Camping in the Rain? Here are 25+ Great Ways to Keep the Family Busy!

You’ve been looking forward to your family camping trip for weeks, but now the forecast is calling for rain. What are you going to do? We know that staying cooped up in a tent with kids ISN’T an option!

Don’t worry – we have some great ideas for rainy-day camping activities that will keep everyone entertained. From board games and flashlight storytelling to visiting the local sites and going out in the rain for a water gunfight, we will make sure your family has an amazing time even if it’s raining outside. So grab your rain gear and get ready for a memorable rainy-day camping adventure!

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Preparation For Camping In Wet Weather

When planning a family outdoor adventure, it’s best to be prepared for every kind of weather, even the rainy days that can pop up unexpectedly, even when the forecast is clear. Don’t feel like your camping trip is wasted when the weather doesn’t cooperate. You can have as much enjoyment camping in the rain as you would in the sun.

If you anticipate wet weather on your camping vacation, you can better prepare for it. You can be ready with the appropriate activities to keep yourself and your camping buddies amused throughout the day. But before we get to these rainy day activities, let me take a minute to talk about other preparations.

Checking the weather forecasts is a good idea before planning a camping vacation. This is crucial before packing in case you need to swap items for wet-weather alternatives or bring additional to accommodate the scenario.
You’ll need a tent that can withstand the wet weather. You can get an all-weather tent or waterproof your existing tent with a heavy-duty water-repellent spray.
Ensure you pack high-quality rain gear. Despite the inclement weather, you must be prepared to keep up with your planned hiking, exploring, and outdoor experiences. Personally, I like REI’s raingear for the family. Be sure you pack enough raincoats, tarps, ropes, and umbrellas to protect yourself and your loved ones from the rain.
Protect the bottom of your tent with a tarp to keep the ground from getting wet. This will ensure that your tent stays dry and warm even in rainy weather.
Pack the right footwear for rainy days – waterproof shoes or boots are ideal! Also pack a storage bin for wet shoes to place just inside your tent. You can also pack some plastic bags if you prefer, so your tent doesn’t get muddy from wet/muddy shoes.

Fun Camping Activities for Rainy Weather

You’ve packed everything you’ll need for a wet camping vacation; now go have some fun! Activities abound even in wet weather when camping. If you are anticipating cold outside due to the rain, opt for some easy and cheap rainy day activities for kids to keep your children distracted inside the tent.

Here are some rainy camp activities that your family can enjoy both indoors (in the tent) or outdoors.

Outdoor Camping Fun – Even in the Rain

The rainy weather doesn’t have to ruin your family camping trip. There are plenty of outdoor activities that you and your kids can do even when it’s raining! There’s a Nordic saying that “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing”. By following this advice, rainy day camping activities can be as much fun as those planned for sunny days.

Go On Hike

On days when there’s light rain, hiking can be a lot of fun for adults and older kids who don’t mind getting wet, provided they are prepared with suitable rain gear.

In the rain, you may be able to see details about everyday life that you had previously overlooked. Particularly beneficial to young minds is the possibility for exploration here. Make sure you have plenty of dry clothes to change into once you return to the camp.

Related: Learn more and get our Tips for Hiking with Kids

Water Gun Battle

A water gun war may be a lot of fun at a campsite, but only when the weather is warm. If you don’t mind getting a bit muddy during the game, you’ll have a lot of fun rolling around or running about the campground. Ensure everyone wears waterproof shoes with sturdy grips so no one slips and falls.

Silent Paddle Sports

If it’s raining outside but there is no lighting and the lake or river is still calm, consider taking out a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. Paddling is a great way to connect with nature and become one with the water. Honestly, we love kayaking with kids rain or shine, and is one of our favorite family activities. Make sure you dress appropriately and wear life jackets to stay safe!

Fishing

Rainy days are the perfect opportunity for a little fishing! The rainy weather usually brings about lots of small aquatic creatures that can serve as food for larger fish. If you have a rod and live bait, you’ll be able to find plenty of willing participants in this activity.

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Indoor Games & Camping Activities

Whether you are camping in a tent or on an RV trip, there are plenty of indoor activities that will keep everyone entertained while staying dry. So grab some snacks, break out the card deck and get ready for some fun – no matter what Mother Nature throws at you!

