Anja and I have been camping since we met 11 years ago. We’ve heard all types of questions about camping activities, and we’ll try to provide some helpful resources in this article.
First of all, we really like camping next to the water. It is a great feeling to fall asleep with the sounds of a river or lake living its slow life.
We have participated in various adventures and know how important it is to have a plan of activities to do while camping.
Now, we decided to finally answer all questions, pack our experience into this comprehensive list of best camping activities., save you a LOT of time searching for it, and set you up for an entertaining camping trip.
We split it into categories to make it easier for you to navigate through.
If you want to jump straight to a specific subtopic, feel free to use a table of contents.
- Summer Activities
- Winter Activities
- On the Water Activities
- Activities for Adults
- Activities for Family
- Activities for Kids
- Board Games for Camping
- Bad Weather Activities
- Nighttime Activities
Summer Camping Activities
Summer is the perfect time to go camping.
It is an excellent opportunity to connect with nature, breathe fresh air, and spend quality time with your friends and family.
You can make this experience even more special by including various activities that challenge your body and mind.
Here is a list of some exciting summer activities for your next camping trip:
- Water balloon fighting
- Hiking
- Archery
- Horseback riding
- Lake high dive
- Rope courses
- Climbing
- Zip Line
- Kite flying
- Frisbee golf
- Ringtoss
- Baseball
- Capture the flag
- Geocaching
- Badminton,
- Mountain biking
Archery
Our favorite activity when it comes to summer camping.
Archery is excellent for those who want to stay physically active. Plus, it is an enjoyable activity that keeps the whole gang engaged.
Also, it is an excellent way to relieve stress and improve mental health. A few years ago, I met people that dramatically eased arthritis through regular practice.
Archery requires precision, speed, strength, and balance and improves hand-eye coordination.
Some additional health benefits of archery include increased flexibility and range of motion in the arms and legs, better posture overall, and stronger bones & joints.
Winter Camping Activities
Winter is the most beautiful season if you ask me. I’m a winter guy.
If you love the outdoors, wintertime camping can be a blast. It’s a great way to spend quality time with your group in the cold weather.
There’s no better way to stay warm during cold winter nights than by a campfire and hot cocoa.
Find your spot, set a campsite, and try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing activities.
If you’re near the frozen water, I recommend you give it a try to ice fishing; it’s a fun activity for kids and adults alike.
Winter sunsets and sunrises are something you shouldn’t miss. We’ve had a lot of it, and it’s more beautiful every time than the last.
So, now the campfire is crackling, the air is crisp, and the snow is falling around you. What will you do next?
There are plenty of fun group camping activities in the wintertime.
Here are some of my favorites winter activities:
- Carve out a snowman and bring them to life with a pair of eyes stolen from the area where you keep your marshmallows. Giggles guaranteed.
- Play charades while sitting in front of the fire inside a sleeping bag.
- Sing songs and harmonize with friends.
- Hold an indoor snowball fight. Break up into teams and fight over who gets to use the last of your hot chocolate mix that night.
Here are some extra outdoor activities you can do with your group on winter camping:
- Snowshoeing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Sledding
- Snowboarding
- Skating
- Visiting hot springs
- Bird watching
- Snowmobile riding
- Snow golf
- Watching sunset/sunrise
Besides being fun to do, winter camping has many health benefits.
Colder temperatures improve mood, boost energy levels, and can even be a treatment for depression.
It also helps you sleep better – it helps your body wind down and relax before bedtime!
And the fresh air will leave you feeling rejuvenated in the morning.
Snowshoeing
Our pick when it comes to winter activities.
Snowshoeing is a great way to work out and enjoy the outdoors simultaneously.
Snowshoeing improves your endurance, balance, agility, and coordination. It also helps to strengthen your legs, lungs, heart, and core muscles.
Plus, it is so peaceful and quiet (except for the sound of your boots hitting the snow) it can be an ideal way to relax during camping.
Water Camping Activities
Some of the best adventures we had in life were by the rivers and lakes.
