Exciting Nighttime Camping Activities

Daytime camping activities are a ton of fun. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy a nice dip in the pool, going boating on the lake, or hiking down a shady trail? Unfortunately, far too many people think the fun has to end once the sun goes down, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

There are plenty of nighttime camping activities, and they can be just as fun as their daytime counterparts! In fact, there are some who might argue that camping is even more fun once things go dark and there’s a sort of mysterious feeling surrounding your campsite.

Want to get in on the post-sunset camping fun on your next camping trip? Below are some of our favorite things to do after dark when we’re out camping.

Look Up

The night sky will never cease to fill us with awe and wonder. It’s the way the darkness seems to swallow up the world, and the stars place the tiniest pricks of light on a blanket of black.

Why not use the incredible night sky to your advantage? Look upward next time you’re out camping and really appreciate this amazing wonder that nature has to offer.

Find Constellations

During your time spent stargazing, try finding constellations. A book such as Star Finder: A Step by Step Guide to the Night Sky can help you identify constellations and learn some of the stories behind them.

We also really like the Sky Guide app for Apple devices. This app identifies objects in the night sky for you! All you have to do is hold it up and the whole sky will be labeled on your screen.

Pull Out the Telescope

If you have a telescope, you’ll definitely want to bring that along. The clear skies found in the countryside (where most campgrounds are located) lend themselves quite well to telescope viewing.

50 Things to See With a Telescope: A Young Star Gazers Guide is a good book for beginner stargazers of all ages.

Play Some “Glow Games”

Want to keep moving after the sun goes down? No problem! There are a few different games you can play that will light up the night just enough to allow you to move around.

Glow Stick Bowling

To create your own glow bowling kit, simply place glow sticks in 10 empty soda bottles. Place the soda bottles in a triangle shape and roll a ball at the to see how many you can knock down.

Some people like to add weight to their bottle pins by putting rocks or sand in the bottoms of them. You could also create a lane using lines of rocks.

Glow-in-the-Dark Egg Hunt

Egg hunts are always fun. However, they are especially fun when the eggs glow in the dark.

To create your glowing egg hunt, simply place mini glow sticks in plastic eggs. Have someone hide the eggs around your campsite and then have a blast seeking them out.

Flashlight Tag

Don’t have access to glow sticks? A flashlight can be just as fun, so why not play a good old-fashioned game of flashlight tag? If you don’t know how to play, click here for instructions.

Campfire Entertainment

Of course, every good camping trip involves at least one campfire, and most people have a fire on each night of their getaway. Fortunately, there are plenty of super fun things you can do around the fire, making the experience even more memorable.

Sing-Alongs

Everyone knows about campfire sing-alongs. If you play an instrument such as a guitar, be sure to bring it along so you can accompany your singers. If not, a cappella is just fine.

Click here for some awesome campfire song ideas.

Storytelling

Storytelling is another favorite campfire activity. Ghost stories are pretty popular, but there is also the option of playing silly storytelling games where each person gets to add a bit to the story until it comes to a natural close.

Skits

Many people grew up doing campfire skits at summer camp. However, there’s no reason you couldn’t have fun doing those same skits around the fire with family and friends.

To make this activity work, you will need to have everyone split off into groups earlier in the day to select and rehearse their skits. Finish the night by performing your pieces, which are sure to leave everyone giggling.

Here are some campfire skit ideas.

Colored Fire

We’ve all seen orange and yellow fire, of course, and super hot blue flames are common enough as well. However, many people don’t realize that fire can change to be green, purple, or pretty much any other color.

This can be done through the use of various chemicals. However, the easier way is to use fire color-changing sticks. Grab some of these and create a rainbow of colors in your next campfire!

Special S’mores

S’mores are an important part of any camping trip. These yummy treats can be made even more special by adding in unique ingredients.

For instance, some people like to use grasshopper cookies in place of graham crackers and chocolate. Other people use peanut butter cups instead of a plain chocolate bar, or sugar cookies in place of graham crackers.

Get creative and see what kinds of ideas you can come up with!

Put on a Show

Looking for even more ways to enjoy the evenings during your camping trip? These fun options are sure to entertain people of all ages:

Outdoor Movies

Set up the camping chairs, pop some popcorn, and project a movie onto the side of your RV. Whether you’ll be hosting a large crowd or merely spending time together as a family, this is a great activity that can easily accommodate a variety of ages.

Don’t have a projector? A Bluetooth speaker and a DIY projector will have you all fixed up in no time.

Shadow Puppet Shows

Shadow puppets are another great way to pass the time after dark. The side of the RV or a tent wall can make for an awesome shadow puppet stage. Create and act out a story, or just have fun creating your own shadow monsters and laughing at the effect.