the cache and sign the logbook. So, if you’re looking for a fun and unique camping game, give geocaching a try. Just don’t forget to bring your GPS device or smartphone with you!

Camping is not just for kids, but also for adults who want to reconnect with nature and their inner child. One way to spice up your camping trip is by playing fun and exciting games that are tailored for grown-ups. One of the best games that you can do to mix things up during your camping trips is a scavenger hunt.

This game is perfect for those who want to treasure hunt while also testing their survival skills. You can set up a list of items that need to be found, such as acorns, pinecones, or even a specific type of leaf.

The first team to find all the items on the list wins! This game is not only challenging but also a great way to bond with your camping buddies. So, grab your binoculars and get ready for an adventure!

Fun things to collect for scavenger hunts:

• Animal tracks
• Mushrooms (just don’t eat these)
• Snail shell
• Fallen leaf
• Stick shaped like a letter of the alphabet
• Piece of trash to properly dispose of
• Something that smells like cinnamon
• A smooth stone
• Four-leaf clover (if you can find one)

Remember to always follow Leave No Trace principles and respect the environment while collecting items on a scavenger hunt.

Not into board games? One more physical outdoor activity is bouldering or rock climbing, which challenges your strength and endurance as you scale rugged cliffs and boulders. Not only is it a great workout, but it also provides an opportunity to connect with nature, use problem-solving skills and test your physical limits.

Without a doubt, you’ll need specific climbing safety equipment and bouldering crash pads . Read more on bouldering essentials and how to get started.

Beer-pong is a classic drinking game that’s perfect for the campsite. To play, set up a table and fill cups with beer. Teams take turns trying to throw ping pong balls into their opponents’ cups. If they make a ball, the other team has to drink the beer in that cup.

No table? This set below uses the larger cups that can be placed on the ground.

Bocce ball is a fun activity that the whole family can play on its next camping trip. It’s perfect for playing on the grassy areas around the campsite. To play, teams take turns throwing balls at a smaller ball called the “jack.” The team that gets their balls closest to the jack wins.

One of the most popular games, and for good reason, is Capture the Flag. It’s a game that can be played with just a few people or with a large group, and it’s a great way to get your heart pumping and your competitive spirit going.

How it works: divide your group into two teams and designate a “jail” area for each team. Each team then hides a flag somewhere on their side of the playing area. The goal is for each team to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to their own side without getting caught or tagged, and sent to jail.

Specifically, you may need to enter enemy territory to break your teammates out of jail, while protecting your base.

Cards Against Humanity are hilarious and irreverent card game to get everyone laughing. To play, one player reads a question or statement from a black card, and everyone else chooses the funniest or most outrageous answer from their white cards.

Never Have I Ever is another classic drinking game that’s perfect for playing around the campfire. To play, one person makes a statement starting with “Never have I ever…” and everyone else takes a drink if they’ve done the thing that was mentioned.

This is one of the most popular classic games that’s perfect for playing around the campfire. To play charades, one person acts out a word or phrase without speaking, and everyone else tries to guess what it is.

One classic game that is perfect for camping is cribbage. This card game is easy to learn but challenging to master, making it the perfect way to pass the time around the campfire. Plus, the compact size of the cards and board makes it easy to pack and bring along on your camping trip.

So, whether you’re a seasoned cribbage pro or a newbie looking to learn, this game is sure to add some fun.

Get Backpack Cribbage from REI from $17.95

Let’s face it, sitting around the campfire and staring at the stars can get old after a while. That’s where ladder toss comes in! This game is perfect for all levels of expertise and can be played with a group or just two people.

Basically, the objective of the game is to toss the bolas (two balls connected by a string) onto the ladder rungs to score points. The higher the rung, the more points you earn. It’s a game of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck. It sounds simple enough, but trust me, it can get quite competitive.

Truth or Dare is one of the adult summer camp games that’s perfect for the campsite. To play, one person chooses “truth” or “dare,” and then has to answer a question truthfully or complete a dare chosen by the other players.

One of the most exciting and adventurous games that you can play in a large group while camping is flashlight tag. Certainly, this game is perfect for thrill-seekers who love the dark and want to add a bit of excitement to their camping trip.

To play flashlight tag, you’ll need at least three people. One person will be the “it” and will have a flashlight. The other players play hide, and the objective is to avoid being caught by the person who is “it.” If you get caught, then you become “it,” and the game continues.

Flashlight tag are one of the exciting camping activities to do on a dark night in the woods or an open field. It’s an excellent way to get the heart racing and to have more fun with your friends or family. So grab your flashlights and get ready for some intense, grown-up fun. Since this is played in the dark, make sure that everyone has the best backpacking flashlight , and be careful not to trip over any rocks or branches!

Two Truths and a Lie is both a fun and easy game that’s perfect for getting to know your fellow campers. To play, each person tells three statements about themselves – two of which are true, and one of which is a lie. The other players have to guess which statement is the lie.

Frisbee golf is a fun challenge that’s perfect for playing around the campsite. In one of the more active games, place golf disc baskets and then take turns throwing a frisbee at the targets. To play, simply set up a course with various “holes” (disc baskets) and take turns throwing your frisbee toward each one. The person with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.

Recommended reading: 13 Cheapest Camper Trailers Under $10,000

One popular activity is slacklining or tightrope walking, which involves balancing on a narrow piece of webbing strung between two trees. This game can be a bit challenging, but it’s a great way to test your balance and coordination. A slackline kit with tree protectors is a must-have for this game, as it ensures that the trees are not damaged during the activity.

So, if you’re looking to add some excitement to your camping trip, consider bringing along a slackline kit with tree protectors and see who can stay on the longest!

Fun campfire game Taboo is a challenging word game, the perfect camping activity, done around a campfire or hiking. To play, one person tries to get their team to guess a word without using certain “taboo” words or phrases.

One of the more active games that’s perfect for playing on a flat, grassy area. To play, set up a course, then teams take turns trying to throw a frisbee into a can. If they make it in, then they score points – but if their opponent “jams” the frisbee into the can, they win the game.

There are several night games that can be enjoyed while camping, including Ghost in the Graveyard and Flashlight Tag. These games offer engaging gameplay alternates and can add excitement to your camping experience. Whether you’re searching for hidden players in the dark or trying to avoid being caught in the beam of a flashlight, these games provide hours of entertainment for campers of all ages. So, if you’re looking for some fun activities to spice up your camping trip, consider incorporating these thrilling and interactive games into your itinerary.

Hiking games for adults include games like I Spy and 20 Questions, as well as games like Geocaching and Orienteering which involve finding hidden objects or navigating a trail.

The best camping games for adults include group games like Charades and Pictionary, card games like Poker and Uno, and outdoor games like Frisbee Golf and Kan Jam.

Drinking games can be fun adult camping activities, but it’s important to play responsibly and to be mindful of alcohol consumption. Be extra careful around cliffs, poison ivy, or lakes if drinking games are part of any camping trips.

Camping is all about getting back to nature, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave all the fun behind.  Besides camping essentials you shouldn’t leave behind, such as hiking gear women should have on every trip, or guys, your best hiking pants , or double sleeping bags.

By playing camping games, adults can create lasting memories and strengthen your relationships with your fellow campers. Whether you’re looking for something competitive,  want to buy any of these games for hiking trips , or just a fun way to pass the time, there’s a game on this list for everyone. So next time you’re out in the great outdoors, grab some friends and get ready to play!

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53 Camping Games to Keep Kids (and Adults!) Entertained Outdoors

Going on a camping trip is great, but getting to play some fun family camping games too – well, that will make it even more fun!! I love being able to genuinely reconnect with my family (away from the phones, chores, etc) through some simple camping games that will get the whole crew laughing and moving around!

Each of the camping games I list will MOSTLY be modifiable for different age groups, however I’ll make sure to list the games that are mostly for older kids at the bottom. I’m lucky that I have 3 young ones of my own, but have camped plenty with their much older cousins – even teens can have fun camping!

I will also include a section for fun camping games at night (lots of glow sticks, folks!) to think about before heading out on your next camping trip!

Table of Contents

Here are some fun games to take on your next camping trip

Sling some rockets, obstacle course (camp style), duck duck goose (deer deer bear).

• Campground Scavenger Hunt

Marshmallow Shootout

The alphabet game (for the outdoors), pass the water, squirt gun shootout, camping charades, story stones, sing camping songs (if you have little kids), tic tac toe (but way cooler than what you’re thinking).

• Would You Rather

Spoons (Rocks, Pinecones or Marshmallows)

Camp mad libs, “roll a s’more”.

• Spot it! card game

Kids Against Maturity (for the older kids!)

Blacklight jenga (don’t worry, it comes with the lights).

• Glow in the dark ring toss!
• Light up frisbee
• Light Up Hula Hooping!
• S tory telling with these mini projectors (with tons of different options!)

Play glowing cornhole

Glow hot potato, glow tape to make your own camping night time game.

Active and fun camping games

These fun camping games listed below are super active, and will be guaranteed to burn off some energy. No board games here – these are for the kids who love to be moving all the time!

These are THE BOMB! My mother in law gave my four year old a set and it is one of our favorite outdoor toys. Even better, these have a switch that will make them glow at night!

They go super far, look cool, and are a pretty good way to wear the kids out by having them trying to chase and catch them before they land!

These foam sling rockets  go super far, are easy to use, and best of all.. can still be used at night because they glow! This is a great way to burn some energy! 

SEE IT ON AMAZON!

What better way to enjoy everything about camp than making a fun obstacle course based off of whatever you have around you?

Depending on the age of your kids, you can make this as challenging or fun as you like!

Try getting some sticks to set up jumps, rocks to make circles to land in, and maybe even a little mud puddle for a big final jump! I like doing obstacle courses with cool trees in the area to make this even more unique!

Make this favorite kids game a little more “campy” by switching out the words from duck duck goose to deer deer BEAR! Kids will love to play this familiar classic while camping!

I know my kid needs no excuse to act like a bear! I also love that this game can be played with an unlimited amount of people, so it’s a game that even bigger groups can play!

Scavenger Hunts

I looooove going on campground scavenger hunts so that we all become a little more familiar with where we’re staying, and where everything is! Besides that, it’s just a good excuse to get up and explore around!

There are fun party styles like this glamping camp scavenger hunt or more nature based ones such as general outdoor scavenger hunts .

Psssst – if you have some older kids who this is too easy/kiddy for, make it fun for them by doing a selfie style scavenger hunt ! Being able to use their cell phone in a fun, relevant way will encourage the teens/tweens in the group to participate as well!

It’s kind of a staple of most parties (atleast in Virginia and Wyoming) and you’ll be glad to know it’s just as fun camping! Don’t worry though, you don’t have to lug your massive wooden boards everywhere you go!

There are some cornhole sets that fold up small and are perfect to bring camping (like the one below!)

This cornhole set is perfect for camping  because it folds up so nicely (and to be honest, it’s nice to use at home too since the big wooden boards take up too much space!)  SEE IT ON AMAZON!

While we’re talking fun family outdoor games (that have camp versions that pack easy) we can’t forget ring toss! Whether you  DIY your ring toss game  or choose to buy a  compact set like the one below , it’s an easily modifiable game for all ages!

Another family camping game that packs small but goes big on fun!  This ring toss set   all fits into that little bag you see at the top of this picture!

Bottle Bash Frisbee

In this active and versatile game, teams try to knock down eachothers bottle and pole – both of which are worth points! I love how simple the rules are and how nice and small this game packs down!

If you giggled at that name just know that you and I share the same sense of humor (sorry, I’m a child sometimes!) Anyways, this silly game is one that the kids will especially love as it comes in two different themes – unicorns or a monster!

I hadn’t heard of this game before, so after reading about it, it seems you throw floor darts (flarts) onto the tarp to try and hit certain points. I mostly love that it’s so small (being that the gameboard is a tarp) that you could even take it in your next hike with the kids for a fun filled break!

Flarts uses just a tarp and inflatable floor darts (the flarts) to create tons of fun! With either a monster or unicorn theme, kids will love  this easy to pack game  at camp or heck… since it packs so small, even on a hike! 

If you want to become as equally obsessed as your kids with a game, then try out Kendama. You might not remember the name, but you probably recognize the thing when you see it!

Kids (and adults!) will spend hours seeing who can get the ball successfully on each target (there’s two shallow cups + a point on top to try and land the wooden ball on). I also love that it’s small so would be great to take on a hike or backcountry camp!

It looks simple, but  kendama is a great test of patience and skill   (and a easy single person game someone could play even while sitting down!) 

Ever practice shooting cans when you were a kid? Let’s campify that by shooting marshmallows at plastic cups (or whatever else you have that’s non glass)

DIY your own Marshmallow shooters with some PVC pipe here  or you can even buy them premade like the one below!

If you aren’t the DIY type, you can  buy your own marshmallow shooter here from Amazon!

Sleeping Bag Race

Make sure that you’re not using any super nice sleeping bag (aka use the car camping bag vs. the backapcking one!) and have an old fashioned potato sack race… but with your sleeping bag!

This can be pretty challenging if you try to do ALL the letters (Z is hard outdoors!) but it is a perfect camping game for young campers to get familiar with the alphabet. I especially like this game for camping trips somewhere new – it will really encourage them to look around and observe everything!

Here are some ideas for an alphabet themed camp or nature scavenger game ( download this and three more outdoor scavenger hunts here!)

One of the best games for a hot day, you only need a couple cups and some water for a fun challenge!

Each person gets a cup and gets in line – the first person in line gets their cup filled with water, then they try to pour it behind them for the next person to catch it with their cup! Make sure to use bigger cups for younger kids so it’s easier to catch!

While I already recommend bringing ALL the waterguns/cannons that you can (especially if you’ll be camping near water!) I definitely recommend some focused squirt gun shooting – it’s an especially great camping game during summer!

Capture the Flag (at camp!)

This has to be the easiest, no prep active camp game there is! This is especially good if you have a big family or like to camp with alot of friends. To play this game, you’ll just need to have each time create a flag and hide it somewhere on their side – the other team has to find it and bring it back to their base!

Relaxed Camp Games (think around the campfire or at a table)

These are fun camping games to help unwind and relax while still having fun at camp! Still expect plenty of laughs and smiles from these =)

This is a fun camp game that can be enjoyed by almost all ages! Have everyone write down some fun camp themed actions or objects on slips of paper, then put them all in a cup and take turns picking one and acting it out! Try thinking of your own items to act out, or try this premade set of camp charades here !

Not sure why everyone has forgotten about this game, but it is super fun for those over three and can get pretty competitive! What better way to pass time at camp than challenge eachother and see who comes out with the most marbles by the end of the camp trip!

I have sooooo many fond memories of playing this in school – I’m excited to show it to my kids!

This marble set  comes with some shooters and plenty of marbles to get a couple of kids started on this amazing game!

  SEE IT ON AMAZON!

Campfire stories will always be fun, but this is even more fun because you have to tell a story based on your stones ! Either draw camp themed images on your stones or modge podge said images to some rocks. Store them all in a bag, then play one of two ways – adding to the story one at a time, or grabbing 3 random ones and making a story from that!

Kids LOVE songs (I recently sang shoo fly don’t bother me to mine and now they are all obsessed… such a simple song!) so they’ll enjoy the “camp versions” of popular nursery rhymes they probably already know! Here are over 27 kids camping songs  (including repeat after mes) as well as some originals! (Yes, you can print some of them out for free!)

“The Fire At Camp” is sung to the same tune as “The Wheels on the Bus” so little kids will get the hang of it pretty quick. I also love to use these kinds of songs for hikes to keep everyone from complaining!

While you can always create a tic tac toe board from pretty much anything around you (which is definitely cool) why not get something that is multi functional! I found this multi use (tic tac toe, MEGA tic tac toe, checkers) picnic blanket /rug thing and it seems just about perfect for throwing out on the ground and playing while at camp!

I like that there is a super version so that even adults can  enjoy playing tic tac toe while camping ! The other side is a checkerboard, and of course it comes with all the playing pieces!  SEE IT ON AMAZON!

I absolutely loved this game as a child, and it really has no age limit! See who listens the best at camp (hint: might not be the best for preschool age and younger… LOL!) to what Simon Says!

Would You Rather

This game can be as deep or silly as you like! Obviously, if you’re playing this with kids then they should be silly, but I’ve gotten into some pretty deep adult conversations in regards to the reasoning behind each choice!

Whether it’s to break up a rainy day or to play around camp, take turns asking each other “Would You Rather” scenarios!

I really like making a big deal out of each camp trip, so to campify this game we use something from around our campsite instead of a spoon! Warning – if you use marshmallows while playing with kids, they might mysteriously start to dissapear! =P

Here’s a quick recap on how to play spoons. The goal is to get four of kind. you put one less pinecone in the middle than the amount of players, then deal each player 4 cards. The person closest to the deck draws one card, then discards the card of their choice to the player sitting on their left.

For more info check out this  really good article on all the rules to play spoons!

This is a great game for the older kids (think 10+) but get ready to fall over laughing with this book of camping mad libs! I can’t wait to get this for my kids when they’re a little older – I LOVE to laugh!

Ger eady to laugh your butt off with these  “camp daze” mad libs! SEE IT ON AMAZON!

Toasted or Roasted Card Game

This game is designed to be both offensive and defensive, and the goal is to be the first player to start a campfire and toast three marshmallows. Opponents can try to hinder your progress by causing problems for your campfire, such as making it rain or blowing out the fire, or by burning your marshmallows. The game is packaged in a resealable bag, making it easy to take along for fun on the go.

We all know kids love s’mores, so why not a board game based on them? This game lets kids build a s’more piece by piece through rolling the dice! It’s an excellent camping game to practice number recognition and counting (and kids will love to win each piece!)

You can  read more about this printable s’more game or purchase it here !

This s’more game is a great way for kids around 3+ to practice turn taking and matching (while having fun!)

This classic card game has a camp version, and since you guys know I’m all about trying to find fun games that pack small… this little can of fun is definitely on here!

The set of cards come in a durable tin that fits easy in your pack. It can also be used with up to eight players, and is one of my FAVORITE camping games because it’s even fun to play as an adult!

See who can spot the common camp themed image first in  this fun Spot it Camping game! SEE IT ON AMAZON!

I’m sure you’ve heard about Cards Against Humanity – think the same laughable, sometimes obscene content kidified. What does that look like?

Alot of fart and doo doo jokes (gosh it felt weird even typing that!) This is a perfect card game for the 10+ crowd!

But that also means ALOT of laughs and that’s well worth it! Heads up: There are some cards that are questionable (such as calling people fat) so you may want to remove those ahead of time and any others that don’t align with your family values! If you want to belly laugh with your too cool for school pre teens, then you gotta try  Kids Against Maturity!

Tell Campfire Stories

This is a given, but what if you aren’t particularly creative, or don’t know what to talk about? In comes these story starter cards PERFECT to pass around the campfire ring! I love that there’s even a deck for kids , so this could be an all ages activity!

