Best Board Games For Camping
How often do you play camping games on your trips?
The best board games for camping can be played rain or shine, are portable, can be played easily in rugged camping environments and are so fun you can’t stop playing them!
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7+ Best Camping Board Games
The best camping gear includes entertainment!
We’ve rated our favorite board games for camping based on the following criteria:
- Portability during storage and transportation
- Space requirements while playing the game
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions
- Number of players
- Age of players
- Cautions
1. Monopoly National Parks Edition Board Game
- Portability during storage and transportation: Below average
- Space requirements while playing the game: Below average
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions: Below average
- Number of players: 2 – 6 players
- Age of players: 8+
- Cautions:
- Paper game pieces can get wet, dirty and blow in wind.
- Small game pieces may be hazardous to children.
- Length of play can be hours but does have a 60-minute speed play option.
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In spite of the below average ratings on portability and durability as compared to other camping board games, we LOVE this Monopoly National Parks Edition Board Game because of the unique character of the game as it directly relates to camping!
It is played like the traditional game but this one features National Park locations.
The traditional version of this game has railroads, this one has outdoor activities like hiking and climbing.
Along the same lines, Community Chest and Chance have become Battlefield Parks and Historical Sites.
Additionally, this fun version has replaced houses with cabins and hotels with ranger stations.
Over 60 Parks are highlighted throughout the game which also includes information about each Park and an educational component of matching animals to the Parks they inhabit!
2. Checkers Board Game
- Portability during storage and transportation: Above average
- Space requirements while playing the game: Above average
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions: Above average
- Number of players: 2 players
- Age of players: 5+
- Cautions:
- Small game pieces may be hazardous to children.
- Game has a maximum of two players so if you have a larger group, you will have to run a “tournament” so everyone can play and still declare a winner.
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How many camp board games also double as a collapsible table with drink holders?
Not many!
With this ALPS Mountaineering Eclipse Checkerboard Table, you can play checkers on the top and use the bottom layer to hold score pads, snacks, drinks and phones!
The really nice thing about having food and drinks under the top of the table is that they are shaded from the sun if you are playing outside without being under an awning or canopy.
The table includes game pieces so it is completely ready for play right out of the box.
3. Camp Board Game
- Portability during storage and transportation: Average
- Space requirements while playing the game: Average
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions: Below average
- Number of players: 2 – 8 players
- Age of players: 4+
- Cautions:
- Paper game pieces can get wet, dirty and blow in wind.
- Small game pieces may be hazardous to children.
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You gotta love camping board games that declare the winner to be the first player to arrive back to the campfire!
Really, who doesn’t want to be the first person at the campfire?!?
In the Camp Board Game, players work their way through the forest as one of the eight animal characters (Sassy the Squirrel is my personal favorite) and answer fascinating trivia questions about camping on their journey.
This game is really unique because people of all ages and knowledge levels about animals, nature and camping can play together without being bored because the game is too simple for them … or … frustrated because the game is too challenging for them.
Each player is able to pick the level they will play at … 1 being easy … 4 being the most difficult. As an example, questions about ducks would be something like:
- Level 1 question: The card would have a picture of a duck and the player would have to identify what animal is in the picture?
- Level 2 question: What color is a female duck?
- Level 3 question: What’s the name of a male duck?
- Level 4 question: How many types of ducks live in North America?
So, for that reason, this is an awesome board game for the entire family to play together!
If you are thinking you might want to stretch your legs a bit, think about playing some camping yard games that get you moving but not enough to break a sweat!
4. Portable Backgammon Game Set
- Portability during storage and transportation: Above average
- Space requirements while playing the game: Above average
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions: Below average
- Number of players: 2 players
- Age of players: 4+
- Cautions:
- Fabric game board can get wet, dirty and blow in wind.
- Small game pieces may be hazardous to children.
- Game has a maximum of two players so if you have a larger group, you will have to run a “tournament” so everyone can play and still declare a winner.
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You don’t find many board games with a fabric board that easily rolls up and packs conveniently for camping!
This Portable Backgammon Set has a “board” that is made from canvas and includes a strap with a snap so you simply roll it up and fasten the snap for transportation and storage.
When the game is open, the canvas is heavy enough that the playing surface lays flat.