Flashlight Storytelling

This activity is great for rainy days when the lights are out inside the tent and it’s a bit dark outside. One person holds the flashlight and begins a story, then the next player is passed the flashlight and adds his or her own contribution to the tale until it’s completed.

Tent Picnic

Under your tent’s dry and warm confines, you may enjoy a pleasant picnic. If camping with younger children who brought a teddy bear or stuffed animal, you could make it into a fun Teddy Bear Picnic. To avoid getting crumbs in your sleeping bag, make sure to move all of your bedding to the side, if possible.

Since it’s raining outside, it will be difficult for your to get a campfire started, so it is better to plan some camping meals that don’t require cooking.

Nature Center Activities

Many state and national parks’ campsites have a nature center, which can provide rainy-day activities for the whole family. The nature centers generally contain educational displays and interactive stations. They are a great place where you can learn about local plant life or participate in bird watching.

Your kids may also be able to get involved with craft projects related to the area’s ecosystem. For example, creating bird feeders or building recycled-material sculptures.

Play Charades

Charades is always a hit with my kids. One family member is chosen as the first player or “actor” and must act out words, phrases, or scenarios for others to guess. It’s a great activity with younger kids and adults alike. You can get my camping charade printables here.

Scavenger Hunt

With an ordinary scavenger hunt, you make a list of things that need to be found and then challenge everyone to see who can get back to the tent first with the most items. For a rainy day scavenger hunt, you could feature things the participants cannot acquire, such as a puddle, a shoe print in the mud, an insect, and other such things. You can also seek out items inside the tent like a shoelace, a pen, a book, and so on.

Board Games

Board games are a great alternative to outdoor games and activities like hiking or water gunfights if you’d rather stay dry. To that end, please bring along some of your favorite games or those you’ve been meaning to play for a while but haven’t gotten around to yet.

A rainy day at the campground is the ideal time to play a game that takes several hours to complete, such as Monopoly or Battleship. Card games like Uno, Exploding Kittens, or even Poker is an ordinary deck of cards can be excellent choices. See my picks for board games for teens here that make fun camping games.

However, some games don’t require any equipment, except maybe paper and a pencil, to play. So you can enjoy them being cozy in your tent, and they are:

Tic-Tac-Toe
Charades
Hangman
Dots And Boxes
I Spy
Rock Paper Scissors
Spoons

Related: Many of these road trip games to play in the car can also be played indoors of in a tent while it’s raining outside.

Visit Local Attractions

If rainy days mean wet camping grounds and no outdoor activities, why don’t you visit some local attractions in a nearby town? Local museums, art galleries, and indoor recreational facilities like bowling alleys or rock-climbing walls can provide hours of rainy-day entertainment for you and your family.

Coloring Books

Coloring books and activity books are a great rainy-day activity. Get some out and draw fun pictures with crayons, colored pencils and markers. Note: If you are camping in warm weather, leave the crayons at home. They can melt and make a huge mess in the tent. Opt for colored pencils or markers inside.

Draw/Doodle

I think it’s always a great idea to pack your nature journal or a blank notebook and record all the flora and fauna you have seen during your rainy camping trip. You can also do some drawing, sketching, or doodling together with your kids even if the rainy day keeps you in the tent.

Read a Book

This rainy-day activity is timeless. Whether it’s a book your kids brought along or one shared by the whole family, there’s nothing like getting engrossed in a good book. To encourage reading, you could even make a tent reading zone with lots of cushions and comfy blankets.

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Listen to an Audiobook or Music

I’m not that parent who bans electronics from our family camping trips. I think you can get a lot of use out of tablets and cell phones on a camping trip. Rainy days make for a great opportunity to listen to a fun story or playlist together. Download an audiobook from Audible or borrow one from your library. Use Spotify or another music app to listen to some music as you relax in the tent.

Conclusion

Finally, don’t forget that rainy-day camping is just as much about creating memories with your family as it is about getting outside and exploring the great outdoors. Camping in bad weather may not seem as exciting as camping in the sunshine, but campers can still have a great time and find enough to do on wet days.

There’s much to do on a wet day at a campsite, from playing games inside your tent to exploring the region. This list of entertaining camping pursuits for wet days will help you get organized for the next time there’s a lot or a little rain in the forecast for your next trip.

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