Night time camping games

Campfires are fun, but if the kids are still awake (or the adults want to have some laughs) there are some cool options for both just sitting around the campfire or taking advantage of the dark for added fun!

It’s a given that you should load up on glow sticks at the Dollar Tree (mine has almost a whole aisle of awesome glowsticks) this section will focus on things that are more than just glowsticks.

Here are some of my favorites!

What cooler thing is there besides a jenga that is big AND can glow cool colors?? The whole family will love building up this glowing tower!! Fair warning – it is heavy, and is definitely best for car camping!

Shine some  blacklights on this awesome game  and make camp LIT (literally and figuratively! =P) 

Get a projector!

Pull up your comfiest camp chair (or inflatable couch, in this case) and watch your favorite movies to wind down at the end of the night! I know it’s not exactly a game, but it can be pretty relaxing to watch a movie under the starts while cuddled up under a warm blanket!

This projector is budget friendly  and well priced, and  this screen is VERY durable  and should stand up to camping conditoins!

Use the side of your camper, string up a sheet, or buy  a screen like this  and  project the families favorite movie  to wind down at the end of the night!  SEE IT ON AMAZON!

Glow in the dark ring toss

You could just get glowstick rings, but why not make EVERYTHING glow and get light up cones too?! This makes everything way more exciting (and easier to see for little ones!)

At the touch of a button, you’ll have some  cool light up cones  to toss your rings at while at camp!

Play catching with a glowing frisbee

If you want to keep active at camp after dark, then you’ll love this light up frisbee! It’s vibrant, long lasting, and fairly heavy duty!

Make frisbee even more of a fun challenge by playing at night with this  light up frisbee !

Light Up Hula Hooping

It’s not just for raves guys – everyone enjoys cool lit up stuff! Get your workout on as an adult or let the kids have fun with it!

Imagine how cool  this light up hula hoop  will look when it’s in use! 

If you absolutely love cornhole, put this ring around the hole of the board to keep it going all night long! While this DOES seem to only attatch to wooden boards, I wonder if some industrial strength velcro would hold it to your collapsible ones like I linked to earlier.

This  LED cornhole ring  comes in multiple colors and is pretty durable! This makes playing cornhole at night possible while not keeping your all your lights on for the whole campground to see! 

Hot potato is currently all my kids (and their cousins even!) favorite game! If you don’t remember how to play this childhood favorite, here’s a quick recap . You toss the ball around to each other (either in a circle or just hitting it up and someone else getting it) and whoever drops it has to sit in the middle and become “hot potato soup”.

TIP: While not as flashy, you can get a glowing beachball like this for a a lot cheaper from the dollar tree.  It has a spot to insert a glowstick, so it’s really easy to use over and over. Again, same idea, just not as glowy as what I am linking to below! I am just linking to this because it’s alot higher quality and not everyone has a Dollar Tree!

This  bright glowy beach ball   has a remote that can make it change colors! Use it as a nightlight once the playing is all done! 

While I feel like I covered almost everything that glows, this tape will definitely seal the deal!

Wrap it on bean bags, buckets, frisbees, or anything else you want to make more fun at night!

It’s pretty bright and sticks well, so you might even use it as a safety thing to (like marking the steps on your camper or putting a couple pieces on the tent lines and stakes)

Make sure to give the tape 5 to 30 minutes to charge up!

In case you want to save some money and make your own night time camping game, or just think what you want doesn’t exist so you DIY…  this glow in the dark tape is heavy duty and VERY bright! SEE IT ON AMAZON!

What’s are your favorite camping games (leave it in the comments, especially if it’s not here so I can add it in and help others!)

Camping presents tons of opportunities to reconnect – why not take it to the next level and bring along some games to really get the laughs and conversation going!

Other camping articles you’ll love

• Make sure you have the  tools you need to fix almost anything in your camper  for your next trip (so you don’t have to go back home!)
• And even if you have to get something big fixed, check out this  Guide to Mobile RV Repair .
• Ready to indulge? Check out the  best indoor RV items  that you don’t need.. but will thoroughly enjoy!!
• Patio mats are a great addition to your RV camping kit. Check out the  top 5 RV Patio Mats  here.
• Check out these  top RV Backup Cameras . Avoid a messy accident!
• Bake some  decadent dutch oven chocolate cupcakes  at camp (it’s not as hard as you think!)
• If you’re freaked out at how easy it is to clutter small spaces, then you gotta read my interview with a professional organizer… turned full-time RVer! She gives  41+ tips on how to organize the clutter in your camper !
• Make camp life easier with your travel trailer with these  awesome outdoor RV products !!
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The 59 Best Camping Games For Families, Kids, Rainy Days + MORE

Post Summary: The Best Camping Games By Category

Are you planning a family camping trip ? If you have kids or expect some down time during your trip, activities are ESSENTIAL to keep everyone entertained!

In this post, we’re sharing our absolute favorite camping games . Berty and I have been camping ever since we can remember – probably since birth! We have played nearly every game on this list!

The Best Camping Games That Everyone Will Love

This post contains affiliate links. We participate in the Amazon Associates program, and all opinions are our own!

Before we begin – in this post we’re breaking down these outdoor camping games by subject . Check out the table of contents to find fun camping games that fit your group’s needs!

Camping Games at Night

Looking for games to play while camping at night? Here are some of our favorites:

1. Flashlight Tag

Get from point A to point B, all without being caught by the person with the flashlight ! Stealth is key here. 

2. Glow in the Dark Capture the Flag

It’s like regular capture the flag, but each team wears glow sticks of their team color!

3. Campfire Stories

Make up your own or choose your own adventure with REI’s prompt cards for epic campfire stories.

4. Spot constellations

One of the best night time camping games that requires no equipment at all is going stargazing and spotting constellations. If you need a guide, check out Google Sky or SkyView for help!

5. S’mores contest

Plan ahead and bring all the best s’more ingredients for this fun camping game! Make a bracket or judge one at a time to pick the best version of this classic camping treat. And if you use any of our favorite s’more recipes, let us know which one wins!

6. Make a Colorful Fire

You can buy flame color changer from Amazon for just $17 (pack of 24) and have a fun evening of watching nature’s TV.

7. Murder in the Dark

Like mafia, this is a fun (and spooky!) group game that is best played in the dark.

To play, use a deck of cards (or paper) with one joker in it. Hand out cards to each player. Whoever draws the joker becomes the “murderer” and tries to “kill” everyone before they are found out. Can you make it out alive?

Card Games for Camping

There are so many popular camping card games! Here are some of the classic favorites:

The game of Uno is perfect for an evening of camping games. For a more complex version, try Spicy Uno –another way to play the game that doesn’t require any special add-on cards, just new rules!

You might think of this as a game for kids, but adults–don’t sleep on Go Fish ! This game is easy, passes the time, and is quite fun.

9. Phase 10

The game Phase 10 is based off of Rummy and can be played by 2-6 players. It also has roots in Uno!

This fast-paced game is great for wiggly children or those wanting to play a quick card game.

11. Old Maid

Rooted in the Victorian era, the Old Maid game comes from an ancient gambling game in which the loser pays for the drinks! You can use the actual Old Maid card game, or use a standard deck of cards by taking out three queens–the final queen becoming the old maid.

The objective of Rummy is to get rid of all your cards . You do this by matching cards of the same rank or sequence and same suit. 

12. Slapjack

All you need to play Slapjack is a deck of cards! To play, you simply divide the cards evenly between all players, put down a card one at a time, and slap the stack in the middle when a jack shows up !

The first person to slap the cards wins the pile. Whoever has the most cards wins.

Spoons is one of the best fun games to play while camping, because it’s fast-paced and can be done with a small or large number of people! All you need to play Spoons are a deck of cards and spoons (or any other object of which you have multiple, totalling one less than the number of people in your camping group).

14. Exploding Kittens

This card game is so fun and great for small groups. Exploding Kittens is strategic, engaging, and addicting!

15. Apples to Apples

One of the best camping games for kids is Apples to Apples–t he fun word game that will have you rolling on the floor laughing! For an adult version of this game, check out Cards Against Humanities.

Rainy Day Camping Games

Some of the best games for camping can be done indoors! If you find yourself camping on a rainy day , here are some of our top camping game suggestions that are perfect for inside a tent or trailer, in a nearby coffee shop, under a shelter, or under an awning:

16. Charades

You can make up your own words and draw from a bowl or use a random word generator to play! This timeless game is perfect for kids, as it requires movement. Don’t have a lot of space? Try using just hand gestures!

17. Cup Stacking

All you need are cups and a flat space. See how fast you can construct and deconstruct a cup tower!

18. Camping Bingo

Print cards before you go and use rocks as place markers.

This is always a fun game with friends and family. You can look up questions, bring trivia cards, or simply test each other’s knowledge with things you already know.

20. Bananagrams

You can play this with two or a few! What makes Bananagrams so great is that it’s extremely portable (unlike a large Scrabble board), is engaging, and can be played over and over.

21. Madlibs

This is a great game for small kids. Pick up a Madlibs booklet at any local store before your camping trip or make up a template on your own.

22. Roll-up Shuffleboard

You can get one from REI for just $40! Being a roll-up game, this is a portable and fun option for camping in the rain.

Best Campfire Games

Some of the best camping memories happen right around the campfire , making it the perfect time to start some conversation with campfire games!

Here are some good campfire games for two people or twenty:

23. Would You Rather

You can make up your own Would You Rather questions or use premade cards . The best thing about this conversation game is that you can make the questions as silly or serious as you’d like.

24. Two Truths and a Lie

One of the best games for camping is Two Truths and a Lie , because you can learn a lot about people with this game and it’s quite strategic!

25. Telephone

Everyone loves this classic word game! To level up, play the fun variation of Telephone Pictionary .

26. Read a Book

When all else fails, reading a book aloud around the campfire is a great way to relax or have a good laugh at the end of the day.

Need a book to read? Some of the silliest campfire stories are found in Patrick McManus’s books about boyhood, growing up, and living in the backwoods.

27. Table Topics Cards

These Table Topic cards come in a variety of styles (Couples, teen, dinner party, etc) but the Family Deck is a great way to spark up some new conversations!

Best Camping Board Games

Whether it’s a rainy day or you’re up for late night shenanigans, board games are great fun while camping.

Here are some of our favorite camping board games that can be played by all ages:

28. Catch Phrase

You can play this classic game with or without the actual game! All you do is have every player write down words,  and take turns guessing!

29. Parcheesi

This board game is great for those who love abstract strategy games!  

One of the best board games for camping is Sorry!, because it’s easy to play with people of all ages . It’s fast-paced and simple to learn.

31. Checkers

If you don’t have a board for Checkers , make your own with some paper, stones, and wood pieces from the forest!

32. Yahtzee

While this game uses a lot of luck, it also requires quite a bit of strategy! Yahtzee is perfect for kids, families, or couples.

33. Monopoly – National Parks Edition

Because of its connection to US national parks, Monopoly – National Parks Edition is one of the best board games for camping. You’ll go on a great adventure while playing the classic board game, Monopoly.

34. Sequence

This timeless game is so fun. All you need is four players and the board game! Sequence is perfect for kids, those who love strategy, and folks who like shorter, quick games.

BEST Camping Games Without Equipment

Sometimes the best camping games are those that require nothing but yourselves ! Here are some of the best camping games without equipment that can be done anywhere, anytime:

35. Add to the Story

This is one of the best family camping games, because anyone at any age can participate! To play these camping word games, all you do is have someone begin a story with a sentence , then the next person adds to it ! Keep going until you have a complete story.

36. The Human Knot

To play this simple game, have everyone get in a circle and grab hands with someone else.

The object of the game is to untangle the group while still holding hands and get back into a circle. It’s harder than you might think!

Best Camping Games for Large Groups

Group camping is one of the best ways to experience the outdoors, make new friends and bond with old ones, and play fun games!

Here are some of our favorite camping games for large groups:

37. Frisbee

You can simply throw the frisbee to one another or play Ultimate Frisbee , which is basically American football but with a frisbee instead of a football!

38. Capture the Flag

One of the most classic outdoor camping games is Capture the Flag. All you need is two teams of any size and one object for each team to guard from the other. Don’t get tagged or you’ll go to the other team’s prison! If you’re lucky, they’ll call a jail break.

39. Tug-of-War

Going back centuries, Tug-of-War is a timeless game that only requires a rope and two teams ! To level up, you can play messy Tug-of-War and make a mud pit in the middle for the losing team to fall into.

40. Bocce Ball

The strategic game, Bocce Ball, is great for large groups while camping.

Bocce Ball is both easy and simple to learn, and only requires 9 balls (4 for each team and one smaller ball, called the “Jack” or “Pallino”), two teams, and an open space to play.

41. Sleeping Bag Races

Everyone’s got a sleeping bag or blanket while camping, so this is the perfect game for large group camping! All you need to do is have everyone get in their sleeping bag, line up, and say “GO!”

Whoever makes it to the finish line first wins!

42. Make up the Camping Olympic Games

For all the creative types out there, you can make a tournament of your own for the “Camping Olympics!” Need inspiration? Revisit the old “Minute to Win It” game show for ideas!

One of the best group camping games is Wolf, because it can be played at any time–literally. It’s kind of like ultimate hide-and-seek!

To play, one person is designated the “wolf.” When the wolf shouts “WOLF!” everyone else hides within 10 seconds while the wolf’s eyes are closed, but they must hide in a way where they still maintain eye contact with the wolf.

After 10 seconds, the wolf stays in their spot, looks around, and searches for all players. Whoever is found last wins that round and is named the next wolf!

44. Tricky Tricky Bear

One of the best late-night group camping games is called Tricky Tricky Bear. To play, everyone sits around a large table and holds a plastic cup/object of your choice.

Everyone then sings the Tricky Tricky Bear song and rotates the cups around the table. If you mess up and drop your cup, you’re out! The game continues until there are only two people left.

45. Fishbowl

This is such a fun game to play with large groups! The supplies you’ll need are paper, pens, and a bowl. Have everyone write down three nouns and put them in the bowl.

To play, there are two teams and four timed rounds that will be played in a circle: catch phrase, charades, describing the noun with one word (other than what’s on the paper), and making a sound! Whichever team has the most papers wins.

Camping Lawn Games

If you’re camping near an open space, we’ve got you covered with all the best camping lawn games to play with friends and family:

46. Cornhole – One of the best Camping Games

One of the most popular camping yard games is cornhole. All you need are cornhole boards (or buckets, if you don’t have the game set-up) and bean bags!

47. Ladder Ball

This is the perfect outdoor sports game for all ages. The object of Ladder Ball is to wrap more bolas (two golf balls attached together with nylon string) than your opposing team.

48. Horseshoes

Campgrounds often have this game, making it one of the easiest camping lawn games.

49. Ring Toss

This game is so simple to set up and fun for families and kids, as you can make it as difficult or as easy as you’d like. Don’t have the game? Make your own with sticks from the forest and homemade rings!

50. Lawn Jenga

If you’ve got access to giant Jenga or 2×4’s, you can play Lawn Jenga! This is a highly entertaining game for kids–especially since it’s a big version of the classic game!

For a longer and fun family lawn game to play while camping, check out Kubb. The object of the game is to knock down the other team’s blocks before they knock down yours!

52. Slacklining

One of the most entertaining activities to play while camping is setting up a slackline and trying to get across! All you need is a slackline, two trees, and a little bit of bravery!

53. Outside Inside Axe Throwing Kit

On your next camping trip, bring REI’s Outside Inside Axe Throwing Kit –a kid-safe, foam axe throwing board and axes that can be used anywhere. The best thing about this game is that it’s collapsible!

54. Kickball

If you’ve got access to a large space or baseball field, play kickball!

This game is great for large groups and is fun for all ages. All you need is a soft ball and base markers. If you don’t have base placemats, make your own with paper plates!

Fun Camping Games For Kids

Family camping trips are some of the funnest times for kids, and adding games into the mix makes the vacation even better!

Here are some of our favorite (and easiest!) games to play with kids while camping:

55. Scavenger Hunt / Treasure Hunt

This is one of the easiest camping games for toddlers and kids, because you can make it as easy or as difficult as you’d like! All you have to do is hide objects of your choice. You can even guide the kiddos using the “hot and cold” game.

56. Simon Says

Games like Simon Says are great kids camping games, because you don’t need any equipment. Just find an open space, pick a leader, and start playing!

57. Red Light Green Light

If you’ve got small kiddos to entertain while camping, try the classic kid’s game, Red Light Green Light. The rules are simple: to play, have the leader on one end of your playing field and the rest of the participants on the other.

When the leader says “green light,” the players can walk (or run) toward the leader. When the leader says “red light,” everyone must stop. Whoever touches the leader first wins!

58. Water Balloons

Up for getting messy? One of the silliest camping games for families is playing water balloon games or simply having a water balloon fight! Just remember to pick up your trash when you’re done and Leave No Trace.

59. Making an Obstacle Course

For ultimate family bonding, set up an obstacle course! All you need to do is make a course out of any items you have with you, or you can use the natural landscape around you–the woods are perfect obstacle courses!

Other obstacle course ideas include making teams, doing it blindfolded, or making a chalk hop-scotch course.

What are some of the best camping games that you love? Share your favorites in the comments!

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Put down the devices and get ready for these fun games that are sure to entertain.

But how do you fill those hours, especially if your kids are used to having nonstop wi-fi to keep them connected and entertained? It's time to think back to your days at sleepaway camp, and break out the analog camping activities and camping games. During the day, you can spend your hours doing lawn games , or find ways to explore the wilderness through scavenger hunts , treasure searches and orienteering activities. Then, when it gets dark, you'll probably have to stick close to the campfire, so be sure to bring plenty of outdoor-appropriate card and family board games , along with party activities like charades and storytelling activities. And, of course, anything that glows in the dark is fair game for nighttime competitions! When you're done, they're not going to miss the wi-fi.

Discover Letterboxing

Across the country, people hide "letterboxes" in public places, like parks, and leave clues as to where to find them. If you decipher the clues, you'll find a box with a logbook where you can leave your personal stamp to prove you've been there. You can check to see if there's a letterbox stashed near your campsite, and check out the basics of how to get started .

Go Bird-Watching

Like knitting before it, bird-watching is one of those grandma-and-grandpa hobbies that's experiencing a resurgence in coolness. Grab some binoculars and see how many different species you can spot.

Have a Cornhole Competition

The best thing about cornhole is that anyone can grab a challenger and wander over to start a game. If you have room enough to bring a set with you, can keep a running tally of wins and losses for the duration of your trip to crown an ultimate winner in the end.

RELATED: 15 Fun Lawn Games for Some Serious Backyard Competition

Tell Campfire Stories

Gather around the blaze and spin out your best yarns. Stumped? This deck of story starters, with prompts like, "tell a story about a time when you were in danger but didn't know it," will get things rolling. There's also a deck for kids .

