10 of the best camping games for kids for 2023 UK

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But, if you’re off on an adventure soon, check out the list below. Plus, if you still need to get your hands on the best family tent, best raincoats and some more ideas on camping with children, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s our pick of the best camping games for kids…

1. Potato Sack Race Bags, £19.99

Invoke the spirit of sports day with a good old fashioned sack race. These brightly coloured sacks include handles to help keep a good grip. There are four included in this set along with medals to award the winners at the end.

Recommended by Amazon, this set scored an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 100 reviews. Some adults were even able to fit in the sacks to have a go, so these are probably best for slightly bigger kids or full-on family fun.

Previous buyers seem to have enjoyed the sacks, saying that they were durable and lasted well. “Much more robust than I expected; no damage despite very harsh use,” said one reviewer, while another added the sacks were, “excellent quality and were perfect for our family BBQ where all the adults had great fun too.”

Available from: Amazon

2. Nature Bingo

There are plenty of kids' camping activities which don’t involve buying any special equipment. All you need is some paper and pens or pencils.

If you want to get children out and about in nature, draw a chart of things you’re likely to find in the outdoors. Draw pictures of different types of leaves, squirrels and centipedes or let them test their artistry skills themselves.

Then just hand kids a crayon and get them to go exploring, crossing off as many things as they discover. First one to a full house shouts, “nature bingo!” and wins the game.

3. Tug of War Game, £25

Create your own village fete and challenge friends and family to a mighty tug of war. For kids aged 9 and over, you can tailor the game to different abilities by setting kids of similar sizes against each other. You could even challenge other families and hold a tournament as you battle together as a team.

This set comes with a one year manufacturer’s guarantee and packs neatly away into a handy storage bag, something which previous buyers found useful. One reviewer said, “It's well made and not to heavy to carry about and comes with a nice bag to store it in,” and added, “we took this on holiday with us and played it on the beach and had lots of others joining in.”

Available from: Argos

4. Water Gun Twin Pack, £10

While it’s hard to have a true British camping trip without being plagued by rain, it’s good to have something up your sleeve in case the sun decides to shine. Tents can quickly get stuffy in the heat, so let kids cool themselves off and have fun with their siblings or friends with these water soakers.

The pistols come in a pack of two and can shoot water up to 10 metres, holding up to 1000ml at a time. Reviewers were impressed with the power of the toys and how easy they were to use, with one parent saying they were, “easy to fill, even my 3-year-old can do it by himself.”

If you’re looking for other ways for kids to stay cool and have fun outdoors, we’ve found the best paddling pools and accessories for summer.

Available from: Smyths Toys

5. Chad Valley Inflatable Goal Set, £11

This clever football goal allows children to perfect their scores' accuracy as well as create a fun game, scoring points for each ring they get the ball through. There are five different hoops for different abilities so they can advance their skills as they improve.

Being inflatable, the goal is very lightweight and can be easily transported flat when not inflated. There’s also a blow-up ball included so you won’t need to bring a spare, plus there’s even a repair kit just in case there are any mishaps.

Available from: Argos, Amazon

6. Gunn & Moore Opener Junior Cricket Set, £12.99

This cricket set is designed and scaled to size for 4 to 8 year olds, so even littler ones can have a go at the sport. The set includes all the things you need to play and the bat, ball, base and stumps all pack away into a handy carry case to keep them altogether and ready to play.

The set is made from all-weather plastic so it should be able to stand up to the British elements and has a one year guarantee too.

Parents who bought this camping game for kids in the past were pleased with the quality of the set, particularly for the price. One parent of a 4 year old said it was “very solid and sturdy" and "doesn't feel plasticy at all.”

Available from: Argos

7. Classic car journey games

Sometimes, it’s the simple games which are the best. Get kids to join in with some classic car journey games like I Spy. Hopefully being in a new environment they’ll get the chance to notice lots more about the nature around them and pay attention to what they see. It’s also easy to make this game easier or harder depending on the age of little ones playing.

The shopping list memory game is also a handy one to keep up your sleeve. Instead of a shopping list, say, “I’m going camping and I’m taking…” with each person repeating what the person before them said and adding their own item on.

A third option is 20 questions, which could also be played in teams. Thinking of a word, the other players have up to 20 yes or no answer questions to guess what it is.

8. Snakes and Ladders Game, £49.99

You can’t beat a classic game of snakes and ladders and this version puts you right in the middle. Kids and families can move around the board as the pieces and toss the giant inflatable dice to roll their turn.

The simple mat folds down into a handy carrying case with the dice so it can be easily packed in the car for camping trips. There’s also some lawn pegs included, so you can pin the edges of the mat into the grass and keep it safely in place.

Available from: Wayfair

9. Uno Card Game, £6.99

Uno is a brilliant family card game which can be played with simple rules all the family should be able to follow. The brightly coloured cards have long been a staple with kids and adults so you should be able to easily pass a happy evening on the campsite with these.

Many reviewers agreed the game went down well across the board with one commenting that it was, “great fun for all ages, very mixed group all loved this,” and another went as far as to name it the, “best card game ever…my kids all love this game.”

Available from: Smyths Toys, Amazon, Argos

10. Gofindit nature treasure hunt card game, £8.50

Embark on a treasure hunt with this nature-based kids camping activity. The gofindit card pack includes lots of different things to look for, including types of texture, so it can be a great sensory experience for little ones from the age of 3.

The cards are packed into a handy pouch and should be a light and compact game to chuck into the camping kit bag. This set is recommended by Amazon and scored an impressive average of 4.6 out of 5 stars, with nearly 400 reviews from previous buyers.

Parents who had purchased these cards before praised the convenience of the game and commented on how much children of all different ages enjoyed playing it.

One parent who used the game for the first time with a group of 4 to 10 years olds said, "because of the great design even the smaller children who can’t read can see what needs finding. I can see so many possibilities of using this product with my small group of nature hunters, using a few cards at a time to make it a bit more complex for the older children."