Camping is fun, but camping on the water makes it even more. It is our favorite way of merging with nature.
Ever since I was a kid, I have loved lakes – their stillness and the deep surface seemed like the perfect place to get lost.
In the summertime, there are few better places to take a load off than a lake campsite where you can swim, fish or kayak right off the camp.
Whether it’s a lake, a river, or the ocean, you can use water to add new dimensions to your next camping trip.
Here are some activities on the water that you can do on your next adventure:
- Skipping stones
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Floating
- Canoeing/kayaking
- Boating
- Water skiing
- Tubing
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Stand-up paddle boarding
- Whitewater rafting
- Bodyboarding
Kayaking
Our ultimate favorite activity on the water.
Kayaking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and improve your fitness.
During kayaking, you use your body weight as resistance, which helps work on the cardiovascular system and core muscles.
It is worth trying if you’re looking for a fun activity to help you maintain your fitness level and boost your mood!
Camping Activities for Adults
Camping doesn’t have to be for kids and families anymore.
With the right gear and some forward thinking, you can make a camping trip an exciting experience that doesn’t feel like work. The first step is to limit your company.
If you’re going alone, ensure you can fit everything into your car or truck.
If you’re bringing friends, make sure they’ll be able to pitch in with the things they need to do.
It’s also essential to bring quality supplies. You want to avoid going out in the wilderness with defective equipment.
Before buying anything, consider the camping activities and games you plan to do and the necessary tools.
By keeping these points in mind, you can turn a camping trip into a fun and affordable one so everyone has a great time.
Here are some fun camping activities for adults that are bound to entertain your fellow campers.
- Bring some hula hoops and see who can hoop-dance the longest.
- Camp out at the bar and play board games until the early morning.
- Take turns writing on each other with giant markers, and watch your friends run around trying to scrub it off.
- Play kickball with all your gear in it, even though you’re too old for that now.
- Also, if you’re lucky enough to be near a lake or ocean, swim around and enjoy yourself!
There are plenty of other adult camping activities you can do outside to keep yourself active and have fun:
Sports & Active Activities for Adults:
- Hiking
- Trail running
- Yoga
- Cycling
- Slacklining
- Swimming
- Volleyball
- Rock climbing
- Survival skills learning
- Build a Campfire
- Forest bathing
Camping Games for Adults:
- Charades
- Who am I?
- Stand up and Shout
- Glow in the Dark Frisbee
- Flashlight Tag
- Truth or Dare
- Twenty Questions
- Mafia
- Telephone
- Would You Rather
Yoga
We’re not party people; being in nature means peace and silence, and because of it, we love practicing yoga during our camping adventures.
Yoga has been around for centuries, and its popularity is only increasing.
Yoga is a physical and mental practice that can improve your health and well-being in many ways. It’s also one of the best exercises you can do for your mind and body!
It’s even better when practiced surrounded by nature.
Here are some of the benefits of yoga:
- Helps reduce stress levels.
- Improves your flexibility and range of motion.
- Reduces tension headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression, back pain, neck pain, muscle aches/pains (including menstrual cramps), and fibromyalgia symptoms!
Research shows that people who do yoga regularly report better overall health than those who don’t participate in any form of exercise at all.
Family Camping Activities
Family vacations are a great way to bring the family together; kids love adventures.
It is also an excellent opportunity for them to have fun while expanding their horizons.
Here are some tried and true activities that anyone can enjoy during their next adventure:
- Hiking – Pack lunch and have an adventure! Be sure to let everyone know where you’re going so they can find you if you get lost.
- Archery – If your kids are old enough, this could be fun for the whole family – and it’s easier than most people think! Don’t worry about teaching them how to shoot – be sure to focus on safety.
- Fishing – Make sure everyone knows how to cast underwater and what not to touch. Take some time to teach people how to use bait, hooks, and nets.
There are plenty of other activities you can do to keep your family active and have fun:
- Birdwatching
- Bocce ball
- Animal watching
- Nature collecting
- Search for wild berries, nuts, and other edible plants.