$12.95 AT AMAZON

Play Capture the Flag

You'll need brains, speed and stamina to win at this one. In case you don't remember the rules: Split up into two teams and designate an area for each. Each team hides a flag in their own area, and the object is to find the other team's flag and bring it back to your team's territory. Any player in the opposing team's territory can be tagged and put in "jail," and a teammate has to come tag them to rescue them. Get ready to sharpen those teamwork skills!

Go Stand-Up Paddleboarding

See if there is a place near your campsite where you can rent stand-up paddleboarding equipment. You'll work on your balance and core strength while getting to soak in some views.

Pass the Pigs

This game won a Good Housekeeping 2020 Toy Award for its ability to delight kids and adults alike. Players roll two dice in the shape of pigs, and points are awarded based on the position they're in when they land. It doesn't require much — just the pigs, a pencil and a scorecard — so it easily slips into a backpack.

$10.99 AT AMAZON

Play Flashlight Tag

It's like hide-and-seek — in the dark! Whoever is "It" has to shine their flashlight on the hider once they've been found. (Just be sure kids are old enough so they don't get lost too far away from your campsite.)

Make Friendship Bracelets

Go back to the camp days of your youth and break out the embroidery string to make your own creations. When you're done, you'll have a memento of the trip.

Find 16 different friendship bracelet patterns »

Skip Stones

Whether you call it "skipping stones" or "skimming rocks," it's a little thrill when you find the perfect flat rock and watch it hop across the water. See who in your party can get a stone to skip the most number of times.

Play Ring Toss

This ring toss game has more than 4,100 5-star reviews on Amazon for its fun factor and its ability to be packed away easily into a carrying case. To up the challenge, you can try a glow-in-the-dark ring-toss game , or DIY your own with glow sticks and water bottles.

$28.50 AT AMAZON

Go on a Hike

Find a trail , chart a course and go! Hiking gets your body moving and puts you out in nature, and basically embodies all the reasons to go camping in the first place.

Play Charades or Celebrity

Charades is simple: People write down clues on a piece of paper, and players have to act them out and get their teammates to guess their clue without saying a word. Once you've mastered Charades, you can move on to Celebrity, where all the clues have to be a famous person (real, fictional, alive or dead). The game is then played in three rounds. Round 1: Players can urge their teammates to guess their clue using words as hints, so long as the words are not written on the paper (like Taboo). Round 2: Once all the clues from Round 1 are guessed, the same papers go back in the bowl for Round 2. This time, players can only use a single word as a hint for their teammates. Round 3: The same papers go back in the bowl again, and the last round is a wordless charades round. No talking!

Try Fishing

Bait your hook, cast your line and see if you have any luck. In the end, it doesn't even matter if you catch a big one — you'll remember the conversations and the bonding time.

Arrange a Scavenger Hunt

Get kids to really notice nature by challenging them to spot different animals, trees, leaves and plants. If you want, you can distribute paper bags and get the kids to collect some of the items, and then make an art project with their findings.

$7.95 AT ETSY

RELATED: 22 Fun Scavenger Hunt Ideas to Keep Your Kids Guessing

Do Mad Libs

Mad Libs have been around forever, and yet they never get old. Young and old alike find themselves giggling over the silly fill-in-the-blank stories that result from naming random nouns, verbs or adjectives.

$5.92 AT AMAZON

Pick out a fun float , paddle yourself out into a sunny spot and just relax — isn't that why you went camping to begin with?

Spot Constellations

You don't even need a telescope to try out some stargazing. If you're not practiced at identifying different planets and constellations, there are plenty of apps that can tell you what you're looking at — and many of them are even free.

RELATED: The Best Stargazing Apps for iPhones and Androids

Hold 'em, Spit or even Solitaire, what's your game? No matter what you choose, stick a pack of waterproof playing cards into your backpack and you'll never be stuck for something to do.

$9.99 AT AMAZON

Sketch What You See

There's a long, artistic tradition of creating masterpieces en plein air , out in the open of nature. Pack some sketchbooks and art supplies, find a picturesque spot and see if inspiration strikes.

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The Best Camping Games of 2023

By Laura Lancaster

Posted on Sep 26, 2022 12:18 PM EDT

10 minute read

Best Overall

Deck of cards, best compact, outside inside roll-up shuffleboard, best late night, one night ultimate werewolf.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›

The car is packed and the kids are ready, but there is one more thing you need to snag before you head to the campsite: a camping game. But what game is right for you depends on your family (or friend group) makeup and, just as important, the space in your car. To help you pick, I took a look at some of the best camping games available today.

• Best Overall: Deck of cards
• Best Cornhole Alternate: Caliber Games TowerBall 

Best Novelty: Outside Inside Travel Axe Throwing

Best compact: outside inside roll-up shuffleboard, best board game: parcheesi, best late night: one night ultimate werewolf, best overall: deck of cards.

Why It Made the Cut

A deck of cards is inexpensive, compact, and contains a seemingly infinite number of games appropriate for all ages, making it a must-have for your next car camping trip. 

Key Features

• Number of players: one to 14
• Small packed size
• More variations than you can count
• Inexpensive
• Variety of games that can be enjoyed by both young children and adults
• None that I’ve found

Product Description

There is a reason that so many national park gift shops sell decks of cards : they are the perfect game for camping. When the little ones get restless, you can teach them the mechanics of Go Fish. Then get them going on a game of War while you start dinner. Older kids can be taught Gin Rummy and teenagers can take over a deck for a reflex-testing game of Speed . Then, after the kids are down for the night, the adults can break out the whiskey and play poker until the best camping snacks run low. 

One of the best parts about a deck of cards is that if you forget it at home (or decide your group needs a second pack), they are easy enough to find at a gas station or gift shop while on the road. 

Best Cornhole Alternate: Caliber Games TowerBall

While expensive, Caliber Games Towerball was one of the top picks for both kid and adult testers.

• Number of players: two to 16
• Large packed size
• Five play variations
• Different difficulty levels is perfect for all ages
• Similar gameplay to cornhole

Cornhole is a classic outdoors game, but most cornhole sets do not pack down small enough to make them viable camping options. I tested numerous sets that were designed with travel in mind and none of them had the magic of the full-size version. 

Despite having the same heft as a game of cornhole when unpacked, the Caliber Games TowerBall packed up flat, easily sliding in over the top of the best camping gear after I had finished packing up the trunk. And while it’s not exactly cornhole, it’s pretty close. The basic concept is that two to four players take turns tossing a ball into holes of various sizes on four different sides of a near-vertical pyramid. As you complete a side, you rotate around the pyramid to a new side, with the holes getting progressively smaller (and thus harder to lob the ball into) with each side. 

While this was a big hit with testers of all ages (the smallest of which could lob the ball successfully into the largest hole), it is by the far the most expensive gift on this list. But if you’re looking for a gift for the camper who already has everything, it’s a great choice. 

The Travel Axe Throwing set from Outside Inside generated the most smiles, even if it was a bit more onerous to set up than expected

• Number of players: two
• Medium packed size
• One way to play
• Unusual 
• Short gameplay 
• Difficult to set up in a campground setting

This was by far the game that the group was most excited to try out of the box. But once we did, in fact, get it out of the box, we ran into a problem. The attachment mechanism for the Travel Axe Throwing set is a suction cup, the type that you would attach to a window or other smooth surface. The only problem was, we were camping. We were surrounded by trees and rocks and picnic tables—so much for a smooth surface. After trying and failing to attach the suction cup to the window of one of our cars—20 miles on dirt roads to the campsite definitely wasn’t helping with that, we settled on hanging it over a stump. It kind of worked.

While they might not be the best tomahawks , I was impressed in the end with how well the throwing axes worked—they do stick the target when thrown just so, not unlike the real deal. It would have been nice to have had a bit more heft to the axes themselves, but their light weight meant that younger campers had as much fun as the adults. 

The low-profile Roll-Up Shuffleboard from Outside Inside is impressively similar to the real deal. 

• Number of players: two to four
• Fun to play
• Small pieces are easy to lose

Shuffleboard is easily one of my favorite bar games to play, so I was excited to check out this version from Outside Inside . The board itself in this game is basically a piece of rolled-up foam, which doesn’t at first inspire confidence in the gameplay itself. But it rolled out flat just fine and the rollerballs on the pucks glided across it, no problem. We played a full game after the kids were in bed, beers in hand, and it felt like the real deal. 

The only real problem with the shuffleboard pad is that it’s a little short—if you set it up on a standard picnic table, you have to lean a bit far over to use it properly. (It might work better with one of the larger best camp tables .) The smaller pieces are also a bit more likely to be lost than the axes or balls of some of the other picks on this list. 

I’ve played countless board games on camping trips and Parcheesi is the only one I still pack. 

• Number of players: three to four
• Rules are easy to learn
• Simple enough for young children with enough strategy for adults
• Time commitment to finish a game

Board games are a classic choice for camping trips, either for passing a lazy afternoon at the picnic table or hiding out from the rain or cooling temps in the evening hours. But not all board games are created equally when it comes to camping. Some, like Monopoly or Clue, have too many little pieces that can go missing or get dirty, affecting game play. Others, like Settlers of Catan and Scrabble, rely on the board game staying just so while in use, which can be difficult to do when you are out in nature.

You only need a handful of pieces to play Parcheesi (all of which are easily replaced if needed) and the board is simple enough to keep track of if things get shuffled. If you’ve never played before, the rules are simple: Rolling a five gets one of your four tokens on the board, and the first player to send all their pieces around the board wins. The catch? If another player’s piece lands on yours, that piece returns to the start. Even better: Pairing two pieces of your own on a single space prevents your opponents from moving forward. These twists help to keep things interesting and mean that adults can incorporate a bit of strategy against one another while still including kids in the game. 

The Mafia-like One Night Ultimate Werewolf is the perfect group game to break out at dusk along with the whiskey.

• Number of players: three to 10
• A number of variations depending on the number of players
• Fast moving
• Accuse your friends of being a werewolf
• App means there is no need for a moderator
• Hard to remember to keep your voice down when kids are sleeping

One Night Ultimate Werewolf is similar to Mafia, but if someone condensed the whole thing to one round that lasts only ten minutes. Each player is assigned a role (werewolf or an assortment of villagers) via a facedown card at the beginning of the game. Then someone hits start on the app and everyone closes their eyes. The narration first instructs the werewolves to open their eyes and identify one another, then the troublemaker to wake up and swap two people’s cards, the robber to steal another player’s card and swap it with their own, etc. At the end of the narration, everyone opens their eyes and starts trying to figure out who the werewolves are. Accusations fly, lies are unraveled, pacts are made, and then everyone votes on a werewolf before the five minute timer on the app runs out. Repeat until the whiskey bottle is drained. What’s great about this version of the game for camping is that it allows everyone to play every round that wants to (i.e., no dead villagers) and it simplifies players’ ability to drop in and out when they want to make themselves a s’more or decide to hit the hay.

Things to Consider Before Buying Camping Games

The Players

After testing camping games on a range of ages, it’s clear that this is possibly the most important consideration for which game is the best for your purpose. Corn hole is a great game for adults, and with some adjustments, you can make it work for a school-age child. But toddlers? Odds are that they will sit in the middle of the board or run off with the bean bags. I similarly recommend avoiding games that have pieces in the shape of little animals. If you’re headed out with an adults-only crowd, then you’ll have more flexibility in which games you choose. 

Packed Size

What camping game is the best for your next trip depends in part on how much packing space you have. If you are a family of three packed into a Chevrolet Suburban, then by all means, pack the full-size cornhole. But if you are maximizing the foot space in each of the passenger seats to fit in your cooking supplies and sleeping pads, then it might be better to stick with a deck of playing cards or the space-efficient Roll-up Shuffleboard from Outside Inside. 

Versatility

Most games can only be played in one way: checkers, Monopoly, corn hole. But some games have multiple variations that can help see you through that lazy afternoon on your fifth day of camping. If you plan to be out for more than a long weekend, it’s worth considering which game will give you the most bang for your buck. 

Camping games can cost anywhere from a couple of dollars to a couple of hundred dollars. 

A number of games on this list work great either around the table or in a tent, including the best overall pick, best board game pick, and best late night pick. Keep in mind that tent floors are a bit unstable, so games that require delicately placed pieces (such as the Settlers of Catan) tend to work less well in this context. 

The best camping games for kids have simple rules, and are short—very short. During testing, we found that for the more physical games, like cornhole or axe throwing, the ability to adjust the level of difficulty helped to make it more fun for everyone involved. For sit-down games, like Parcheesi or card games, the ability to beat their parents seemed to be the best indicator of what would hold their attention, so I recommend choosing games that rely on luck (like UNO) over those that need more skill. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for one of the best camping games to take with you on your next trip, then the classic deck of cards is still one of the best picks out there. If you’re looking for something unique that will surprise and delight your fellow campers, then either the Travel Axe Throwing or Roll-up Shuffleboard from Outside Inside are great options. Corn hole enthusiasts (with deep pockets) will enjoy Caliber Games TowerBall, while campers looking for a fun adult game after the lights are out and the kids are asleep should check out One Night Ultimate Werewolf. 

Methodology

I’ve been camping for years—with family, friends, significant others, and by myself. In that time, I’ve played a lot of games in the Great Outdoors, some that work well in that context, and others that are a little trickier: croquet hoops that won’t go into the ground, Monopoly money covered in dirt, bocce balls rolling sideways over a lumpy field. And I ended up with more than a few thoughts on what games do and do not work in that context. For this story, I both looked back at some of the most successful games I’ve played with people in the woods over the years, and checked out a few of the most popular games available today, testing them out with friends and family—including a toddler and a school-age child—that I’ve been camping with for years. 

At the end of the long weekend, we polled the group to see what consensus there was and what games the group felt would be worth packing on future trips. 

Written by Johnathan R. Smith • May 26, 2021 • 8:58 pm • Guides

The Complete Camper’s Guide: 20 Best Camping Games for Kids & Adults [2022]

No matter how old we are, camping is always so much fun, and it’s made even better by playing camping games.

Try out our 20 favorite indoor and outdoor family camping games that are sure to give everyone a blast!

Whether it’s for the whole family or among grown-ups , these camping games will make one unforgettable trip. So, don’t miss out and start scrolling!

Fun Outdoor Camping Games for the Family

When the great outdoors is your playing space, the sky’s the limit.

With fresh air and huge space to run around, there are many family camping games you can play.

Not to mention, spending quality time with your kids doesn’t have to be dangerous when you’re outdoors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , outdoor camping games pose less risk to COVID19.

1. Cornhole

Here’s one that doesn’t involve a lot of running and back pain.

Cornhole is a lawn game that everyone in the family can enjoy. Simply, grab a set or a bag with you and aim for the hole. Tally it up, and the first team to score 21 points wins the challenge. Easy peasy!

What we like about this American backyard classic is that you can play it individually by taking turns tossing or make it into a friendly competition by splitting into two teams.

It’s one of the best games for small campsites. Plus , it’s good for social distancing.

No. of Players

2 or 4 people in teams of 2, ages 4+

Things You’ll Need

• Cornhole bean bags
• Cornhole boards

OR you can buy them in sets. Backpack Cornhole Set and Portable Cornhole Set can easily be set up in any campsite and isn’t too bulky to bring with you on the road.

Hot Tip: If you’re not too keen on spending extra, you can always make your own DIY cornhole bag and board.

2. Horseshoes

Another great option for a socially distanced family camping game!

Like cornhole or any other tossing game, playing horseshoes is simple: THROW…AND WIN.

But, it’s not as easy as it looks. Getting a ringer or snagging the wooden pegs is difficult. Thanks, gravity.

If your family is competitive, horseshoes can turn into an addictive sport.

You can spend the entire afternoon and even deep into the night placing bets and playing it with a glow-in-the-dark set. Here’s how you can DIY spray paint them.

• Plastic horseshoes
• Rubber mats
• Horseshoe set

3. Ring Toss

The same deal here, but you can always crank up a classic game of ring toss with rewards or better yet consequences . Losers will have to cook and clean up tonight’s dinner. Pretty brutal for a punishment, isn’t it?

It’s sure to keep the whole family entertained for hours.

2 or 4 players in teams of 2, ages 4+

• 10 plastic rings
• 5 rope rings
• 5 pegs/ sturdy glass bottles
• standing base
• Portable Ring Toss Set (comes with a glow in the dark version)

4. Ladder Golf

Precision’s the name of the game.

Ladder golf is one of the family camping games favorites that tests how well your aim is. And, it’s more than JUST tossing.

In this game, you’ll need a good throw for the bolos or those tiny pingpong balls with long strings to wrap themselves around the ladder. If the bolo lands on the lower rungs, the higher the point.

Younger kids are sure to love it! Plus , it’s always fun to watch the bolos tangle themselves on the ladder rungs every single time.

• 6 Bolos (a bolo is just 2 golf balls attached by a cord)
• Ladder ball set

5. Bocce Ball

Imagine playing bowling, skee-ball, and billiards at the same time. That’s what bocce ball is.

Despite its funny name, it’s a fun game to play in the great outdoors― perfect for social distancing .

And, no, you don’t need anything fancy . Just ordinary bocce balls and plenty of space would do.

The goal of the game is to throw the bocce balls as close as possible to the jack or the target ball. Points are rewarded based on how close the balls are to the jack.

The first team to score 12 points wins the challenge.

2, 4, or 8 players in teams of 2, ages 4+

• Multi-colored balls (1 color for each team)
• Small ball as jack
• Lightweight Bocce Ball Set

6. Scavenger Hunt

A family camping trip would not be complete without a proper scavenger hunt.

For many of us, scavenger hunts scream of only the wildest and greatest outdoor adventures. And, good news : kids think so too!

It’s the best way for everyone in the family to enjoy nature and discover how big the world really is.

Scavenger hunts can be played in many ways, but first, you’ll want to make a search list for EVERYTHING, from plants, to the kinds of trees, shrubs, leaves, bugs, birds, flower, and to pebbles―all sorts of things that can be found in where you’re headed.

After, you can pair off the younger ones with the older kids and send them on their way.

Here’s an idea.

To put a twist to the classic camping game, you can have them bring a disposable camera to take pictures of the items on the list. This is a great way to collect and keep memories.

Or , use rhymes and riddles as clever clues for each location.

WARNING: Make sure to seal off the play area to avoid any accidents and have one person patrol the place for any signs of danger.

Need more ideas? We’ve got two!

Large groups divided into pairs or groups of threes, ages 4+

• Search item checklist
• Disposable camera

7. Capture the Flag

It’s time to get physical.

If you’re a family who loves action and strategy, then capture the flag is the perfect camping game to play.

The goal is simple: to capture the flag.

Each team hides their flag in their territory and does their best to protect it.

