Looking for the best camping games for kids? You’re in the right place! Unlike at home, camping comes with way more free time – and boredom can creep in fast. These 37 camping games for kids (and the whole family!) cover everything from active outdoor games to burn energy, no-equipment games perfect for the campfire circle, and easy card games for rainy days in the tent. Let’s dive in!
Whether you’re huddled by the campfire or exploring the wild, these games are sure to bring out the fun, excitement, and camaraderie that make camping trips truly special. I’ll share some of our family’s personal favorites throughout!
Table of Contents
Active Camping Games for Kids
These camping games for kids get everyone up and moving – perfect for burning off energy before dinner or keeping restless kids busy between hiking and campfire time. Great for ages 4 and up, and most work for the whole family too!
These are some of the most common games and activities we do at camp, but if you’re looking for something more specific to “Summer Camp” style with large groups of people, here is a great article full of relay and team camp games.
Capture the Flag
This traditional outdoor game involves two teams, each with a territory where their flag is hidden. The objective is to navigate into the opposing team’s territory, capture their flag and bring it safely back to your territory. For extra fun, try making your own unique camp flag!
Tag
A simple yet exciting game where one player, deemed ‘it’, chases others in an attempt to touch, or tag them, with the person tagged then becoming ‘it’. Nothing needed to play, but somehow one of the top games ever!
Geocaching
This is a fun and exciting outdoor activity where you use a GPS based app to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, at specific locations marked by coordinates. Some of them are quite challenging, which makes it fun even for the adults. For example, the one my son is holding below was *inside* a bridge!
Hide-and-Seek
A timeless outdoor game where one person hides while the others try to find them. The first one to find the hider becomes the next “it.”
Statues
This simple yet entertaining game involves one player being the “statue” while others try to make them laugh or move without getting caught. The first person to get the statue to break loses. If you’ve seen Bluey, you are especially familiar with this game!
Kick the Can
A variation of hide-and-seek, where one person guards a can while others hide. When someone is found, they must race to kick the can before being tagged by the guard.
Blind Man’s Bluff
A game of trust and navigation where one player is blindfolded and tries to tag others while they give directions. If the blinded player tags someone, that person becomes the next blinded player. I personally know it from watching tons of Survivor when they have to navigate each other through those mazes!
Bird Watching
Grab your binoculars and field guide! This activity involves observing and identifying different species of birds in their natural habitats. It’s relaxing and educational!
Skip Stones
Find a smooth, flat stone and see how many times you can make it skip across the water. A tranquil and surprisingly addictive pastime!
Ring Toss
Set up some stakes and see who can toss a ring around them from a distance. Simple, competitive, and loads of fun! Ring Toss Sets like this are easy to pack and usable just about anywhere.
Have a Water Gun Fight / Target Practice
Cool off with a water gun battle or practice your aim by shooting at targets. Guaranteed to bring out loads of laughter! We love setting up various empty cans and jars, then assigning points for each one based on difficulty.
Pass the Water
One of the best camping games for kids on a hot day – you only need a couple of cups and some water! Each person gets a cup and lines up. The first person gets their cup filled, then tries to pour it over their shoulder for the next person to catch. Make sure to use bigger cups for younger kids so it’s easier to catch!
Make an Obstacle Course Out of Things Around Camp
Create a fun and challenging course using natural materials and camping gear. This is especially fun if you happen to be camping somewhere near a forest – downed logs make for EXCELLENT obstacles!
Host a Camping Scavenger Hunt
Create or print a list of camping-related items for kids to find. The first one to find all items wins! There are tons of types of scavenger hunts for all ages – here are some of our FREE favorites to print:
- Nature Scavenger Hunt – Especially good for boondocking when the traditional campground sights are nowhere to be found
- Camping Scavenger Hunt – Multiple types here, including ABC, experiences, senses and pictures.
- Photo/Selfie Scavenger Hunt – For older kids who have their own phone, this is one of the *only ways* to get them excited about camp!
Photo Camping Scavenger Hunt
Snap pictures of specific things or scenes around the campground instead of collecting them — great for Leave No Trace principles! Or try something picture-specific like this campground selfie hunt.
Play Camping Bingo
Mark off camping-related items on your bingo card as you spot them around camp. The BINGO cards can double as matching cards for younger kids (just print extra and cut out one set, then ask them to match them up)!
