On most camping trips, I am perfectly content to sit around camp taking in the view. When camping with a group, though, it helps to have some activities. Otherwise, everyone just ends up sitting around drinking beer.
Yes, I enjoy having a good beer as much as the next person, but I don’t consider it an “activity.” 🙂
Don’t Organize a Scavenger Hunt!
A lot of websites recommend group activities like scavenger hunts for adults. Sorry, but I find that insanely cheesy. It’s something employees are forced to do on team building trips, not something they want to do on vacation.
Other group games like “two truths and a lie,” “egg drop” and capture the flag are also bad choices.
Why?
Because they require the entire group to participate.
In groups of 4 or more people, it’s surprisingly difficult to rally the troops to do a group activity. One person may be lounging in the hammock, two others engaged in conversation, and another doing yoga stretches. It’s unrealistic to expect them to stop what they are doing to participate in a (cheesy) group activity.
Instead, the best camping activities for adults are ones that:
- Make use of the outdoors. The activity is more special if you can’t do at home or indoors.
- Require no planning. Just leave the supplies sitting around and people will start playing spontaneously.
- Can be enjoyed by one person or the entire group. Often, one person will start doing an activity, which causes other members of the group to join in.
Also read: Camping Activities for Kids that Require Zero Planning
Best Camping Activities for Adults
1. Slack Line
This one is absolutely fun and something people don’t get to do often in everyday life. Just set it up when you arrive at camp and people will gravitate to it when they get bored. There is always one person in the group determined to master it by the end of the trip.
2. Climbing Rope Fun
Hang a climbing rope off of a tree branch. Watch how people attempt to use it to scale the tree trunk, or do acrobatics while hanging off of it. Just make sure it is climbing rope that is actually made to support weight, and that you tie knots which won’t harm the tree.
3. Frisbee
If you want to level up your Frisbee game, set up a “basket” for informal Frisbee golf. Or get a glow-in-the-dark Frisbee so you can play in the dark. This one is rechargeable.
4. Archery or Toy Guns
No planning needed. One person inevitably picks up the bow or gun and starts shooting at a target. Then other group members join in, seeing how is the better shot.
5. Throwing Games
Throwing games are always fun activities when camping. The most popular is “cornhole,” where you throw bean bags into a hole in a board. Horseshoes is another good one.
You can easily improvise DIY throwing games when camping. For example:
- Bean bag toss tic-tac-toe: Draw a tic-tac-toe board in the dirt or mark it with sticks. Toss bean bags into the spaces.
- Caveman bowling: Poke sticks vertically into the ground. Throw a rock at them, seeing who can knock over more sticks.
6. Bocce
Bocce is more fun when camping because the uneven terrain creates obstacles. Alternatively, play “ladder ball.” It is easier to set up and take down than Bocce, and doesn’t require as much space.
7. Campfire Cooking
Turn this into a proper activity by giving everyone a job to do. Just remember that campfire cooking can take a LONG time and the meal might not be done when you anticipated. Have snacks to eat while waiting for the meal to be finished.
8. Hacky Sack
Have several of them so you can also use them for juggling practice or for cornhole.
9. Outdoor Guides
Leave random outdoor guides sitting around (birding, plant ID, knot books, wilderness first aid…).
When people get bored, they will pick up a guide and start flipping through it. Bonus points if you also leave some supplies sitting around. Suddenly, you’ve got people practicing knots or pretend splinting someone’s “broken” arm.
Shameless self promotion….
My printable Camping Cheat Sheets have tons of fun skills to try out (knots, first aid, shelters…). And they teach you skills to become a pro camper. 😀
10. Drawing
Leave some notebooks and drawing supplies sitting out. There will always be one artist in the group who feels inclined to draw. This leads to others joining in, often producing funny results.
I’m also a big fan of the “exquisite corpse” game when camping, where each person draws one part of the body.
11. Old School Board and Card Games
These are great because everyone already knows how to play them. My favorites for camping are:
- Chess
- Checkers
- Mancala
- Uno
- Gin rummy
- Poker (with candy)
If you are going to bring newer games, make sure they are ones that are easy to learn (such as Dixie).
Remember that you might not have internet service when camping, so you won’t be able to look up the rules!
Image credits:
“Frisbee game” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by schramroyal,
“Hacky Sack” (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) by Daveography.ca,
“Slack Line-24” (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) by larryadventure,
“Glowing frisbee of awe” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Bill Selak
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