
Games To Play While Camping
Playing card games is a great way to enjoy down time around a campsite.
There is nothing quite like sitting around the campsite playing a few rounds of a favorite board game or a card game or two. Games at the campground are the perfect thing for unwinding and for enjoying some family time around the picnic table. These seven games are perfect for just enjoying the fresh air, killing time in a tent or RV if it is raining or even spending the night in a yurt or teepee.

CAMP Board Game
The name of this game says it all on why it is perfect to bring to play on a camping trip. The object of this game is to get to camp first by answering questions correctly. For two to eight players ages 4 years and up, four sets of questions mean that everyone can be challenged, from the know-it-all uncle to the littlest campers. Topics range from state birds to general outdoor knowledge, from identifying animals from photos for younger players to facts about the national parks. Look for additional sets of question cards and a smaller travel version, too. You can also find a similar version called FISHING CAMP that is all fishing related.

Jr. Ranger Poop Tracks Card Game
Jr. Ranger Poop Tracks Card Game
Be able to identify the scat and tracks you see while exploring around the campground with this two- to four-player game. The game covers common animals found while camping and hiking in the mountains, including beavers, moose, foxes and even snowy owls. You will be a poop and footprint expert by the time you finish a few rounds of this game. Best for kids ages 6-plus and for two to four players, this game is sure to be a campsite hit.

Card Games
Just with a regular deck of cards, you can play a large selection of games around the campfire. All games can be played with two or more players, and you have hours of entertainment with a 52-card deck. Card games can be simple for little kids, like Go Fish, Slapjack or my family favorite, Crazy Eights. Adults (and older kids) can enjoy games like Hearts, Cribbage or Kings in the Corner. War is one of the best two-player games with a deck of cards, and Spoons can bring out some outrageous competitiveness.

Farkle
A break from card games, Farkle is a dice-rolling game where risk-taking can be rewarding or it can set you back while trying to get to 10,000 points. It’s a perfect game for when you are camping with a small or large group, as you can have anywhere from two to six players, but factor in the time a group of six may need to get a player to 10,000. Younger kids can play this game with some help scoring.

Spot it!
This simple-to-play game is easy to pack and quick to learn. Best for players age 6 and up, and up to eight players at a time, this game tests visual skills and reflexes as players try to find a matching object on their card to the card in play. Spot it! comes in all kinds of versions, from Jurassic World to holiday versions. Each version comes with a classic way to play and four different ways to play. Our personal recommendation is to play two players at a time for the easiest and quickest rounds of fun.

Yahtzee
Another game played with dice, players roll the dice one to three times to try to make 13 different rolls, from three or four of a kind to a full house and more. Make sure you have 30 minutes or so to play this game, or that have a place where you can leave it set up to continue if you need to leave the campground. This game is best for ages 8 and up and for two to 10 players. There are lots of fun versions of this game, from Classic to a National Parks version for even more fun. A junior edition is also available for younger players (ages 4 and up) in many fun versions, from Star Wars to Disney Princesses. So, go ahead and yell Yahtzee as loud as you want, as long as it’s not quiet hours at the campground!
Basecamp Card Game
Basecamp Card Game
This is a favorite “get to know more about each other” type of game that is perfect for around the campfire. Even if the person is in your immediate family, you would be amazed how much more you can learn about someone playing this question-and-answer game. This particular game comes with 52-plus questions. There are several similar versions of a “tell about yourself” type of game, including Fire-Side Chats, Camp Talk and Would You Rather? Campfire Edition.
Additional Recommendations
From the creators of CAMP, Toasted or Roasted is a great game if you’re looking for a strategy game where the object is to roast three marshmallows over the fire before everyone else.
A spooky game in itself, solve who committed murder with what object and in what room with Clue. Use strategy to uncover clues first to solve the mystery. There is also a Clue Jr. version for younger players.
Sorry! is a classic game that can be played just about anywhere, including camping. Gather two to four players and try to get your pawns safely around the gameboard. Other classics for camping are Trouble, Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders for younger campers.
Charades and other acting games are always sure to bring out some laughs and entertainment. Focus on camping-themed categories (running from a wild animal, perhaps) for even more delight around the campfire.
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