11 Fun Summer Camping Activities for Families in 2026

Last Updated on 21 April 2026

I love summer camping with my kids. The weather is nice, the evenings are longer, and everyone enjoys being outside more.

Another thing I love about camping in summer are the summer camping activities for families you can do that are super simple and easy. Whether you’re camping with toddlers who are interested in everything or older kids who might need a bit more variety, these activities will keep you all busy, having fun.

Let’s read on to find out more!

Walking through the woods on a summer nature walk. Summer camping activities for families. Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash — Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Summer Camping Activities for Families to Try This Year

1. Go On a Summer Scavenger Hunt

We love a good scavenger hunt whatever the season, but when it comes to summer camping activities for kids, a scavenger hunt is always a hit. And when it comes to camping activities for families, a scavenger hunt is simple to do.

All you need to do is create a list and include items you’ll find outside: something yellow, a feather, baby animals, or specific flowers, and you’ve got a scavenger hunt list. You can also make it age-friendly: picture-based for toddlers or clue-based/time-based for older kids.

We really like this activity as it keeps our girls entertained for a few hours while keeping them outside, enjoying nature and learning new things.

2. Do Stargazing and Spot Satellites

Stargazing while camping with my kids is another firm favourite in our household. When it gets dark enough, and the girls are still up, we like to snuggle under some blankets, lie down on our picnic blanket, and look up at the night sky.

Being so far away from light pollution means we get to see an incredible amount of stars and planets, which we love pointing out and naming. And if we’re really lucky, we get to wish upon a shooting star.

3. Build a Den

Who doesn’t love building a den? This is a great summer camping activity for families as it brings you together and creates a lovely bonding experience as you all work toward the same goal. If you’re searching for easy camping activities for kids or outdoor games for camping, you can’t go wrong with den building.

When we’re done, we like to sit inside them with a little picnic to enjoy what we’ve made before continuing on our adventures. It’s also a good spot to get some shade if it’s a sunny day.

4. Go On a Nature Walk

A young child walking through flower bushes in the evening sun. Summer camping activities for kids. Photo by Yunus Emre Öztürk on Unsplash — Photo by Yunus Emre Öztürk on Unsplash

If you’re kids are anything like mine, they’ll love going on a nature walk to explore their surroundings. If it’s too hot, try going in the evening when the nights are cooler and less complaints are likely to occur.

To make it fun why not turn it into a nature craft hunt, finding certain things along the way? Whatever you find (leaves, pinecones), bring them back to camp and make some crafts to bring home.

Or you could do some bug hunting activities for kids, go birdwatching, go on a mini beast hunt, or do a photo challenge. Your options are limitless when it comes to summer camping activities for families.

5. Campsite Games

If you’re after some ideas for outdoor games for camping, these are a few that we bring with us. These camping games for families are perfect for when we just want to relax by our tent or when dinner’s being cooked and we need something to entertain our girls.

Classic I-Spy
Charades
20 Questions
Simon Says
Simple card games
Frisbee throwing (if they’re old enough to do it) (and watch out for any dogs that like to get involved, like ours does!)

6. Camping Photo Challenge

Even though this activity might suit older kids, there’s nothing stopping younger ones from trying their hand at summer photography. My girls have their own easy to use, inexpensive cameras they enjoy using and it’s lovely seeing them come back with some amazing photos.

We like to give them challenges when we’re out, such as try and capture the best sunset, a funny campsite moment, or the coolest insect. It keeps them entertained and gives us something to remember when the trip’s over.

7. Go On a Bug Hunt

My girls love going on bug hunts. Arm them each with a magnifying glass and they’re quite happy exploring for hours and seeing what insects they can find, under logs, in bushes, you name it. If you’re looking for summer camping activities for families, a bug hunting activity for kids is a great one to try.

All you need is a magnifying glass and maybe a book to log the insects you find, and that’s it. You don’t need much, but you get to spend quality time outside as a family. Last year, some of the insects my girls found included stag beetles, slow worms, Red Admiral butterflies, and woodlice.

8. Play Pooh Sticks

A single stick in water. Pooh sticks game. Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash — Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

Who doesn’t love playing the pooh sticks game? It’s another great outdoor camping activity that doesn’t require much, just a few sticks, a bridge, and a river.

The aim of the game is to throw the sticks into the water while standing on a bridge on one side and then move to the other side to see which stick passes under the bridge first. It doesn’t always go to plan for us; sometimes the sticks just disappear when they go under the bridge, so we have to start all over again.

We sometimes ask the girls questions, such as “why do some sticks move faster?” It gets them thinking about what stick they’ll use the next time.

9. Campfire Cooking

There’s nothing we love more than sitting down around a campfire or camping stove and cooking our dinner for the day. I mostly try to cook one-pot meals and do most of the meal prep at home before we leave. It makes it less stressful for everyone and means hungry tummies get filled quickly.

These autumn camping recipes are ones we love using when the weather turns cooler and have been used countless times during our autumn camping adventures. They’re ideal if you’re cooking for yourself or if you’re camping with kids.

And when you’re done, why not roast some marshmallows over your fire, if permitted, before turning in for the night.

Check out our best camping stoves on a budget to help make your delicious summer meals a reality!

10. Storytelling Night

After you’ve filled your bellies and are ready to settle down for the night, turn your evening into a storytelling one.

I love reading my girls a bedtime story when we’re at home, so I like to do the same when we’re camping. You can either bring a favourite story with you or make one up based on that day’s activities.

We find this a great way of recalling what we’ve done, helping them to add any funny moments from the day, like the time I fell into a stream after overestimating the solidness of where I placed my foot before falling in!

11. Make a Nature Bracelet or Crown

This time of the year is perfect for finding all those daisy’s to make a daisy chain. If you’ve got small children, you’ll want to help them connect the flowers into a pretty bracelet or crown for them to wear.

We love making our daisy chains and wearing them during the day. I find it a relaxing activity as well, as I’m so focused on what I’m doing, I don’t tend to worry so much about other things. The joy it brings the girls and the peace it gives me, makes it one of our favourite summer camping activities for families.

Final Thoughts on Summer Camping Activities for Families

Summer camping can often feel chaotic, what with the crowds and the temperature, but if done right and with a bit of planning, it can also be a fun and rewarding time together.

If you’re planning any summer camping this year, hopefully these summer camping activities for families will give you plenty to do while keeping the kids entertained. At the end of the day, everyone wants to have a good time that’s memorable and will make you want to do it again.

Which summer camping activity will your family try first on your next trip?

For more outdoor inspiration, check out our related guides:

Happy camping!

Have you found this summer camping activities for families guide useful? What other activities should we include on our list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!