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20 of the Best Camping Games for Kids and Adults

Camping games are a great way to get creative with family time and get everyone involved in the fun! There are plenty of classic and original camping games for kids and camping games for adults to enjoy. Here’s a selection of games to play at camp when staying at one of our campsites. Let the games begin!
boy with binoculars in forest (shutterstock, TheFarAwayKingdom )

1. The alphabet game

Fun for the little ones, the alphabet game gets the kids to write down or spot objects and signs that start with each letter of the alphabet – going from A-Z. Whoever gets to Z first, wins!

2. Balloon ping pong

Played over a picnic table, get set for a game of table tennis like never before. To make the game even more fun, play with more than one balloon at once. Be sure to pack plenty of balloons, extras WILL be needed!

3. Ball sports

Whether it’s football, cricket, rounders or rugby, ball sports are a fun way to spend an afternoon on a campsite. All you need is a ball (and maybe a bat) and some willing participants to have hours of competitive fun. 

4. Board games

Lots of fun can be enjoyed sitting around a board game. Set up the game on top of your camping table and let the fun begin. Be it Monopoly, Cluedo or Trivial Pursuit, board games are a great way to pass the time and bond with friends and family. 

5. Cards

A pack of cards is essential on any camping packing list. Cards are great for rainy days, for playing in the back of the car on long journeys or for providing the entertainment on a picnic. There are thousands of card games to pick from, but family favourites include Snap, Go Fish, Cheat and Crazy Eights.
father and son playing ball games (shutterstock, Maria Sbytova)

6. Catch or don’t catch

Sometimes a ball is all you need to create fun camping games for the family. For catch or don’t catch, everyone gets in a circle, except for one player who stands in the centre of the circle with the ball.

The player in the centre goes around the circle throwing the ball and saying ‘catch’ or ‘don’t catch’. Similar to the game Simon says if a player catches the ball when told not to, or vice-versa, that player is out.

7. Charades

Charades is a popular family game to play on Christmas day, but it’s just as fun playing on a campsite too! The rules are simple – write down some things on pieces of paper and split into two teams. Someone has to act the things out without saying a word while the others have to guess what they’re trying to describe before the time runs out. 

8. Dominoes

You’d be surprised how many hours of fun you can have with a set of tiles with some dots on. People have been playing dominoes since the 13th century. There are various ways to play the game, but the most common one is known as “the Block Game”. In this game, two players create a domino chain by playing a tile which has the same number of dots as the tile before until it becomes impossible for one of the players to do so. 

9. Duck-duck-goose!

Duck-duck-goose is an easy way to keep the kids occupied while you’re getting your family camping meal ready. Players sit in a circle, except the person who is It. It walks around the circle, tapping each player on the head, saying "duck" each time until they decide to tap someone and say "goose."

That person becomes the goose and runs after It, trying to tag them before It can take their seat. If It reaches the goose’s spot without being tagged, they take the goose’s spot and the goose becomes It.

10. Frisbee

Whether you’re simply throwing a frisbee between friends, aiming for a target, or playing a game of Ultimate Frisbee, it’s well worth packing a round disc for your camping trip. 

girl playing badminton (shutterstock, Bobex-73)

11. Geocaching

Geocaching is a global, outdoor treasure hunt. Today, millions of people around the world participate in this activity. Using a GPS navigation receiver, track down various locations and discover hidden items. Geocaching is the perfect way to explore the great outdoors and spend time with family and friends. 

12. Glow-in-the-dark ring toss

Fun camping games don’t get much better than glow-in-the-dark ring toss. An original version of an outdoor camping games classic, all you need are some glow rings and full water bottles for an evening’s entertainment under the night sky. As the sun sets, light up the dark with a fantastic display of colour and pinpoint accuracy.

13. I spy

A camping pastime, kids of all ages can enjoy a game of I spy when in the forest. There’s so much to see, and I spy is the easiest of camping games to play on site and out and about.

14. Obstacle course

Create a unique obstacle course for your little ones. Based on the camping kit you bring with you, this game can be changed up, but if you need some inspiration, here are some ideas for your obstacle course:
• Jump over the cups
• Dribble a football around the cups
• Hop over the sticks
• Dodge the leaves

15. Pass the water

A great summer camp game for kids, all you need are some cups and water. Kids stand in a line and the person at the front has a cup full of water, which they then lift over their head to dump the water in the next person’s cup. This continues down the line with the group trying to keep as much water as possible.

The person at the back then comes to the front… if there’s any water left! 

three girls playing cards and camping (shutterstock, Ramona Heim)

16. Pictionary

Hone your artistic ability by playing a game of Pictionary. All you need is a pencil, some paper and a few participants. Write down some random things on scraps of paper, one player attempts to draw these things will the others try to guess what it is. 

17. Scavenger hunt

A camping classic, the scavenger hunt is an all-time, family camping games favourite, played throughout the generations. The great thing about this game is that it can be adapted to suit all ages and is educational for the whole family. Plus, you can play on our campsites or venture into the forest for the ultimate scavenger hunt.

Who knows what treasures you might find? Hunt for flowers, bugs, leaves, the biggest stick and more. Pair up older siblings with younger siblings or an adult with a child, and set off in search of items to tick off your checklist. If you’ve got teens, let them get a little techy and capture finds on their phone.

18. Star gazing

At night-time, lie on your back and gaze at the vast spectacle above you. Make a game out of star gazing by seeing who can spot the most constellations, planets and shooting stars. 

19. The summer camp Olympic games

Create your very own campsite Olympics for the whole family, complete with camping games for kids and camping games for adults. Include relay races, obstacle courses, long jump, badminton and more for a fantastically fun time.

20. Swing ball

Swing ball is a timeless camping game that can be enjoyed for hours by people of all ages. Despite its large size, swing ball can be packed away easily and transported in the car. Players take it in turn to hit a ball on a string back in the direction of the opposing player, in the aim of reaching the top or bottom of the spiral. 
 

Play your camping games while staying at our forest campsites

kids-playing-on-Hollands-Wood

With so many forest campsites to choose from, stay with us and try out all these fun camping games, and more, with the whole family. We invite you to experience all the magic of the forest and play some memorable games in the great outdoors. See you soon.

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From: £22.50 per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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From: £21.05 per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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Cobleland Campsite, The Trossachs

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Cashel Campsite, Loch Lomond

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Matley Wood Campsite, New Forest

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From: £12.65 per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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