RV travel is a great way to see new places and have exciting adventures. In addition to being out and about, though, you can also enjoy making memories right at the campground with a fun game night. Spending some quality time with family or friends is a great way to end a busy day of exploring or to prevent boredom when the weather keeps you inside.
There are many options for compact games to easily pack in your RV. Card games, board games, and even outside games will keep adults and kids alike entertained. We love laughing and having fun while spending time together on our game nights. Here are ideas for some games to try on your next RV trip.
Guest Post by Robin Buck
Card Games
Card games are a very common form of entertainment at campgrounds. There are so many games that can be played with one or more decks of regular playing cards. You are probably already familiar with some of them like Crazy 8’s, Gin Rummy, Go Fish, or Spades. We met some RV friends who taught us fun new card games like Hand and Foot, Shanghai Rummy, Up and Down the River, and Fruit Salad.
One great site to find card games and rules is at Bicycle Cards. You can choose games based on how many players you have, what age ranges are playing, and even by game category. There are also other games you can buy that use their own type of cards. Some of our favorites are Rack-O, Five Crowns, UNO, and Apples to Apples.
Board Games
Many traditional board games now come in compact versions that are easy to take in your RV. Popular games like Qwirkle, Sequence, Rummikub, and Jenga can now be found in a smaller travel size. Monopoly has a new card-based game called Monopoly Deal. Not only is it a shorter game than regular Monopoly, but you don’t have to worry about a large playing board and keeping track of lots of small game pieces.
If you want to stick with an outdoor theme, Roasted and Toasted is a fun game where players compete to be the first to start a simulated campfire and toast three marshmallows. It even comes in a resealable and waterproof bag. Parks is a strategy game where players hike their way through US National Parks. Instead of a game board, beautifully illustrated cards fit together to form the playing surface.
Dice Games
Yahtzee is an easy game to take on the road. This classic game only needs a place to roll dice and scorepads to track progress. Quixx is a Mensa Select dice game that involves strategy to get the highest score. It’s fast-paced and fun because everyone gets to participate no matter whose turn it is. LCR stands for left, right, center. This game uses dice rolls to determine which way chips are passed with the last owner of chips crowned the winner.
Outdoor Games
The classic campground game Cornhole is a fun beanbag tossing competition between two teams. If you don’t have room for the full-sized version, there are both foldable and collapsible versions to bring along. Ladder Toss is a crowd pleaser and, luckily, the ladders can be disassembled for easy storage. Bocce Ball is another outdoor game that can be played anywhere you have an open area.
If you want to slow the action down a bit, you can try some easy campfire games. These can be played while you relax around the fire and don’t need much in the way of equipment. Try the Alphabet Game where players go around the circle and add words based on the sequence of the alphabet letters. Or have fun passing a whispered sentence from person to person during the Telephone Game. Other options are Mad Libs, I Spy, or even telling scary stories.
Games on the Road
Why wait until you get to the campground to play games? As you drive down the road during your travels, playing a game can help beat boredom and make the time pass more quickly. Probably the most popular ones are the License Plate game, Twenty Questions, and Road Trip Bingo. You’ll arrive before you know it when everyone is having fun along the way.
You’ll Love Playing Games Together
Whether you play on the road or at the campground, games make for fun times together. It’s also a great way to get to know new friends. There are lots of game choices, and many come in smaller sizes so you can take them along easily in your RV. Start your own simple tradition of game night and you’ll create memories for years to come!
Robin and her husband, Mike, are Air Force veterans and empty nesters who travel full-time in their Entegra Anthem motorhome. Always ready to explore, they love nature and wildlife, meeting new friends, and discovering America’s many hidden gems. Robin chronicles their adventures and experiences on her travel blog RVing with Robin.
