I’ve curated my list of the best games to take. camping to help you make the most of your holidays and get some rest and enjoyment. Camping with young children can have its challenges, but it is also immensely rewarding.
I still remember my first camping trip as a parent—my son was just six months old.It was quite the experience of not having everything in your house at your fingertips. As a tired mum, I just hoped we had all the essentials – nappies, baby food—and hoped for some sleep. Like anything in life, you learn through experience, and we became savvy about what to take for next time. I highly recommend using a checklist, and I recently came across one from How We Play and Learn’s .
As our children grew older, our trips became more about family memories and spending time together, enjoying the outdoors. One of the best things we started packing was board games for camping with kids for some downtime and quieter moments. They fill the quiet moments with laughter, teamwork, and fun—whether it’s inside the tent on a rainy afternoon or around the picnic table before bed.
So I’ve put together a list of the best travel-friendly board games for children ages 3–9. Each is lightweight, easy to learn, and guaranteed to add joy to your camping adventures.
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- Age: 4+
- Players: 2–4
- Play Time: 15 minutes
This cooperative game encourages kids to work together to help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun rises. It’s one of our favorites because it teaches teamwork while being simple enough for younger players. A perfect first strategy board game for kids.
- Age: 4+
- Players: 2–4
- Play Time: 10–15 minutes
The suspense is what makes this one a hit. Players sneak treats from the bear’s basket, hoping not to wake him. When the bear pops up, the squeals are guaranteed. It’s a fun outdoor-themed camping board game that matches the wilderness vibe.
Tip: Play this on a mat and have a checklist inside the lid of the pieces this board game contains so you dont loose any when packing up.
- Age: 4+
- Players: 2–4
- Play Time: 15 minutes
A classic family favorite, super simple luck based game. Players take turns sliding swords into the pirate’s barrel until—POP!—he flies out.
It’s compact, quick, and never fails to surprise. Perfect for bursts of excitement between walks or campfire snacks.
This game can be enjoyed with younger children as long as an adult is supervising. It’s likely rated 4+ due to small parts that could pose a choking hazard, but the concept is so simple that even a 2-year-old could grasp it.
Other version – Pop Up Dinosaur , Minature Pop Up Frog and Pop Up Bluey
Sliding Bears
- Age: 5+
- Players: 1–4
- Play Time: 20 minutes
Help the Bears Cross the Ice
Bring your family together for an adventure as you guide the baby bears safely across melting ice floes before they disappear. This exciting puzzle game blends teamwork, strategy, and fun—making it a standout among camping board games.
Slide, Jump, and Strategize
First, slide the ice tiles tactically like in a sliding puzzle. Then, jump the bears between floes, use the wind to overcome obstacles, and work together to find the shortest path to safety.
Play Solo or as a Team
Whether you’re on a family camping trip or enjoying game night at home, you can play cooperatively or solo. It’s perfect for families and young players who are learning teamwork and strategy in a fun way.
Multiple Challenges for Endless Fun
With six different scenarios, each offering unique obstacles and levels of difficulty, your family can enjoy a new experience every time you play.
Perfect for Young Gamers
Designed for 1–4 players, ages 5 and up, and with a quick 20-minute playtime, this game is easy to pack, quick to set up, and a great addition to any camping board games collection.
- Age: 3+
- Players: 2–4
- Play Time: 20 minutes
- No Reading Required – Cooperative Game
Team up with Pete the Cat and his friends to recover the missing cupcakes from Grumpy Toad! In this colorful board game, players collect cupcakes while singing songs, acting out fun movements, and identifying favorite animals, foods, and words.
Blending luck, memory, and cooperation, every round offers a fresh experience—making it a fabulous cooperative game kids will want to play over and over again.
Video to watch – Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes
- Age: 4+
- Players: 2–8
- Play Time: 10 minutes
Spot It! Animals Jr. is the perfect travel game and a must-have for any camping board games collection.
Designed for ages 4 and up, it comes in a handy small tin—ideal for packing on trips. Inside you’ll find 30 cards featuring 31 adorable animal symbols, with six symbols per card to make matching easier for younger players.
Get ready to roar, chirp, and growl as kids match the cute animals across five fun mini-games that build focus, visual perception, fine motor skills, and animal recognition. With two formats available, this compact game delivers endless on-the-go fun for the whole family.
Spot It! is very popular family game with lots of versions. Here is the classic version, rated 6+. Other versions—Mandalorian Marvel Paw Patrol (4+), Educational Games for Preschools—include Spot It! 123 (3=).
- Age: 7+
- Players: 2–6
- Play Time: 15 mins
A fast, silly outdoors party game where you collect matching cards and, when special cards appear, you grab giant inflatable burritos and (gently—hopefully) toss them at each other. Find me a child who doesn’t enjoy being able to throw something at their parents in a consented way. I will admit this isn’t travel size, but it’s perfect for the outdoors and creates so much laughter. So if you have the space, it’s highly recommended. Plus, with these blow-up burritos, it’s definitely one of the best games to take camping instead of playing around the house.
How to play Throw Throw Burrito – Outdoors
- Set the two big burritos in the middle of a clear space (great for a campsite field or beach).
- Everyone draws and discards cards at the same time, racing to make sets of three for points.
- Reveal a special burrito set and a battle begins:
- Burrito Brawl: neighbors face off.
- Burrito War: everyone scrambles!
- Burrito Duel: two players back-to-back, step, turn, toss.
- Get hit? Take a penalty token. Finish the round; most points wins.
Camp-friendly tips: Mark a safe play area, remove trip hazards, aim below the shoulders, and keep throws gentle. Quick to learn, loads of laughs, and ideal for burning off energy before campfire time
- Age: 4+
- Players: 2–4
- Play Time: 10-20 mins
Slapburger is an exciting, fast paced card game that keeps everyone laughing and on their toes. Players race to “slap” the right combinations of cards to build delicious burgers and win the game. With colorful ingredient cards and surprising action cards, every round is full of energy, giggles, and surprises.
Those are some of our best games to take camping for 3-9 year olds. These camping board games are all about fun, super easy board games where everyone can get involved.
So when you’re setting off on a big outdoor adventure, camping board games for 3–9-year-olds are the perfect way to keep kids entertained, learning, and bonding as a family. These board games for young families spark imagination, develop important skills like memory and teamwork, and create lasting memories around the campsite. From quick-play classics to new and exciting titles, the best family camping games offer screen-free fun and help younger children unwind after a busy day outdoors.
With camping board games for kids, you’ll make your next camping trip smoother, calmer, and much more enjoyable. They provide entertainment on a rainy day inside the tent or a quiet evening under the stars; these camping board games will become your go-to solution for family fun on the road.
