You’ve packed your tent, gathered all of your supplies and you’re ready to hit the road for a spot of camping. But once you’re there, you’ve got to find ways to keep you and your campmates entertained. This isn’t I’m A Celebrity with two Geordie overseers giving you tasks and challenges to complete; you’re on your own. So, here come some fun activities to keep adults entertained while camping.
1 Campfire Cooking
It would be a crime not to include campfire cooking (we love the Cadac 2) on a list of ways to keep adults entertained while camping. If you’re out in the wilderness, there is nothing more comforting than some hearty food cooked over an open fire.
You don’t have to be Gordon Ramsay, even the most novice chefs can give it a go. What’s more, this is an activity that you can base your entire evening around. The whole group can join in with everyone having different chores and once you’re done, you’ve got a beautiful meal that you can all sit around and enjoy.
2 Hiking
Part of the idea of camping is getting back to nature but you can’t fully explore what nature has to offer if you stay in your camp the whole time. That’s why hiking is the perfect camping activity for adults; it’ll get you out exploring the world and discovering new places.
Without kids to hold you back, you can go deeper and further than ever before. Some people even plan a backpacking adventure and hike between camps for something really intense. But it’s also just as possible to set up camp and check out local hiking trails before returning in the evening. Just remember to pack a good pair of walking shoes.
3 Cycling
If you want to stay active but aren’t keen on hiking then taking your bicycle on a camping trip is another excellent way to explore the local area. Some people even use their bikes to move from one camp to the next and it’s a great way to stay in shape.
There are some wonderful cycle trails across the UK and these allow you to discover new and exciting areas. You can make a day of it and take a picnic where you might even engage in some of the other activities on this list. Who said you can’t mix it up?
4 Stargazing
At the end of a long day, there is nothing quite like kicking back and looking at the clear night sky. When you’re in a remote location, you get the most amazing view of the stars so why not take the opportunity to just engage with nature and the awesomeness that is the night sky?
What’s great is that you can get lots of stargazing apps that tell you exactly what is visible and where to look. Some of these apps also provide you with tons of information on the various stars and planets and you will be amazed at what you can spot. Until you’ve identified Jupiter shining like a glowing orb in the dark sky, you’ll never know a feeling quite like it.
5 Fishing
If you’re camping near a body of water then why not take your rods and nets and try your hand at a spot of fishing? Depending on where you are, you might even be able to take your catch and cook it over the campfire later that evening.
Of course, there are some regulations on where and what you can fish so be sure to check these out before you go.
6 Truth or Dare
Most people think of truth or dare as a game that teenagers play at parties in order to get a cheeky kiss out of their crush. That’s true but there’s no reason that adults can’t have fun with this game as well.
Take turns in asking truth questions or forfeit with a dare. It's a great way of getting to know your other campmates better and there’s no denying that it’ll bring on some laughs too. A great game to play when you’re having a drink around the campfire.
7 Campfire Songs
Could this be the most traditional camping activity ever? Possibly. But there’s a reason that it is so popular; it’s fun!
If you have a musically gifted person in your group, have them play a guitar and take it in turns singing your favourite tunes. But even without any musical instruments, you always have your voices and there’s something truly sociable about singing together.
8 Campfire Stories
If you don’t really have the voice for singing then you might try out campfire stories. This is another classic camping activity and is a great bonding activity, especially if the stories are personal experiences.
Most commonly, people go for spooky tales or ghost stories so light that campfire, toast some marshmallows and get ready for some scary fun in the dark! You’ll be surprised how creepy it can get.
9 Who Am I?
Who am I is a great game to pass the time on a rainy afternoon. If you’ve found yourself stuck in a tent and have two or more players, you’re good to go.
The game involves each player thinking of a person; fictional or real, and noting this on a sticky note. You then stick that to someone else's forehead and everyone asks yes/no questions to try and guess the name of the person stuck to their head.
It’s a simple game but one that can be played for hours and is always fun and gets your brain cogs working.
10 Canoeing
Another excellent choice of activity if you are camping near a river or lake is to have a go at canoeing. You don’t even have to have your own vessel as there are lots of places that will hire them out for the day.
Spending a day on the water is entertaining in itself and you never know, you might discover that you have some intriguing boat skills. But it’s also a wonderful way to see the local area from a different perspective and you might even stumble upon a quiet spot for some afternoon relaxation.
11 Survival
If you don’t just want to sit around the campfire singing songs and telling stories then you might be in the mood for something a little more extreme.
Sometimes camping isn’t merely a form of entertainment but a form of survival. This isn’t something for the faint of heart and certainly shouldn’t be attempted by those without a good knowledge of what they’re doing but survival camping can present a real challenge for those who need something more intense.
12 Outdoor Movies
It might not seem very plausible but if you’re camping on a site with an electric hook up there is no reason you can’t enjoy a good old fashioned movie night under the stars. You will need to make sure that you take all of the relevant equipment including a projector screen but then you can sit back with some beers and popcorn and enjoy.
Of course, if you are on an organised campsite you will also need to consider the other campers. The light and sound of the movie could be disruptive so be sure to be mindful of this.
13 Would You Rather
Would you rather is a great activity that you can do around the campfire if you want to get to know your fellow campmates a bit better. It can also be as serious or as silly as you’d like.
It’s a very simple concept in which players are asked a series of questions starting with ‘would you rather…?’ You could ask would you rather live underwater or in a tree or you could get a little more intense and ask questions with choices between potential partners or even gross out questions.
14 Geocaching
Geocaching is great if you want to try out hiking but feel as though your adventure has a sense of purpose. This activity involves moving around a specific location with the intent of finding a geocache. You use a GPS system and a mobile app to locate the geocache using coordinates.
It’s something of a challenge and there are geocaches all over the world. Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, you can add your name to the website and boast your findings. When doing this as adults, you could all start off in different locations and race to see who can find the geocache first. The loser then has to cook for the rest of camp!
15 Flashlight Tag
Flashlight tag is a great way to keep a group of adults entertained after dark. The person who is ‘it’ must locate the other players and tag them using their flashlight. While it is a lot like hide and seek, the key difference is that you are able to move from place to place if you are concerned you’re close to being found.
It’s possible to play as individuals or you might up the competition and split your group into teams.
16 Two Truths And A Lie
Two truths and a lie is a fantastic bonding activity that can be done on the journey to your campsite, around the campfire or in the tent when the weather isn’t great.
Each player must make three statements about themselves. Two must be true and one must be a lie. The other players then have to guess which statement is a lie. The more extreme and unbelievable you can make your statements, the more difficult it will be for other players to guess which is the lie.
17 Playing Cards
If all else fails, playing cards brings people together like nothing else. Plus there are so many different games you can play with a simple set of cards; poker, chase the ace, blackjack and many more.
But if you’re bored of regular card games, you can buy special packs that can really spice up an evening around the campfire or a rainy afternoon. Cards Against Humanity is certainly not for the prudish but if you’ve got a wicked sense of humour, it’ll definitely give you some laughs.
Each player is given a set of cards with possible endings to sentences. Then one card, with a sentence beginning is dealt and everyone has to choose the most hilarious and shocking response using the cards they have.
Conclusion
There’s nothing more invigorating than getting back to nature and indulging in a spot of camping. But if you don’t have a range of activities planned, it can be pretty boring staring at your tent for a few days.
Many people think of camping as a family activity and while that’s true, there are plenty of adults who head off on camping adventures without the kids. If you’re stuck for ideas on how to keep yourself entertained, you’re sure to find something on this list of fun camping activities for adults.
