You figured out your camping gear, used our camping meal plan to plan your food and feel generally really ready to tackle your camping trip. Except you just realized you have no idea what the kids are going to DO the whole time.
Rest assured that many a camping kid has been fully entertained by rocks and sticks, but I understand the need to have some tricks up your sleeve. This post is full of our favorite toys for camping. Don’t feel like you need them all at once – they also make great gifts!
Camping toys tip: Have a designated clear plastic bin that houses your camping toys, this way those sandy buckets or muddy dip nets won’t make a mess of everything.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Featured Toys!
Although LEGO sets may seem like more of an inside toy, we think LEGO sets are great for camping too. Especially the ones with outdoor themes. LEGO blocks can keep the kids occupied at the picnic table or on a blanket, in the tent or camper on a rainy day, and then give them something to use their imagination with after they are built.
Check out all of these awesome LEGO sets from Scheels!
Scheels has an amazing selection of items for playing inside or outside and they offer some awesome customer service. Scheels offers fast, free shipping on orders of $75 or more, free returns and exchange, price matching and everything is backed by the SCHEELS guarantee (Everything you buy at SCHEELS, on sale or otherwise, is guaranteed satisfactory or your money back. You don’t take chances at SCHEELS … ever.)
Parent tip for legos – have them build in a cake pan, plastic tub, or container with lid to keep the tiny pieces from ending up in the dirt.
LEGO City Great Vehicles Camper Van
Best for ages 5+, this camper van is ready for lots of imaginative play after its built!
LEGO Friends Stargazing Camping Vehicle
Best for ages 7+, LEGO Friends are designed with girls in mind, but this set is great for the kid who loves camping and watching the night sky.
LEGO DUPLO Disney Camping Adventure
Best for ages ages 2+, this set is for our youngest campers featuring fun Disney characters like Daisy Duck.
LEGO City 4×4 Fire Truck with Rescue Boat
Best for ages 5+, this set is best for those kids who love rescue vehicles!
LEGO Friends Adventure Camp Cozy Cabins
Best for ages 7+, these cozy cabins are ready for adventure, especially those who love to mountain bike.
Best Toys for Camping With Toddlers
While I personally think some choice toys for kids of all ages are great, toddlers can be a particularly challenging bunch. Often in an effort to keep them safe (i.e. not falling into a campfire), camping toys for toddlers can be particularly helpful.
As I mentioned above, I do NOT believe in hauling a ton of extra items to the campsite, so know this list is only our very favorites. And you don’t need all of it! Just take your kids favorites.
Shovels and Buckets
Shovels and buckets pair perfectly with sand, dirt and rocks making them the perfect must-have camping toy for truly all ages. In an effort to have my kids aged 3-12 fighting over them, I make sure there’s enough for each kid.
Also great for collecting acorns, making mud soup or anything else the imagination comes up with.
Small Fishing Nets
If you’re camping near water, using fish nets or just strainers attached to sticks is a fun way to let kids explore shallow water. As always, we recommend having kids wear life vests anytime they are near water.
Bubbles or a Bubble Machine
Really bubbles are for ALL ages and they are so fun for camping. I stock up on bubble wand sticks and refill them as needed.
Camping Playsets for Toddlers
There’s no better way to encourage a love of camping than provide opportunities to play pretend camping. The camping figures below are perfect for toddler ages.
Learning Resources New Sprouts Camp Out
Best for little ones 18 months and up, this little set gives your little one their very own campsite complete with fire, hot dog and s’mores!
Fisher-Price Little People Light-up Camper Playset
Little People playsets were always a favorite of our little ones, especially the outdoor and camping themed ones.
Bluey Camp Out Playset
Our family is a fan of Bluey and any Bluey fan would love the opportunity to go camping with the Heeler family.
Camping Toys for Creative Kids
Sidewalk Chalk
If you’re camping in a paved campground, sidewalk chalk is a great way to keep kids busy making pictures or building their own sidewalk chalk obstacle courses. Chalk can also be used to color rocks or curbs in your campsite.
Paint by Sticker Books
I love these for no-mess fun that helps with fine motor skills. There are a ton of nature themes available! Here are a few…
Creativity for Kids Camp Crafts
This kit has everything your little crafter needs to create 12 classic camp crafts.
