Games are a pivotal part of staving off family boredom during camping trips so we’ve reminisced on the best outdoor games for camping so you can make the next generation of great memories in the wild.
Introduction
Best Outdoor Games for Camping
Growing up in the Midwest, there was nothing I enjoyed more than a Sunday afternoon filled with good friends, delicious food, and a rousing game of cornhole. Are you not from the Midwest and have no idea what I mean by a rousing game of cornhole? You’ve probably heard of it referred to as bags, sack toss, or bean bag toss. No matter what you call it, cornhole is guaranteed fun for everyone! It’s also a great game for camping, parties, and other outdoor activities! It is worth it to invest in a quality set, which typically includes 2 boards and 8 bean bags.
Cornhole isn’t the only outdoor game perfect for camping! Besides cornhole, I loved bocci ball, dominos, and of course card games! (What I didn’t love was losing every game of euchre to my dad!) These memories of playing games around the campfire with my family will last a lifetime, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Reminiscing on these good memories had me thinking about what the best outdoor games for camping are, and I decided to find out! I’m so excited to share all of the information I learned and some of my personal recommendations for different games. Through my research, I learned the best outdoor games for camping are cornhole, bocce ball, ladder toss, roundnet, horseshoes, and tabletop games such as dominos and cards. Below, I’ll explain a bit about the rules of each game, their pros and cons, and my recommendation for the best outdoor game for you and your family!
1. Cornhole / Bags
Cornhole (or bags, sack toss, or bean bag toss) is a four-person game where players take turns attempting to toss hand-sized bean bags into a hole in a board about 30 feet away. Getting the bean bag onto the board or in the hole earns points, first to 21 wins! See more detailed rules here.
Pros
- Simple rules and scoring
- Easy to pick up
- Can use tournaments to incorporate more players
- Best played outdoors!
Cons
- Wood Boards are large and heavy for anything more than car camping
- Requires 2 or 4 players
Himal Portable Cornhole Boards
These collapsible boards are lighter than the traditional bags board, making them perfect for camping!
GoSports Classic Cornhole Set
This set comes with a carrying case and is both UV and water-resistant to ensure it can hold up in the hot summer sun.
2. Bocci Ball
Bocci Ball is a simple game where players try to toss heavy balls as close as they can to a smaller target ball. The game is usually played with two teams of 1 to 4 players. While some areas have actual Bocci Ball courts, you can play pretty much anywhere you have a mostly flat surface, making it one of the best outdoor games for campers! See the complete rules here
Pros
- Compact in comparison to some other outdoor games
- Can be played with things like Pinecones or whiffle balls in a pinch
Cons
- Actual Bocci balls are kind of heavy
GoSports Backyard Bocce Set
This Bocce set comes with 8 balls and a light up version if you want to be able to play through the night (and be sure not to lose any of them!)
3. Ladder Toss
Ladder Toss is a lawn game where players earn points by throwing three bolas (sets of golf balls connected by rope) onto a PVC pipe (or wood) ‘ladder’. Each rung of the ladder is worth a different amount of points and players take turns tossing in teams until the score limit is reached. See the full rules here.
Pros
- Easy to take apart and carry
- Very light
- Easy and cheap to make out of PVC pipe
Cons
- Typically better for two players
Ladder Toss Set
This Ladder Toss comes with a carrying case and is easy to set up and take down at the campsite! There’s no real reason to spend a lot of money on a fancy ladder toss set, and be careful that you don’t get one with glue already in the seams since you won’t be able to take it apart later!
4. Washer Toss
Washer toss is another throwing game where players attempt to toss metal or plastic washers into a hole in the middle of a box. Players can work alone or in teams of two and earn more points for landing in the hole (similar to bags!). Find the complete ruleset here
Pros
- Lighter than beanbags
- Can be easily made yourself
Cons
- Bulky box design
Triumph Premium Washer Toss
This washer set will get you everything you need to get started on your next camping trip!
5. Dominoes
Best Tabletop Game for Camping
Dominoes are great tabletop games for camping because they can be used to play multiple different types of games (similar to playing cards) and are sturdy enough to withstand the beating of being outdoors all the time! For a few ways to play dominoes, check out this wikiHow.
Pros
- Sturdy design to hold up outdoors
- Versatile with multiple ways to have fun with the same materials
Cons
- Need a flat surface (like a picnic table) to play on
GoSports Backyard Bocce Set
This Bocce set comes with 8 balls and a light up version if you want to be able to play through the night (and be sure not to lose any of them!)
6. Spikeball / Roundnet
Best Active Campground Game
Spikeball involves 2 – 6 hitting a ball on a net between each other and attempting to cause an error by the other player (similar to volleyball and foursquare combined). Most commonly played with two teams of two people, players work together to earn points by making the other team fail to return the ball. Read more about Spikeball rules and strategies here
Pros
- Active sport in a small area
- Foldable design is portable
Cons
- Requires specialized equipment to play
Spikeball Standard Ball Kit
This Bocce set comes with 8 balls and a light up version if you want to be able to play through the night (and be sure not to lose any of them!)
7. Capture The Flag
Best Free Camping Game
Capture the flag and other childhood yard games are great for campgrounds! They can handle as many players as are willing to join and can be made even better at night by using flashlights as the flags themselves.
Pros
- Unlimited amount of players!
- Can be played pretty much anywhere
Cons
- Lots of running (could be a pro!)
- You might need a first aid kit too
Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve sparked some memories of your past camping trips but if we’ve missed any of your favorites in our list of best outdoor games for camping – let us know on Twitter!
These games can be played at campgrounds in Chicago to the Quad Cities as long as you have the best camping equipment to keep you warm and dry!
