Camping Activities

X (Twitter) Facebook Pinterest Email Flip it

If you’re looking for some super fun and family-friendly camping activities, you’re not alone. These camping options for family fun are great for all ages!

Going camping is the best. What other activity out there combines the beauty of outdoors with the memories of the family? There aren’t many family vacations out there that can trump camping…and when you stop and think about it, you’ll understand why.

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

Camping is a way that families can connect on so many different levels. Dinners are eaten together sitting around a campfire, families spend their time outdoors hiking and biking and conversations seem to flow as effortlessly as the blowing of the breeze.

If you’ve yet to take your family camping, what are you truly waiting for? Just like any vacation, there has to be a bit of planning..but the outcome? 100% worth it.

There are so many great camping activities that families can do together that it makes it a logical choice to try. And if you’re on the fence about camping, it’s time for you to take the plunge.

How do you enjoy camping?

This is such a fun question. And actually, a simple answer. No person camps the same as any other person, so your enjoyment is entirely up to you.

Some of the top camping activities for adults tend to be more outdoor-related such as hiking and biking…while the kids prefer to do more swimming and running around.

And guess what? All of those camping activities are fine and fun!

If your idea of camping is sitting around the fire and taking a nap, then who says that you can’t do just that? Do what you need or want to do to make camping enjoyable. Pack up some books, some snacks and get ready to settle in for a few lovely nights of listening to the sounds of wildlife and gazing up at the stars.

What should I bring on a camping trip?

Anything you want! And in that same breath, make certain that you’re packing along all of the camping necessities. Some items to bring camping need to be:

toilet paper
water
flashlight
tent/sleeping bags
food/snacks
tarp
bug spray
sunscreen

And that’s just a few of the items. If you’re looking for fun items to pack for your next camping adventure, don’t forget your deck of cards, your favorite book, and some art supplies for the kids. You’ll be amazed at how everyone tends to get more artistic and creative when camping.

It’s like camping brings out the imagination and creativity in all.

Camping Activities that Need to be on Your Radar

Now that you know a little bit about how to prepare for camping, let’s look at fun camping activities that you need to think about. Instead of trying to fit everything in a one-size-fits-all type category, breaking it up will be easier to manage and prepare for.

Camping Activities for Kids

Maybe one of the easiest things to plan for, there are plenty of camping activities for kids. One thing to keep in mind and be prepared for is that you can’t shoulder the responsibility for trying to pack and think of everything on your own.

When it comes to finding fun activities for kids, have them help you with this! After all, what happens if you do all the planning and packing and they decide that they don’t like any of the activities that you’ve brought? While it’s certain to still be okay, it’s just better to let them help in all the packing and planning fun.

Frisbee Toss

Make certain to bring a couple of frisbees with you when camping because you never know when one is going to get overthrown or just disappear. Making a fun game of the frisbee toss by seeing how many they can catch without dropping is a great way to get them outdoors and active, even when they may not want to be.

Hide-and-Seek

The woods offer some of the best hide-and-seek spots that there are, just make certain that you’re kids know to be safe and understand that boundaries of where they can and can’t go. And beware, you might not see them for several hours once they start this fun game.

Make certain to have some bottles of water set out so they can stay hydrated as they’re running and hiding over and over again.

Swimming

Maybe your campground has a swimming pool, maybe it doesn’t. Or maybe there’s a lake or beach area nearby that offers the opportunity to swim..if that’s the case, pack up that sunscreen and get ready to spend all day soaking up the sun. Swimming is one of the easiest camping activities for kids because it provides hours and hours of fun.

Camping activities for preschoolers

If you’re worried about camping with younger kids, don’t be. Camping truly is perfect for all members of your family, regardless of their age. Some of the best camping activities for preschoolers are:

Rock painting

Who doesn’t love painting rocks? Just make certain that you’re using non-toxic paint as you don’t want to harm the environment or any animals. Once you’re done painting them, go and hide them in the woods or at different campsites.

Not only is it fun to do, but it’s a simple way to bring a smile to the face of other campers that find them.

Chalk drawing

Most campsites are paved or have an area where there is pavement. Pack the sidewalk chalk and let your preschool-aged child decorate. They can channel their inner artist and get creative with their drawings.