During the game, other players or members of the team can be “jailed” as they brave into the opposing team’s territory.

Many strategies such as water balloons and nerf guns can be used to distract each other. The game will only end once a team is able to capture the enemy’s flag.

It’s an easy game that works best for larger groups with older kids. Give this one a shot!

10-12 players in 2 teams, ages 7+

• 2 sets of flags
• arm bands in the 2 colors (you can use glow sticks, bandannas, socks, and even old T-shirts)
• First-aid kit
• Water bottles (to keep hydrated)
• Lots of energy

8. Water Balloon

Beat the heat with an exciting game of water balloon fight!

There are several ways you can go about it: either split yourselves into two teams or every man for himself. Nothing is as fun as having to soak your fellow campers with water. (Cue evil laugh)

It’s perfect for any age group and everyone’s bound to get pumped up for summer!

Now, if you don’t want to get too wet, you can also have a relay race instead. Each player must run with the balloon and sit on it until it pops. The team that pops the most water balloons within the time limit wins.

So, better suit down and change into your favorite swim gear!

Water balloon fights are one for the books.

The more the merrier!

Players aged 6+

• lots of water!
• large playing area

9. Duck, Duck, Goose

A fun and easy camping game to play where you don’t have to bring anything else?

You got it right! Duck, duck, goose is the one for the job.

The game is fairly simple. All you need is a spare hankie and a large running space.

To play, you’ll have to choose one player to be the “it”. He or she will have the hankie, while everyone else sits in a big circle.

The goal of whoever is “it” is to get himself seated and look for a new victim.

The “it” should go around the circle, saying “duck, duck, goose.” Once goose, he or she must drop the hankie on other players’ head. The other player should try and chase the “it” before he or she can take the other player’s empty seat.

If the player fails, he or she is now the new “it.”

Pretty fun, right?

A good game of duck, duck, goose is sure to let everyone feel relaxed while camping.

5 or more players, ages 5+

• Handkerchief
• Lots of space!

10. Big Ball Pass On

You’ll really love this family camping game if you’re into teamwork and sportsmanship.

Big ball pass on takes inspiration from the famous Japanese sports festival ( undokai ). Like capture the flag, it needs to be played with stamina and strategy.

And, you’ll have to do lots of running (if you’re the parent, please take care of your knees).

Before you can play the game, you’ll have to prepare a few things:

• Divide into 2 teams
• Using a masking tape, mark each team’s territory from opposite sides. This will serve as the stand.
• Pump air into the giant inflatable ball
• Prepare everyone’s armbands, so it’s easy to tell teams apart.

The aim of big ball pass on is to keep the huge ball in the air as each team coaxes it along their line and into their opponent’s stand before the other team does.

The more points settle a winner.

WARNING: Be careful when playing. Try not to get too excited and push other players. Remember social distancing should still be practiced.

12 players or more split into 2 teams, ages 6+

• Giant inflatable ball
• Portable air pump
• Masking tape
• Armbands (just use hankies or an old T-shirt)
• Hand sanitizers ready

11. Sleeping Bag Race

For kids to enjoy camping, try out a sleeping bag race. It’s always fun when the whole family plays camping games together.

If you have spare sleeping bags, you can double it up as a potato sack to set up a race.

2-4 players, ages 3+

• Extra sleeping bags

12. Flashlight Tag

When the sun goes down, it’s time to bring out the flashlight and play a good game of tag.

There isn’t much difference between flashlight tag and hide and seek, except that you play in the dark . Whoever is “it” will have to try to spot the others in hiding by using the flashlight.

To make sure everyone is safe, parents or adults should patrol the play area.

3 or more players

• Extra batteries

Fun Indoor Camping Games for the Family

We’re a firm believer of making the most out of every camping trip. Even when you’re inside the tent or your RV, who’s to say that you can’t have a good time?

1. Card Game

For those rainy days or sleepy nights , card games are the perfect entertainment. It’s just what you’ll need after a long day out.

Not to mention , card games help boost your child’s memory and brain development.

Here are some of our favorite card games to play and to unwind.

Best Card Games

• Tic-tac-toe (you can place hula hoops on the ground instead of using X and O markers)
• Cards Against Humanity (for teens & older kids)
• Exploding Kittens
• Matching Pairs
• Monopoly Deal Card Game
• One Night Ultimate Werewolf

2. Board Game

Board games are a classic family tradition that you can bring with you everywhere. No one is ever too old for a board game. It’s a great way to spend quality time together even on a rainy day.

If you’re looking for fun games to play, here are our favorite board games.

Best Board Games

• Camping bingo
• Glow in the dark Jenga (warning: might be a little messy, but if you don’t mind, it’s always a fun game)
• Snakes & Ladders
• Bananagrams
• Game of Life
• Telestrations

3. Charades

There’s nothing funnier than having to act out a certain word and have everyone guess it. Charades will always be a party slash camping game classic.

To play, you can write down names of people, movies, places, animals, celebrities, Netflix TV shows, and even your favorite catch phrases. Make it as difficult as you can!

Or, you can opt to download a mobile application for charades. Heads Up! offers many choices across many genres and titles to select and play with. It even comes with an automatic timer!

• Phone/ Tablet

4. Cup Stacking

If you have disposable cups lying around you, try a cup stacking contest to see who can stack and unstack towers the fastest. We’ve seen this one on TV and tried it out ourselves!

Simply, lay out the cups on a flat surface such as your camper’s pull out dining table or picnic table, and time them!

The first person to finish wins and gets a prize.

It’s so much fun and one of the best family camping games to play when you want to pass the time.

2 or more players

• 9-12 Disposable cups for each team
• Or Speed Stacks

5. Wink Murderer

In this game, there’s a secret “killer” among the group and the players must correctly guess who it is…before everyone is eliminated.

To kill, the “murderer” winks at the person, and the person should “die” in a humorous way like falling on the floor or yelling “I’M DEAD” at the top of their lungs.

Once dead, they can’t reveal who the murderer or killer is until the game ends, however, they can give out clues to help or mislead the remaining players, whichever side they’re on.

It’s a great mystery camping game to play after hours and the best part is you don’t need any props― just a good hunch .

6 or more players

Best Camping Games for Adults

When the kids are asleep, it’s time for the adults to come out and play.

Because camping is for everyone, here are 3 great games for the grown-ups for those lazy late nights.

1. Two Truths One Lie

This will test your friendship.

In this game, you have to tell two truths and a lie about yourself. The crowned winner is the first person who correctly guesses which ones are true and which one is the lie.

2. Dissing Game

Have you been itching to take a jab at your friend?

Good news! You can in this hilarious game.

The dissing game is the perfect excuse to say everything you’ve been meaning to say.

To play, you just need nerves of steel! Have everyone sit in a circle, and take turns insulting each other. If he or she laughs or can’t say anything else, they lose. It’s a fun game to play in your free time.

Whenever we played this back in the day, we’re always surprised at our friends’ dumbfounded answers.

• NONE (just a heart of stone)

3. Five Best

Challenge each other’s knowledge with five best.

One person begins by naming a category and everyone in the group has to name five at once WITHIN 3 seconds. If the person cannot finish their list of 5, he or she is the loser.

And, we all don’t want to be the losers, don’t we?

This game is 10 times funnier with some drinks in hand.

What Are Other Fun Family Activities We Can Do While Camping?

Now that you made it through our list of best camping games, here are other fun-filled activities you can do while out for the summer.

• Storytelling: Spooky ghost stories always make its way in campfires and turn the campsite into a lively one (or deadly as ghosts would say)
• Stargazing: See the sky at its best.
• S’mores: Another one that’s on our list of camping activity essentials are s’mores over campfires.
• Hiking: Don’t forget to enjoy the view with a little hike.
• I-spy: When you’re on the road, a little game of I-spy keeps your child entertained for hours .
• Time Capsule: For an unforgettable trip that you can look back on years later, try burying a time capsule filled with this summer’s memories.

How About Sports?

Absolutely.

Besides bocce ball and cornhole (which are considered sports, btw), you can also play these as fun camping games:

If you don’t mind sweating a lot and bringing a couple of equipment, then try out sports as outdoor games on your next trip.

Wrapping Up

Camping games are a great way to spend time with your family and get to know friends better.

On your next camping trip, don’t forget your mask and have a great time. Happy camping, folks!

About the Author / Johnathan R. Smith

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50+ Family Friendly Camping Games Perfect for A Camping Adventure

Every camping trip needs to have some awesome camping games as well. These classic camping games are certain to be a great time for every member of your family! It’s so fun to try new things, so make sure to have these for your next family trip!

Here are some of the best games that are also simple games for little kids and kids of all ages to join in on the fun.

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Camping in the great outdoors is entertaining in itself but as a family? It’s always a good idea to pack along a few games and other activities to have, just in case.

From card games to a simple nature scavenger hunt, everyone will love these outdoor games that are perfect for your next camping trip. The best thing about these games is that they’re great for younger kids and older kids, too!

You can even have larger groups join in on the fun! Use this list to find the best ways to have fun on your next family camping trip so that you can play some outdoor camping games!

The ability to detach from the distractions of electronics in the “real world” and being able to get out and about to enjoy family-time and nature is one of the things that our family is passionate about.

The next time that you are planning a camping adventure for your family, think about what games and toys you could pack that would compliment your family adventure!

Who knows how the weather is going to cooperate or if the bugs are going to stay at bay, so having some family-friendly camping games packed up and ready to go is a great way to make certain that the fun will continue no matter what the circumstances. 

With so many amazing options, there’s no reason that anyone shouldn’t have fun on their next camping adventure.

Fun Family Camping Games Perfect for Every Camping Adventure

There are so many other family-friendly indoor camping games for kids available that many people don’t even know exist! Cards are still fun to play, but why not give a few of these a try as well?

Fun Camping Games for Families 

These games are perfect for camping trips! Some of these don’t have a time limit, and many are the perfect game on a rainy day or a sunny day, too!

We also call these campfire games because they’re fun around the campfire and get some fresh air!

Camping Olympics

The goal of the game is to be the best at something. Who can stack wood the best? Who can clean up the campsite best? Who can roast the best marshmallow? The winners get a gold medal for all their hard work – and have fun in the meantime.

See who can ring the most rings on the targets!

Relay Races

Everyone has a good time with relay races. It’s also an easy game that takes no setup at all! All you need is a start and finish line.

Alphabet Game

Have everyone think of a word in less than five seconds that starts with the next letter of the alphabet.

This is a fun camping activity to do around the campfire.

The best part about water guns is that you’ll keep cool while you play!

Lawn games like bean bag toss

This is also great for adult camping games, too.

Potato sack race

Hop in the sack and bounce around!

Treasure hunt

The first team to find the treasure wins!

Frisbee golf

You may not have the targets to play with, but you can pretend!

Make sure to bring along your own balls, as this is so much fun to play!

I spy with my little eye

No equipment or planning is needed at all.

Flashlight tag

Make sure that you have some open space – and have the entire family join in on the fun.

Board games

There are so many great board games to take and play camping. When you’re in nature, time slows down, and this is where board games shine.

Here are some of my favorites to play:

• Connect Four
• I Should Have Known That
• Story Time Chess
• Guess in 10
• Would you rather?
• Slappy Camper
• Bear Stare Down
• Tic Tac Toe
• Taco vs Burrito

Toss and Catch Ball

Perfect for throwing and catching!

Hide and seek

Have fun trying to find someone in the dark!

Capture the flag

The winning team has to capture the flag – always a good time!

You just need some bean bags and a board with a hole in it to play.

Who will be the last person standing? Play to find out!

Bananagrams

Holy moly, this is such a fun game ! You can even tweak the way you play to make it your own.

Duck, duck goose

Perfect for little kids.

This would be perfect to set up and play at the picnic table. Just be sure that you bring all the game pieces.

Young kids will love this one !

Mad libs literally seem to have their own rules! It’s a great camping game for sitting around the campfire and having silly stories be told.

There’s nothing like a quality time than putting a puzzle together on a camping trip. Here are some great puzzle ideas:

• Moonlight Camping
• Mountain Retreat
• Camping World
• Happy Campers

Water bucket relay

Who can fill the bucket first? This relay is about to find out!

Crazy campfire stories

The first person starts the story and then passes it off to the next player to tell the rest!

Act like a famous person

Write down a bunch of famous people on slips of paper, and then have each person draw a piece of paper and act out that person. It’s like charades, but you have to guess the person!

Charades for Kids can not only be played when traveling down the road (be safe!), but it can also be enjoyed when sitting stationary as well. Who doesn’t love this classic game full of movement, guessing, and laughter? With over 150 game cards to act out, everyone in your family will have a chance to show their skills! Suitable for all ages.

My kiddos loved this game! They had an absolute blast acting out the words and pictures and sometimes even teamed up with us, too! They were quite the powerhouse when it came to this game.

They dominated us, parents, for sure! By the end, we were playing and laughing so hard that we couldn’t even function to really play the game. Isn’t that how all family game nights should be?

Family-Friendly Activities for Memorable Camping Trips

Camping trips are a fantastic opportunity to bond with your loved ones and create lasting memories. While spending time in nature, you can engage in a variety of family-friendly activities that will make your camping experience even more enjoyable.

From outdoor games to creative crafts, here are some ideas to help you have an unforgettable time on your next camping trip.

Explore the Great Outdoors

One of the best aspects of camping is being surrounded by nature. Take advantage of this by exploring the great outdoors with your family. Go on hikes together, discovering new trails and breathtaking views. Encourage everyone to observe and appreciate the beauty of their surroundings.

You can also try birdwatching or stargazing at night, allowing everyone to connect with nature in a unique way.

Engage in Outdoor Games

Outdoor games are a fantastic way to keep everyone entertained during a camping trip. Pack a frisbee or a ball for games like catch or soccer.

Set up a badminton net or play a game of volleyball. These activities not only provide physical exercise but also promote friendly competition and teamwork among family members.

To add an extra element of fun, organize scavenger hunts or treasure hunts around the campsite. Create clues that lead participants to different locations where they can find hidden treasures or objects related to nature. This activity encourages problem-solving skills while keeping everyone engaged and excited.

Get Creative with Crafts

Craft activities can be both entertaining and educational during camping trips. Gather materials like colored pencils, markers, paper, and glue for art projects inspired by nature. Encourage children to create leaf rubbings or make collages using items found in the surrounding area.

Another idea is to collect rocks during hikes and paint them together as a family. This allows each person to express their creativity while creating unique keepsakes from their camping adventure.

Enjoy Campfire Fun

No camping trip is complete without gathering around a campfire. Take advantage of this cozy setting to engage in fun activities with your family. Roast marshmallows and make delicious s’mores, sharing stories and laughter as you enjoy the sweet treats.

Use the campfire as an opportunity for storytelling or playing classic camping games such as “I Spy” or “20 Questions.” These activities promote imagination, communication, and bonding among family members.

Embrace Technology-Free Time

While it can be tempting to bring electronic devices along on a camping trip, consider embracing technology-free time. Encourage everyone to disconnect from their screens and fully immerse themselves in the outdoor experience.

This allows for deeper connections with nature and each other.

How do you entertain kids while camping?

By playing games, of course! Once you can introduce some fun games for camping to your kiddos, they’ll never complain about being bored again.

The games can be simple or advanced, just make certain that you’re making memories right along with them.

What are camping essentials?

There are so many things that you shouldn’t forget when camping, like food, water , shelter, sunscreen, bug spray…and games! In our family, we do consider games camping essential!

And if you’re looking for some of the best camping games out there…

These are some of the best camping games for your family there is! There’s never a wrong time to introduce new fun family camping games into your rotation.

Don’t miss out on these camping articles:

• 10 Camping Hacks that are a MUST!
• 9 Gluten-Free Camping Food Ideas Your Family Will Love
• Thinking of going camping with dogs? You need these tips!

Family-Friendly Camping Games For Outdoor Fun

The great part about having a few toys packed that can get the whole family up and active is also that it means a ton more opportunities for family teamwork and family bonding as well!

Zoom Ball Hydro

Zoom Ball™ Hydro is packed full of fun, and water balloons. Gotta keep interesting, right? This ball takes two to pull and release, all while having their fingers crossed that the water balloons don’t decide to suddenly “pop” all over them! Great for a hot day for hours of endless fun.

There isn’t enough to be said about this fun camping friendly game. It definitely needs to be played outside, but once you start, you literally won’t be able to stop. Have fun with this game and do your best to not get soaked!!!

Whether you and your family choose to spend all day sitting by the campfire, playing charades and eating s’mores or sitting on the bank of the lake doing a bit of fishing, just know that Goliath Games and Pressman Toys has you covered.

With their amazing toy and game options to choose from, you’ll never have to worry about a dull moment on your next family-friendly camping adventure!

If you’re looking for fun camping games for families, you can’t go wrong with these amazing options!

Do you have any favorite camping games?

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Gayathri says

September 22, 2018 at 6:51 am

I have such warm memories with the 6 in 1 game board as a kid. Great post!

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20 Best Outdoor Camping Games for Adults

Introduction:

Are you planning a camping trip with your friends or loved ones? Looking for ways to make your outdoor adventure even more enjoyable and memorable by DIY camping games , outdoor games and many others? Well, look no further! In this article, I will explore 20 exciting outdoor camping games for adults that I loved and enjoyed the most after passing through my teenage years. Whether you prefer classic games, outdoor games without equipment for adults or camping games for adults at night , I have got you covered. So, let’s dive in and discover the perfect games to enhance your camping trip!

1: Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a game where participants are given a list of items or clues to find within a designated area. The objective is to locate and collect the items or solve the clues to complete the hunt. It’s a fun and interactive activity that encourages teamwork and problem-solving skills.

How to Play:

• Create a list of items that can be found in the campground or surrounding area.
• Divide your group into teams and provide each team with a list and a bag to collect the items.
• The first team to gather all the items or the team with the most items within a set time limit wins.

2: Outdoor Charades

An exciting addition to outdoor camping games for adults is Outdoor Charades.It involves teams or individuals taking turns to mime clues while others try to guess the correct answer. It’s an entertaining and active game which have helped me a lot in improving my creativity, communication, and observation skills in the outdoor environment. You can also play this game during hiking if you are looking for hiking games for adults.

• Write down a variety of nature-themed words or phrases on small cards.
• Divide your group into teams and have one person from each team pick a card and act out the word or phrase without speaking.
• The team members must guess the word within a certain time frame.

3: Tug of War

Tug of War is an exhilarating addition to outdoor camping games for adults. This competitive team sport involves two teams pulling on opposite ends of a rope in the outdoor setting, trying to overpower each other and pull the rope towards their side. The objective is to make the opposing team lose balance and cross a marked line on the ground.

• Divide your group into two teams and mark a line on the ground.
• Place a rope in the middle, and each team holds onto one end.
• The objective is to try and pull the opposing team over the line.

