30 Awesome Camping Gift Ideas for Kids
I just absolutely love camping! I always have so much fun. Turn off the cell phone, forget social media, and just breathe in nature.
Before kids, camping was a favorite pastime. Now that I have a houseful of kids, the itinerary has changed a bit, but we still have so much fun.
If you are looking forward to taking the entire family on the next camping trip, or if you know someone with outdoorsy kids, who may be stumped on what would be a great gift idea, this is the perfect list to look at.
We’ve organized this gift guide into sections to make shopping a little easier for you. Below you’ll find:
- The best camping toys and gifts for younger children
- Cool camping gifts for bigger kids and teens
- Practical and useful camping gifts
- Kids’ books about nature and camping
We have put together a list of 27 great camping gift ideas for kids. Some items are more practical and no-brainers, but some of these items are super awesome and guaranteed to make camping even more fun.
Why trust Gift Brilliant’s gift recommendations? We won’t overwhelm you with a huge list of gift ideas that people don’t really want. We share gift options that we have personally gifted or received, gifts that others have told us they loved, and a few gift ideas that we would love to have ourselves!
Fun Camping Gifts and Toys for Younger Children
In my experience, young children aren’t always super thrilled about the great outdoors. I have a child who is a little adventurer and has a natural love of the outdoors, and then I have a couple other children who need a little encouragement and motivation to go on family camping trips.
The best things I’ve found are taking along engaging outdoor activities and a few great camping toys to keep them occupied until it’s time to break out the s’mores! Here are a few fun toy ideas your adventurous kids will love.
Many of these gift ideas are available with Amazon Prime’s fast free shipping (often arriving in just one or two days!). If you’re not already a Prime member, you can get a 30-day FREE trial of Amazon Prime here!
A great idea for an outdoorsy child is to teach them how to use a magnifying glass. Not only can the little kids get up close and personal to the smaller bugs, like ants, but it’s also a good idea to show the little campers that in an emergency, you can make a fire using a magnifying glass. This is a fun way to incorporate an important life skill.
When little explorers can't go camping outdoors, this play set with fun camping toys is the next best thing! It comes with all the essential camping gear including a play pop-up tent, hat, pretend campfire with stand, binoculars, oil lamp, 2-in-1 pretend hatchet with knife, magnifier, water bottle, cooking pan with pretend foods, lunch box, 3-in-1 emergency whistle with functions of flashlights and compass, and pretend camping utensils.
Perfect for pretend play indoors at home, in the back yard, or even next to the grown-ups' tent on the next camping trip.
One of my fondest memories of my childhood is using my butterfly net to swoop up beautiful butterflies and moths, as well as hunting for lizards, frogs, and dragonflies. I loved catching (and releasing) all types of creatures.
Kids will enjoy hours of fun playing with this bug catcher kit that includes a bug house, insect net, binoculars, tweezers, magnifier, and 2 toy bugs.
This educational gift will quickly become their favorite way to connect with nature for some screen-free time in the fresh air! (And on a personal note - we love all of the kids' toys from B. toys. They are so well-made and perfect for little hands!)
This lantern/headlamp combo for kids is as adorable as it is useful! They can use it on their next family camping trip to play outdoor games after dark, or take it into their bedroom closet for some make believe adventures on a rainy day. Provides 360-degree light as well as directional light from the owl's eyes.
Not into owls? Other animals and fun options are available to choose from.
A great game for the kids to play is to pretend to be an explorer. Let them take on nature with this kit and discover many amazing facts about nature.
Includes a safari vest, explorer hat, kids binoculars, kids flashlight, butterfly net, tweezers and bug containers, magnifying glass and kids compass. Best for 3-8 year olds.
This explorer kit includes everything a kid needs for bird watching – a good pair of binoculars, a fan to keep cool, a magnifying glass, crank flashlight, and a 5-in-1 multi tool packaged in a carrying case.
The perfect outdoor gift for a trip to visit the national parks, for a simple camping trip with the family, or to see nature up close in their own backyard. Ideal for ages 4-8.
Check out more gift ideas for bird lovers here!
We recently played this scavenger hunt game with our kids and found it to be an enjoyable and engaging activity. The game comes with 35 Find and Seek cards, 2 instruction cards, and is perfect for taking along on road trips or outings to the park.
The versatile nature of this game makes it great for various settings like the beach, camping, or just the backyard.
Even our youngest child (5 years old) was able to participate in the scavenger hunt, thanks to the picture recognition feature on the cards. This added a level of inclusivity that was appreciated by everyone involved.
We enjoyed trying out the different ways to play the game, as suggested by the included instructions, and found that it encouraged exploration and bonding throughout our outdoor adventure.
Cool Camping Gifts for Bigger Kids and Teens
Elevate your campfire experience from ordinary to extraordinary with these magical flame packets, perfect for entertaining kids and adults alike!
These small, easy-to-use packets turn an ordinary campfire into a mesmerizing display of flames with fun colors, captivating the attention of everyone.
We found that using 1-3 packets in our wood-burning fire did the trick, providing us with up to an hour of vibrant, cosmic flames. The kids were absolutely thrilled, and we ended up adding a couple more packets during the night to keep the magic going.
(It's worth noting that these packets shouldn't be used in propane or artificial gas log pits, and they need to be thrown in unopened – so make sure to follow instructions for safe and enjoyable use.)
