Camping is a fantastic way to escape the daily grind, connect with nature, and bond with friends or family. However, once the sun sets and the stars begin to twinkle, the fun doesn’t have to stop! Whether you’re with a group of adults, a family with kids, or even camping solo, camping games and activities are essential for creating an unforgettable nighttime experience. From thrilling games that get your heart racing to more relaxed activities that allow you to unwind, there’s something for everyone.
In this article, we’ll take you through a variety of camping games and activities you can enjoy once night falls, making your camping trip even more magical and memorable.
1. Campfire Storytelling
Best for: Family, friends
Number of players: 2 or more
What you need: Imagination, flashlight (optional)
Storytelling is a traditional and simple activity that suits any camping group. Sitting around a campfire, under the stars, is the perfect setting for sharing stories. You can take turns narrating anything from ghost tales to funny camping experiences or even improvised adventures. This activity is especially great for bonding and letting everyone’s imagination shine.
How to play:
- Start by having one person share a story.
- If you want to add a spooky atmosphere, pass a flashlight around and dim the lights.
- You can make it a game by creating a story where each person adds a sentence or two, letting the plot twist in fun, unpredictable ways.
This game requires little preparation and creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere perfect for campers of all ages.
2. Glow Stick Hide and Seek
Best for: Family, kids
Number of players: 4 or more
What you need: Glow sticks
Hide and seek is always a hit, but adding glow sticks makes it even more exciting, especially when playing at night! This version of hide and seek uses glow sticks, making it safer and more thrilling. The glow sticks act as both hiding tools and spotters in the dark.
How to play:
- Hand out glow sticks to all players.
- One person counts while the others hide with their glow sticks.
- The seeker tries to find the players, but instead of regular tagging, they must spot the glow of a hidden player’s glow stick.
- The last person to be found is the next seeker.
This version of hide and seek adds a fun twist and keeps everyone visible, making it a safer option for nighttime play.
3. Flashlight Tag
Best for: Family, friends, kids
Number of players: 4 or more
What you need: Flashlights
Flashlight Tag is a classic camping game that’s easy to set up and perfect for playing at night. Similar to tag but with an added challenge, players must dodge the light beam from the seeker’s flashlight. It’s a fast-paced game that works well in large campsites or wooded areas.
How to play:
- Choose one person to be “It” (the tagger).
- The other players hide while “It” counts to 30.
- The tagger must find and shine the flashlight on players to tag them.
- Once caught in the light, a player is out or becomes the next tagger.
- The last player caught wins!
This game keeps the energy up and adds an element of , excitement especially when playing in unfamiliar territory at night.
4. Campfire Charades
Best for: Family, friends
Number of players: 4 or more
What you need: A list of things to act out
Charades is an all-time favorite game that can easily be adapted to a camping environment. Gather around the campfire and act out different prompts while the others guess what you’re portraying. You can make it even more camping-themed by using prompts related to nature, animals, or camping activities.
How to play:
- Write down words or phrases on pieces of paper (nature themes work well!).
- Divide into teams or play individually.
- One person picks a word and acts it out without speaking, while the others try to guess what it is.
- The person or team that guesses the most correctly wins.
Charades is fun and brings plenty of laughter, perfect for ending a day of outdoor adventures.
5. Capture the Flag
Best for: Large groups
Number of players: 8 or more
What you need: Two flags (bandanas, glow sticks), flashlights
Capture the Flag is one of the best camping games and activities for larger groups, especially when played at night. This game divides players into two teams, each with a base and a flag to protect while trying to capture the other team’s flag.
How to play:
- Split into two teams and designate boundaries and bases for each.
- Place a flag (use glow sticks for visibility) in each base.
- The goal is to capture the opposing team’s flag and bring it back to your base without being caught.
- If a player is tagged in the opposing team’s territory, they’re “out” or placed in jail.
- The game ends when one team successfully captures the flag.
Playing this game in the dark adds a layer of stealth and excitement, making it ideal for adventurous campers.
6. Nighttime Scavenger Hunt
Best for: Family, kids
Number of players: 4 or more
What you need: A list of items, flashlights
A scavenger hunt is a perfect way to explore the campsite after dark. This game encourages everyone to search for hidden items while honing their night vision and teamwork skills. You can create a list of nature-related items or objects you’ve placed around the site beforehand.
How to play:
- Make a list of items to find (such as pinecones, leaves, rocks, etc.).
- Split into teams or play individually.
- Set a time limit for finding as many items as possible using flashlights.
- The player or team that finds the most items wins.
Nighttime scavenger hunts make use of the natural surroundings while keeping everyone active and engaged.
7. Stargazing and Constellation Hunt
Best for: Family, friends
Number of players: 2 or more
What you need: Stargazing apps or constellation maps
Sometimes, the best camping activities are the ones that allow you to relax and connect with nature. Stargazing is a peaceful and awe-inspiring way to spend time at night. To add an educational element, you can turn it into a constellation hunt by identifying various star formations.
How to play:
- Lay back on a blanket and gaze at the stars.
- Use a stargazing app or a printed constellation map to find well-known formations like the Big Dipper, Orion’s Belt, and Cassiopeia.
- Make it a challenge by seeing who can spot the most constellations.
This is a great way to unwind while teaching kids (and adults) about astronomy.
8. S’mores Relay Race
Best for: Family, friends, kids
Number of players: 4 or more
What you need: Ingredients for s’mores (graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows), fire pit
A camping trip isn’t complete without s’mores, but why not turn it into a fun competition? The S’mores Relay Race is a fast-paced, delicious game where teams compete to make and eat their s’mores as quickly as possible.
How to play:
- Set up a s’mores-making station by the campfire.
- Divide into teams and have the first player in each team start by roasting their marshmallow.
- Once the marshmallow is roasted, they must assemble the s’more, eat it, and then tag the next player in line.
- The first team to finish making and eating their s’mores wins.
This game combines teamwork, speed, and everyone’s favorite camping treat!
9. Glow-in-the-Dark Ring Toss
Best for: Family, kids
Number of players: 2 or more
What you need: Glow sticks, stakes or bottles
This simple and fun game is a nighttime twist on the classic ring toss. All you need are some glow sticks and something to serve as the target, like tent stakes or bottles.
How to play:
- Set up the stakes or bottles as your targets.
- Bend the glow sticks into rings.
- Take turns tossing the rings onto the targets.
- Keep score, and the player with the most successful tosses wins.
Glow-in-the-dark ring toss is an easy way to keep everyone entertained as the night progresses.
10. Shadow Puppet Show
Best for: Family, kids
Number of players: 2 or more
What you need: A flashlight or campfire light
For a low-energy, creative game, try putting on a shadow puppet show. Using the light from your campfire or a flashlight, you can create animals, objects, or even entire stories with hand shadows.
How to play:
- Hold your hands up to the light source to create shadows on the tent wall or ground.
- Take turns creating animals, shapes, or characters with your hands.
- You can tell a story or make it competitive by seeing who can create the best shadow puppets.
Shadow puppets are a quiet and relaxing activity, perfect for winding down before bed.