You’ve packed the tent, the cooler, and the sleeping bags—but what are you actually going to do once the campfire’s lit and the sun goes down? If your family’s idea of entertainment starts and ends with a screen, camping can feel awkward fast. The good news? Some of the best camping memories come from games that require nothing more than a few people, a bit of creativity, and maybe a stick or two.
Quick answer: The best camping games for families are ones that work with any age group, need little to no equipment, and take advantage of the outdoor setting. Classics like Capture the Flag, scavenger hunts, and campfire storytelling games top the list—but there are plenty of creative options you’ve probably never tried. Below, we’ve listed 25 games organized by activity level and time of day so you can pick the perfect one for any moment of your trip.
Active Daytime Games
These games get everyone moving and are perfect for burning off energy after a morning of hiking or when the kids need to run around before dinner.
1. Capture the Flag
The ultimate outdoor team game. Split into two teams, each hiding a flag (a bandana or towel works great) somewhere in their territory. The goal is to sneak into the opposing team’s territory, grab their flag, and bring it back to your side without getting tagged. According to the American Camp Association, Capture the Flag has been a staple of organized camping programs for over a century—and for good reason. It teaches teamwork, strategy, and gets everyone running.
2. Kick the Can
A hybrid of hide-and-seek and tag. Place a can (or water bottle) in an open area. One person is “it” and counts while everyone hides. The seeker tries to find and tag players, sending them to “jail.” Hidden players can free jailmates by sneaking in and kicking the can before getting tagged. Simple rules, huge fun.
3. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Before your trip, make a list of items to find: a pinecone, a feather, something smooth, something that makes noise, animal tracks, a Y-shaped stick. Hand out the list and let kids (and adults) explore the area. In my experience, this is the single best way to get kids engaged with nature instead of just tolerating it. Customize the difficulty for different ages—younger kids can look for colors and shapes, while older ones can identify specific tree species or bird calls.
4. Sardines
Reverse hide-and-seek. One person hides while everyone else counts. When a seeker finds the hider, they quietly squeeze into the hiding spot with them. The last person to find the packed-in group loses (or wins the next round as hider). This game works brilliantly in wooded campgrounds with lots of natural hiding spots.
5. Frisbee Golf
Set up a course using trees, rocks, picnic tables, or camp chairs as targets. Each “hole” is a designated target that players try to hit with a frisbee in as few throws as possible. You can make the course as easy or challenging as you want. If you enjoy this, you might want to try the real thing—check out our beginner’s guide to disc golf for the full rundown on rules and gear.
6. Obstacle Course Relay
Use what’s around you—logs to balance on, trees to weave through, a creek to hop over, a hill to run up. Split into teams and time each relay. Kids love designing their own courses, which is half the entertainment right there.
7. Tag Variations
Regular tag gets boring fast, but variations keep it fresh for hours:
- Freeze tag: Tagged players freeze in place until a free player crawls between their legs.
- Shadow tag: Step on someone’s shadow to tag them (best in late afternoon when shadows are long).
- Blob tag: When tagged, you link arms with “it” and the blob grows until everyone’s caught.
Low-Energy and Sitting Games
Sometimes you need games that work when everyone’s tired from a hike, resting in camp chairs, or waiting for food to cook. These require minimal movement but maximum brainpower.
8. 20 Questions
One person thinks of something (animal, vegetable, or mineral). Everyone else gets 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is. Deceptively simple but genuinely engaging—and it works with any age group from about five years old and up.
9. The Alphabet Game
Pick a category—animals, foods, places, camping gear—and go around the circle, each person naming something in that category starting with the next letter of the alphabet. “A is for armadillo, B is for bear, C is for cougar…” If you can’t think of one within five seconds, you’re out. X and Z are always entertaining.
10. Two Truths and a Lie
Each person shares three statements about themselves—two true, one false. Everyone else guesses which one is the lie. This is an especially great game for camping trips with extended family or friends who don’t know each other well yet. You’ll learn surprising things about people you thought you knew.
11. I Spy (Nature Edition)
The classic car game works even better at a campsite where there’s genuinely interesting stuff to spot. “I spy something that a bird made,” “I spy something older than all of us combined,” “I spy something an animal ate.” Get creative with the clues to make it challenging for all ages.
12. Story Chain
One person starts a story with a single sentence. The next person adds a sentence, and so on around the circle. The only rule: each addition must connect logically (or hilariously illogically) to what came before. These stories get wild fast, especially with kids involved. Set a theme like “a camping trip gone wrong” for extra laughs.
13. Would You Rather (Outdoor Edition)
Prepare nature-themed dilemmas: “Would you rather be chased by one bear-sized squirrel or fifty squirrel-sized bears?” “Would you rather sleep in a tent during a thunderstorm or in a hammock during a windstorm?” Keep the questions camping-relevant and the debates will be surprisingly passionate.
14. The Name Game
Someone names a famous person. The next person must name someone whose first name starts with the first letter of the previous person’s last name. “Albert Einstein → Elon Musk → Michael Jordan → Julia Roberts.” If you can’t answer in ten seconds, you’re out. Simple to learn, surprisingly competitive.
Campfire Games (Evening and Night)
The campfire changes everything. The flickering light, the darkness beyond the circle, the crackling sounds—all of it makes these games feel more immersive than they would in a living room.
15. Mafia (Werewolf)
A social deduction game that needs at least six players. One person narrates while the group is secretly divided into “villagers” and “mafia.” During the “night” phase, everyone closes their eyes and the mafia silently chooses a victim. During the “day,” the group debates and votes to eliminate who they think is mafia. It’s essentially a free version of popular party games, and the campfire atmosphere makes it ten times more intense.
