21 Easy Camping Activities for Toddlers and Babies (Keep Little Ones Busy at Camp!)

Camping activities for toddlers and babies can make or break a trip – keep them entertained and you’ll have a happy camp; lose their attention and chaos (and alot of crying!) ensues!

Whether you have a crawler, a rambunctious 2-year-old, or an energetic 3-year-old, these 21 easy camping activities for toddlers are designed for the littlest campers so that you can get camp setup without a million interruptions!

I know, for example, if I don’t give my toddler some task, he will either start putting rocks in our SUV’s exhaust pipe or start smacking things (sometimes people) with a stick! Babies are sometimes a little more difficult to entertain, as occasionally they just want to be held – but I’ve got you covered for every stage below.

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Quick Summary: Best Camping Activities for Toddlers by Age

• Babies (crawlers–12 months): playpen at the campsite, baby bouncer, camping highchair snacks, jogging stroller naps, baby carrier/backpack
• Young toddlers (1–2.5 years): dig site with trucks, splash bucket nature soup, kiddie pool, open-ended toys
• Older toddlers (2.5–4 years): nature rubbings, chalk, camping BINGO, scavenger hunt, camping crafts, coloring pages, Nature ABCs hunt
• All ages: involve them in packing, s’mores, campfire songs, camping books, glow-in-the-dark games, camping journal

🍼 Camping Activities for Babies (Crawlers to 12 Months)

Babies need containment, comfort, and sensory stimulation – here’s what works best for the littlest campers at each stage. The key is having a few reliable setups so you can actually get camping chores done!

Keep crawling babies contained and entertained at the campsite

When my twins were at the crawling stage, they were constantly trying to eat rocks – not a joke! “The Octagon” (a portable baby playpen) was a total game-changer. It sets up in under a minute, comes with a sunshade, and means your baby only eats what YOU put in there.

Bring a bouncer for independent baby entertainment

Sometimes it helps to have the comforts of home at the campground! A bouncer keeps babies contained with toys to play with, and you can even put snacks on the tray to stretch the entertainment. Pair it with a mesh “Fresh Food Feeder” filled with fruit and you’ve easily bought yourself 30 minutes of happy baby time.

Use a camping highchair to keep snack time easy

Kids seem to eat 2–3 times more while camping – all that fresh air and exploring burns energy fast! A portable camping highchair keeps babies safely seated for sticky snacks and meals. Look for one with a solid tray for easy cleaning on the go.

Use a jogging stroller for on-the-go naps

Babies can get overstimulated by the sights and sounds of camp and struggle to settle down for naps in an unfamiliar place. A jogging stroller solves this – just walk them to sleep right at the campsite! Ours even attaches to a bike and has a custom shock system for bumpy campground terrain.

Wear your baby in a backpack to get things done

When nothing else works, wearing your baby is the answer! A good baby backpack keeps them content and close while freeing up your arms for camp setup tasks. We started using ours at 2 months and our babies absolutely loved it – it’s so much more practical than a front carrier when you need to actually move and bend down to do things.

🚛 Camping Activities for Young Toddlers (1–2.5 Years)

At this age, toddlers are all about sensory exploration, movement, and doing whatever you’re doing. The best camping activities for toddlers in this range involve dirt, water, and open-ended play – which means very little setup on your part!

Create a “Dig Site” at the campground

I discovered this one by accident when my son found an old dutch oven cooking hole and spent over 30 minutes happily digging in it with his shovel and dump truck – and then his sisters joined in! Now we intentionally set up a dig site at every trip. It’s one of the best camping activities for toddlers this age because it requires zero prep and they entertain themselves completely.

Set up a 5-gallon splash bucket for water play (or “nature soup”!)

A 5-gallon bucket is one of the most versatile camping activities for toddlers! Fill it with water and let them splash, or leave it empty and watch them fill it with rocks, sticks, and leaves to make “nature soup.” The bucket is heavy enough that young toddlers can’t tip it, but always supervise water play closely.

Try using these “Camp Cook Recipe Cards” for a more structured version of the nature soup activity!

Bring a kiddie pool for splashing and cooling off

A small plastic kiddie pool doesn’t even need water to be fun for young toddlers – just fill it with noise-making toys and let them climb in and out! Add water on hot days for the ultimate toddler camping activity. This is especially great on extended trips when you need to break up the afternoon.

Pack open-ended toys (trucks, shovels, buckets)

Some of the best camping activities for toddlers require no planning at all – just the right toys. Trucks, shovels, cups, and buckets are endlessly versatile and let toddlers play independently while you get camp chores done. These are especially valuable when you need hands-free time to cook, set up, or just sit down for five minutes!

Assign simple toddler-level chores around camp

Young toddlers LOVE to feel helpful! Ask them to help move firewood from one spot to another (even if you don’t need it moved), gather small sticks for kindling, throw trash away, or get toys out of storage. It keeps them busy, builds independence, and stops them from wandering – a win all around.