Camping Toys to Keep Kids Active
Want your kids to sleep well camping? The best tip is to do everything in your power to wear them out. These camping toys in particular are great for doing just that, and they’re fun too! If you are camping with an abundance of trees and a lack of a playground, bring your own!
Slackline
If you will be camping in a place with trees, a slackline is a super fun toy to set up and challenge kids and adults alike. Use a training line for the youngest kids if needed.
Ninjaline
A ninjaline is so fun…and so hard. If you have really active and persistent older kids, this is a huge hit.
Swingline
Let’s be real honest – there are not a TON of kids out there that can successfully do a ninjaline, cool as they are. We have one hanging in our yard and have had dozens of active and fit kids try and not get very far. It’s a fantastic goal….but definitely one for older kids. As an alternative, a swingline is just as portable and works for all ages. We don’t own a swingset, but the Swingline is a huge hit.
More Activities and Toys for Active Kids
Flexible Frisbees
I personally love soft frisbees for the sake of saving a head or two from being banged up with a crazy throw. These flexible frisbees are our all-time bring-them-anywhere frisbees. Frisbees can also double as “cake pans” for the mud kitchen lovers.
Jump Ropes
Jump ropes help get some great energy out quick and are easy to pack, so perfect for camping. My kids inevitably also use them for activities other than jumping, so we like one like this.
Bikes
We almost always bring at least the kid bikes camping. Not only do they make a great transportation option to getting to fun places around the campground, they keep kids busy too. Our kids are known to set up ramps and jumps, making biking obstacle courses or just race.
Check out our sister-site, Kids Ride Bikes, for bike reviews and tips and tricks to get your family started biking.
Toys and Games for the Campsite
Pop Darts Glow Pack
Pop Darts are fun for all ages and have suction cups that stick best to smooth surfaces like a countertop, refrigerator, window, car windshield, glass door, paddleboard, etc. You can use that darts in a variety of games, or make your own! This set glows in the dark, so you can play after the sun goes down.
Stomp Rockets
Another great activity for a variety of ages. If you have a good open space, these are great fun to bring along. You do have to replace some of the rockets every now and then, but this is a good lightweight toy to bring along.
Stick-lets
Stick-lets encourage fort building, you can use stick you find around the campsite and then put them in these little loops to build a fort.
Camping Toys to Encourage Exploration
Walkie Talkies for Kids
Let me just say that these walkie talkies are just for kids and are super fun to play with. At a price point thats not crazy, these walkies give kids a little freedom and something to play with so you don’t have to let them use your good ones (like Rocky Talkies). These do eat batteries, so be prepared or buy rechargeable ones.
That said, if I actually want functional walkie talkies that we can use as a safety device for around the campsite, we go with Rocky Talkies, hands-down. You’re paying for a long range, ease of use, super long battery life and private channels.
Binoculars for Kids
Giving kids binoculars is a fantastic way to just get them to open their eyes to the world around them a bit more. These ones are durable, really work and are affordable.
Bug Nets
My kids catch far more than just bugs in these nets, but they have a great time doing it. These ones are cheap but hold up well for the price.
Bug Catching Kit
After you catch the bugs, it’s so fun to actually check them out too. This kit is perfect for camping.
Quiet Camping Toys to Help Kids Relax
After full days playing hard and maybe not sleeping the best (but we can help with that part!), taking some quiet time is a good idea too. While sometimes we cave if we have our RV (do you know how hard it is to find a camper withOUT a TV in it?!?), usually camping is definitely for screen-free time.
Hammocks
We seldom camp without hanging up a hammock or two. They are super easy to pack, provide hours of entertainment or a place to nap, and the good ones last a really long time.
If you have small kids, a kid-specific hammock is fun because they are smaller and kids don’t get swallowed up in it quite so easily. We recommend this portable hammock for kids.
Otherwise, the ENO Doublenest is a great hammock that comes in a variety of fun colors too. Tip – you’ll want more than one hammock.
If you’re car camping and have the room, but know there will be no trees where you’re camping, this 3-hammock stand is fabulous. Make sure to check out all of our favorite hammocks!
