Sure, that 20th round of "high-stakes" five-card draw earned you another few pennies. But slow down there, sharky. There are other camping games, too!
These days, camping game possibilities are numerous. It is also nice to have some variety.
One minute you're tossing bean bags into a hole or playing Uno. The next you're spocking Bocce balls or acting out timed charades.
If you need some fresh ideas, try these games out on your next camping trip!
Fun Camping Games for Kids
There are lots of game ideas to keep the kids busy if they get bored at camp. I know, who gets bored while camping, right? But we are talking about kids here. Below are some great games for when they start getting restless.
1. Marshmallow Games
You're already going to have a bag of marshmallows for s'mores, so these will be easy.
Marshmallow Relay - You'll need a flat surface like a portable fold-up table, picnic table, or inside a camp trailer/RV. Give each player a drinking straw and three or four regular-sized marshmallows. The object is to be the first to blow all the marshmallows across the table. You can already see it now, yeah? This game was made for kids.
Sticky Forehead Challenge - Here's another one that must've been made for kids by kids. Simply lick the end of a marshmallow, stick it to your head, and wait it out to see who's falls first. The kid with the marshmallow that stays the longest is the victor.
2. Glow-in-the-Dark Tag
The kiddo being tagged will wear multiple-color neon bracelets on their wrists and ankles. The "taggers" will wear single-color neon bracelets. You should choose an area, if possible, that is relatively obstruction-free. Then just let 'em run wild through the night! Definitely keep them away from the fire pit and other dangerous areas. Don't forget the glow sticks for added fun!
Flashlight tag is also a family favorite!
3. Pinecone Pitch
Gather a couple of dozen pinecones and a receptacle like a bucket, small wastebasket, or large camp cooking pot. Make lines at different distances and assign them point values. Stand behind the lines and toss the cones into the receptacle. Keep score and reward points to the lucky ones!
4. Uno
This classic always goes over well because it's a fun card game that kids can understand. Uno is also a game that can go on forever depending on the cards you get! It is definitely not just for the kids. Our family always has a hilarious time playing Uno together!
5. I Spy
For the younger kids up to 8 years old or so, this is a fun little game that you can play anywhere. Playing while on a family camping trip can be a great tool in learning about their natural world.
Choose something everyone can see, such as a tree, and then say, "I spy with my little eye something that starts with the letter T." Players take turns calling out guesses. The first person to answer correctly gets the next turn to choose the item.
6. Frisbee
Similar to playing "catch" with a mitt and ball, throwing a frisbee can help tire out overactive youths! You don't need to get fancy with it, and frisbees are easy to pack and carry. Just throw it back and forth until someone tires out from chasing it all over the place.
Camping Games for the Whole Family
We love family game time and I'm sure your family is no exception! Why not make that a part of your camping activities?
1. Outdoor Camping Games
Bocce Ball
Bocce is a serious thing in some parts of the world. There is even a professional Bocce Standards Association that oversees standards and rules for Bocce leagues. Who knew? We've never taken it that seriously and neither should you on your camping trip!
Bocce is a really fun outdoor game, and it can be played on grass, dirt or sand. Each team is trying to get their bocce balls closest to the target, or "pallino ball." The team that is decided to toss the pallino (usually by coin flip) does so by tossing it towards the opposite end of the designated court. Teams then alternately roll their bocce balls for multiple frames.
Only one team scores per frame and the game usually keeps going until 12 points have been scored by either team.
Cornhole
I don't know what it is about tossing bags into a hole in a board, but it is a lot of fun for a lawn game. An American classic, the object of this game is simple. Place the cornhole boards 27 feet apart (or closer if you've got youngsters playing).
Teams or individuals alternately toss the bags, trying to get them through the hole or at the very least onto the board for a point. Bags that go through the hole are counted as 3 points. Teams play until at least 21 points are scored.
A similar family camping game that's a lot of fun for the whole family is glow-in-the-dark ring toss.
2. Brain Freeze
Here is a hilarious, fast-paced game for the whole family. This one is better suited to older kids that are ages 10+. It is touted as "the speak before you think" party game, and for good reason!
Players draw a topic card until there is a match with the topic card icon. Once that happens, players race to answer the topic that fastest. Who knows what will slip out! It could get embarrassing, so be careful!
3. Camping Card Games
Card games, if you didn't already pick up on it, are great for good weather or rainy days stuck in a camper. You don't even have to get out of your sleeping bag in some cases!
Here are some of the best camping card games:
Go Fish - You don't always need a rod and tackle to go fish! All you need for this one is a standard deck of cards or the specialty Go Fish deck. The object is to win the most pairs of cards. The winner is the one with the most pairs and the game ends when all the cards are used up.
Uno - Already mentioned above, Uno isn't just for the kids! Make it a whole family game and with enough Reverse or Take 2 cards, you can spend hours playing this one!
Poker - Playing cards has always been at the top of the list while camping or at home. There are many games from Twenty-One to 7-Card Draw to choose from—plus their variations.
Old Maid - I used to love this game as a kid. It's a race game that can be played with either a regular deck of cards (make the Joker the Old Maid) or an official Old Maid set.
Crazy Eights - Another great educational game that can help with the kids' math—or yours! You're trying to get rid of your cards before the other players.
4. Board Games
Take your pick from dozens of new and classic games. Here are some of our faves:
- Yahtzee
- Candyland
- Monopoly
- Life
- Sorry
- Trouble
5. Jenga
Make sure you don't play this one too close to the fire, otherwise the blocks may become part of your kindling! Build up a tower with the blocks, then precariously pull the blocks out until the tower falls. It feels dangerous without any real consequences.
6. Guesstures
Do you like charades? If so, Guesstures is your new game! It is a speedy rendition of charades, where you must act out four topics while the seconds count down on the Mimer-Timer. If you don't get it in time, the timer swallows your card! The topics range in difficulty and you get awarded more points for the harder ones.
Another family favorite, the bellowing laughter doesn't stop with this game. You'll love it.
That should be enough camping games to get you started! There are so many more to consider like Tic-Tac-Toe, ring toss, scavenger hunts, camping bingo, Two Truths and a Lie... It is nearly endless. I hope these ideas will help out on your next camping trip!
NEXT: THE RADIATE PORTABLE CAMPFIRE IS UNDER $30 AND FITS IN YOUR BACKPACK
WATCH