And if it happens to rain and wash away during your camping trip, they can just start all over and create a new masterpiece.

Camping activities for couples

Believe it or not, camping is a fun and romantic way for couples to have time together. Sitting together by the fire and just enjoying each other’s company is a lot of fun.

Pack along a bottle of wine and just enjoy…there aren’t many moments like this in life where you can just sit and do nothing with the one that you love and still be entirely immersed in the evening.

Other activities for couples can be:

Playing cards

Whipping out a deck of cards during your camping trip is always a good idea. Challenge each other to a game of war or bring out the cribbage board as well to see who has what it takes to be crowned champ.

Go on a hike

Anything that you can do together when camping, is great. Most campgrounds and state parks have amazing hiking trails set up, ready to use.

Put on your shoes and go and explore them together for the day. Who knows, you might work up quite an appetite that you can then head into the nearest town for a nice, romantic meal.

Camping Activities for Families

Even though a lot of the camping activities mentioned above have been segmented out into specific groups, a lot of them are perfect for families as well. And just in case you need a few more ideas, here are just a handful of other camping options for your family to enjoy:

Geocaching

Have you ever taken the time to geocache? It’s pretty cool to think about…the basis is that people hide objects somewhere and then go to an online area and give clues about how to find it. Seriously, how cool is that?! If you’re lucky and able to do so when camping, this can be an awesome camping activity for the family.

And find a cool way to leave your family marks as well. Some places have little journals hid where you can sign your names and cool things like that where others have objects that you can take with you for your travels. Think about something fun that your family can have and use to leave for other geocaching families to find.

Making s’ mores

You didn’t think I was going to forget about one of the best camping activities of all, did you? Making s’mores is what true camping is all about! If you ask any child their favorite part of camping, there’s a good chance that you’ll get the answer of s’mores…and honestly, I can’t blame them.

That gooey chocolate and marshmallow combination is perfect and easy to replicate time and time again. Plus, being able to cook and eat it hot and fresh from the campfire just takes it to a whole other level of deliciousness.

Be prepared for every member of your family to love it but be quite messy after eating it. And don’t fret…this is one food item that you’ll have to lick your fingers clean after!

Telling stories around the campfire

There’s just something magical about being able to sit around the campfire and tell stories…some people prefer spooky while others are looking for ones that are a bit zanier and fun. And if you ask me, as long as everyone in the family is having fun and participating, any type of campfire story is going to have a positive outcome.

Make certain to pack up some popcorn to be able to cook and eat while you’re talking and telling stories. You won’t be able to fight the need to munch a bit as you’re actively engaging with your family around the campfire.

Picking up trash

Even though this may not be the most fun thing to do while camping, it’s still an activity that the family can do together to show appreciation to nature and wildlife. If you make it a habit of picking up trash during or at the end of your camping trip, you can rest easy knowing that your family is leaving a positive impact on the campground that you’re staying at.

Plus, your family will be showing a good example to the other campers in the area as well. Who knows…maybe your family will start a trend for others to pick up trash at their campsites as well!

The truth is…there are so many camping activities that are perfect for a wide variety of ages. Instead of trying to guess what everyone wants to see and do, why not just ask right from the very beginning? Not only does this help to plan and budget but it also gives you a time frame of what you’re needing to get done daily as well.

Build something

Random, right? But it’s the truth. If you have the chance to sit outside your camper or tent during your camping trip, use that time to build something together as a family instead. You can head to the local hobby store and pick up a wide variety of wooden crafts that you and your kids can paint and create.

Think birdhouses, bat houses, or even fun wooden pictures frames as well. All you need to remember to do is pack up the paint and paintbrushes and figure out what you’re going to create.

You can even create some cool camping accessories and decor that you can put in your camping tote for your travels. All campers and campsites need to have some fun decor and homemade items to show off their fun flair!

One other great idea is to create something for the campground host that is staying at the campground. Giving them a homemade gift as a way of saying “thank you” is always a nice idea. Plus, most of them are volunteers that aren’t getting paid so they’ll probably appreciate the gesture more than you realize or know!

Camping activities with family and friends is a must, without a doubt. All you have to worry about figuring out is just how many camping activities you think that you can squeeze into the time frame that you’re there! Try one or try them all but make certain that you make the most of your camping trip with these fun camping activities!