When planning a camping trip, you’re likely to pack the essentials, but it’s a good idea to bring some games along too. You’ll be happy you did if bad weather hits and you need to spend a bit more time in your rig than originally planned. It’s also a great way to keep the kids entertained while you’re prepping dinner. Keep everyone a happy camper with these indoor and outdoor games for the campground.
Items to Consider When Choosing RV Games
- Length of your trip: Whether you’re camping for a few nights, a few months, or a few years, you’ll want to throw in some of your favorite games that are easy to pack. It’s better to be prepared than to not have anything to do when the time calls for a little extra entertainment. Once you go on a few camping trips you’ll get a sense of how much to bring for different periods of time.
- Expected weather conditions: Knowing the expected weather of where you’re headed will help you decide whether you should pack indoor, outdoor, or a mix of games to use while at the campground.
- Group size: The number of people in your party will help you determine which games fit the size of crowd you want to entertain.
- Available space on board: Know what you can easily fit and store during the length of your camping trip based on the size of your rig.
- Weight restrictions: You need to keep your total weight in mind when packing up your rig, so make sure to only pack what you will actually use to reduce any extra load.
Games to Pack When RV Camping
Indoor Games for RVers
When it comes to keeping everyone entertained when you can’t hit the trails or other points of interest, having a variety of games on board comes in handy.
There are plenty of options on the market for indoor games that can be played in your RV. It’s nice to have them on hand when the weather prevents you from doing outdoor activities. Indoor games are also useful for long road trips or on down days between the adventures.
Card Games
Card games are easy to pack and store, and they’re great for all ages. Here are some games to consider bringing in addition to a standard deck of playing cards.
- Phase 10
- UNO or UNO Flip
- Skip-Bo
- Spot-It
- Apples to Apples
- Sleeping Queens
- Cribbage
- Medium Mind-Reading
- Kings in the Corner
- Bears vs Babies
- Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition
- What Do You Meme? (for adults only)
Dice and Board Games
Consider re-packing board games in space-saving storage containers like zipper bags. Or, find travel-sized versions of your favorite dice and board games.
- Yahtzee
- LCR
- Trouble
- Sequence
- Rummikub
- Mancala
- Dominos
- Battleship
- Blokus
- Backgammon
- Scrabble (National Parks Special Edition)
- Bananagrams
Video Games
Video games are entertaining for the kids. Your type of system and strength of WiFi connection will determine whether or not these are a good option for your upcoming camping trip.
The Nintendo Switch is a convenient option for RVers because it’s so portable. There’s a single screen and controls that can be used independently or together with the screen attached, so it’s easy to pack.
- Mario Kart Tour
- Super Smash Bros.
- Pikmin 3 Deluxe
- LEGO games (try Harry Potter or Star Wars)
- Minecraft
Outdoor Games for RVers
When RV camping, there’ll be plenty of instances where outdoor games can keep everyone entertained. Since they can be bulky and heavy, pick one or two to travel with.
Yard Games
Other outdoor activities—including hiking, biking, playing frisbee or ball games, and scavenger hunts—can provide hours of entertainment as well.
Other Items to Pack for Outdoor Entertainment
- Frisbee
- Football, baseball and mitt, or basketball
- Bicycles, scooters, and skateboards
- Scavenger hunt kits
- Outdoor projector
Games and Activities Found at Campgrounds
Some campgrounds and RV resorts offer outdoor games as part of their amenities. Be sure to check with your campground or resort before heading out so you don’t bring something you’ll already have access to.
These outdoor games and activities are frequently offered at campgrounds and resorts:
- Frisbee golf
- Mini golf
- Cornhole
- Horseshoes
- Giant chess or checkers
- Courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball, etc.
Tips for Storing Games in an RV
Consider how to store your RV games before you purchase them. With minimal space for “extra” stuff, these space-saving tricks will help.
- Only bring what you can store and what you will actually use. Utilize exterior storage bays for bulkier items.
- Store similarly-sized items in reusable containers. For example, store decks of cards and card games in a zippered pouch for quick and easy access.
- Unbox board games and store in oversized zippered pouches. Use rubber bands and smaller baggies to contain the smaller pieces of the game, like dice, game pieces, cards, etc.
- Opt for travel-sized versions of your favorite games, which offer smaller footprints.
This article has links to products that were carefully selected by our editors. We may earn commission on your purchases from these links.
