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Planning a camping trip can be overwhelming. You need to decide on the destination, what gear to bring, how to get there, and what activities to do. Traditional camping fun like fishing, hiking, and kayaking are excellent ways to be out in nature. However, playing games is another way to kill time, bond with friends and family, and have a good laugh.
Use this guide to plan the perfect games for your next camping trip. The games range from physically active to mentally stimulating to multiplayer-friendly.
Mario Party
While not a traditional camping game, Mario Party is perfect for friends and family. Mario Party recreates a board game intertwined with challenging mini-games. While glamping in your backyard, bring along the Nintendo Switch. With one Nintendo Switch, four players can compete against each other to collect the most stars.
Hook it up to the TV inside your recreational vehicle, or bring along a projector and hang up a white sheet. You can hook the console to the projector and watch the game under the stars. Any EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series portable power station is perfect for powering the console, projector, and TV on this fun game night. It’s the most compact, lightweight option for outdoor camping.
Geocaching
Geocaching is an app-based hide-and-seek treasure hunt game. Download the geocaching app, make an account, and begin the scavenger hunt on a device enabled with GPS. Geocachers hide caches in locations worldwide and upload the coordinates to the app for other geocachers to find, along with clues and some instructions.
Many campgrounds and national parks have geocaches hidden in them, often leading to cool spots to explore. Caches are typically waterproof containers of varying sizes and contain a log book to record your name. Keep your phone charged while out treasure hunting with the EcoFlow RIVER 2, weighing only 7.7 lbs; it fits perfectly in your backpack.
Beirut
More commonly known as beer pong, this game is for adults only but could be modified with non-alcoholic beverages for younger or sober players. Keep beverages ice cold before the game in the EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator. It’s a sustainable option, providing ice-cold drinks for up to 40 hours.
If you’re unfamiliar with this game, it’s often played in teams of two. Each team takes turns throwing a table tennis ball into the other team’s cup. Two sets of ten cups are arranged in a triangle at both ends of the table. If the ball goes in, the team must drink the cup’s contents, and the cup is removed. The first team to remove all ten of the opponent’s cups wins.
UNO
A classic card game is always a great camping option and is easy to pack if you go backpacking. UNO is a color-based strategy game that everyone loves to play. It doesn’t require reading or complex rules, so younger children can be in on the fun. Play this game for as long as you want.
The instructions suggest playing until someone scores 500 points, but it can be stopped whenever.
There are also many versions of UNO, so if you’re bored with the original version, spice it up with the Flip, Attack, or Party versions.
Whip out this card game any time of the day, by the campfire, in the tent, or even on a boat for hours of entertainment.
Badminton
This is a face-paced, active game in which two or four players hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a net. Badminton sets are inexpensive and lightweight, making them easy to bring to a campsite. The kits have a net, shuttlecocks, stakes, and four badminton rockets. Play during the day with natural sunlight, or set up fairy lights to play after a day of exploring.
EcoFlow Portable Power Stations can power any lighting setup needed to keep your game going after the sun sets. They are quieter than a gas generator, easy to pack, and provide high comfort and convenience while camping.
Chess
Chess is a great game to bring along on your next camping trip if you’re craving intellectual stimulation. With chess, no two matches are precisely the same; there are endless combinations of moves. While chess is traditionally played with wooden pieces over a wooden board, many versions of this board game are more outdoor-friendly.
Plastic set versions can be folded for easy packing or go all out with a life-sized, giant chess board. A black and white checkered blanket acts as the board. Chess sets are also aesthetically pleasing and can serve as campsite decor. Sit back and relax after a long hike while checkmating your camping partner.
Monopoly
Monopoly is another board game requiring strategy and a little luck. While chess is a great two-person game, Monopoly allows up to eight players, accommodating larger campaign parties. The game’s overall objective is to own as many properties as possible and become the wealthiest player, which can take a few hours to accomplish.
Monopoly sets come in many themes, from popular movies to famous destinations. If you get bored of traditional Monopoly, add your version of house rules. Birthday money, snake eyes, twelve-cash, and headstart are some great beginner house rules to invoke.
Cricket
While it’s unlikely that you’ll have 22 people along on your camping trip to play a traditional game of cricket, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with a bat and ball.
You can play Bowl, Bat, and Catch with as few as three people, though whoever’s catching should be able to run!
Four to six players are ideal, as this makes the game less of a workout and more like the real thing.
Simply bring along a cricket bat and a few balls. Find a wide open space and designate a bowler, batsman, and fielders.
After that, it’s game on!
Switch positions once a fielder makes a certain number of catches, or the batsman hits 15 balls.
Depending on how busy the campsite is, you may find other campers who want to join the game!
HeadsUp!
HeadsUp! is a modern take on charades. It’s another app-based smartphone game that can be played anywhere and anytime. The app comes with 100 themed card decks, or you can make your own. After picking out a category, hold the phone up to the player’s forehead. Other players will give hints and clues to the word without saying the word.
If the player gets it right, they get a point. After playing this exhilarating game, recharge your smartphone with EcoFlow Solar Generators. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max + 160W Solar Panel combines a portable power station with solar panels for a sustainable, reliable power supply, even if you’re miles away from the traditional electrical grid.
52-card Deck
If you still don’t know what to bring on your next camping trip, a classic 52-card deck will never fail. This single deck can be used for hundreds of games, including poker, crazy eights, rummy, go fish, slapjack, war, speed, and hearts. This deck is small and lightweight, so you won’t have to compromise on entertainment if you’re trying to pack light.
Like Monopoly, there are many themed decks to choose from. Or, kill two birds with one stone. Grab a deck with camping facts, stories, or foraging tips on the side to double the fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best game to bring depends on how many people will play, how active players want to be, and how much room there is to pack it. Card games accommodate many players for large camping parties. Geocaching is perfect for staying active and exploring new areas, while chess is less physically demanding.
Final Thoughts
Picking out the ideal games for your next adventure combines the entire camping experience. Traditional games like cricket and card games can be nostalgic and suitable for players of any age. More modern games like Mario Party and HeadsUp! add a fun twist to an outdoor excursion. Or stay active with badminton and geocaching.
Keep your campsite well-lit and devices charged for fun well into the night with reliable off-grid electricity from EcoFlow Portable Power Stations.