- Camping scavenger hunt.
- Geocaching
- Go for a nighttime walk.
- Go for a midnight swim.
- Shoot off fireworks
- Release sky lanterns
Camping games for families:
- Cornhole
- Charades
- Ladder Toss
- Bananagrams
- Hide & Seek
- Statues
- Jenga
- Mölkky
- Never have I Ever
- Yahtzee
- Qwirkle
- Twenty Questions
- Cards against humanity
- Flashlight Tag
- Truth or Dare
Birdwatching
Birdwatching is one of our favorite activities when outside in general.
It has many benefits, such as:
- Increased awareness and understanding of nature.
- Improved mental health and well-being.
- Greater appreciation for birds and their environments.
- The greater pleasure from spending time outdoors.
Camping Activities for Kids
Most parents don’t love the idea of camping with their children because they think camping with kids is messy and inconvenient.
But, with some careful planning, you can make a camping trip fun for everyone.
First, you’ll need an understanding of your campsite’s amenities: how close are you to running water? Is there electricity? How about a store nearby?
It’s worth checking out before packing everything you need.
Another critical factor in making these activities successful is planning.
Pack extra supplies like flashlights, batteries, and snacks.
A well-planned trip can help keep everyone happy; even if nothing goes wrong, you’ll already have most things covered.
Here are a few tips to get you started when it comes to camping activities for teens:
- Bring lots of rope and bungee cords (or nets and buckets) if you plan on spending any time near water.
- If you’re visiting a national park, check on the availability of junior ranger programs.
- Print some pages from the Internet or bring some books about local wildlife.
- Always bring plenty of sunscreens and bug spray – kids can get sunburned even when it isn’t hot.
- And most important – always remember to pack food, water, and first aid supplies!
Younger children will have more fun with simpler games like freeze tag, but they can also enjoy raking leaves or digging in the dirt.
There are plenty of other teenage camping activities for kids you can do to keep them active:
- Crafting at the campsite
- Rock painting
- Nature painting
- Play with clay and natural treasures.
- Stick Mazes
- Building shelters
- Cornhole
- Capture the flag
- Scavenger hunt
- Outdoor kitchen play
- Make mud pies
- Climb trees
- Collecting nature
- Stick rafts
- Making slingshots
- Mafia
- Ladder Toss
- Charades
- Horseshoes
- Two truths and a lie
- Rope swing
- Learn a knot tying
Cornhole
I won’t spend too many words explaining this awesome game.
Not many games can provide so much fun for the whole group.
Cornhole is undoubtedly one. We love playing it with friends on our campouts.
Board Games for Camping
There is something about sitting by a campfire with friends and family that makes board games so enjoyable.
The best board games for camping will have excellent replay value and be easy to play while relaxing around the campfire.
Having fun and being mindful of safety while playing a game are essential.
There are plenty of board games available out there. You can find plenty of new ones or some that you might have played before.
There are many themes; some focus on history, while others focus on fantasy or science fiction.
Whatever your preferences, there is a game out there for you.
Those who love nature can get some based on animals, while others can find those with an outer space theme and many other options.
So, you can play many.
Here’s a list of some of the best board games for camping:
- Hive Pocket
- Cards Against Humanity
- One Night Ultimate Werewolf
- Backgammon
- Uno Wilderness Edition
- Yahtzee: National Parks
- Qwirkle
- Beat the Parents
- Trekking the National Parks
- Bananagrams
- Camp
- Connect Four
- The Appalachian trail game
- Mancala
- Jenga
- Pictionary
- Wildcraft
- Bingo
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
We really love this one. It is ideal for camping.
Everybody has a different role in the game, each with unique abilities, and everyone is trying to find the werewolf.
It takes little time to play because it is simple to learn, and the box and components are minimal. The game will be over in just 15 minutes, and you’ll have captured the werewolf, but it will be worth it because everyone had so much fun playing together!
Bad Weather Camping Activities
We’ll start with the obvious – if it’s raining, you might pull out your deck of cards and play some poker or fish with your buddies.
