Top 10 Family Card Games for Camping

Looking for a way to keep the family entertained while camping? Do you need something compact that won’t take up a ton of space in your trailer?

Then card games are the perfect choice! Since we own a small Teardrop Trailer, we don’t have a lot of room to spare for large board games.

So we tend to stock up on a variety of card games that will keep the kids busy, but won’t take up a lot of real estate.

Perfect for a rainy day as well, there are card games available for all ages. And they are all pretty budget-friendly too!

Want to learn more? Let’s jump right in!

Family-Friendly Card Games for Camping Using a Regular Card Deck

We have put together a short list of family-friendly card games that can be played with a regular deck of cards. Of course, there are a ton of games out there, but these are among the most popular, as well as our family favourites.

1. Go Fish

Go Fish is a classic card game that’s not only simple to pick up but also fun for players of all ages.

I remember playing the game as a kid. And we have played many a round with our kids when they were little as well.

The game begins with a standard 52-card deck. Each player is dealt 5 cards (7 cards if only two players are participating).

The objective is to collect as many sets of four matching cards as possible. On your turn, you ask another player for cards of a specific rank.

If they have them, they must hand them over, and you get another turn. If they don’t, you “go fish” by drawing from the deck, hoping to snag the card you need.

The game ends when all cards have been made into sets, and the player with the most sets wins.

“Go Fish” is suitable for players as young as 4 years old. However, it’s one of those games that the whole family can enjoy.

➡️ Purchase playing cards here

2. Snap

Snap is a classic, fast-paced card game that’s perfect for camping. I actually learned about this game from watching the kids playing cards.

The game starts with a standard 52-card deck, distributed evenly among the players. Everyone then takes turns flipping their top card onto a central pile.

Players must watch for two consecutive matching cards. The first to shout “Snap!” wins the pile.

The objective is simple: collect all the cards. Players who run out can still shout “Snap!” on a match to jump back into the game.

Snap’s simplicity, combined with its quick pace, makes it an ideal game for players ages 5 and up.

We like playing this game because it doesn’t require a lot of space (perfect for being in a small camper), and it doesn’t take a lot of setup.

The kids can whip through a game in the time that it takes me to get dinner set up.

3. Crazy Eights

Crazy Eights is another card game favourite that’s easy to pick up and play. Our kids have been playing this for years.

The game uses a standard 52-card deck and can accommodate 2 to 7 players, making it perfect for any group size.

The goal in Crazy Eights is to be the first to get rid of all your cards.

Players start with a hand of cards. The number can vary depending on how many are playing, but we usually start with 5 or 7 cards.

The rest of the deck is placed face down, with one card flipped up to start the discard pile. Players take turns matching the top card of the discard pile in rank or suit.

The twist comes with the eights. They are “crazy” because they can be played at any time, allowing the player to declare which suit the next player must match.

If a player can’t match the top card’s rank or suit and doesn’t have an eight, they draw from the deck until they can play.

Crazy Eights is perfect for ages 5 and up.

In fact, this is one game that we still enjoy playing with our teens! Similar to Uno, but with regular cards, the game is perfect for a rainy day at the campsite.

4. Old Maid

Old Maid is definitely a classic that never gets old, no matter how many camping trips you’ve been on.

My sister and I would play endless games of Old Maid when we were kids (only we had a specialized deck of Popeye-themed cards).

The game is played with a regular deck of cards. You start by taking out one of the Queens, leaving one unlucky lady without a pair – that’s your Old Maid.

The game is pretty straightforward. Once the cards are dealt, everyone pairs up what they can in their hand, and places them down in the pile.

You then draw cards from the person to your left.

The goal is to dump all your pairs and avoid being stuck with the Old Maid.

Old Maid is appropriate for ages 5 and up.

If you do have younger players, we would suggest getting a dedicated Old Maid pack of cards, because it may be easier (and a lot more fun).

You can then use that same pack of cards to play Memory as well!

➡️ Purchase Old Maid cards here

5. Spoons

Spoons is another card game that I learned about through the kids.

The game requires a standard deck of cards and enough spoons for every player minus one, laid out in the center of your playing area.

The aim of Spoons is to collect four of a kind at which time you have to quickly grab a spoon from the center.

As soon as one spoon is taken, it’s a free-for-all for the remaining spoons. Not snagging a spoon means you’re out.

This game is pretty quick-paced and best played with at least four players.

This game needs a little more elbow room, so we tend to only play it outside at the picnic table. It also tends to get a bit more rowdy for some reason!