4: Frisbee Golf

Frisbee Golf, also known as disc golf, is a fantastic outdoor camping game for adults. In this enjoyable activity, players throw a disc (similar to a Frisbee) into a series of designated targets, such as baskets or metal poles, in as few throws as possible.

• Set up a course in your campground using natural landmarks.
• Each player starts at a designated tee area and throws their frisbee toward the target.
• A course must be completed with the fewest throws possible to win.

5: Water Balloon Toss

Beat the heat during your outdoor camping games for adults and add some splashy fun to your camping trip with a water balloon toss for laughter, wet clothes, and a refreshing time under the sun. I personally love to play it whenever I do camping in summer. I would suggest you to remember this game while looking at camping birthday ideas for adults.

• Divide your group into pairs and provide each pair with a water balloon.
• Start at a short distance and have each pair toss the water balloon to their partner.
• After each successful catch, the pairs take a step back, increasing the distance.
• In the end, the pair with the most intact water balloons wins.

6: Three-Legged Race

The three-legged race is a classic and entertaining outdoor camping game for adults that requires coordination and teamwork, resulting in a challenging and hilarious competition. I still do recall memories of playing this game and falling on the ground while playing this. And I do have a tip for winning this game during your camping adventures. Find a partner who is left-handed if you are right-handed or vice versa, and then tie your non-dominant legs together. Victory will be yours, I’m sure of that.

• Pair up participants and tie one of their legs together, creating “three-legged” teams.
• Set a racecourse and have the teams compete against each other, hopping or running to reach the finish line.
• The team that crosses the finish line first wins.

7: Capture the Flag

Capture the Flag is a thrilling outdoor camping game for adults that combines strategy, agility, and teamwork, providing a mix of stealth, outdoor exploration, and friendly competition. It’s a thrilling and strategic game that involves teamwork, speed, and tactical planning. 

• Divide your group into two teams and mark out a playing area.
• Each team has a “flag” hidden in their territory.
• The objective is to infiltrate the opposing team’s area, retrieve their flag, and bring it back to your own territory without getting caught.
• The team that successfully captures the flag and brings it back wins the game.

8: Campfire Trivia

Campfire Trivia is an entertaining outdoor camping game for adults enjoyed around the campfire, where participants test their knowledge by answering questions and riddles. It creates a cozy atmosphere and encourages friendly competition while stimulating intellectual thinking. Gathered in a circle during your camping adventures, players take turns asking and answering trivia questions, making for an enjoyable and engaging evening activity. 

• Prepare a list of nature-related trivia questions.
• Divide your group into teams.
• Take turns asking the questions, and each team writes down their answers.
• After all the questions are answered, tally the scores and the team with the most correct answers wins.

9: Giant Jenga

Giant Jenga is a larger-than-life version of the classic game that adds extra excitement and suspense to your camping trip. It’s an exciting and suspenseful game that requires steady hands, strategy, and a sense of balance.

• Create a tower using wooden blocks.
• Take turns removing one block at a time from the tower and placing it on top without causing the tower to collapse.
• The game continues until the tower falls.
• The player who successfully removes and places the block without collapsing the tower wins.

10: Nature Photo Contest

A nature photo contest is a competition where participants capture and submit their best photographs of the natural world. It encourages individuals to explore and appreciate the beauty of nature through their camera lens.

• Give each participant a camera or a smartphone.
• Set a specific time frame for them to take captivating photos of the surrounding environment.
• After the time is up, gather together and have each person share their best shots.
• Vote for the most impressive photographs, and award prizes to the winners based on the group’s decision.

Outdoor games without equipment for adults:

11: sardines.

Sardines is a thrilling outdoor camping game for adults, a twist on hide-and-seek that involves hiding and squeezing together like sardines. It’s a fun and suspenseful game that keeps everyone engaged. This exciting activity adds an extra element of thrill to your camping adventures, making it a memorable and laughter-filled experience with friends or fellow campers.

• One person is designated as the “hider” while the rest of the players count and wait.
• Once the hider finds a hiding spot, the other players search for them.
• When a player finds the hider, they join them in the hiding spot, staying quiet and hidden.
• The game continues until the last person discovers the hiding spot, and then a new round begins with a new hider.

12: Simon Says

Simon Says is a classic outdoor game without equipment for adults that tests listening skills and quick reactions. It’s a fun and interactive game that can be played in various settings, including camping trips. This engaging activity adds an element of excitement and laughter to your outdoor adventures, making it an ideal choice for group entertainment during camping.

• Choose one person to be “Simon” and have them stand in front of the group.
• “Simon says touch your nose,” for example, is a command Simon gives.
• The other players must follow the commands only when “Simon says” is stated.
• If a player follows a command without “Simon says,” they are out of the game.
• The game continues with Simon giving more commands until there is one player left standing, who becomes the next Simon.

13: Storytelling Circle

The storytelling circle is a creative and collaborative outdoor game without equipment for adults where participants take turns adding sentences to create an ongoing story. It’s a great way to spark imagination and entertainment during camping trips. This enjoyable activity adds an element of storytelling magic to your outdoor adventures, making it an ideal choice for group bonding and fun.

• Gather around the campfire or in a circle.
• The first person starts the story by saying a sentence or two.
• The next person continues the story by adding their own sentence or two.
• Each participant takes turns adding to the story, building on what has been said before.
• The game continues, with each player contributing to the story until it reaches a satisfying conclusion or continues indefinitely.

Camping Games For Adults at Night

Although there are a lot of camping activities for night , but right now here I am sharing with you some camping games for adults at night which can lit up your night.

14: Stargazing Challenge

The stargazing challenge is an awe-inspiring outdoor camping game for adults at night, combining the beauty of the night sky with learning about constellations and celestial objects. It’s an educational and captivating activity to enjoy during camping trips.

• Each participant chooses a constellation or celestial object they want to focus on.
• One by one, each participant shares interesting facts or stories about their chosen constellation or celestial object.
• Participants can use books, apps, or prior knowledge to provide information.
• The game continues with each person sharing their chosen object, creating an engaging and informative stargazing session.

15: Moonlight Hike

Embarking on a moonlight hike is an adventurous outdoor camping game for adults at night that allows you to explore the trails or surroundings of your campsite under the magical ambiance of the moon. It’s a thrilling and unique experience that adds an adventurous twist to your camping trip. 

• Choose a designated time when the moon is visible and provides sufficient light for the hike.
• Equip each participant with flashlights or headlamps for safety.
• Follow a designated trail or explore the surroundings of your campsite while enjoying the moonlit night.
• Take in the sights, sounds, and unique atmosphere of nature at night, ensuring to stay safe and watch out for any obstacles.

16: Flashlight Tag

Flashlight Tag is a heart-pounding outdoor camping game for adults at night that combines hide-and-seek with a twist. It’s an exciting and thrilling activity to play in the darkness of the night, adding an extra layer of excitement and challenge to your camping trip.

• Choose one person to be the “Tagger” and give them a flashlight.
• The other players scatter and hide within a designated area.
• The Tagger’s goal is to spot and tag the other players using the beam of the flashlight.
• Players become Taggers when they are tagged.
• The game continues as players stealthily move through the darkness, relying on their wits and agility to avoid detection.

17: Glow Stick Ring Toss

Glow Stick Ring Toss is a visually stunning outdoor camping game for adults at night that adds a magical touch to your camping experience. It’s a simple and engaging activity that can be played in the dark, creating a mesmerizing visual effect with glowing rings. 

• Gather a few glow sticks and form them into rings.
• Set up a pole or stake in the ground as the target.
• Players take turns tossing the glow stick rings, aiming to land them around the pole.
• Keep track of scores or play for fun.
• Enjoy the enchanting glow of the rings as they create a captivating display in the darkness.

18: Nighttime Scavenger Hunt

The Nighttime Scavenger Hunt adds an element of mystery and adventure to your camping night. It’s a thrilling game that allows you to explore the beauty of the night while searching for specific items in the dark. 

• Create a list of items that can be found in the dark, such as specific constellations, nocturnal animals, or unique natural features.
• Equip each participant with a flashlight and provide them with the scavenger hunt list.
• Set a time limit and let the exploration begin.
• Participants search for the items on the list using their flashlights.
• The team or individual who finds the most items within the given time wins.

19: Ghost Stories Contest

The Ghost Stories Contest is a perfect outdoor camping game for adults at night, providing a thrilling activity to gather around the campfire and test your storytelling skills. It’s a fun and spooky game that creates a memorable night of shared ghostly tales. 

• Each participant takes turns sharing their most spine-chilling, suspenseful, or humorous ghost story.
• Encourage creativity and imagination in storytelling.
• Let the eerie ambiance of the night add to the atmosphere.
• After each story, take a vote to determine the scariest or most captivating tale.
• Enjoy a night filled with entertainment and a shared appreciation for ghostly narratives.

20: Glow-in-the-Dark Capture the Flag

Glow-in-the-Dark Capture the Flag is a nocturnal twist on the classic game. It’s an exhilarating and strategic activity that brings friendly competition and excitement to your camping trip. 

• Divide your group into two teams and assign each team a territory.
• Use glow sticks or other glowing objects as the “flags” to be captured.
• The objective is to infiltrate the opposing team’s territory, retrieve their flag, and bring it back to your own territory without being caught.
• The glow-in-the-dark element adds an extra layer of excitement and strategy as players maneuver through the darkness.
• Use teamwork, agility, and stealth to outwit the opposing team and secure victory.

Camping trips are not just about enjoying the beauty of nature; they are also an opportunity to create lasting memories and strengthen bonds with friends and loved ones. By incorporating these twenty outdoor camping games for adults into your itinerary, you can add an extra layer of excitement and enjoyment to your wilderness adventure. Whether you’re embarking on a scavenger hunt, competing in a game of glow-in-the-dark capture the flag, or showcasing your storytelling skills around the campfire, these outdoor camping games for adults are designed to bring fun, adventure, and bonding to your camping trip. So, pack your bags, gather your group, and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience filled with laughter, friendly competition, and a closer connection with nature. Happy camping!

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Published: Jul 21, 2022 · Modified: Aug 23, 2022 by Peta O'Brien Day · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

32 Family Camping Games and Activities for Outdoor Fun

Camping can be the best family vacation ever, with plenty of time to make memories and enjoy quality time together without the usual distractions. When you're trying to occupy the whole family for a longer trip it can be a good idea to have some activities up your sleeve.

We've got plenty of games and ideas for when you get to 2 pm and have exhausted all of your usual plans. You can cloud spot, play hide and seek, or use the opportunity to learn some camping skills. And then, when you're all done, you can stargaze with the more cones you've made. You're welcome!

This is two activities in one, maybe even three, so you can keep your little ones occupied for even longer! First, get your kids to plan their maze, then send them off to gather sticks. And then, once the maze is laid, get the rest of the family to try and solve it. You can even time it to see who can solve it first.

Rock painting

This is an activity that can engage everyone from your preschoolers all the way up to Grandma if she's camping with you! Hunt your campsite for some rocks of all different sizes. Then you and your crew can paint them with the most creative designs they can think of. Not only is this a fun camping activity, but you'll also be left with beautiful keepsakes to take home with you.

Camouflage art

Speaking of keepsakes, here is another way to make camping memories. Collect as many different things from your campsite as you can: leaves, wood, sticks, pine cones, even dirt. Then, using glue or tape, make your very own work of art. You can even paint the paper or canvas beforehand.

DIY paintbrushes

And if you want to go properly authentic then you can even make your own paintbrushes from the bounty of the forest. All you need are some twigs, string, a rubber band, and some pine needles. You can find the instructions here , and then you can get ready to let your creativity fly!

Scavenger hunt

Scavenger hunts are great nature-based activities for when you're away camping. You can make your own based on your particular location, or you can spring for one of these printables from Starry Sky Printables . Kids will love exploring their area for the afternoon and coming back to the campfire for supper.

Camping journal

If you're trying to occupy a slightly older child then something like this printable camping journal is a good way of starting off the day. It would also give your kids something to do if they're up much earlier than you!

If you haven't heard of this burgeoning trend yet then you soon will. Using a GPS or a smartphone with an app, families can find hidden caches with items left in them. These caches can be in all sorts of places and full of all kinds of fun things. They're a great way to make a hike more interesting.

Cannonball is a great family camping game for when you have a large group of people. You can find detailed instructions from Play Party Plan . It's a Simon Says type game, with a caller and actions matched with different phrases. The best thing about this game? You can play it without any props or resources, so it's great for your next outdoor camping trip.

This is, hands down, my favorite card game! I keep a pack in my bag every time we go anywhere as a family. It's fun for all ages and a really easy-to-pick-up game. You can also add your own family rules to liven things up. Get your own pack here .

Wink murder

Not just a great game from your High School drama class, wink murder is also a fun camping game, especially if you have some drama queens and kings among you. Send your "detective" out of earshot and have the rest of the group choose a "murderer". The more dramatic the "death", the better!

In the pond, out of the pond

Here is another one for large groups with a caller and actions the group must perform. Sit down in a circle with your hands on top of your thighs. "In the pond" means you put your hands in the circle. "Out of the pond" means you put your hands above your heads. "On the bank means you put your hands on your thighs. Anyone who slips up is out, and the last one left in is the winner!

Flashlight tag

This is a souped-up version of hide-and-seek that, obviously, works best at night! Everyone gets their own flashlight and the game of tag commences.

Campfire 'smores cones

After all these games, you'll want something tasty to finish off your nigth with. These delicious campfire cones are from Frugal Coupon Living and will keep any tiny (and big) campers happy!

Leaf printing

Pack some washable markers and leaves in your bag and you can make these fun leaf prints. Spend time exploring your campsite for different kinds of leaves and then enjoy making colored prints to take home with you. All you have to do is color the leaves with the pens, and then press the leaf onto some white paper.

Capture the flag

You'll probably have played this game at summer camp when you were younger, but it's great fun with a large group of people. Make two teams, and choose bases. Plant a flag (real or a shirt tied to a stick) outside of the base. The aim is to capture the flag of the other team before they capture yours. For more detailed instructions you can head to How Stuff Works .

Park ranger

Not only is this version of What's the Time Mr. Wolf great fun, but it's also brilliant for helping younger children learn about different animals. Make sure you set up boundaries and find out more from Ultimate Camp Resource .

Down by the banks

For a fun campfire game, head to Play Party Plan to discover how to play Down by the Banks . Sitting in a circle with hands out to your sides, connected with the person next to you. There is usually a rhyme that goes with the game, but you can make up your own if you like.

Sure, this isn't a running about game or a printable, but stargazing can be pretty awe-inspiring for kids (and adults) of all ages. You can find a star chart that matches your location here . Depending on how old your kids are, you can try and match up the lights in the night sky, or you can just lay down and make patterns with the stars. It's the perfect calming down activity at the end of the night.

Building a shelter

The best way to make the most of camping out in the wilderness? Build a shelter! Learn survival skills and have fun at the same time by teaching your children how to find cover in the forest. You can use logs, sticks, tarpaulin, plastic sheeting, even blankets from the tent, anything that you have to hand. Your kids will have loads of fun and it'll keep them occupied for ages!

Campfire stories

The best way to end the day is around your campfire or inside your newly-built den telling stories. These are with a twist, though. The first person makes up a sentence, and then the next person around the fire must make up another sentence to continue the story. You carry on around the circle until the story reaches an (often hilarious) end!

DIY cornhole game

This cornhole board is a great DIY project to get ready for your camping trip. You can make it easily with a few resources, and the instructions from Brit + Co . Kids will love practicing their aim while you're making breakfast on the fire.

Lawn Yahtzee

Another project to prepare for your trip, these DIY Yahtzee dice are great for camping, but also for lawn games once you get home. Head to The Pinning Mama for simple instructions on how to make them. You can even get your kids to help you and choose their own fun colors.

Hide and Seek

Sure, you'll have played this with younger kids when you're trying to keep them occupied, but it's even more fun when you're out in the woods and have much better hiding places. With older kids you can even play it in the dark and add your own rules.

Camping craft pack

The Crazy Outdoor Mama has some great ideas for keeping your little ones occupied on camping trips. One of her best ideas is a Camp Craft Pack that she brings with her on her trips. You can include all sorts of things that you know will keep your kids busy, or you can steal her ideas!

Learning camping skills

If you'd like to use your family camping trip to teach your children some useful life skills, then head to Saving Money Camping for a long list of survival skills that your whole family will benefit from learning. Figure out how to light your own fire, and how to use a compass. You'll be a wilderness expert in no time.

Cloud inspectors

If you're the kind of family who loves looking up at the stars at nighttime when you're out in the forest then you'll probably like exploring the clouds during the day! This printable sheet from The Techy Teacher helps you work out which clouds are which. Or you could just work out which one looks like a unicorn eating ice cream!

Find that tree

In a similar vein, this outdoor activity helps your little ones learn to identify all the trees they can see around them. They'll be able to impress their friends with their super nature knowledge when they get back home. Find the useful printables here .

20 questions

This question-and-answer game is a classic game night activity. It's still great fun to play even if you're out under the stars. One player thinks of a person or object and the rest of the group must guess what it is within 20 questions. The first player must only answer "yes" or "no".

Giant pick up sticks

Pick-up sticks are a great game for developing dexterity and watching people get frustrated! These giant pick-up sticks make the game even more fun to play when you're camping out and about. You can find out how to make your own here .

Glow in the dark bowling

Follow this easy tutorial to make your very own glow-in-the-dark bowling game. This after-dark fun game is perfect for a camping trip and you only need a few easy-to-find materials.

With just a long rope and a kiddie pool, you can have some fun with our tug of war with a twist. Split into two teams, and try and pull the other team into the kiddie pool - you won't want to lose!

Pass it on...

Once you've all got wet playing tug of war, the best way to fill the time before your campfire supper is with this family drawing game. It's based on a broken telephone game, and you can find all of the printables right here on our site. Enjoy your trip!

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20+ Fun & Engaging Camping Games For Adults

Planning your next camping trip and looking for the best games you and your fellow campers could play around the picnic table or campfire? Here are 22 fun camping games for adults that are great for small or large groups!

Playing a few of these games is the best way to relax with friends, have a good time, and make memories.

Even though there are no drinking games on this list (although many could be made into a drinking game if you want), your friends and family members will be laughing about the fun you had and memories made for years to come.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read  full disclosure  for more information.

Campfire Games

There’s nothing quite like sitting around the campfire enjoying the fresh air, good conversation, and just having a great time with friends at the end of the day.

Want to have a really fun camping trip?

Try a scavenger hunt, a few board games, a classic game like relay races, an obstacle course, or even lawn games like bocce ball or ladder golf.

These outdoor games are perfect for small or larger groups and can help break the ice or be great conversation starters if there are any new people in the group.

Interested in a few other fun camping activities?

Check these out!

Truth or Dare

Get to know your fellow campmates even better with a game of truth or dare.

