Playing games around the campsite is a great way to unwind after a day of adventure. Camp games usually don’t require too much energy and can provide fun for all ages and abilities. Whether it be a chill card game, intense board game, or lawn games to enjoy the great outdoors, these can be great camping games for the whole family.
You can also enjoy these games in the backyard, at the park, at the beach, tailgating, and more. So grab you tent, sleeping bag, and let’s head to the great outdoors.
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Kan Jam
Kan Jam is my personal favorite camping game because it strikes a perfect balance between strategy and good ol’ luck. It’s easy to learn, and can be played with a drink in hand. Plus people of all skill levels can enjoy competitive matches. Also it’s cheaper, more transportable, and more indestructible than many of the other games on this list.
Spikeball
Spikeball is a fun, high-energy game that can provide some good exercise. It’s similar to volleyball, except with a smaller ball, and possession is exchanged by bouncing the ball across a springy net on the ground. This game requires 4 players and people with good hand-eye coordination.
Aerobie Superdisc
Aerobie Superdisc makes the game of frisbee even more fun. Tossing a frisbee is always a fun, free-flowing activity. And I fell in love with this Aerobie Superdisc. It’s special design turns amateurs into pros. The rubber outer ring makes catching soft and easy, and the spoiler ring help stabilize even bad throws. I wasn’t even a “frisbee-guy” until I discovered this one. Just be careful to not let it get warped or bent in storage.
Bocce Ball
Bocce Ball is a classic gentleman’s game that can be adapted into a great camping game. It requires a minimal amount of energy, and has a pace and style similar to golf. It’s fun to play on unpredictable surfaces, but just watch out for rocks because they can damage the bocce balls.
This game is also great because it can be played in the wind (a common problem for many camping games on this list). Plus this game can be played with a large group. We’ve played with 8 people each, divided into 2 groups, and each player getting one throw with a Bocce Ball. It can actually get quite competitive.
Cornhole
Cornhole – (aka Bean Bag Toss) is another classic that’s easy and fun, and can be played in windy conditions. It’s one of Emily’s favorite lawn games for camping. All you need are the boards and some bean bags.
This camping game is typically played in teams of 2. Players stand opposite their partner. The object of the game is to throw their color of bean bags at the board, trying to get them in the hole or to land on the board. The opponent will try to do the same, or even try to knock some of your bean bags off the board.
I would be crazy not to include it, but the only knock on cornhole is the price and the space it takes up. All the cheap sets seem to have issues, and a high-quality wood set will run you over $60. You might be best just building the set yourself.
Horseshoes
Horseshoes – Another classic game that has stood the test of time for best camping games is Horseshoes. It is beautiful for its simplicity, and it also can be played in windy conditions.
How you play, is putting a post in the ground, picking a spot where everyone throws from, and you try to get the horseshoe around the post.
Ladderball
Ladderball is a fun lawn game where everyone can try their hand at it. There are 2 targets opposite each other that have 3 different posts to aim at. Each player take the rubber bolos and holds onto one ball. They try to lasso the bolo around one of the posts.
The bolos kinda look like golf balls, but they are made out of rubber. The weight of the balls will help secure the rope around each ladder.
Polish Horseshoes (aka Beers-bee)
Polish Horseshoes/Beersbee is a drinking game that can be played while camping. Basically, set up the 2 posts about 50 feet from each other. The goal of the game is to throw the frisbee at the “beer bottle” sitting on top of the post. You want to make the beer bottle fall off the post. But if you hit the pole you also get points.
Your opponents needs to catch the frisbee while also trying to catch the beer bottle from falling to the ground.
This game can also be fun to play in knee deep water at the beach.
Croquet
Croquet is the perfect camping game if you are looking for a laid back version of golf. Basically, there are wickets set up various places around the lawn. Each player has a mallet, which is essentially a wooden block on the end of a wooden post. You follow the course and try to get your ball through each wicket. Lastly, there are 2 end posts that you must hit to officially be crowned the winner!
The one caveat is you need a grassy area or smooth area where you can insert the wickets.
Deck Of Cards
A deck of cards is the fun camping activity for young kids or the entire family. There are various different card games that can entertain just about anyone. It’s the perfect camping game to get everyone involved.
Gin Rummy is one of Jake’s and my favorite camping game. The game can be played with 2-4 players. Players are dealt 10 cards. The object of the game is to find 3 of a kind, or runs of the same suit. The first player has a score of zero. Then, each player has the chance to go one more turn to put down any cards they have in their hand. Any cards left in their hand count as points.
Some super easy games that don’t require much strategy and great for younger kids are Go Fish or war.
Scavenger Hunt/Treasure Hunt
Scavenger Hunt – If you are looking for a fun way to get the whole family involved in some camping fun, it can be fun to do a scavenger hunt of treasure hunt. You can either DIY your own game or take some help from a scavenger hunt card game.
Bananagrams
Banangrams is a fun game for everyone. Probably a little hard to play with kids and adults, since adults have the advantage. But maybe the adults give the kids a head start. Or maybe play with slightly older kids.
The goal of the game is to spell out as many words as you can with the tiles you have interconnecting the letters. When a player runs out of tiles, they yell “peel”. Every player needs to grab another tile. Once all the tiles are gone, the person who used all the tiles wins!
Board Games
Board games can be an easy thing to take on the road for your next camping trip. And there are some true classics that will be fun for the whole family no matter the age.
Some popular board games that can be fun for the entire family are Monopoly, Sorry, Trouble, Chutes & Ladders, Life, etc. All you need is the game board and the game pieces. But do be careful if the weather conditions are windy. Otherwise these games might be played best inside a tent or RV.
All you need is a picnic table or folding table to place the board game. Then, let the competition begin.
Uno
Uno is a classic camping game. Everyone knows how to play, or if they don’t it’s super easy to teach. And Uno is just plain, good fun because it can really be anyone’s winning game!
Catch Phrase
Catch Phrase is a game my family always has a good time playing. It’s an exciting game that will surely get the adrenaline up. How the game works, is you pick a category (such as animals, famous actors, music, movies, etc). Then, once you press start, you try to describe the phrase without saying any of the words on the screen.
Once you team guesses it right, then you pass it to the next player (who is on the opposite team). Toward the end, it gets quite stressful as time runs out.
It’s really quite a silly game, and will surely have the group laughing.
Camping Themed Games
If you want to get into the true spirit of a camping adventure, there are a few unique games that have a camping theme. For example, a game we got from Sun Company called Sasquatch has a fun twist to camping. It’s like no game you have every played before, but it will sure make you roar!
You can get in the spirit with this camping bingo themed set. You could have fun rewards for the winner that you pick up from the dollar store!
Or this toasted and roasted camping game can be a fun educational game. A player needs to start a campfire with 3 marshmallows. Opponents can rain on the campfire, blow out the campfire fire, or burn the marshmallows.
Campfire Games
And last but not least, you need some fun camping games to play around the campfire. Some classic games are thumper, cheers to the govenor, truth or dare, or would you rather. And of course, you can always go around the campfire telling ghost stories.
Zachery
Tuesday 16th of April 2019
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Emily Schroeter
Tuesday 16th of April 2019
Thank you, we are using OceanWP.
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[…] swimming. Then finding a campsite each afternoon to play games. (Check out our article –> Best Games For Camping) There is an additional option of hiking into Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area, revealing cool […]