Cornhole
The classic backyard game travels perfectly to the campsite! Toss bags filled with corn (or beans) onto a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1.
Ladder Toss
This fun outdoor game involves throwing bolas (two balls connected by a string) onto a ladder-like frame. Each rung of the ladder has different point values, and the aim is to accumulate the most points.
Camping Games for Kids That Need No Equipment
These are some of the best camping games for kids because you need absolutely nothing to play them – no packing, no prep, no cost! Perfect for the car ride to the campsite, impromptu downtime, or keeping kids entertained on the trail. Works for all ages, though younger kids (3+) will need simple versions of some.
Tag
Worth mentioning again here because it truly needs zero equipment — just kids and open space! One player is “it” and chases the others until they tag someone, who then becomes the new “it.” One of the all-time classics for a reason.
Hide-and-Seek
The great outdoors makes hide-and-seek even better — there are SO many more hiding spots! Just set clear boundaries before you start so no one wanders too far.
I Spy
Ideal for long hikes or quiet moments in nature. One person picks out something in their surroundings and gives a clue (like “I spy something green and tall”). The others take turns guessing until someone gets it right! Want a challenge? I spy a cute animal in the picture below (we spotted him at a state park in Arizona!).
Twenty One Questions
One person thinks of a camping-related item, and the rest of the group has 21 yes/no questions to figure out what it is. Great for keeping kids’ minds busy on hikes!
Would You Rather
One person poses two tough options to the group – like “Would you rather hike the highest mountain or explore the deepest cave?” Everyone picks a side and defends their choice. The discussion is half the fun!
Two Truths and a Lie
Each person shares three statements – two true, one a lie – and the group guesses which is false. Make it camping-themed for extra fun! This is also great for getting to know other families at the campground.
Telephone
One person whispers a sentence to the person next to them, and it gets passed along until it reaches the last player. The final message is almost always hilariously different from the original! Perfect for the campfire circle.
Statues
One player is the “statue” and must keep completely still while everyone else tries to make them laugh or move. The first person to crack the statue takes their place. If you’ve seen Bluey, your kids already know this one!
Nature Show and Tell
Each camper finds something interesting in nature and shares it with the group. Great for learning and sparking curiosity! One of our favorites so far: a wasp nest my daughter filled with flowers.
Campfire Games & Activities for Kids
Once the sun goes down and everyone’s gathered around the fire, these camping games for kids are perfect for winding down the evening. Most need little to no supplies and work well for mixed ages – great for families with kids of all ages sitting together.
Tell Campfire Stories
Gather around the fire and share scary, funny, or inspiring stories. It’s an age-old tradition that never gets old! If you don’t have a natural storyteller in the group, either read a favorite book out loud or use a prompt book like these for kids or the adult version.
Make S’mores
No camping trip is complete without s’mores! Here’s a master s’more tip to get the chocolate perfectly melty: set it on a rock near the firepit while you roast the marshmallow. By the time the marshmallow is done, the chocolate will be perfectly gooey!
Play Camp Charades
A classic party game where players act out words or phrases without speaking while teammates guess. Any charades is more fun at camp, but we especially love camp-themed charades prompts.
Wink Murder
Players sit in a circle and one person is secretly the “murderer.” The murderer winks at other players to eliminate them, while everyone tries to catch them in the act. A great one for older kids and adults around the fire!
Truth or Dare
The timeless game with a camping twist! Choose ‘truth’ and answer a question honestly. Pick ‘dare’ and perform a fun (and safe!) camping-related task. Best for kids ages 7 and up.
Sing Some Favorite Camp Songs!
Prepare ahead of time and curate your ultimate camping music list – or just let the kids take requests. Nothing beats singing around the fire!
Who Am I
Stick a post-it with a famous person or thing (try camping-related ones!) on everyone’s forehead. Each person asks yes/no questions to figure out who or what they are. Hilarious for all ages!
Go Star Gazing
On a clear night, look up! You might catch a meteor shower or spot a constellation. Download a free star-gazing app before you leave home so kids can identify what they’re seeing in real time.
Read A Book
It sounds simple, but there is nothing like reading a book with real nature sounds in the background! I love bringing my own book as well as a couple of the kids’ favorites and my best camp chair.
Start a Camping Journal
Record camping experiences, observations, sketches, and memories in a dedicated journal. A keepsake kids will love looking back on for years! There are kids hiking journals and women’s hiking journals perfect for this!