Camping Activities for Older Toddlers (2.5–4 Years)

By this age, toddlers can follow simple instructions, participate in structured play, and handle basic crafts. These camping activities are perfect for keeping curious older toddlers engaged and learning while you enjoy some camp downtime!

Build a DIY Mud Kitchen!

My kids LOVE mud, however all the mud kitchens I’ve seen are made of wood and bulky to transport… so this wire cube mud kitchen was perfect! It breaks down and sets up easy, plus being made out of wire cubes lets everything dry out and drain easily!

Try nature rubbings from around camp

Pack crayons and some paper and let your toddler create nature rubbings – just put paper over bark, leaves, or rocks and color over it to reveal the texture underneath. It’s a simple, mess-free camping activity for toddlers that keeps them exploring the natural world around them.

Give your toddler chalk and let them get creative

Chalk is always a winner at camp! Drawing pictures, practicing letters, or playing tic tac toe on rocks and the picnic table keeps older toddlers happily occupied. You can even give them a challenge: “only color bumpy rocks” or “draw every animal you can think of.” Just wipe down the picnic table before you leave!

Play Camping BINGO

Camping BINGO is one of my favorite structured camping activities for toddlers because it gets them exploring camp while looking for specific items. You can play it as traditional BINGO, as a scavenger hunt, or as a picture-matching game for younger players – adapt it to your toddler’s level!

Get your own free camping BINGO cards here!

Go on a campsite scavenger hunt

A campsite scavenger hunt is one of the best camping activities for toddlers because it combines exploration with a mission – and keeps them close to the campsite! Use picture-based lists such as the one below for younger toddlers who can’t read yet. This free campground scavenger hunt printable even doubles as a BINGO card!

Try the Nature ABCs scavenger hunt

This is a fantastic camping activity for toddlers who are starting to learn letters! Look for something in nature that starts with each letter of the alphabet. It encourages them to observe their surroundings and practice letter sounds at the same time. This free pack includes a Nature ABC Scavenger Hunt, a sensory-based nature hunt, and more!

Do some easy camping crafts

I’m a big crafter, and older toddlers are finally at the age where they can do simple crafts with minimal help! A play-doh nature craft or making a campsite sign are perfect toddler-level projects. I keep a dedicated “camping craft pack” stocked and ready to go. Check out 53+ more camping crafts here!

Have a coloring session at the picnic table

Coloring is a calm, independent camping activity for toddlers that works great as a wind-down before nap time or when the weather turns. Use camping-themed coloring pages to keep the outdoor spirit going even when you’re sitting still!

Practice Leave No Trace principles together

It’s never too early to teach toddlers stewardship of nature! Go over simple campground rules: don’t go into other people’s campsites, leave the fire ring clean, pick up trash. Older toddlers can absolutely understand these concepts when explained in simple, concrete terms. Read more about the 7 Leave No Trace principles here!

🏕️ Camping Activities for Toddlers of All Ages

These camping activities work across the full toddler age range — whether you have a baby in your arms or a 4-year-old running circles around the campsite!

Involve them in packing for the camp trip

Everyone is more invested in an activity when they helped plan it – and that’s just as true for toddlers! Use a packing checklist so your little one can see what goes into making a camp trip happen. Even young toddlers can “help” by putting one item in the bag. As they get older, they’ll genuinely start to take ownership of the process.

Make s’mores!

This goes without saying, but s’mores are the ultimate toddler camping activity – sweet, hands-on, and totally memorable. We make it the special thing at the end of every camp night and only do it while camping to keep it extra special. Even the youngest toddlers love helping (safely!) roast a marshmallow.

Sing campfire songs to the tune of songs they already know

Toddlers absolutely love songs- even babies light up when they hear a familiar tune! I adapted classics like Wheels on the Bus and Mary Had a Little Lamb to have camping themes, so toddlers already know the melody and just sing along with the new words. Check out all 53 family campfire songs here!

Pack camping books for quiet time and rainy days

Toddlers aren’t as resilient as older kids when the weather turns, so having some “indoor” camping activity options is essential. Camping-themed books help wind toddlers down before naps and keep the outdoor magic alive even when you’re stuck in the tent. Check out our favorite camping books for toddlers here!

Play glow-in-the-dark games at night

Nighttime camping is a whole new sensory experience for toddlers, and glow sticks make it magical! Not only are they endlessly entertaining, they’re also a great way to keep track of your toddler after dark. Try glow-in-the-dark ring toss, or just let them run around with a glowstick bracelet on – pure toddler joy.

Get a camping journal to document memories

A camping journal is a wonderful activity for toddlers of all ages – even before they can write, you can ask them the prompts and write down their answers! It becomes a treasured keepsake and teaches toddlers to slow down and reflect on their experiences. Here’s the kids camping journal we love!

Looking for games the whole family can play once the little ones are a bit older? Check out our full list of camping games for kids — 37 ideas that work for all ages!