10 Fun Camping Activities For Couples [Great Ideas and Activities]

Many of us know that camping can bring out a sense of wilderness and adventure in people, but did you know that you can do many sweet, romantic activities while camping? 

When having a fun camping trip with your partner, you may do many of the standard camping activities such as hiking, biking, making camp food, and sleeping outside in a tent.

But there are specific ways that you can make the camping experience more romantic, intimate, and memorable overall for you and your partner.

Whether you're planning a camping trip for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, a birthday weekend, or just a charming getaway, we'll give you some options to try out for a fantastic trip that both you and your partner will love.

Here are 10 fun camping activities for couples.

camping for couples

Take a Beautiful Hike 

Hiking is a common camping activity that many people enjoy. But when you're with your significant other, this activity can take on a whole new meaning and depth. 

Taking a hike can be a peaceful, calming experience or a challenging, adventurous one, depending on which trail you choose.

Either way, hiking provides an opportunity for intimate, uninterrupted time with your partner.

Regardless of whether you want to stroll on a casual path or summit a mountain peak, it would be best if you chose a longer trail to have ample time to talk about all the things you don't usually get to talk about in your hectic, day-to-day lives. 

Plus, surrounding yourself in a beautiful, completely natural environment invites a particular type of bonding that is hard to find anywhere else. This is especially true if there are beautiful views and scenery throughout or at the end of the hike.

Have a Picnic With a View

Speaking of views, going camping presents you with many opportunities to catch stunning views you wouldn't normally see in your neighborhood. 

So why not enjoy your favorite view by packing charcuterie items, blankets, and some drinks to enjoy your meal in a gorgeous setting?

Depending on where you decide to go camping, you and your partner can walk to a lake, hike up a mountain, stroll to the beach, or climb up a hill and eat while watching wildlife, waves, or an extraordinary sunset. 

Charcuterie board items like hard cheeses, cold meats, dried fruit, and delicious spreads tend to stay tasty in a wide variety of environments, so they are a nice choice for a camping picnic. 

Plus, they're great for sharing, and sharing items within a meal is a romantic gesture in and of itself! 

Secure a Secluded Campsite

Part of having a romantic camping trip is finding a private, intimate spot to spend your evenings and fall asleep together

There are plenty of campsites across the country, but many of them are very popular and become pretty crowded pretty quickly. 

If you want to have a more secluded campsite, try to find a campground that's more out of the way from a large city, and try to go on a weekday instead of a weekend.

That way, the chances of finding a private, secluded, quiet area to set up camp will be much more likely.

Otherwise, if you would like to try to find an even more secluded spot, you don't have to set up camp at a designated, organized campsite at all. 

There are areas reserved by the Bureau of Land Management that you can camp on for free! Many of these BLM areas are wide open spaces or expansive forests where you can conveniently set up a tent. 

Set Up a Romantic Campsite Ambiance

Speaking of romantic campsites, finding a secluded spot is not the only way to ensure a lovey-dovey time in nature. 

And just because you're in nature doesn't mean you have to throw out the design and ambiance elements that are common factors in many romantic getaways. 

You can dress out your campsite with lights, flowers, a decorated canopy, or any other attractive decor to spice it up a bit. 

We also think it's a great idea to get a four-person tent, even though it'll just be the two of you. That way, you have more space inside your tent for relaxing, talking, playing games, or even giving each message at the end of a tiring day. 

Go Stargazing Together

Another fun camping activity for couples is going stargazing together. 

When you're camping, you're usually in a more remote area than your town. This typically means that there is less light pollution when you're camping and a significantly better chance of seeing a gorgeous, star-filled night sky.

Take advantage of this opportunity by bringing out a blanket and lying outside to look at the night sky. 

The more you look up the brighter the stars will get, and the more inspired you'll feel to talk about your deepest truths and vulnerabilities. 

Bonding under the night sky is a beautiful, memorable way to end one — if not all — of your camping nights together. 

Cook a Special Meal

Just because you're not at a Michelin Star restaurant doesn't mean the food you eat on this trip can't be special, memorable, and absolutely delicious. 

All you need are a couple of camping stoves, a couple of pots, and a few utensils to make a spectacular meal outdoors.

You can make a simple favorite like mac and cheese or flavored rice or try something a bit more involved, like roasting sausages and veggies over the campfire. 

You can also end with a camping-friendly dessert, like s'mores! 

Plus, it's a fun bonding activity, because even if the meal doesn't turn out exactly as you want it, or it's more difficult than you expected, you can laugh at your mistakes and just have fun with it!

Just know that salt, pepper, and patience go a long way! 

Play Camping Games

After hitting the trails or exploring the natural surroundings, playing a camping-friendly game is a nice way for you and your significant other to wind down at the end of the day. 