Will they take the risk of a dare or prefer to tell the truth?

The rules of the game are pretty simple- you either choose to answer a question truthfully (usually one that’s pretty embarrassing) or risk completing a dare.

Who knows whether the dare or the truth will be more embarrassing.

This is a campfire game that is sure to leave everyone with a good laugh.

Word of advice- while this game can be hilarious, and could be fun for the whole family, it may not be the best choice if younger kids are in your party or in hearing distance. (Depending on the topics and dares, of course).

Never Have I Ever

This is another great camping game to see how similar or dissimilar to your friends you really are.

It’s a really easy game to play with a simple premise- the first player selected states something they have never done.

Everyone else must put their hand up if they have done the action in the original statement while those who haven’t don’t.

If you want to make this game even more exciting and everyone is having a drink, those who have done the action must take a sip of their drink.

The last one standing is the winner.

Love fun camping activities that remind you of childhood? Play charades!

With this party game, you’ll need to break out your acting and guessing skills and add some friendly competition to the mix.

To play charades, you’ll need to divide everyone into two teams or small groups.

Each team will decide what the other team will have to act out and guess.

The opposing team will only tell one selected member of the other team to tell them what to act out while the rest of the team have to guess what it is, usually within a time limit.

You need to record the score and the team who guessed correctly the most number of times wins.

Twenty Questions

Twenty questions can be a great game to play if you’re looking for outdoor camping games that require no supplies.

To play, the first person starts and must choose a subject, and the others must find out the object is by asking up to 20 questions.

The person who knows the answer can only answer yes or no.

If the other players don’t guess the answer within the 20 question limit then the person who is ‘it’ wins.

This game is an oldie but a goodie!

It might sound like something kids play at a sleepover, but I can assure you that as an adult, this is one of the best campfire games and can end with hilarious results.

The more people in the game the more warped the end result. By the time the message gets to the last person, it’s nothing like when it started.

To play Telephone, everyone needs to sit in a circle and the first person whispers a phrase or sentence to the next person. Then that person whispers what they thought they heard to the person next to them.

This goes on until you get to the last person who then says out loud what they thought they heard to everyone in the group and the person who started says whether it’s correct or not.

Normally the end sentence is a lot different from what the first person started with and can end up being very funny.

This game requires a bit of teamwork to get to your desired goal.

You all choose a number you want to reach. Be it 10, 20, 50, or 100.

The higher the number the harder the game.

Everyone needs to shout out the next number in the sequence without another person also shouting that number.

If two people shout the number then you have to start from the beginning to get to the number.

This game can take a while, especially if you have a larger group. But once you manage to finish it, you’ll certainly feel satisfied.

Storytelling

Sitting around the campfire isn’t complete unless someone is telling a good story.

There are a few different ways you can do this. One person can make up a story and choose to regale everyone or you can make it more interactive.

A fun way to play this game is for the storyteller to include the rest of the group.

To do this, everyone needs to contribute a sentence or two of the story as it goes around the circle.

No one knows what’s going to happen next unless you are the next player telling that part of the story.

You can also play the ‘exquisite corpse’ storytelling game.

You will need paper and a pen and everyone writes a sentence on pieces of paper and folds it over so the next person can’t see.

They then add another sentence of the story to the paper.

This goes on until everyone has added to the story.

In the end, it’s then unfolded and read out loud.

The story is normally very disjointed and it’s lots of fun to see what everyone came up with.

This can be a great game if some of the people in your group are a little shy or not so outgoing. It’s also an excellent game if space is limited because all you need are a few pens and some paper!

Would You Rather?

An easy peasy game that helps you get to know everyone a little bit better.

People have two choices of things they can do, normally two quite unpleasant choices. They have to choose which one they would rather do.

It is not always an easy decision but the questions and conversations that ensue make this one of the best camping games for adults.

Nighttime Camping Games For Adults

Sitting by the fire at the end of a long day of camping fun can be both cozy and relaxing.

But, if you’re not ready to hop into beds or snuggle into your sleeping bags just yet, give these nighttime camping games for adults a try.

Camping offers the perfect opportunity to get a good look at the night sky and view the amazing constellations.

Without the usual light pollution that you get when closer to the city, you’ll get a great view of all the stars.

Taking the time to really appreciate it in this setting can be truly amazing and inspiring.

Not sure how to find the constellations? No problem!

Here is some helpful info that can help you to be able to identify constellations.

Nightime Frisbee

If you feel like you have a little extra energy later on in the day then nighttime frisbee might just be for your group.

You’ll need to bring a glow-in-the-dark frisbee and glow sticks to wear around each player’s neck or wrist.

Then you can all enjoy a game of frisbee in the dark.

There’s something really fun about playing night frisbee, but just be careful! It’s much easier to trip, fall, or hurt yourself- especially if you’ve had a few drinks beforehand!

Ghost Stories

Feeling like you need a little excitement?

You can get your adrenaline pumping by telling each other ghost stories.

If you really want to feel that scary chill then camping out in the sticks is the perfect place to tell ghost stories to really make people scared.

If you want to add in a little competition you can all tell a ghost story each and then the group votes for who they think had the scariest ghost story. Obviously, you can’t vote for yourself.

It might be a good idea to play a more lighthearted game by the campfire after this one, just so everyone can sleep at night.

Active Camping Games For Adults

Getting active is part and parcel when you go camping. You might be looking for other active things to do other than hiking though. Here are lots of games you can play to stay active and have lots of fun with your friends at the same time.

Capture The Flag

This game is so much fun and really active too.

The only equipment you need is two flags or pieces of material, something to divide the field you are playing on into two sections – one section for each team, and designate an area in each team’s area for jail.

You need to split your group into two teams.

Each team needs to hide their flag and have some member of their team guard it.

The aim of the game is to get the other team’s flag and take it to their territory.

If you get tagged while in the other team’s territory you end up in ‘jail’ and can no longer participate to get glad unless one of their own teammates tags them.

The winners are the team who successfully get the other teams flag into their territory.

This is another activity that is so much fun.

It combines the latest technology with outdoor adventure.

It’s an app on your phone that uses GPS and a map to guide you in the world’s largest treasure hunt – geocatching.com.

Make sure you check it out before you go and search your location to see what kind of treasure hunt is possible.

Be sure to put the treasure back or bring a little treasure with you to replace the treasure you have found.

Hide And Seek Or Sardines

Who says you’re too old to play these traditional camp games.

Whether you are a kid or an adult, playing active games like hide and seek in the dark can be a good time.

Whether you are one person looking for everyone, or you’re all squishing into one hiding place waiting for the last person to find you like when playing Sardines, even adults will enjoy this exciting game.

If you have the space, it’s always a good idea to bring some sports-type camping games for adults on a trip.

There’s usually lots of space around you to enjoy them and adding a bit of healthy competition to the mix always adds excitement to the trip.

Sports games that are great for camping are football, dodgeball, volleyball, kickball, or maybe even baseball/softball if you can find an open field or available baseball field.

These are games that are super easy to set up and everyone normally knows how to play them.

And if there are a few that don’t know how to play, it’s usually really easy to learn so everyone in your group can join in.

Other Fun Camping Games & Activities

The list of games you can play while camping is endless, there are so many options.

But let me give you a few more that were too good to be left off the list.

Card games are perfect campfire games !

A deck of cards is super easy to pack in your camping gear and there are so so many games you can play.

From poker, if you like to gamble a little, or something a bit more tame like gin rummy.

There are games anyone can enjoy with cards.

You can even go solo if you want some alone time with games like solitaire.

Need a few card game ideas? Here are over 40 great card games for all occasions!

Ok, so this isn’t a game exactly, maybe more like an activity. But you could turn it into a game. Maybe a scavenger hunt or a battle to see who correctly identifies the most plants?

In any case, foraging is a great way to learn to identify plants or even find your own food.

Depending on the season, you might be able to find quite a bit of your own food for your camping dinner.

You can even split into teams to see who can forage and find the most stuff.

One note of caution- make sure you are very careful about what you are foraging. If you are at all unsure about any plant, it is better to err on the side of caution and leave it be.

Shelter Building

There’s nothing quite so satisfying as building a shelter from what you have available to you.

There are all kinds of shelters you can build, especially if you’re camping somewhere rustic or remote. (In a campground you may be somewhat limited).

To add a little competition with other campers in your group you can split into teams and see who can build the best shelter.

Almost like a challenge on Survivor!

Campfire Making

Speaking of a Survivor-type challenge, making a campfire is probably one of the most important survival skills to master if you’re going to spend any amount of time outdoors.

While most people can use a lighter or matches to start a good campfire, it’s a bit harder to do so without.

Learning how to do this can be lots of fun, but don’t get discouraged if it takes a few tries!

Just make sure to bring some flint, search for dry firewood and kindling, and have patience.

That’s the basics of making a great campfire.

Also, if you are relying on a campfire for food, warmth, or having a competition and it’s been a long time since you’ve used this skill or you have never built a fire- it might be a good idea to practice before your trip 😉

If you feel like getting a little crafty while camping then this whittling could be a perfect choice.

Just make sure to bring a whittling knife with you and you can start right away.

A great way to make it a team game is to see who can make the best whittling craft.

Fun Drinking Games For Camping

And last, but certainly not least- here are drinking game options that are fun to play with your fellow campers!

This classic game isn’t just fun for kids, it’s a great game for camping! The best time to break this game out is when everyone has had a drink or two and are up for some fun.

If you don’t know people in your camping party well, you will know them better after this game ends!

Straight Face

This is one of our favorite games (even if you’re not drinking!).

What you do is write funny, inappropriate, or just plain ridiculous sentences on small pieces of paper. You want to think of sentences that are going to be really hard to read while keeping a straight face.

Put all of the papers in a cup, hat or bowl. Each person takes a piece of paper and reads it out loud while trying to keep a straight face.

If you giggle or react in any way you have to drink!

Two Truths And A Lie

Two truths and a lie is a great game to help break the ice, but it’s funny after a few drinks too!

To start this game, one person tells the group three statements about themselves. But… they have to give two truths and one lie.

After the person is finished, everyone else has to guess which statements are true and which is made up. After everyone has guessed, the player reveals which statement was the lie.

To make this a drinking game, anyone who guesses wrong has to drink. The person giving the three statements can then choose one of the players that chose correctly to be next and the game continues.

Drunk Pictionary (aka Tipsy Artist)

This is a great game for any size group. First, separate your group into teams (evenly numbered is best).

One player from the opposing team will keep time and whisper the clue into the artists ear. The artist will then begin drawing and their team members will do their best to guess the clue.

The round is over when the team guesses correctly, or the artist gives up.

Once the round is over, the artist has to take a drink for every 20 seconds it took for their teammates to guess the picture. If the drawer gives up, they have to take a shot. 

Last Thoughts About Fun Camping Games For Adults

There are so many ways to have fun and enjoy the outdoors on your next trip with this list of hilarious games for adults.

Whether you’re looking for a low-key, relaxing trip or something more active like running around chasing each other on an obstacle course, there are plenty of options here to suit everyone’s preferences and keep you busy and having fun the whole time.

Now get out there, have some fun, and make great memories!

Happy camping 🙂

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Camping trip

Find the secret rule to know what to bring for the trip.

Submitted by Antoine

Press any Play buttons below for the instructions to be read for you.

Other name(s): I’m going on a picnic

1)  One player must be designated as the trip organizer.

2)  The trip organizer has to come up with a secret rule regarding the items that people can bring to the trip.

Here are some rule examples that can be used:

• Items which start with a certain letter
• Items with a certain letter in the word
• Items which end with a certain letter
• Items consisting of two words
• Items which begin with the last letter of the last item mentioned
• Items of the same color
• Items with the same number of letters

You can pick one of them or come up with another one.

How to play

1)  The game starts when the trip organizer says “I’m going on a camping trip and I’m going to bring …” completing the sentence with an item matching the secret rule he came up with.

2)  The next player must tried to understand the secret rule and take a guess by also saying “I’m going on a camping trip and I’m going to bring [item name]”.

3)  If the item is valid, the trip organizer says “Okay, you can bring that on the camping trip”. If the item isn’t valid, the trip organizer says  “No, you can’t bring this item”.

4)  The game continues to the next player until everyone is able to give a correct item.

The first player who share two consecutive valid items becomes the winner and can be the trip organizer for the next round.

Types of games

Active (Outdoor): Great to burn some energy, enjoy the outside and stay fit!

Drawing: Helps getting better at sketching which also has benefits for your creativity, memory and observation skills.

Improvisation: Those games help you being more spontaneous and vulnerable. It can help you gain confidence in groups, leadership and public speaking.

Logic: Helps you practice reflection and reasoning to better problem solve.

Numbers: Calculus and more, to get better with numbers!

Reactivity: Games to train your brain and body to become faster.

Social: Icebreakers and other games to let you open more to others and get to know them better.

Strategy: Become better at anticipating and making decisions through those games.

Words: Perfect games to develop your vocabulary, written skills or train for foreign languages.

Amateur Adventure Journal

20 Awesome Camping Games to Play at Night

The tent is set up, the sun is down, and Wi-Fi is nowhere to be found.

And then you realize… you don’t know how to stay entertained without lights or cell service! Now what?

Lucky for you, I’ve spent lots of dark nights at the campground and have tested plenty of games to have fun while unplugged from the grid.

What makes these good games to play at night on a camping trip?

• They don’t require a lot of light to see players or game pieces.
• They can be played with no electronics or Wi-Fi.
• They need little to no equipment, so you don’t have to buy or pack a lot of extra stuff in addition to your camping gear. The games that do need equipment only involve things you likely packed anyway (like flashlights).

Whether you’re camping with a small or large group or need games for families or adults, I’ve included a nighttime game for everyone on this list.

So light the campfire and get ready to play games all night! Here are 20 awesome camping games to play at night.

Use these links to navigate through different categories of games:

• Conversation games to play at night
• Group games to play at night
• Active games to play at night
• Drinking games to play at night

Related article: 35 Super Fun Camping Games For Adults

CONVERSATION GAMES TO PLAY AT NIGHT

All of these games only involve talking. These are some of the best camping games to play at night around the campfire since they don’t require moving, seeing players or game pieces, or sitting in a specific arrangement.

Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is a fun way to get to know more about your friends and family. What better way to spend quality time together?

To play, one person lists 3 statements about themself. Two of the statements are true and one of the statements is a lie. Everyone else has to guess which one is the lie. Then it’s another person’s turn to come up with two truths and one lie about themself.

It can be a challenging game if you feel like you and the people you’re camping with know everything about each other. But it can be a great way to learn even more things about each other that may never come up in conversation otherwise, or just to see how many random facts you remember about each other.

Twenty Questions

Twenty Questions is a fun game to get your brain thinking.

To play, someone thinks of a person, place, or thing and keeps it a secret. Everyone else has to figure out what it is using 20 questions or less. The questions can only be yes or no questions. For example, you could ask “Is it bigger than a pencil?” but not “How big is it?”.

If the group gets stuck, you can resume this game in the morning! Twenty Questions also makes for a great game to help pass the time while you’re cooking meals, going on a hike, or hiding in your tent on a rainy day .

The Alphabet Game

The alphabet game is a memory game in which you take turns listing items starting with the letters A through Z. The challenge is that you have to remember and list every item previously mentioned before you say a new item.

For example, the first person may say, “I’m going on a camping trip and I’m bringing apples.” On the second player’s turn, they may say “I’m going on a camping trip and I’m bringing apples and bananas.” Then it would be the next person’s turn to list apples and bananas before listing an item that starts with the letter C, and so on.

This game is typically played with the prompt “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing…”. No matter what prompt you use, the items that players list don’t actually have to be relevant to the topic (you can totally bring a zebra camping when you get to the end of the alphabet!).

Would You Rather

Would You Rather is a game that can strike up interesting conversations and fuel lively debates.

To play, take turns coming up with two hypothetical scenarios and asking everyone which one they’d rather do. For example you might ask “Would you rather have the ability to fly or to be invisible?”

The scenarios can be as unpleasant, ridiculous, far-fetched, or profound as you can think of.

It’s a great game to pass the time whether you’re sitting around the campfire or staring up at the stars.

Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever is a great game to play with people you’re willing to be open with.

On your turn, you say something that you have never done. For example, you might say “Never have I ever gotten a speeding ticket.” Anyone who HAS done that thing has to take a drink.

Alternatively, if the people you’re camping with don’t drink, you could all hold up 3 fingers at the start of the game and anyone who has done the thing has to put one finger down. You’re out of the game when you’ve put down all of your fingers.

The things you share can be as mundane or risqué as you want, as long as you’ve never done them. 

I recommend playing this game with adults only. Even if you keep the topics PG and play by the non-drinking rules, the adults are at a bit of a disadvantage if you’re playing with kids with little life experience.

Truth or Dare

Truth or dare is a great way to bond with your fellow campers by sharing secrets and engaging in scandalous dares.

The rules are simple. On your turn, pick someone and ask them “Truth or Dare?”. That person will choose to either tell the truth or accept a dare.

If they choose “truth”, you get to ask a question that needs to be answered honestly. If they choose “dare”, you will suggest a challenge for them to do.

As with Never Have I Ever, the questions and dares can be as innocent or intimate as you want. It makes for a great camping game for couples if you use flirty prompts, yet it can also be played with groups that are less comfortable together if you keep the prompts tame.

Not feeling creative? Consider bringing a print out or screenshot with a list of prompts.

Drunk or Child

Drunk or Child is another game for the adults to play after the kids have gone to sleep.

It’s a silly game that lets you learn fun stories that have happened in each other’s lives.

Each person will tell crazy stories that happened to them in their past. The other people have to figure out if they were drunk or a child when these stories transpired. 

Avoid sharing any clues that give away when it would have taken place (for instance, places or people that would have only been relevant later in life).

Of course, this game doesn’t really apply if you or the people you’re camping with don’t drink.

Just a Minute

Just a Minute is a game from a popular BBC radio show that can be adapted for any number of players instead of a group of contestants. If you’re not familiar with the show, you can listen to past episodes to hear some examples.

One player is given a topic which they have to talk about for a full minute without hesitating, repeating themselves, or switching topics. If they do, they get a point. The next player then gets a new topic and has a minute to speak about their topic.

If a whole minute is too challenging, one variation is to see who can discuss their topic for the longest amount of time.

Shag, Marry, Kill

Shag, Marry, Kill is another game that can easily be played while doing other nighttime activities like making s’mores or stargazing.

To play this game, someone lists three celebrities and another player must choose one celebrity to shag, one to marry, and one to kill. After taking their turn, they present the next player with three celebrities to shag, marry, or kill and so on.

It can be interesting to hear what combinations other people choose!

This game is versatile for camping because it can be played anywhere in any size group. It’s simply an amusing prompt for conversation.

