The Ultimate List of Camping Activities for Kids
Keep kids entertained and happy on your next camping trip with fun, creative, and screen-free outdoor activities the whole family will enjoy.
Why plan camping activities?
Camping with kids is a chance to unplug from routines and reconnect as a family—but let’s be honest, it’s even better when you have a few fun activities planned. While nature itself offers plenty of wonder, kids thrive on a bit of structure and play. Having simple, engaging activities on hand keeps them entertained, encourages curiosity, and helps everyone enjoy the experience more. Whether it’s exploring with a scavenger hunt, getting creative with nature crafts, or laughing around the campfire, the right activities can turn a good camping trip into an unforgettable one.
Rock Painting
Rock painting is a perfect camping activity for kids—it’s creative, calming, and easy to set up with materials you probably already have. Instead of dealing with messy paint and brushes, bring along some acrylic paint markers. They’re way more convenient, super vibrant, and give kids better control for drawing fun designs or little creatures. Plus, no spills or water cups needed—just cap and go!
Bracelet Making
The rainbow loom bracelet making kit was the surprise hit of our camping trip and quickly became one of our favorite camping activities. The kids spent hours making colorful bracelets, necklaces, and even tiny animals and creatures with the rubber bands. It was the perfect quiet activity for the picnic table while we waited for dinner or took a break from hiking. Easy to pack and mess-free, the kit kept little hands busy and let their creativity shine—definitely a must-bring for future camping adventures!
Walkie Talkie’s
Walkie talkies are a perfect addition to your camping activities—they add a whole new level of fun and adventure! Kids love using them to stay in touch while exploring nearby trails, playing hide and seek, or even pretending to be on secret missions. They’re also a great way for parents to keep in contact with kids while giving them a little freedom to roam safely. Durable, easy to use, and full of imaginative possibilities, walkie talkies are a camping must-have!
Bug Catcher
We brought a bug catcher and net on our camping trip, and my kids absolutely loved it—it ended up being one of their favorite camping activities! They spent hours searching for bugs, gently catching them, and observing them up close before releasing them back into nature. I honestly didn’t expect it to be such a hit, but they used it way more than I thought they would. It was such a fun way for them to explore, learn, and feel like little adventurers.
Find and Seek
I brought along a card set called Find and Seek for our camping activities, and it was such a fun and easy way to keep the kids entertained. It’s designed for ages 3 and up, with 35 beautifully illustrated cards that work great for both indoor and outdoor play. Each card encourages kids to explore and learn by finding things in their environment, which kept them curious and engaged the whole trip. It was the perfect mix of fun and learning, and so simple to use—definitely a new camping favorite!
Glow Sticks
Glow sticks were such a fun and easy win for our camping activities! As soon as the sun went down, the kids were running around with glow bracelets, necklaces, and even using them for games like ring toss and nighttime tag. They added a little magic to the evening and helped us keep track of the kids in the dark too. Super affordable, mess-free, and always a hit—glow sticks are now a must-pack for every camping trip!
Campfire Treats
Trying unique campfire treats turned out to be one of the most memorable camping activities for our family! Of course, we made the classic s’mores, but we also had fun experimenting with new ideas like cone s’mores—waffle cones filled with marshmallows, chocolate, and fruit—and even cinnamon rolls cooked over the fire. The kids loved getting involved, choosing their ingredients, and watching their treats cook. It made the campfire even more exciting and added a sweet twist to our evenings together.
This post does contain affiliate links in which I will be compensated a small amount if you purchase through the link at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Coco’s Caravan
Shop More Camping Essentials
Summer Schedule
If you’re looking for even more ways to make summer feel fun and manageable, I’ve also created a printable summer schedule for kids that pairs perfectly with activities like these. Kids thrive with a bit of structure, even during the laid-back summer months. My free printable includes a weekly activity plan, a simple daily routine, and a fun summer bucket list—so you can feel organized, productive, and still enjoy all the memory-making moments, whether you’re at home or out camping!