The drawbacks to this game …
if the light colored fabric that is used on the playing surface gets dirty or stained it is quite visible, and …
games made for two are wonderful if you only have two players but if you have more campers who want to get in the action, you’ll have to create a tournament to get everyone involved.
5. Folding Travel Magnetic Ludo Set
- Portability during storage and transportation: Above average
- Space requirements while playing the game: Above average
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions: Above average
- Number of players: 2 – 4 players
- Age of players: 5+
- Cautions:
- Small game pieces may be hazardous to children.
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If you have not heard of Ludo, you’re missing out!
The objective of the game is to move your game pieces, corresponding with die rolls, through a defined path … the first player to arrive at the winning location is the victor. This game is similar to playing the game called Sorry.
It is a fast moving game that takes about 30 minutes to play.
This particular Folding Travel Magnetic Ludo Set is perfect for camping because it is compact and folds for transportation but not too small for play.
The best part about this board is the magnetic feature … the game pieces stick to the board so you can play this game on surfaces that are not perfectly flat as well as playing in windy conditions!
6. Jumbo Sequence Tube Game
- Portability during storage and transportation: Below average
- Space requirements while playing the game: Below average
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions: Below average
- Number of players: 2 – 12 players
- Age of players: 7+
- Cautions:
- Paper game pieces can get wet, dirty and blow in wind.
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Sequence is a really fun board game that requires a bit of luck and strategy to win.
The objective of the game is to get 5 chips in a row making a SEQUENCE and you place the chips on the board based on the cards you draw from the deck.
Sequence comes in different types and sizes of boards so you might wonder why we chose the Jumbo Sequence Tube Game to include in this list of the best board games for camping.
Here’s why…
The jumbo pieces and board make this particular version really fun … easy to see … and able to play with up to 12 people who are playing in teams.
Even though the playing mat measures 32″ x 27″ when it is in use, it does neatly roll up and is transported with the rest of the game pieces in a sturdy tube.
If you love the idea of playing Sequence on your camping trips but want a more portable style, consider the Sequence Tin or the Sequence Dice versions of the game.
7. Battleship With Planes Strategy Board Game
- Portability during storage and transportation: Above average
- Space requirements while playing the game: Above average
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions: Above average
- Number of players: 2 players
- Age of players: 7+
- Cautions:
- Small game pieces may be hazardous to children.
- Game has a maximum of two players so if you have a larger group, you will have to run a “tournament” so everyone can play and still declare a winner.
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Battleship is a classic board game that is awesome for camp trips because of the small game boards and the peg pieces that push into the game-boards’ holes.
The object of the game has always been to sink your opponent’s battleships before he/she sinks yours by calling out random grid coordinates until you strategically find the ships and begin a more deliberate approach to your missile launches.
This Battleship With Planes Strategy Board Game is unique because it is a “Navy version” which also includes planes in addition to ships.
Battleship is another game built for two so if you have more campers who want to play, you’ll be running a “Naval combat Battleship tournament” to determine the winner.
8. Magnetic Wooden Chess Checkers Game Set
- Portability during storage and transportation: Above average
- Space requirements while playing the game: Above average
- Durability of game pieces during wet, dirty and windy conditions: Above average
- Number of players: 2 players
- Age of players: 5+
- Cautions:
- Small game pieces may be hazardous to children.
- Game has a maximum of two players so if you have a larger group, you will have to run a “tournament” so everyone can play and still declare a winner.
In the mood for a real thinking-game that requires a bit of brainpower?
How about chess.
Want a more relaxed game that involves a little less intellect but is still challenging and fun?
How about checkers.
This Magnetic Wooden Chess Checkers Set is actually 2 games in 1!
It is really a beautiful game with a felt board interior … inlaid walnut wood and hand carved wood chess pieces.
The game pieces fit inside the foldable game board that measures a comfortable 12x12x1 inches when opened for play and a convenient 12x6x2 inches when closed for transportation and storage.
As with other 2-person board games, you’ll have to organize a tournament if your camping group is larger and more people want to play.
Board Games For Rainy Days
When you are stuck with a wet camp trip, board games are a real trip-saver!
But, there are tons of other types of rainy day camp games you might want to add to your list of activities for your unwanted water-logged outdoor adventures.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment, question or suggestion below. I’d love to hear from you so let’s chat.