You Laugh, You Lose

You Laugh, You Lose is one of my favorite camping games. It’s a really fun game to play as it will have you laughing all night long!

On your turn, you have a minute to try and make your partner (or opposing team) laugh. If they laugh before one minute is up, you get a point, but they get a point if they keep a straight face the whole time. But, this is one of those games where having the most fun is more important than keeping score.

GROUP GAMES TO PLAY AT NIGHT

While many of the games on this list can be played by two or more players, the games in this category are best played with a large group. I recommend playing them with at least 6 or more players.

Mafia (Werewolves)

Mafia (also called Werewolves) is a go-to camping game for large groups.

In this game, mafia members and civilians try to kill each other off. The catch? You don’t know who’s on which side!

The full rules are pretty long but here’s an overview of the game setup and how the rounds work to get you started.

One person is chosen to be the narrator and will facilitate the game. The narrator will secretly assign some people the roles of mafia members, doctor, and detective so no one else knows the identity of these roles. Everyone else is a civilian. Many writeups of the rules will instruct you to assign these roles using cards, but you can just have everyone close their eyes and tap people on the head to silently designate the roles so you can play without using any equipment.

Once the roles have been assigned, the game play alternates between “night” and “day”. At night, everyone puts their head down and the narrator facilitates the mafia, doctor, and detective to take turns picking their heads up to silently play their parts.

First the narrator asks the mafia members to wake up and choose someone to kill by pointing at them. When they’ve come to a consensus they put their heads back down.

Next the narrator wakes up the doctor who silently chooses someone to save in the event they are the person that the mafia murdered.

Lastly the narrator wakes up the detective. The detective will point to someone to ask if that person is in the mafia, and the narrator must nod or shake their head to let them know.

The narrator then declares that it is daytime, at which point everyone lifts their heads back up. The narrator announces who the mafia killed off (and that they were saved, if they are the person that the doctor chose). Everyone must discuss who they think is in the mafia and agree to accuse one person of being in the mafia. When everyone agrees on one person, that person is killed and out of the game.

Continue alternating between day and night until all of the mafia members are eliminated or until the mafia outnumbers the civilians.

You can find a more detailed explanation of the rules of Mafia here .

Murder by Winking

If you think Mafia is too complex or takes too long to play, you may prefer the game Murder by Winking.

Murder by Winking is an excellent game to play around the campfire at night when everyone’s faces are obscured by flickering shadows.

Have everyone sit around the campfire and choose one person to be a neutral party for the round. This person’s job is to assign the role of murderer so no one else knows who the murderer is.

Once the neutral party is chosen, everyone else closes their eyes. The neutral party silently selects a murderer by walking around the circle and tapping one person on the head. They will then sit back down and tell everyone to open their eyes.

Resume having a normal conversation as if you aren’t playing a game. The murderer tries kill people one by one by winking at them – without getting caught by another person.

If the murderer winks at you, you die. Slump over and act dead! If someone witnesses the murder occur they can accuse the murderer by name.

If your accusation is correct, you win the game. But if your accusation is wrong, you die, so guess wisely! The goal is to catch the murderer before they kill everyone.

Telephone (Whisper Down the Lane)

Telephone is a group game that can be enjoyed by campers of any age.

The aim of the game is to get a word or phrase from one end of the group to the other only by whispering. See how much your message changed from the beginning to the end!

Get everyone together in a circle or line. One person comes up with a word or phrase and whispers it to the person next to them. That person whispers what they think they heard to the next person, and so on until everyone has heard the word or phrase.

The last person who had the phrase whispered to them will say what they heard out loud to the group. The person who came up with the phrase will then announce what phrase they started the round with.

It’s fun to have more people share what word they thought they heard to find out where the communication broke down and hear how many times the phrase got messed up along the way.

If you have a really large group, you could split everyone into two teams and see which team gets closest to the original word.

ACTIVE GAMES TO PLAY AT NIGHT

These games involve moving around your campsite so be careful walking or running around in the dark. Make sure you have spare batteries for your flashlights and headlamps in case you drain your power while playing these games!

Signals is a fun game for kids and adults alike.

You’ll need one flashlight or headlamp per person in order to play Signals.

Split players up into pairs. Each set of partners will have to come up with a unique flashlight signal (for example, one long flash followed by one short flash) that they will be able to recognize.

Once each group has created their signal, partners separate and scatter throughout the campsite. Have someone announce, “Ready, Set, Go!” at which point players begin flashing their signals. Partners race to find each other as quickly as possible and the first pair to reunite wins!

Signals is best played on a really dark night. A full moon or a campfire can make it too easy for partners to spot each other without using their flashlights.

If you enjoy chasing fireflies in the summer, you’ll love playing Firefly the game.

The only equipment you’ll need is a flashlight or headlamp with a red light setting. You may be able to get away with holding a flashlight under a shirt. The idea is to have a light that has a warm glow rather than a powerful beam of light.

Choose someone to start out as the firefly and give them the headlamp. The firefly will move away from the rest of the group while the remaining players count to 20. After counting down, the remaining players look for the firefly.

The firefly should, well, act like a firefly – always move around and flicker the headlamp on and off about once a minute.

When someone catches the firefly, the round is over and a new firefly should be chosen.

Firefly is another game that is best played on a dark night without the brightness of a full moon to give away the location of the firefly.

Hide and Seek

If the classic game Hide and Seek is too easy for you, try playing in the dark for an added challenge!

One person closes their eyes and counts to 30 (or however much time you agree upon). While they’re counting, everyone else hides. Then the person who was counting has to go find the people who are hiding. Find everyone and then pick a new seeker for the next round.

When you’re playing hide and seek outdoors, it can be helpful to set boundaries of where it’s ok to hide. For example, hide only within your campsite or the campground. This will prevent the seeker from wandering all over the woods trying to find you.

I recommend giving everyone a buddy and a flashlight when you’re playing Hide and Seek at night so no one gets lost.

DRINKING GAMES TO PLAY AT NIGHT

If you’re looking for nighttime games to play on an adults-only camping trip , check out this list of drinking games. The only equipment you need for these games is booze.

Are you paranoid about what other people say about you?

In this game, you’ll get to find out what your fellow campers think about you – if you’re willing to drink.

To start a round, the person to your left whispers a question to you about the group of people you’re playing with. It could be something like “Who’s the funniest person here?” or “Who’s the most likely person to get fired from their job?”

You say your choice out loud to the whole group. Your answer must be someone in the group.

If anyone wants to hear what the question was, they first have to take a sip of their drink. The person who came up with the question will whisper the question to anyone who took a drink (don’t say the question out loud or else everyone will hear it whether they drank or not).

Cheers to the Governor

Cheers to the Governor is a typical drinking game where you make up silly rules as you go. Don’t forget to follow the rules or you’ll have to drink!

Set up the game by having everyone sit in a circle with a full drink. Go around the circle taking turns saying a number out loud from 1 to 21. Once someone gets to 21, everyone raises a toast and says “Cheers to the governor!”.

The player who gets to 21 creates a new drinking rule to implement on the next round of counting. For example, you could make a rule that whoever gets to the number 5 has to give someone a high five or that you must skip the number 13. If you break this rule during the rest of the game, you take a drink.

Once the rule has been established you restart the counting from one. Continue making a toast and a new rule every time someone reaches the number 21, keeping all of the previous rules that other players made.

This continues until there is a long list of rules. It gets harder and harder once there are a lot of rules to remember and a lot of mistakes have caused everyone to drink more!

I’m Going to the Bar

This game is like the Alphabet Game, but it’s more challenging because you don’t have the alphabet to aid your memory. Plus you’re drinking.

One person starts off the game by saying, “I’m going to the bar and I need to get a tequila sunrise (or any other alcoholic drink).” The next person repeats it and adds on another drink, such as, “I’m going to the bar and I need to get a tequila sunrise and a margarita.”

Each person repeats the list and tacks on another drink to the end of it. The first person to mess up the list takes a drink.

Let’s Go Camping

Although this game isn’t actually related to camping other than the name, what better time to play this than while on a camping trip?

Someone thinks of a place to go camping that you wouldn’t expect (for instance, a school). The remaining players guess what things they should bring in order to get clues about where they’re camping.

In this example, a tent is not relevant since you wouldn’t find a tent at a school. But a notebook is a relevant item to bring to school. If you guess an irrelevant item, take a drink.

The person who figures out the location starts off the next round by choosing the next destination.

You can definitely play this game without the drinking, but I think it’s more fun because there are higher stakes for guessing incorrect clues.

Related Articles:

• 35 Super Fun Camping Games For Adults
• 27 Incredibly Fun Camping Games for Couples
• 40 Fun Rainy Day Camping Activities (For All Ages)

As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.

Hi, I’m Laura! I've been hiking and camping for my whole life. I’ve since explored the outdoors all over the United States, including about 20 national parks. You can read more about me and my adventures on my About page.

Little Panda’s Camping Trip

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Event overview [ ]

Background music [ ]

Merge Theme: http://township.fandom.com/wiki/File:Merge_Event_Merge_Theme.ogg Album Theme: http://township.fandom.com/wiki/File:Merge_Event_Album_Theme.ogg

Merge-2 [ ]

• Generators (marked with a lightning bolt) create items when tapped. Merge two identical items to create new items using energy.
• Some generators needs to be filled with the specified items to become a generator . A generator is destroyed when the maximum number of items is generated, except for those in bold below (You start with the Shop and unlock the other generators by completing certain tasks).

Merge Guide [ ]

• * = generator
• ^ = if infinite generator
• Only merge the items you need to complete the task. The last items on each set is rarely asked in tasks.
• Get the free energy points daily at the store.

Camping Trip [ ]

• Create required items on the merge board to complete tasks. A task can have up to 2 requirements
• Complete tasks to earn event currency (cameras). Some tasks also offer extra rewards like the Van, Tools, Barbecue and Map.
• Earn a certain number of cameras to get rewards, which may be claimed at any time during the event. You can also earn a part of an upgradable decoration as an intermediate reward which will be stored in the decorations tab.

There are 2 stages for the Decoration at 190 and 610 camera points respectively. Profile photo will be available at 1000 camera points. The numbers in parentheses below represent the accumulated camera points required to reach that level.

• Profile picture (1000)

• More gifts every 100 points afterwards.

Photo Album [ ]

Upgradable Decoration [ ]

Name of Decoration: Cozy Campsite

Profile Picture [ ]

• How to free up space on the field (how to delete an item)?

To delete an item, click on it and then click on the "Garbage can" icon in the window on the right. You can delete items one at a time.

• How to create items?

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To collect an item from a bubble, you need to pay the tcash required for the item before the bubble pops. If the bubble has already popped, you won't be able to retrieve the item.

Grab and Go [ ]

Collect green pieces to get the prize. Duration: 2-4 days. Show #1: April 10, 2024 (2 days) Show #3: April __, 2024 (2 days)

Show date #2: April 15, 2024 (4 days)

Air Show [ ]

Make helicopters to win rewards. Duration: 2-4 days. Note: Some of the rewards can be different based on levels or other factors. Show date #1: April 12, 2024 (3 days) Show date #2: April 19, 2024 (3 days)

Event History

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• Our Approach
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I'm going on a trip - a mind game for language classes!

April 19, 2014

I am a very bossy person by nature, and unfortunately I didn't realize it until right after I graduated from high school. By the grace of God, I've learned how to tame my nasty natural instincts...although it's not always easy! Being married helps :)

I think that this is why the game that I'm about to explain is my favorite game ever. It's a mind game, and I'm in control. I get to tell people "Yes" or "No", and they have to live with my verdict. I get to go on a power trip, but everyone thinks that it's fun. MUAH HA HA!!!

The name of the game: I'm going on a trip!

You've probably played this game in one of its many versions before, but perhaps you have not considered how to apply it to the language classroom. I'll explain the rules, several possible scenarios, and then I'll wait for your comments to find out even more ways that we can use it to further our students' language acquisition!!

The premise of the game

The students are going on a trip and have to figure out what they can/can't bring. Only the teacher (game master) knows the criterion that an object must meet in order to go along with the student on the trip.

How to play "I'm going on a trip"

• The teacher tells the class that they are going to go on an imaginary trip. The class decides where they want to go.
• The teacher tells students that they can only bring certain items on the trip, and that any object they bring must meet a specific criterion. Their goal is to figure out what the criterion is, but they must never say what they think the criterion is when they think they know it. They must use guess and check to confirm their hypothesis.
• The teacher gives students one example of an object that can be brought on the trip decided on by the class, enclosed in a model statement. For example, "I'm going to Hawaii, and I'm going to bring [a swimsuit]".
• The teacher writes the model statement on the board, then turns it into a question and reflects it back to the class. For example, "What are you going to bring to Hawaii?"
• Students take turns saying what they are going to bring to Hawaii, always following the model statement exactly. "I'm going to Hawaii, and I'm going to bring [a palm tree]". "I'm going to Hawaii, and I'm going to bring [my boyfriend]". They can say anything.
• After each statement, the teacher responds "Yes, you can" or "No, you can't".

How to help students figure out the key

Students continue saying what they will bring, with the teacher confirming or denying their idea. Every once in awhile, the teacher throws in an example that works in order to help the class. At first, they should be examples that confuse the kids--bring ridiculous things like buildings, countries, whatever! The examples should get more and more obvious as the game goes on in an effort to help all students to figure out the criterion. Use inflection, body language, etc. to help students figure it out!

Again, students must never say out loud what they think the criterion is, but instead confirm their hypothesis by volunteering more statements. Once they have it, you will know (and they will too) because they will be allowed to bring everything that they volunteer.

Ideally, you end the game when all students have figured out the trick...you may need to "cheat" to help all students get there, depending on how difficult the criterion is with which you play.

Possible Criterion for "I'm going on a trip"

Here are some possible criteria that you can use to play the game. You only use one per game!!

You must say "Um" or "Uh" before you make the statement. (This is my favorite!) Ex: "Um....I'm going to Hawaii, and I'm going to bring a castle". In order for this to work well, however, it is best if the teacher calls on random students as opposed to having students raise their hands. If kids have planned out what they are going to say, they will not often say "Um". Your students that are excellent at public speaking may get frustrated because they don't use fillers, and so they won't ever be allowed to bring the items that they suggest!

ALPHA ORDER

The items must go in alphabetical order. For example, "I'm going to Hawaii, and I'm going to bring an Apple" "I'm going to Hawaii, and I'm going to bring a Boat" "I'm going to Hawaii, and I'm going to bring a Chunk of cheese". Start from a letter in the middle of the alphabet to make it less obvious, and use words whose initial letters are disguised in sound, like "Xylophone" or "Phenomenal".

ALPHA CHAIN

The items must begin with the last letter of the previously accepted item: ex: ApplE, ElephanT, TrampolinE, EgG, GoD, DoG...

WORD LENGTH

The items must all consist of the same number of letters: food, door, cars, hand, etc. You would probably want to plan out a list of these ahead of time for you to use as examples, because it isn't easy to think of them on the spot.

The items all fit into a specific category--things that are round, things that are red, things that are awake in the night, things that have doors, etc.)

THAT'S NOT FAIR!

The person saying the sentence fits into a specific category--boys only, students with birthdays in August-December, students that speak another language in addition to English + TL, etc.

Play with different sentence frames!

Here are some possible language structures that you can use to practice it in different units and levels:

• I go to __ and I bring __
• I'm going to go to __ and I'm going to bring __
• I want to go to __ and I want to bring __
• I'm thinking about going to __ and I'm thinking about bringing __.
• I went to __ and I brought __
• If I were to go to __, I would bring __.
• When I used to go to __, I used to bring __.
• When you go to __, I recommend that you bring __.

You can also change the subject to "WE are going to __ and I/We/my friend am/are/is going to bring", and you can change the verbs used (flying to, traveling to, etc.; I live in __ and I have __; I'm packing my suitcase and I put ___ in it). The possibilities are endless!

Have a BLAST!

Hope your students love this game as much as my students and I do! I'd love to hear more ideas for how to play it differently in the comments section!

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Love Exploring

These 27 Camping and RV Hacks Are Game Changers

Posted: November 22, 2023 | Last updated: November 22, 2023

The road to success

Schedule in a pre-trip check

Pack a bag for your vehicle

Wipe it all away

If you remember one thing (apart from your tent or camper van, that is), make it biodegradable wipes. We’re talking all the wipes. Wipes for skin, wipes for hair, wipes for cleaning down cooking areas, wipes for sticky ice cream hands... you get the idea. Taking extra anti-bacterial cleaning wipes for surfaces, including the steering wheel and door handles, is also a great shout.

Have a playlist party

Get some old kit

Picnic tables and firepits aren’t really the place for fine porcelain or anything you don't want to get grubby. If you don’t have a cooking and eating kit reserved for the road, get some old and battered bits. If you’re renting a vehicle, pick up cheap and cheerful bits from thrift stores (if you can) then donate them back (washed) afterward.

Be a softie

Go with the glow

Take a stash of coins

Be an entertainer

Pack multi-function gear

Sometimes it’s fine to live in a bubble. This nifty trick will certainly help make your RV cozier on chilly nights. All you need is bubble wrap, cut to the size of your windows, and a water spritzer. Spray the window and press on the squares for an extra layer of insulation that should stick, yet is easy to peel off. 

Try before you go

Think small

Don’t skimp on pillows

Expect the worst

Join the gazebo gang

Buy a pop-up gazebo – it’ll be your best friend, we promise. You can cook, eat, and simply sit under it in the rain or strong sunshine, and it creates extra space outside your tent or RV for you and any traveling companions.

Cook in pots and packages

Spice things up

Invest in a rail

Take your own trash can

Keep your plugs in place

Citronella is your new signature scent

This grassy, slightly citrusy essential oil is known as a natural insect repellent, which is exactly what’s needed when camping by water or in wooded areas. Take a couple of large candles, a spray or even an oil-burning lantern to help keep mosquitoes and midges at bay.

Hang it all

You might think you’ve used up all of your RV’s storage space but what about the walls? Hanging up kitchen items, essential kit, and bits and bobs will free up room and make things easier to find. Strong magnetic strips are useful in the kitchen while shoe organizers or pouches can be used for pretty much anything from toiletries in the shower to tea lights.

Have a rough plan

Get back to basics

Facilities are all well and good but everyone else will be flocking to the campsite that has electric hook-ups and hot showers. Picking somewhere a little more basic will often mean having lots more space, peace and quiet – which everyone could always use a little more of. 

Now read our guide to the best US spots to relax in your RV

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26 Splurge-Worthy Camping Products You'll Probably Bring On Every Trip

You'll thank yourself for splurging when you wake up well-rested on your next camping trip.

BuzzFeed Contributor

1. An REI Wonderland 4 tent because the best part of camping is that it's basically an excuse to have an outdoor sleepover with your besties, and this beaut is as spacious as can be!

The tent is suited for three-season use and has a 69.4-square-foot interior. You can get the footprint for this tent here . 

