19 Jun The Best Rainy Day Camping Activities
One thing that can quickly put a damper on the excitement of a camping adventure is rain in the forecast. You may even think about canceling or postponing your family camping vacation if it looks like rainstorms are a possibility, but a few raindrops don’t have to ruin your trip! Believe it or not, there are many ways to have fun camping in rainy weather. Whether you are camping in Upstate New York or a state park in California, we’ve got a list of activities to help pass the time if you do get stuck with some raindrops.
Play a game
Games are an excellent way to pass the time while waiting out a rainstorm. Be sure to pack a few of your family’s favorite board games and a deck of cards along with your more traditional camping supplies.
Longer match games like Monopoly and Settlers of Catan are a great way to pass the time and engage in friendly competition. Some traditional card games we recommend are Go Fish and War. If you need some card game inspiration, check out Explore Magazine’s eight games you can play at a campsite with just one deck of cards.
If you don’t remember to pack any physical games or don’t have any room in your bags, don’t fret! If you can scrounge up some paper and a pen, you can play hangman, tic tac toe, charades, and more.
And if there’s no pen and paper in sight, try a word game like “I’m Going on a Picnic…” The premise of this game is pretty simple, and it’s great to play with kids. The first person starts the game by saying, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m taking ___.” They then finish the sentence with an item that begins with A. The following person repeats the sentence, including the item the first person said they are bringing and ends with an item that starts with a B. You continue around the circle, going through the all of letters of the alphabet until someone’s memory falters. You could also play 20 Questions or I Spy with nothing but a group of people and some time to kill.
If you stay with us at Lake George Campsites, you can take advantage of our recreation room/arcade when the weather isn’t cooperating. We’ve got a pool table, air hockey, and several arcade games. We also have themed crafts and activities for our guests on the weekends all season long.
Visit the local town
A rainy day is the perfect excuse to leave the campground and check out what the nearby town has to offer. You will likely stumble across local gems like restaurants, candy stores, coffee shops, and small boutiques. There may even be some indoor activities available, like a movie theater, bowling alley, arcade, or museum.
If you are staying with us at Lake George Campsites, Lake George Village and the surrounding areas have much to offer in the way of local attractions. We’ve got everything from history museums to a wax museum, mini golf, indoor and outdoor adventure centers and amusement parks, boat rides on the lake, endless tchotchke shops, and eateries as far as the eye can see.
Go for a hike
If you don’t mind getting a little bit soggy and muddy, a hike in the rain can be a pretty cool experience. Different wildlife will emerge and the trails will look completely different during a rainstorm. After all, life is too short not to stomp in some puddles!
Throw on any rain gear you packed and head to the local trail to explore for a mile or two (you probably won’t want to go for much more unless the weather eases up). We do recommend packing a few towels in the car to sit on for the ride back to camp and avoid getting the seats wet and dirty.
Picnic in your RV, tent, or cottage
Enjoy a pleasant picnic while staying dry and shielded from the rain in your tent, RV, or cottage. Throw a table cloth in the middle of the floor and grab some pillows to sit on. We recommend easy finger foods such as cheese and crackers, sandwiches, sliced fruit, and cookies. Bon appetite!
Cozy up with a good book
Camping is a wonderful time to disconnect and take a break from the stressors of everyday life, and reading a book at your campsite is the perfect way to do just that. Grab your favorite novel and a blanket, and spend some time curled up in your tent, reading and listening to the rainfall outside. If you are with your family perhaps you can all take turns reading a favorite children’s book allowed while snuggled in your sleeping bags.