The Best Guide to Rainy Day Camping Activities for Kids in 2025

Last Updated on 11 June 2025

Picture this: you’ve planned the perfect family camping trip, but Mother Nature has other ideas! Rain’s drumming on your tent roof, and the kids are asking, “What can we do now?” Don’t panic – wet weather doesn’t have to wash out your camping adventure.

The most memorable camping experiences often happen when we’re forced to get creative indoors! I’ve spent years collecting the best rainy day activities that’ll have your children begging for more time in the tent, regardless of the weather outside.

Whether you’re dealing with a brief shower or a full day of downpours, these rainy day camping activities for kids will transform your soggy situation into the highlight of your camping trip. Let’s dive into adventures that require nothing more than everyday items and a splash of imagination!

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Essential Rainy Day Camping Preparations

The key to successful wet weather camping starts before you leave home. I pack what I call my “rainy day survival kit” – waterproof storage containers with colouring books, card games, travel board games, and craft supplies.

Your tent setup is important for indoor camping games. Designate specific areas for your camping activities. I use a large groundsheet as our activity zone and mesh organisers to keep supplies tidy. Always establish clear boundaries for family camping entertainment.

When you’re camping with kids in the rain, research nearby indoor facilities before leaving. Libraries, visitor centres, or community halls provide backup options when tent life becomes challenging. Not only does it get you out of your tent, but a change of scenery will help shift the boredom kids might be experiencing.

Creative Indoor Tent Games for Kids

When you’re stuck inside, it’s time to switch on your creativity. My kids love doing shadow puppets on the tent walls using our torches. We always try and see how many animals or shapes we can make and try to guess what others are doing. They’re also great for creating elaborate stories with hand shadows.

Camping bingo works brilliantly for rainy day camping activities for kids. Instead of numbers, we have cards featuring things like “campfire,” “hiking boots,” or “tent.” Kids use their ears as much as their eyes, making this perfect for confined spaces.

We also enjoy storytelling circles, transforming tent time into magical experiences. Round-robin tales, where each person contributes for one minute, create wonderfully outlandish stories, but, at the same time, they develop imagination and provide hours of entertainment.

Indoor scavenger hunts using camping equipment keep kids moving in a limited space. Hide items and create clues like “something that helps you see in the dark” (torch) or “something you sleep in” (sleeping bag). If you’re kids don’t mind a bit of rain, you can always take them on an outdoor scavenger hunt for a bit of exploring. Whether we’re inside or out, my kids love scavenger hunts!

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Arts and Crafts Using Camping Supplies

Arts and crafts become lifelines during extended wet weather. Nature journals started accidentally when my daughter claimed my notebook for “discoveries.” Now she has several filled with all sorts inside, from pretty petals to fern leaves to drawings of what we do on our camping trips to little stories about our adventures. It’s lovely looking back at them and remembering all the things we’ve done.

Rock painting is another great option, but it requires planning – collect stones before the weather turns horrible. And don’t forget to bring some basic acrylic paints in small tubes. These rainy day camping activities for kids keep children busy for hours, creating treasures to take home or gifts for other campers.

Making friendship bracelets was a last minute idea a few years ago when we went camping, but has become a beloved camping activity for bad weather. I bought one of the bracelet kits and always add it to our camping gear when we’re going away. I must admit, I love making these as well, and have got more than a handful from making them on our camping trips.

Leaf pressing using heavy books brings the outdoors inside your tent, and is another firm favourite for us. This is one of those rainy day camping activities for kids that my children love. Try and collect leaves before the rain starts, press between paper towels and book pages. Once pressed and relatively dry, leaves become art supplies for pictures, scenes, or nature education projects.

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Educational Rainy Day Camping Activities

Weather science experiments work perfectly when you’re surrounded by actual weather. Sometimes, we’ll put a cup outside when it’s raining to see how much rainfall occurs over an hour. Granted, we have to find other ways to entertain them while we’re waiting, but then they’ll decide to run out quickly to see how far it’s filled before running back in again.

Map reading and compass navigation lessons are other rainy day camping activities for kids that will keep them busy. Start with campsite maps and progress to Ordnance Survey sheets with more detailed information.

Wildlife identification games prepare kids for when the weather clears. Create camping-specific bingo cards featuring local birds, mammals, and plants. Quiz games based on wildlife knowledge turn learning into friendly competition, perfect for educational camping games.

Technology-Free Entertainment Ideas

Some of the best indoor tent games don’t need batteries or screens. Playing cards are compact and work for any age group. Snap is a good camping activity for toddlers, whilst teenagers enjoy card games like cribbage or solitaire.

Travel board games designed for camping conditions are additional options for rainy day camping activities for kids. We never leave home without games like Snakes and Ladders, 4 in a Row, mini magnetic games, and even doodle writing tablets to keep our children entertained when the weather turns.

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Group Activities for Multiple Children

Group activities are a great way to build teamwork, and it’s lovely seeing children work together. Team-building games, such as human knots, work great in tent spaces, requiring effective communication and problem-solving skills. We’ve done this a fair few times, but we’ve never been able to untie the knot!

Charades is another fun choice to play among children. It’s a simple enough game, involving a person acting out a word, phrase, book, or film to those trying to guess what it is. This has to be one of my favourite camping games as it’s so easy to do, and is bound to get you laughing at the end.

Mini talent shows channel energy into creative expression. Set up a stage and audience areas within your tent space. These rainy camping activities give everyone a chance to shine whilst providing entertainment for the whole family.

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Making the Most of Rainy Days

The most important lesson about camping with kids in the rain is attitude. Children feed off your energy – treat rain as an adventure rather than a disaster, and they’ll follow your lead. Some of our best family memories come from soggy camping trips where creativity was essential.

Rainy day camping activities for kids don’t have to be consolation prizes – they often become trip highlights. Pack smart, plan, and remember that every experienced camper has disaster stories. The difference is learning from experiences and being better prepared next time.

These nature activities for kids prove that bad weather doesn’t mean wasted time. Rain creates opportunities for deeper family engagement and skill development that might not happen during busy outdoor activity days. With preparation and a positive mindset, wet weather camping becomes an adventure rather than an endurance test.

The key is having diverse options ready: active games for restless energy, quiet activities for calm moments, group projects for sibling cooperation, and quick solutions for transition times. These rainy day camping activities for kids transform potentially miserable weather into opportunities for creativity, learning, and genuine family bonding.

Final Thoughts on Rainy Day Camping Activities for Kids

Rainy days whilst camping don’t have to dampen your family’s spirits – they can become the most treasured memories of your trip! These activities prove that adventure doesn’t stop when the heavens open. From creative crafts to educational games, you now have a toolkit that’ll keep your children engaged, learning, and laughing regardless of the weather.

Remember, the key to successful rainy day camping lies in preparation and attitude. Pack your activity kit before you leave, embrace the cosy tent atmosphere, and watch as your kids discover that some of the best adventures happen when you’re forced to slow down and get creative together.

Ready to turn your next soggy camping day into an unforgettable adventure? Start gathering these supplies and watch the magic unfold – rain or shine!

For more camping inspiration, check out our related guides:

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Happy camping!

Have you found this guide on rainy day camping activities for kids helpful? What else do you think we should include? What’s your fondest memory of family camping? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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