Promising review: "Best tent ever!!!! Tall enough that I can stand inside, but not too tall that I can’t set it up. It’s easy to set up and take off without help (just me), and yet it’s big enough that it feels like a palace inside. Plenty of pockets inside and little hooks for lights and whatever. You can close up all the windows and rainfly or leave it completely open with just the screen and enjoy the view from your sleeping bag. Even the lines and shapes that it forms when you are inside are beautiful! It’s on the heavy side, but because I only car camp, I don’t care. I’m in love with this tent, and it works so well, and it’s so amazing that it makes me want to go camping even more! " — Lucia

Get it from REI for  $549 .

2. Or a Hornet Elite OSMO Ultralight backpacking tent available in a one- or two-person model. I have this tent, and when I first set it up, I swear I heard angels sing. It has all the features I need, nothing I don't, and is going to be my go-to for years to come.

When looking for your first ultralight backpacking tent, it's hard to know what features you'll be OK with giving up. With the Nemo Hornet Elite, I still have all the comforts of most car camping tents — an upper pocket, some freestanding poles, a rainfly, and a vestibule — just made of lightweight materials. It is semi-freestanding, meaning you need to stake some parts of it out to get it fully set up, but it's easy to do and a small trade-off for how well it packs down and how easy it is to carry. It's a happy medium between weightier freestanding tents and tents set up only with trekking poles.

I opted for the one-person size, which is *very* much the size of one camper, but to my delight, at 5'6", there's room at my feet to store my backpack if I want to. That, or the vestibule under the rainfly, also fits it perfectly. I've had zero problems with condensation or rain getting in (though I've gotten lucky and have only endured some sprinkles on trips in this tent).

It doesn't come with a footprint, but honestly, I just cut a blue tarp to size to use, and it worked perfectly (though you can get the official footprint here ). And while this is for sure a backpacking tent, I love it so much that as long as I'm camping alone, it will be the tent I bring on car camping trips, too. Next up, Joshua Tree!

Get it from Nemo for $549.95+ (available in one- or two-person versions).

3. A Kelty three-season mummy sleeping bag that is a superb choice for anyone in search of a versatile, warm, reliable, and lightweight bag. I use mine for backpacking and car camping trips alike and love it all around.

The down is 550-fill and is rated to 20 degrees, making it a three-season bag.

An earlier model of this bag was my first actual backpacking sleeping bag, and I've been thrilled with it. I'm still using it three years later! It fits perfectly into the bottom section of my pack and isn't *too* difficult to get back in its stuff sack. I'd call it an entry-level bag for backpacking since there are lighter-weight (and, ahem, much more expensive) options, but for a casual camper or backpacker, it does the trick.

Promising review: "When planning a backpacking trip, I needed something more compact. My previous mummy bag was synthetic, 30-degree rated, and took up too much room in my pack. Did some research, and this was smaller, lighter, rated 10 degrees warmer, and fit my budget. I've come to find that down packs incredibly easy, so packing it away is so much easier than synthetics. The bag itself is very comfortable . I appreciate the two-way zipper with the option of opening from the bottom. This bag kept me warm (granted, it was only low 40s on my first use).  The built-in hood was also very warm and comfy, actually made my inflatable pillow more bearable, too. Recommended product." — Armen

Get it from Amazon for $98.46+ (available in five sizes and styles).

4. A CamelBak Horizon mug — my current favorite beyond a shadow of a doubt — with a super reliable lid whose double-wall vacuum-insulated construction has a single-minded focus on keeping your hot beverages hot. Backcountry coffee just got even better.

Promising review: "This mug is the perfect travel mug for me. It has a rubberized bottom so it won’t slip on a table, and if your car can accommodate cups with handles, then this will work well. Use it daily for work and back." — oceanic_

Get it from Amazon for $24.13+ (available in 11 colors).

5. A Goal Zero Flip Power Bank so you can charge your devices, no problem. From phones to navigation devices to headlamps, it'll be a relief to know you won't have any essential electronics poop out without a backup battery. I've had a Goal Zero for a few years and find the reliability worth the price.

Promising review: "I bought this power bank for overnight and multi-day backpacking trips. Works just as I had hoped — charges my iPhone quickly and doesn't add a ton of weight to my pack. Great product!" — MarketAce

Get it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

6. A pull-string fire starter because you're probably a little rusty on your Boy Scouts skills and no one in your camp crew is going to give you a badge anyway. Put the sticks down — this'll do all the hard work for you!

Promising review: "Genius! Lit immediately and our wood was soaking wet! It’s a must-have for all camping/fire-pit events! No more newspapers, boxes, or lighter fluid!" — Mcee

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $24.99 .

7. A Sawyer Squeeze water filtration system that blows any other system out of the — say it with me — water. Even on car camping trips, it's good to have backup water purification on hand, just in case. It's adaptable and easy to use in almost any situation. While it comes with a bag that you can fill and squeeze, I prefer to fill a bottle with natural water, screw the filter on top, and drink straight from the bottle.

The set comes with one squeeze screw-on water filter, two 32-ounce collapsible pouches, one replaceable pop-up drinking spout, and one syringe filter cleaner. It weighs three ounces. It removes bacteria such as salmonella, cholera, and E. coli and protozoa such as giardia and cryptosporidium.

I adore this water filter for its ease of use, adaptability, small size, and zero wait time. Just fill the bag, screw on the filter, and roll the bag to squeeze the filtered water into your bottle *or* screw it onto a water bottle and drink straight from the filter. You don't need to wait for it to be done like with water treatment pills or gravity systems, and there's no funky taste — just fresh, clean, crisp water. Game-changing. Either way, it's a quick, lightweight system that I completely recommend.

Note: if you’re immunocompromised, be sure to read all the package instructions to make sure it’s safe for you.

Promising review: "This thing is awesome; we used it on our 3,500-mile trip, stopping at various hiking spots and trails and camping, and having clean drinking water you can trust when on a long trip is vital. This gave me peace of mind that no matter where we filled up, creek or random water spigot, we had clean drinking water. The cleansing tablets are a must for outdoor on-the-go water sources, but with this system, you don't have to carry a lot of heavy water in your pack to slow you down. A friend of mine used this hiking on the entire Arizona Trail, and some of the water he used in it I wouldn’t have let a dog drink, but he did, and this thing worked like a charm and cleaned the water for him to safely drink throughout the desert on his hike. From that point on, I was sold." — Combustion Works

Get it from Amazon for $45.99 .

8. A Coleman cot and air mattress if sleeping on the hard ground is a hard no for you. Sleeping under the stars is rad, but sleeping in a BED under the stars? Unbeatable.

Promising review: "This is the most AMAZING camping bed I've ever used, and I've camped my entire life. Not only is it up off of the ground, so my 36-year-old disabled ass doesn't have to cry every time I get in and out of my sleeping bag, my suitcase FITS UNDERNEATH THE BED. Then, there's the cot itself. Mmm...comfy. There's an included air mattress! But won't that just fall off of the cot? That's where the genius of Coleman comes in, kids. They added a pocket made out of super soft microfiber material that feels like your favorite grandmammy's sheets and zippers open to slide the PREMIUM COLEMAN AIR MATTRESS WITH DOUBLE AIRLOCK MAGICALNESS inside, and then you ZIPPER IT SHUT AGAIN. But wait. There's more. HOW CAN THERE POSSIBLY BE MORE?! YOU'VE ALREADY GIVEN US SO MUCH, COLEMAN! Mother-loving side tables, Batman. They snap on right where you want them. With holes for all of your beverage-holding needs. And just enough room for a Kindle, a phone, and an adult beverage." — dammit Liesl

Get it from Amazon for $150.99+ (available in twin and queen sizes).

9. An Aeropress coffee and espresso maker that brews top-notch coffee anywhere boiling water is available. It's also small, durable, and easy to clean, so bringing it to the ends of the Earth with you is a no-brainer, especially when a hot bevy in the morning is considered essential.

The set comes with the chamber, plunger, seal, filter cap, funnel, filter holder, scoop, and stirrer. Here's a super informative video on how to use the Aeropress (while camping, even!) made by the coffee smarties at Stumptown. 

Promising review: "This might make some of the best, fastest coffee I have ever had. I visited my cousin in Alaska and she used one EVERY day for her coffee. I forgot completely about it until it was time to take this camping trip, and I randomly found it on Amazon while searching for camping kettles — I am so glad I did. It is super compact, durable, and easy to use. You can have a real quick cup in 30 seconds, or you can wait a couple of minutes and let the flavors meld, the choice is yours. " — Gordon Leonard

Get it from Amazon for $39.95+  (available in three styles and sizes).

10. A Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil roll-top dry sack because keeping your camp clothes and electronics dry is absolutely essential for any fun, safe camping trip. My love for these lightweight waterproof bags can't be stifled.

On my camping trips, I always bring two of these bags that each work double time. One serves as my clothes bag, which doubles as a pillow at night when covered by my Buff . The other is my food bag since it's easy to hang as a bear bag as well. Sometimes I bring another for my electronics, but sometimes they just go in with my clothes. But enough of my packing specifics — the point is, they're incredibly reliable, actually waterproof, and being able to pack them down nice and small as you take things out of them is *chef's kiss*.

Promising review: "I used the 20 L as a bear bag, and it worked great! Strong enough to hold several pounds of food and kept everything dry. My friend had the heavier version of this bag, but IMO this lighter version was sufficient (unless you’re boating)." — Becca C

Get it from Amazon for $11.96+ (available in six sizes and four colors).

11. A classic Coleman camp stove perfect for whipping up a full meal in the great outdoors. With two burners and heat control, you're gonna be the head chef of the wilderness, and everyone will be so glad to have a hot meal in their bellies before snuggling up for the night.

Promising review: "Lightweight and easy to set up and use. Sturdy, even temperature, roomy surface. Love everything about it. Easy to clean, too." — LJM

Get it from Amazon for $139.95 .

12. A puffy Rumpl indoor/outdoor blanket to keep you warm and cozy all through the night — whether you grab it for some time around the bonfire or add it to your sleep setup. Its smooth surface is water- and dirt-resistant, so there are no worries about exposing it to the elements.

The Rumpl blanket is also machine washable and dryer-safe!

Promising review: "We took this king-size blanket with us on our camping trip to New Zealand. At first, I thought it might have been too overkill since it took up a lot of space in my luggage, and a duvet was included in our camper van rental. But we ended up using this every night, enjoying the warmth and breathable comfort even on fairly warm evenings. It was definitely large enough for two; even with tossing and turning, we both had enough Rumpl to sleep well throughout the night. Great purchase, totally worth it." — becca606

Get it from Amazon for $125 (available in 30 colors and designs).

Check out my full Rumpl blanket review for more deets on why I'm all-in on these insulated beauts.

13. A pair of Smartwool Mountaineer Maximum Cushion crew socks so you have the perfect pair for day hikes out of camp *or* some snuggly sleep socks. I love my Smartwool socks and highly recommend getting a few pairs of outdoorsy socks for any major trips you have coming up.

Promising review: "My feet get really cold in the winter and these socks, worn with my great Keen boots, keep them pretty warm. If you need extra winter warmth, these are for you. Not cheap, but well worth it to keep your feet comfy." — D. R. M.

Get them from Amazon in women's sizes for $26  (available in sizes S–L and two colors) and in men's sizes for $26+ (available in sizes S–XXL and two colors). 

14. A Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer down hoodie because a high-quality jacket that accompanies you on any and all adventures is one of the best gear investments you can make. Even in the spring and summer, it can get chilly, especially at high altitudes, and having a packable insulated layer is a smart move. This jacket is basically my most prized possession.

I lusted after the Ghost Whisperer for years before finally getting my hands on one, and boy oh boy, did it exceed my expectations. It's SO warm but SO breathable. That's the beauty of down, baby. It weighs less than 8 ounces, which is perfect for backpackers who pay close attention to weight (guilty).

Promising review: "This jacket is so light and warm! I can move freely and not feel constrained in my jacket. It's my go-to for just about everything." — KWag

Get it from REI for $360 (available in women's sizes XS–XL and three colors, and in men's sizes S–XXL and three colors).

15. A pair of Smartwool Merino base layer bottoms to keep you warm as can be while you slumber. I love mine to sleep in during spring and fall outdoor trips. Merino really is That Girl.

Promising review: "An absolutely great product. Day hikes, working outside, winter backpacking. Wore the 250 top and bottom base layer on a one-week backpacking trip during the second week of February —13 inches of snow and a quarter inch of ice during our first night. The Smartwool followed through by keeping me warm when we were static during lunch or at camp, but also kept me dry while on the move. Lightweight, hyper packable. Worth every penny." — Anonymous

Get them from REI for $115 (available in men's sizes S–XXL and two colors and in women's sizes XS–XL and three colors).

16. An adorable mushroom-printed double nest hammock for relaxing amongst the trees. I literally can't imagine anything I'd like to do more than chill in a hammock on a camping trip.

Check out the ENO Atlas straps for simple setup!

Promising review: "Lots of fun was had the first time I put it to use! Had many people ask me 'where did you get that? It's so big!' Used it outside our backyard and will most definitely be taking it camping with me." — Mikkel T.

Get it from Parks Project for $63.99  (originally $85).

17. A Helinox ultra-light chair because sometimes those campsite benches just don't cut it. It weighs just over a pound, packs down super small, and is perfect for any outdoorsy person who hates to forgo comfort.

I have this chair, and it's great! It really is light, 1.2 pounds, and easy to put together. It's a perfect outdoor luxury item, especially for anyone taking a long day hike where they want to picnic or for a car camper who doesn't feel the need for a big, traditional camp chair.

Promising review: "Was very hesitant about spending over $100 on a camping chair, but I have to admit this chair is worth the money and the added weight, which is minimal. There were picnic tables at most of the campgrounds on the trail, however, being able to lean back and stretch my feet out after the long days of hiking was an added luxury. The chair strapped easily to the outside straps of my pack, never got in the way, and I often forgot it was back there. All in all, satisfied with the purchase and will be bringing it on all my backpacking adventures now." — Abby

Get it from Amazon for $149.95+ (available in three colors).

18. A compressible camping pillow so you have the perfect place to lay your head as you dream of building the perfect campfire and toasting the most delicious marshmallow to ever exist.

The pillow is machine-washable. 

Promising review: "The pillow packs down to a very small size, small enough to pack away for a weekend backpacking trip and is more comfortable than any of the inflatable pillows that save space. Well worth the space used!" — Billy Wyrick

Get it from Amazon for $29.90+ (available in three sizes and six colors). 

19. A thick foam sleeping pad if you're headed out on a car camping trip and want to take advantage of being able to pack large, comfy items in your trunk. Sleeping like a rock instead of sleeping on a rock is a camping best case scenario.

The pad comes with compression straps and buckles for easy rolling and storage.

Promising review: "I purchased the pad to use for camping. It is well made and very comfortable. Better than my own bed!" — JMKAY

Get it from Amazon for $65.99+ (available in two sizes and two colors).

20. Or a Big Agnes Rapide sleeping pad for a more packable option that's also ready to fit in with your backpacking setup. I have a slightly different but similar Big Agnes pad that's so comfy it's also what I use on car camping trips!

This sleeping pad has an R-value of 4.2, meaning it's rated to keep you warm for three-season camping and backpacking. 

Promising review: "It is the most comfortable sleeping pad I have ever tried. It is easy to sleep on my side with this thing. I don't feel it getting cold at night, it properly reflects the heat off my body. It has both a two-way valve and a one-way valve. The one-way valve makes it so you can blow up the thing all the way without needing an air pump. My only complaint is that it is not a camouflage color such as beige. It packs down way smaller than I expected it to. I have room to put it on the inside of my backpack. It's fairly easy to fit it in its sack when rolled up. The sack isn't too tight." — John Morris Beck

Get it for $134.98+ from Amazon (available in 11 sizes) or $149.95+ from Backcountry (available in four sizes). 

21. A Biolite 325 headlamp so you don't have to hold your light source in order to bring it with ya. This one is super slim and unobtrusive and even tilts downward so you can have a better view of right where you're walking.

This headlamp is USB rechargeable and only weighs 1.8 ounces, making it super comfortable to wear and easy to pack. I have an older generation of Biolite headlamps, but mine is still serving me incredibly well after having it for about three years. All of their products are so well-designed and high-quality. Highly recommend!

Promising review: "A lot brighter than I expected. Works great! Perfect for outdoors at night." — RonB

Get it from REI for $49.95 (available in three colors).

22. A Yeti Tundra 35 cooler because they really do make some seriously splurge-worthy coolers. This one has an impressive 4.8-star overall rating for its durability and, of course, ability to keep things cold for a wildly long time.

Promising review: "This is the best cooler I have ever owned! It's quite expensive but well worth the price. I have used it for beach days and camping multiple times and I love it!" — Gruber

Get it from Amazon for $275  (available in 10 colors). 

23. A multipurpose Buff you can wear tons of different ways to protect your neck and head from the sun or the cold thanks to a super breathable fabric. Popularized by Survivor , beloved by the outdoorsy.

Promising review: "This was very useful for backpacking. Makes a good balaclava, a neck warmer, and I am bald, so it has enough material I can put it on just my scalp, twist it twice, and double down for total coverage as a beanie with no gap at the twist. Also, it can be wetted and draped over the neck for cooling. HIGHLY recommend. This is true excellence." — Drumdogma

Get it from Amazon for $22  (available in 14 colors). 

24. An Osprey Daylite pack so you can carry all of your day hike or overnight camping essentials comfortably and conveniently. Its 13-liter size should be just right for plenty of water, snacks, chargers, a headlamp, and emergency first aid.

Promising review: "I like this daypack . It's lightweight and large enough to hold water bottles in the two side pockets (tall 18-ounce) or inside. An extra pocket inside is great for separating things; especially pieces of clothing as the day warms." — MJN

Get it from Amazon for $57.95+ (available in 18 colors).

25. A Kelty Lowdown Couch that seats three. Just one foldable camping chair is a luxury, but three smooshed into one is such a fun idea! It's perfect for gathering around the campfire with pals and pups alike.

Promising review: "I give this chair a 6 out of 5 stars. Absolutely sturdy and comfortable. Impressive craftsmanship for the price. We’ll be buying another." — Kim

Get it from Amazon for $179.95 (available in two colors).

26. A pack of Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes so you can freshen up a little bit between showers, much to the satisfaction of your campmates' noses. These specific wipes never dry out my skin, and the resealable packaging really does stay closed in my experience, keeping the remaining wipes moist and ready to use whenever you need 'em.

I looooove these wipes, and you'll usually find at least a few in my backpacking and camping setup!

Promising review: "Love these body wipes, super durable, makes me smell great after days outside sweating! No harsh chemicals! I’ve used them for years!" — Anonymous

Get a 12-pack from REI for $9.95 . 

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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