Mad Matter Play Dough
Quite honestly I really am not a fan of play dough in general, and always prefer to make our own sensory dough. However, if you’re looking for something a little different than won’t dry out or expire, Mad Matter is a great alternative. We love the way it feels, how to forms, and how it doesn’t dry out (so you can just keep it in your camping gear!)
Amazon Kindle Kids
Now we are pretty anti-screen in our house and while camping, but we have some book loving kids. This paperwhite Kindle allows our kids to read, a lot, without the hassle of bringing a lot of paper books and worry about them getting ruined. And its only for books, no games or anything else! A long battery life, waterproof, and has a 2-year worry-free guarantee, if it breaks, return it and Amazon replace it for free.
We love our kindles and typically don’t consider them screentime! The kids use them for quiet time, or reading before bed without the need for a light.
Fun Camping Lights for Kids
I’m pretty sure one of the reasons my kids love camping so much is that we will let them stay up late enough for it to get dark (at least sometimes!) Having great lights while camping is not only fun, but a good safety measure too to keep track of kids after dark.
We suggest picking up a few of these and keeping them with your camping gear for camping-trips only. Just be sure to pack extra batteries! Another fun thing for camping is glo-sticks! We like to buy Glo sticks in bulk and keep them with our camping gear. They’re cheap, simple to use and can attach to your body, bikes, tents, etc. Want less waste? Try these reusable glo-sticks.
Headlamps for Kids
I am a total headlamp nerd and think it’s crucial for each family member to have at least one (but usually more like 2-3) stashed in camping gear and around the house. The following are our favorites. I also suggest paying a few more dollars for a name-brand light that will actually work long-term and provide the light kids need.
Black Diamond Wiz
This headlamp is great for younger kids. Light can change color and its not a direct beam, so they can blind you too badly.
Petzl Tikkid
Another team favorite and great option for younger kids, but with a big kid feel.
Sun Company Fun headlamps for kids
And if you need a silly option, check out these crazy animal head lamps.
Lanterns for Kids
MPowerd Luci Lights
Not just for kids, these are our favorite solar-powered and affordable lanterns. They are inflatible, so they pack down small.
Coleman Kids Adventure Lanterns
Lightweight battery powered lantern perfect for kids to carry around.
Melissa & Doug Lets Explore Camping Lantern Play Set
This lantern not only gives off light in different colors, but also plays some familiar campsite sounds.
Kids Camping & Outdoor Themed Toys
To be honest I have a huge weakness for finding toys for my kids that encourage an outdoor life and, in this case, camping. I’m also a purger (just ask my kids and husband), so these are the toys that have actually managed to stick around since I think they’re great!
Haba Camper Set
I love that this simple, but is Haba quality!
PlayMobil Camping Sets
PlayMobil does such a great job with outdoor-themed play sets. They have quite a few camping sets (and um, we may have most of them….)
Calico Critters Camping Sets
18″ Doll Camping Sets and Accessories
These doll sets fit any 18″ dolls and are perfect for young girls and boys playing pretend.
- Doll camping set
- American Girl Full Camping Set
- Sophia’s Camping Products (fits American Girl Dolls and Maplelea Dolls)
- Our Generation Tent & Camping Set for 18″ Dolls – All Night Campsite
Pretend Campfire Toys
There are a ton of different pretend campfire toys out there, but these are a few we really like. They vary widely in price and quality so a little something for everyone!
Melissa & Doug Pretend Camping & Hiking Sets
Melissa and Doug have a fabulous line of outdoor-themed sets for kids that we love!
Camping Activity Book for Kids
If you are looking for some more ideas, look no further than this book! This is totally a plug for my own book, but it’s a great way to get kids learning at the campsite too. Best for kids aged 5-9. Learn more about it here.
Looking for more outdoorsy gift ideas?
Related Posts:
- Camping Board Games for Families
- Best Camping with Kids Hacks
- Car Camping with Kids Checklist
- Family Camping Meal Plan
- Family Camping Email Course
Fun Toys for Camping 2024
© 2024 Tales of a Mountain Mama. All rights reserved. Republication, in part or entirety, requires a link back to this original post and permission from the author.