When you’re RVing with kids, the world is your playground and the national parks are your backyard. RV camping with kids is the perfect way for your family to play in the great outdoors, and there are tons of camping activities that make RVing with the family a grand adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Here are a few of our favorite family camping activities to do with kids.
Geocaching
Geocaching is popular with adults, but it’s also ideal for kids. A scavenger hunt on a grander scale, geocaching involves using GPS coordinates and clues to find a small hidden cache—usually a small container with knickknacks and a logbook. When you discover a cache, sign the logbook, take a prize, and leave a trinket for the next person.
Many of the national parks have official geocaches, but you don’t need to go to a national park to enjoy geocaching—there are thousands of geocaches all over the United States that make terrific camping activities with kids.
Want to learn more? REI has a terrific introduction to geocaching with kids, and here’s a great intro for parents:
Junior Rangers
If you’re camping with kids at a national park, there is no better way to experience your surroundings than through the NPS Junior Ranger program. The Junior Rangers program is an activity-based program that lets kids ages 5-13 get their hands dirty and explore the wonders of the natural world. Kids get to learn about paleontology, discover the night sky, explore caves, learn about the wildlife in the park, and more.
Kids earn a Junior Ranger badge by participating in activities, answering questions, and getting sworn in as a Junior Ranger.
Camping Hacks
We love camping hacks—tricks of the trade from veteran campers that create space, save time, or make RV camping with kids more fun. Some of the best camping hacks create special moments for your kids. Pinterest is overflowing with great camping ideas for kids. Here are a few of our favorite camping hacks for kids.
Glow stick fairy jars
Glow sticks and camping go hand-in-hand. But why not create a magical moment by transforming the familiar glow stick into a fantastical fairy jar?
Nature tic tac toe
Kids love collecting sticks and stones. Why not harness it into a game of tic tac toe? Set a log of firewood upright on the ground, then arrange four sticks into a tic tac toe board. Instead of Xs and Os, use stones and pinecones! Tons of fun for young kids who love tactile games.
Homemade compass
Kids love to go exploring when they’re camping. Make a compass out of household items and go on an adventure around the campground!
Tin can lanterns
Don’t throw away your soup can! Transform it into a night light lantern that casts constellations of your own creation on the wall!
Firewood Jenga
Got a bunch of unused firewood lying around all day? Make a game out of it! See who can stack the logs highest, or who can create the most interesting sculpture. Take photos and have a contest for tallest, craziest, or most artistic sculpture.
Park Events & Programs
National parks and many other campgrounds have special activities for kids that help pack your vacation with great family moments. Take your kids on a bobsled run at Lake Placid. Check out the Grizzly Giant sequoia and walk through the California Tunnel Tree at Yosemite. Ride the Grand Canyon’s Polar Express (in winter). Or take it up a notch and check out some of these thrilling adventures at a national park.
Camping Meals
Have a budding junior chef? Try some of these creative camping recipes for kids that are simple to make and fun to eat.
Next Steps
- Subscribe to our blog
- Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest
- Ready for a new RV? Check out our inventory!
[hs_action id=”152223″]