Try Nature Sketching
Capture the beauty of nature in sketches or a nature journal. Even if you don’t have time to peacefully sketch on the spot, snap a picture and draw it later. I love drawing one picture for each place we visit (like Picacho Peak State Park below)!
Make a Map of Camp
Draw a detailed map of your campsite and surrounding areas – a fun exercise in cartography! This website has tons of fun ways to practice map-making skills with kids.
Go On a Hike (And Journal It!)
Explore nature trails while documenting discoveries and thoughts in a journal. The hike is fun, but journaling about it saves the memory for years to come!
Nature Tic Tac Toe
Draw a grid in the dirt, or DIY your own nature tic tac toe using sticks and stones! Honestly, finding the sticks and rocks to make it is half the fun – especially with younger kids.
Night Camping Games for Kids
Don’t let bedtime be the end of the fun! These nighttime camping games for kids are some of the most memorable of the whole trip – especially anything involving glow sticks. Best for kids ages 5 and up.
Flashlight Tag
A fun nighttime twist on classic tag – “it” uses a flashlight to spot players in the dark. When the beam lands on you, you’re the next “it!” Set boundaries beforehand so no one wanders too far from camp.
Glow in the Dark Game Night
Hide glow-in-the-dark items (Easter eggs are perfect!) around camp and go hunting after sunset. We also love stocking up on glow sticks and playing glow-in-the-dark catch. Here are some other great nighttime camping game ideas:
- Play Glowing Kan Jam – Sort of like a mix between frisbee golf and cornhole… but it glows!
- Movie Night – Watch a favorite movie with a projector and sheet at camp
- Glow in the Dark Frisbee – Even adults love watching dazzling colors spinning through the air!
Card & Dice Camping Games for Kids
Card and dice games are a camping staple for good reason – they pack small, work for all ages, and save the day on rainy afternoons in the tent. Some of these are perfect for younger kids (ages 4+), while others are better for the whole family or adults-only after the kids go to bed!
Go Fish
A classic card game where players try to collect sets of four matching cards by asking others for specific ones. Simple enough for young kids, and genuinely fun for the whole family.
Spot It!
The cards come in a durable tin that fits easily in your pack, plays up to eight players, and is honestly one of my FAVORITE camping games because it’s just as fun for adults as it is for kids. Don’t leave home without it!
Apples to Apples
A fun and easy-to-learn party game where players match noun cards to fill in a statement. With three young kids, we especially love the “Big Picture Apples to Apples” – much less reading required!
Exploding Kittens
This strategic card game has kids (and adults) trying to avoid drawing the “exploding kitten” card while using other cards to disrupt opponents. The last player standing wins!
Pictionary
Players take turns drawing words or phrases while teammates try to guess. We love printing this camping-themed Pictionary for added fun!
Yahtzee
A classic dice game where players roll five dice up to three times to score combinations. For a fun outdoor twist, try the giant yard version called “Yardzee”!
Farkle
A fast-paced dice game where players roll six dice to rack up points – but push your luck too far and you lose everything from that turn. Kids love the risk-reward tension!
Phase 10
Players race to complete 10 different combinations of cards, like runs or sets. Great for older kids and families – plan for a longer game night with this one!
Skip-Bo
Similar to Phase 10, players build runs of sequential numbers while using special cards to block opponents. First player to empty their stack wins.
War
A simple card game where players flip cards and the highest value wins each round. The player who collects all the cards wins – check out how to play here. Great for young kids just learning cards!
Gin Rummy
A popular two-player card game where players build runs and sets to empty their hand. A great one for older kids and teens once they get the hang of it.
Dominoes
A classic tile-based game where players match pieces and earn points based on the number of dots. Easy to learn, satisfying to play, and works well at the picnic table.
Cards Against Humanity
Players combine cards to create outrageous responses to prompts – the funniest combination wins each round. Warning: this one is strictly adults only! Save it for after the kids go to bed.
Pong
The classic cup game – bounce a ping pong ball into the opponent’s cups. First team to sink all the opponent’s cups wins! Water or juice works great for the kids’ version.
Any Favorite Camping Games for Kids I Missed?
We’ve camped a LOT with kids of all ages, but I know there are still great games out there we haven’t tried! Drop your favorites in the comments – I’d love to hear what your family loves to play at camp.
And if you found this helpful, be sure to check out our full list of camping activities for toddlers too – because the littlest campers need their own special ideas!