16. Campfire Charades
Classic charades with a camping twist—all prompts must be nature or outdoor-related. Acting out “setting up a tent in the wind” or “being stalked by a raccoon” by firelight is comedy gold. The shadows and limited visibility actually make the acting harder and funnier.
17. Ghost Stories Round Robin
Each person gets two minutes to tell the scariest story they can. Vote on the best one. For families with younger kids, make it “spooky but not scary”—silly ghost stories work just as well. The key is committing to the performance: use the flashlight under your chin, lower your voice, and pause for dramatic effect.
18. Telephone
One person whispers a phrase to the next, who whispers what they heard to the next, all the way around the circle. The last person says the phrase out loud. It’s never even close to the original, and the reveal is always hilarious. Use camping-themed phrases for extra fun: “The bear ate grandma’s s’mores while she was fishing for trout.”
19. Wink Murder
Everyone sits in a circle. One person is secretly chosen as the “murderer” (by drawing cards or having a narrator tap them). The murderer “kills” by winking at people, who then dramatically “die.” The remaining players try to catch the murderer before everyone’s been winked at. Works beautifully by firelight where winks are subtle and hard to spot.
20. Fortunately/Unfortunately
Someone starts with a fortunate statement: “Fortunately, we found the perfect campsite.” The next person follows with an unfortunate one: “Unfortunately, it was already occupied by a family of skunks.” Continue alternating. This game produces some of the funniest improvised stories you’ll ever hear.
Games That Use Basic Camping Gear
You don’t need dedicated game equipment—just repurpose what you already packed.
21. Flashlight Tag
Tag, but in the dark, and instead of touching someone, you “tag” them by shining your flashlight on them. Set boundaries so no one wanders too far. This is hands-down the most exciting game on this list for kids aged 6 to 14. The darkness adds a thrill that regular tag can’t match.
22. Glow Stick Ring Toss
Activate a few glow sticks and bend them into rings. Set up targets—a water bottle, a stick driven into the ground, a camp chair leg—and toss glow rings onto them. Easy to set up, visually cool in the dark, and surprisingly addictive for all ages. A pack of glow sticks costs a couple of dollars and weighs almost nothing.
23. Rock Bocce
Find a small target rock and toss it a few meters away. Each player picks a distinct rock and tries to land theirs closest to the target. Same concept as bocce ball but with zero equipment cost. Play on dirt or a beach for best results. For the official version with proper gear, our lawn games guide covers bocce rules and setup in detail.
24. Stick Limbo
Two people hold a stick (or trekking pole) horizontally while players limbo underneath. Lower it after each round. Simple, silly, and guaranteed to produce laughable photos. Works especially well after dinner when everyone’s in a goofy mood.
25. Water Relay Races
If you’re near a water source, fill cups with water and race to transfer water from one bucket to another using only a cup balanced on your head, or by passing cups down a line. Messy, competitive, and perfect for hot days. Use camping mugs and collapsible buckets you already have.
Practical Tips for Running Camping Games
- Match the game to the energy level. Don’t try to start Capture the Flag after a 10-mile hike. Read the room—tired families want sitting games; restless kids need active ones.
- Keep the rules simple. If it takes more than two minutes to explain, most people lose interest before you start. You can always add complexity after the first round.
- Include all ages. The best camping games work for both the six-year-old and the sixty-year-old. Games like scavenger hunts and story chains naturally scale to any ability level.
- Rotate games frequently. One game for 20 minutes beats one game for an hour. Keep things fresh by switching before anyone gets bored.
- Prep one or two games before the trip. Print a scavenger hunt list. Bring a few glow sticks. Having even minimal preparation means you’re never stuck saying “so… what do we do now?”
- Let kids lead. Give older kids the chance to organize and explain games. They’ll take ownership and younger kids often respond better to instructions from a cool older kid than from Mom or Dad.
Common Mistakes When Planning Camping Entertainment
- Bringing too many structured games. Don’t pack a bag full of board games and equipment. The whole point of camping games is spontaneity and using your surroundings. A frisbee and some glow sticks are all you need.
- Forgetting about downtime games. Everyone plans for active games but forgets the quiet moments—waiting for food, resting after a hike, sitting around at dusk. Have a few low-energy options ready.
- Not checking the campsite first. Some games need open space, others need hiding spots. Walk the campsite before committing to a game plan so you know what will actually work in your specific location.
- Forcing participation. Not everyone wants to play every game. Let people sit out without guilt. They’ll often jump back in when something catches their interest.
- Ignoring safety in the dark. Night games are amazing but establish clear boundaries first. Mark the play area with glow sticks, identify any hazards (fire pits, roots, steep drops), and make sure everyone has a flashlight accessible.
Wrapping Up
The best camping trips aren’t defined by the gear you bring—they’re defined by the moments you share. And some of the best moments happen during a ridiculous round of campfire charades, a nail-biting game of flashlight tag, or a scavenger hunt that turns into a genuine nature lesson.
None of these 25 games need batteries, Wi-Fi, or even a trip to the store. They just need people willing to play. So next time you’re packing for a camping trip, spend less time worrying about equipment and more time thinking about which games you’ll try first.
For more ideas on outdoor fun beyond the campsite, check out our list of backyard games adults actually want to play—many of them travel well to campgrounds too. And if you’re looking for general tips to make your next outdoor trip smoother, our camping tips guide has you covered.