It’s a classic game that doesn’t need too much concentration and something almost everyone will know how to play.
Many people think they don’t like board games because they played Monopoly or Clue way back when they were little kids.
The truth is, there are hundreds of exciting new games on.
Here is our list of camping activities for rainy days:
- Board games
- Card games
- Read a book
- Legos
- Crafting
Camping Activities for Nighttime
The night is the most exciting part of the day when you’re camping, and there are plenty of nighttime camping activities you can do around a campfire.
Keep safety in mind when working with kids as you plan your outings.
Some camping activities at night may involve getting up close and personal with nature, so caution is always reasonable.
For example, take some flashlights and glow sticks if you’re going for a nighttime swim.
Watch out for only swimming in shallow areas near the shore.
And when it comes to stargazing, check the weather report before heading out.
If it looks like clouds will be rolling in for the evening, consider doing something else instead or waiting until another night.
There are also plenty of other night time camping activities you can do to keep your gang having fun by the campfire:
- Make shadow puppets
- Go for a nighttime walk.
- Play flashlight tag
- Hide and seek in the dark
- Release sky lanterns
- Play truth or dare
- Sing campfire songs
- Play a musical instrument
- Campfire dancing
- Campfire cooking
- Make a colorful fire.
- Sleeping bag race
- Host the talent show
FAQ
What are some fun things to bring camping?
Games: Bring board games, cards, or outdoor games like frisbee or cornhole to pass the time.
Books: Remember to pack a good book while relaxing at the campsite.
Music: Bring a portable speaker or musical instruments to jam around the campfire
Food and drinks: Pack plenty of snacks, easy-to-prepare meals, and a cooler with ice for drinks.
Activities: Consider bringing a soccer ball, fishing gear, or other outdoor toys to keep everyone entertained.
Camping gear: Make sure you have all the necessary gear for a successful camping trip, such as a tent, sleeping bags, and a stove.
First aid kit: It’s always a good idea to bring a basic first aid kit in case of minor injuries or emergencies.
Clothing and shoes: Pack appropriate clothing for the weather and sturdy shoes for hiking and exploring the great outdoors.
How do you stay entertained while camping?
Hiking: Explore the local trails and take in the beauty of nature.
Swimming: Bring your swimsuit and enjoy the water if a lake or river is nearby.
Fishing: Try your hand at catching your dinner.
Campfire stories: Gather around the campfire and share stories with your friends and family.
Stargazing: Look up at the night sky and try to identify constellations.
Birdwatching: Bring a pair of binoculars and see how many different types of birds you can spot.
Board games: Bring your favorite board games and spend an evening playing with your friends and family.
Photography: Take your camera and capture the beauty of the wilderness.
Reading: Bring a good book and spend some time relaxing and enjoying the peace of the great outdoors.
Cooking: Try cooking over the campfire or on a stove and enjoy a delicious meal with your friends and family.
How do you make a campsite fun?
Plan activities: Think about what you and your group enjoy doing, and plan activities around that. It could include hiking, swimming, fishing, or playing outdoor games like frisbee or cornhole.
Bring games and entertainment: Pack board games, cards, and other activities to do in the evenings around the campfire.
Explore the area: Take the time to explore the local area and discover all it offers. It could include visiting nearby attractions or hiking to a scenic viewpoint.
Cook meals over the campfire: There’s something special about cooking and eating meals over the campfire. Plan to cook at least a few meals this way and enjoy the experience with your friends and family.
Spend time around the campfire: Gather in the evenings and chat, tell stories, and make s’mores.
Find ways to relax: Camping is an excellent opportunity to relax and unwind. Take the time to sit and enjoy the serenity of your surroundings.
Involve everyone in the planning process: It can help ensure everyone has a say in the activities and helps to create a sense of ownership and excitement for the trip.
What To Do Next?
So now, when you’re ready and have your activities prepared, check out our helpful tips on what to wear while camping in 2023!
And feel free to write your thoughts, experience, and some fun stories in the comments. We would like to hear from you!
