Are you planning your next camping holiday and looking for some fun games to keep the family entertained?
Look no further!
We’ve got 19 different suggestions for camping games and activities that are perfect for all ages.
We’ve got something for everyone, from classic games like tag and treasure hunt to new favourites like wacky water balloon toss.
Playing games is a great way to bring the family together and make fun memories that will last a lifetime.
The type of camping games you can play will depend on the size of the campsite you are on – remember to follow any camping rules and etiquette guidelines!
Some of these camping games are suitable to play inside a tent or caravan on a rainy day – if you have a smaller caravan, it might be an idea to buy a caravan awning to create an extra living space.
Likewise, if it’s a very hot day, you might want to set up a camping gazebo to provide some shade to play some of the games.
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1. Tag
We’ve all played tag at some point – probably in the school playground! As a quick refresher, one person is “it”, and they try to tag the other players by touching them. The touched person is then “it”, and they must now try and tag the other players.
2. Capture The Flag
Divide players into two teams, each with its flag; the goal is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your base. You can make the game more challenging by adding obstacles and/or hiding the flag.
And don’t worry if you don’t have a flag; you can use any material or item – t-shirts, socks, tea-towels – as long as they are of similar sizes and fairly bright/light in colour.
3. Water Balloon Volleyball
Grab some water balloons from Amazon to take with you.
This game can be played with two people or a large group of people. If there is a group, create two teams and have each team stand in a line about 10 feet apart.
Have one person from each team throw a water balloon to the other team, and then they catch it and throw it back.
The game is over when either team runs out of water balloons, or someone gets hit.
Water balloon volleyball is the perfect camping game for a hot day on the campsite.
4. Wacky Water Balloon Toss
This game is similar to water balloon volleyball, but instead of throwing the balloon back and forth, you need to keep it in the air for as long as possible.
The game is played in two teams, and each team stands about 10 feet apart. One player from each team throws a water balloon up in the air, and then the other player tries to catch it and throw it back up.
If the balloon hits the ground, then that team is out! The game is over when all teams are out, or there are no more water balloons.
A Note About Water Balloons: Remember to clear up all the burst balloon material from the campsite.
5. Simon Says
Simon Says is a childhood classic. One person is ‘Simon,’ they give out commands as quickly as possible, for example, ‘Simon says, touch your nose’ – everyone has to touch their nose.
Every once in a while, leave out ‘Simon Says,’ for example, ‘touch your nose.’ Whoever completes the command when ‘Simon Says’ isn’t said is out.
6. I Spy
I Spy isn’t just a game for the car. If you don’t already know the game’s rules, one player thinks of an object in the environment that everyone can see.
The person who has thought of the word (let’s assume the word is sausage) says – “I spy with my little eye something beginning with s”, and then the other people playing take turns to guess all the things they can see that begin with the letter s.
You might also like these fun i-Spy books by Collins Michelin, available on Amazon.
7. Skipping Rope
Skipping is not just for kids! It’s a great way to get some exercise and have fun.
Fun skipping rope games and activities include :
- jumping over the rope
- doing tricks like double under (jumping so that the rope passes under your feet twice for each jump)
- having a skipping race
- skipping with two ropes at once!
Nowadays, even LED skipping ropes light up as you jump – perfect for camping trips!
8. What’s The Time, Mr Wolf?
This is a classic game that can be played with any number of people. One person is “Mr Wolf”, and they stand at one spot, the other players stand a reasonable distance away.
The players shout out, “what’s the time, Mr Wolf?” and Mr Wolf responds with a time (e.g. “It’s three o’clock”). The players then have to take three steps towards Mr Wolf.
Mr Wolf can decide when to spin around and say, “It’s dinner time!” Then chase the other players. If he catches anyone before they manage to return to the start line, then that person becomes Mr Wolf.
This is an excellent game for camping as it can be played with a large group of people.
9. Have A Sports Day
Involve the whole family with your very own sports day fun – you can either get a kit from Amazon or, use what you have available. Play egg and spoon, three-legged race, or any events you want to make up!
10. Charades
Charades is a great one to play around the campfire. Players divide up into teams, and players take turns to act out something in silence for their teammates to guess.
Popular terms and names to act out include film, book and song titles.
11. GeoCaching
Geocaching is a great way to explore the local area and can be done with a smartphone or GPS device.
Players need to find hidden “caches”, often small containers with a logbook inside. When you find a cache, you sign the logbook and then re-hide it for the next player to find.
Caches can be anywhere, so it’s a good idea to have a look online before you go to see if there are any in the area you’re visiting.
Visit Geocaching for more details.
12. Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt is a great way to explore your surroundings and tailored to any location.
Players are given a list of items to find, and they have to tick them off. Depending on the age of the players, you can also provide clues to help find the next item.
If you are camping at Easter, you could also do an Easter Egg Hunt on the campsite – be aware of where you hide any chocolate so that any dogs or wildlife don’t find and eat them!
13. French Bowls
French bowls (or boules) is a great game to play with all the family. The aim of the game is to get your boule closest to the target ball.
It can be played on any flat surface, and all you need is a set of boules (available from Amazon or most sports shops).
Once you have your Boules, you need to find a flat area to play on. If you’re camping in a field, this shouldn’t be too difficult.
14. Card Games
There are so many great card games that can be played with just a deck of cards.
Popular camping card games include :
- Snap
- Rummy
- Uno
- Crazy Eights
- Solitaire (Patience)
These games are all easy to learn and can be played with any number of people.
So why not pack a deck of cards and have some fun around the campfire this summer?
15. Board Games
If they don’t take up too much room in the car, you can pack a few of your favourite board games.
Popular family choices include:
- Monopoly
- Cluedo
- Scrabble
- Jenga
These games can be played with any number of people and are a great way to keep everyone entertained on a rainy day or evening.
16. Hopscotch
This is a great game to play when you’re camping with kids. Traditionally a hopscotch grid is drawn on a concrete floor with chalk – but you will need to check with the campsite owners before you do this – if not, you can buy a hopscotch mat that can be folded away when not in use.
Players take it in turns to hop through the grid, and the first player to reach the end line wins.
You can make the game harder by adding more squares or circles to the grid or adding obstacles.
17. Swing Ball
Swingball is a family favourite and also relatively easy to transport.
The swingball pole can be placed on your pitch and played in pairs or even solo when nobody else wants to play!
Swingball sets can be bought at supermarkets, sports shops or on Amazon.
18. Rounders or Cricket
If you’re lucky enough to be camping on a site with ample green space, or you are near a beach, then why not play some rounders or cricket?
These games are easy to set up and can be played by any number of people. All you need is a ball (or two) and somewhere to mark the boundaries.
Of course, if you are on a smaller campsite, don’t attempt to play anywhere near other campers – they won’t thank you for any stray balls that head their way!
19. Star Gazing
Although not a game, stargazing is a popular activity if you are camping in an area with clear skies and minimal light pollution.
Even if you’re unsure what each star constellation is, simply lying on your back and looking up at the stars is a very relaxing way to spend an evening.
Final Words
So there are plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained while camping – whether it’s a family holiday or a group get-together.
Just be sure to pack all the necessary equipment and check with the campsite owner about any restrictions before you arrive. Also, don’t forget to know important camping rules and etiquette.
Happy camping!