There are several different types of games you can play, and you might prefer one type over the other depending on what kind of camping you will be doing (e.g., car camping vs. backpacking) and other preferences. 

Camping Board Games

Playing board games is a wonderful option for couples who enjoy a little friendly competition in their relationship.

Games like Scrabble, Connect 4, and Jenga are lighthearted, easy-to-learn games that can keep you entertained until you're ready to truly wind down. 

You can also easily throw in banana grams, which is similar to scrabble but doesn't involve an actual board, making it even more convenient to bring on your trip. 

Camping Card Games

When you're camping, and especially if you're backpacking, you want to limit the amount, size, and weight of the items you bring with you. 

So a full-sized board game might not be ideal for your specific camping circumstances and preferences 

However, bringing a deck of cards or a specific small card game can provide a fun couple's activity without the hassle of lugging a sizable board game in your bag. 

Item-Free Camping Games

You don't need a physical item to play games while camping! There are plenty of cute games that you can play just by using your words and your mind.

For example, you and your partner can exchange questions, attempt to guess each other's answers, and then win points for guessing correctly. Whoever scores the most points wins! 

Other no-board, no-card games you might like include Would You Rather, Two Truths and a Lie, and the Category Game. 

Tell Stories by the Fire

Making a campfire is a calming, serene way to spend your camping evenings with your significant other. 

The flames lighting up the surroundings with an orange glow, the sound of the crackling wood, and even the smell of burning can truly create a cozy, delightful, and fairytale-like setting. 

There's a lot of different types of conversations that might come up in this warm and inviting environment, but telling stories by the fire is a particularly bond-worthy activity for couples to do on a camping trip.

Whether you're just starting your relationship and getting to know each other's backgrounds, interests, and pet peeves better, or you've been in a relationship for a long time, there's still a lot that campfire storytelling can reveal. 

You may even decide to tell old stories with a newer, more mature perspective. 

Either way, telling stories by the campfire will provide an excellent opportunity for joyful laughter, honest vulnerability, and deep connection. 

Swim in the Water

Camping by some body of water to dip into — whether it's an open ocean, a soothing lake, a rapid river, or simply a spacious pool at the campsite — is an excellent idea for couples.

Not only are these bodies of water typically pleasant to look at —and could provide great spots for your picnic, hikes, or other activities — they also offer a fun activity in themselves. You can go swimming! 

This is primarily a good idea if you're planning a camping trip in the Spring or Summer months when the sun is out and the days are long and steamy.

If you're planning a camping trip in colder months, try to find a campsite near hot springs so that you can dip into warm or hot water to soothe your souls and relax together. 

Otherwise, if you're into glamping, you might get lucky and find a lodge or a yurt with a hot tub. 

No matter the form, size, or type of water, taking a dip with your loved one is a fantastic way to make the day more romantic, lovey-dovey, or outright steamy. 

Additional Water Activities

If you're not into swimming or the water's conditions are not suitable for swimming, you can see what other types of water activities are accessible from your campsite. 

If you're by an ocean, you can try paddleboarding, surfing, or jet-skiing. Or, if you're near a lake or river, you can kayak or raft. There are plenty of water activities depending on your specific interests! 

Have a Wine Night

Last but not least, if you and your partner don't mind a few adult beverages during your camping experience, having a romantic wine night is a great way to end your trip. 

You can bring your favorite bottle or two and toast to a beautiful experience. 

We recommend sharing a bottle of wine in an ideal place, perhaps a location that you two thought was truly beautiful, or while watching the sunset on a hill. 

You could also simply cozy up and have a fake-candle-lit wine night in the privacy of your own tent, especially if it's spacious enough.  

A quick note, however, is that it is not ideal for bringing wine glasses on a camping trip. 

However, if you still want the aesthetic appeal of a wine glass, you can buy plastic clear wine glasses instead. This is a safer choice for packing in and packing out because broken glass isn't our idea of romance all over the gear!

camping picnic

Conclusion

If you're tired of your typical couples weekends where you go to restaurants and watch movies, camping can be a great way to switch things up and have a true bonding experience without everyday distractions. 

And now you have ten fun camping activities for couples that you can choose from to make your camping trip as romantic, adventurous, relaxing, and loving as you wish! 

As you know now, there is something for every type of couple. 

If you're an adventurous couple, you can go on a thrilling hike or try a new water sport. 

If you're a romantic couple, you can decorate your campsite with roses and battery-powered lights to set the tone.

If you're a food-loving couple, you can have a picnic, make s'mores, or create a multi-course camping meal together. 

And of course, if you're all of the above, you can do all of the activities on the list! 

As long as you make sure that the activities you choose align with both your and your partner's tastes, we're sure you'll have an amazing couples camping trip. 

Andrew Mullen

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