Family-Friendly Card Games for Camping Using Specialty Card Decks

The card games below require you to buy the different decks of cards. They are a ton of fun, with most of them being appropriate for a variety of ages.

6. Set

Set is one of our favourite family card games to play while camping. The kids actually learned it from fellow travellers while on our Polar Bear expedition in Churchill, Manitoba.

In Set, each card features unique combinations of shapes, colours, and shading. The game begins with 12 cards face-up on the table.

The goal is to spot sets of 3 cards where each feature, looked at individually, is either all the same on each card or all different.

When a player finds a set, they call out “Set” and collect the cards. The dealer then replaces the cards.

Kids Playing SET in our Teardrop Trailer

There are no turns, and the game ends when there aren’t any cards left or no more sets can be made.

The player with the most cards wins.

Set is appropriate for ages 6 and older, and can be played with groups of up to 8 people.

➡️ Purchase Set cards here

7. Uno

Uno is an iconic card game that we have been playing for years!

Ideal for players aged 7 and up, Uno has easy-to-understand rules and is a fast-paced game that is tons of fun for everyone.

In fact, Uno was the one game that my kids could play with their cousins in Italy, because the language barrier didn’t come into play.

The game is played with a unique Uno deck. It consists of cards in four colours (red, yellow, green, and blue) and special action cards like Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, and Wild.

To play, you will need to match all the cards in your hand with the current card shown on top of the deck either by colour or number.

If you can’t make a match, you need to pick up a card from the deck until you can.

And the strategic use of action cards can throw a monkey wrench into someone’s game, adding fun, laughs, and some friendly competition.

The goal is to get rid of all your cards first. The winner of the game is the player who calls “Uno” just before throwing down their last card.

➡️ Purchase Uno cards here

8. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is perfect for players aged 8 and up, and for groups of 2 – 8 players.

This game is pretty simple in theory, but very fast-paced.

Players sit in a circle and take turns saying one word from the game’s title – “Taco,” “Cat,” “Goat,” “Cheese,” “Pizza” – in that order, while simultaneously flipping a card from their hand into the center.

If the word you say matches the card laid down, then everyone must slap their hand on the pile. The last one to do so must take all the cards in the pile.

Of course, there are wild cards thrown into the deck where you have to pound your chest like a gorilla or clap your hands above your head to make a horn if you get a narwhal. a

We find the game to be a lot of fun and it always seems to get the kids laughing. With its easy setup, we also have no problem playing in our Teardrop Trailer.

➡️ Purchase Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza here

9. 5 Second Rule

5 Second Rule is aimed at players aged 10 and up, and challenges participants to think quickly under pressure.

The game consists of a set of cards, each with a category prompt.

Categories can range from “three types of trees” to “three brands of cars,” ensuring a wide variety of topics that make the game fun for everyone.

When it’s your turn, you have just 5 seconds to name three items within a given category.

Sounds easy, right? But once the timer starts ticking, it’s pretty much a guarantee that someone will get tongue-tied trying to get their words out.

The winner of the game is the person who accumulated the most points in a given set of rounds.

You need a sharp mind for this one! John and I refuse to play this game after a tiring day hiking, as the kids tend to kick our butts pretty quickly! 🤣🤣

➡️ Purchase 5 Second Rule here

10. Anomia

Anomia is a great camping card game for 3 to 6 players aged 10 or older.

In Anomia, players draw cards from a deck, with each card featuring a symbol and a category, such as “Fruit” or “Book Title.”

When two players draw cards with matching symbols they must quickly face off. They will need to name an example of the category on their opponent’s card before their opponent can do the same with theirs.

The player who blurts out a correct answer first wins their opponent’s card.

The player with the most cards after the deck runs dry, wins.

We have had this game forever and road trip with it often. It’s a lot of fun but has definitely become easier to play now that the kids are a bit older.

We found some of the cards to be a little difficult when the kids were younger, so we would just take those out.

➡️ Purchase Anomia here

Final Thoughts

Wrapping this up, it’s clear that having a few card games up your sleeve (or in your trailer) is a camping game-changer.

Not only are card games inexpensive and take up little space, they are also perfect for a rainy day inside, or just a fun family evening together.

Card games are also a great way to get the kids off their devices! We always make sure that we have several options packed with us on our camping adventures.

Hopefully, we have given you some interesting card game options for your next family camping trip. Or at the very least, reintroduced you to some old favourites!