Do you need a fun way to get the older kids to play with the younger kids? A scavenger hunt will provide so much fun to the entire family. Keep them from being bored with this activity set that includes a pair of walkie talkies and cards that help them learn how to become super spies as they hunt for items!
Walkie talkies have been a fun outdoor activity for kids of all ages for many years, and they are just as cool now as they have always been! My own children have this set and love to play with them indoors on rainy days.
This set has good quality transmission and includes a built-in flashlight for outdoor adventures in the dark. Definitely one of my top picks, and a great option if you're looking for fun camping gift ideas or screen-free ways to keep kids entertained.
A perfect gift for any occasion is an assortment of fun games. One that will add to the camping experience is a memory match game that even the younger children can play. Sometimes little hands can’t play all the fun games that the older children can, but having this game on the family camping trip is perfect for kids of all ages.
Is there anything more fun than sailing through the trees? Turn any slack line into a zipline with this kit from Trailblaze. Comes with a wooden monkey bar to hold onto, but can be switched out to use any other object. Set it up in your backyard, or take it camping for some super outdoor fun!
(Doesn't include the slackline.)
While we are generally very "leave no trace," these paint pens can be the perfect gift for any nature lover. This set includes 12 non-toxic pens that are water-based and work on a variety of surfaces including rocks, stone, metal, pottery, smooth wood, and more.
Kids of all ages can enjoy painting rocks for The Kindness Rocks Project, adding a piece of eco-friendly art to a nature trail, or decorating a souvenir from their latest camping experience or wilderness expedition.
The Polka Dot Camping set from Our Generation makes sure your little one’s dolls camp in style. It includes a tent, sleeping bag, coffee pot, mug, plate, marshmallow, hot dog, roasting stick, and a lantern that really lights up!
Each piece is perfectly sized for your child's Our Generation Dolls, American Girl Dolls (or other 18-inch dolls), bringing more personality and excitement to playtime.
This metal detector is the perfect tool for a treasure hunting expedition! The 7.5-inch dual coil is waterproof and has adjustable sensitivity, detecting objects up to 7 inches underground. And while this is designed for kids, it has a telescoping arm so adults can have fun too!
Weighing only 1.5 pounds, this is one of those outdoor gifts that they won't want to put down!
I will let y’all know, I have not invested in one of these cool gadgets yet, however after reading the great reviews on it, I will be buying one before our next camping trip. Imagine all the cool things you can find with it!
This is a practical gift paired with cool technology that any music lover will enjoy receiving! Keep their head and ears warm while they listen to their favorite tunes - no headphones or earbuds needed. They just connect their device via Bluetooth for up to 20 hours of continuous play.
Makes a great gift for an older kid or young adult who enjoys lots of outdoor play time but doesn't want to be completely disconnected.
If they love adventure, get them a GoPro video camera. The GoPro HERO10 is waterproof with front LCD and touch rear screens, produces unbelievable image quality, and has 1080p live streaming capabilities.
Let them capture photos and videos of all their coolest adventures to easily upload to social media and YouTube. This high quality camera is on of the most amazing gifts and is sure to go everywhere with them so they never miss a moment.
This sensory swing is such a fun gift for kids! Made of durable canvas material, it is suited for hanging indoors or outdoors. Set it up in a corner of their bedroom, under a tree in the backyard, or take it on your next camping trip to give them a place to relax and read or rest.
Outside games are a must when you get together with family and friends. Ring toss is a simple game the whole family can play, perfect for kids of all ages. The little kids can stand closer and try to ring the stick. Make up your own rules, having a little competitive fun, and maybe make it fun with prizes.
Practical and Useful Kids’ Camping Gifts
A great addition to your camping trips, these extendable and easy-to-clean marshmallow sticks are perfect for campfire lovers. In my opinion, s'mores are the best part of any camping trip, and this set makes marshmallow roasting even better.
The extendable feature keeps your hands safe from the flames of the fire pit, and the natural wood handles are not only comfortable to grip but also add a touch of style to the roasting experience.
These make a great camping gift for your kids - but the best part is you get to enjoy them too!
Kids always want to have their own camping gear. Get them their own bag so they can stay warm and feel like a "real" outdoor camper. Bonus for you - they won't be kicking you all night!
This Coleman sleeping bag glows in the dark, comes in different colors that kids love, and is rated down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit to keep them snug as a bug.
Getting the kids their own personalized water bottle is a perfect camping gift. This 12 ounce reusable water bottle is perfect for young kids, with a cool dino design that glows in the dark and and easy to open and lock lid. The inside is stainless steel for easy cleaning and to keep drinks cold.
We have a different version of this water bottle, and it has been perfect for my little guy! Plus it reduces the number of plastic bottles that we have to use, which is super important to nature lovers like us.
This is a practical gift that comes in handy quite often, whether you're in your own backyard, at a ball game, or out in the woods and need a camping chair. This kid size camp chair is sturdy and secure so it won't easily tip over, and has a fun design that kids love. Choose from this adorable lady bug, dinosaurs, unicorns, and others.
Plus it comes with a mesh cup holder so they can easily keep up with their water bottle (or the rocks they collect). Carry bag included, of course.
When the adults and older children go fishing, the little kids just want to be included. One of the best ways for them to join the fun is with their own fishing pole and accessories! This rod and reel set includes a tackle box with hooks, lures, and all kinds of fishing things they will need.
This is a great choice for active kids who are just learning to fish but don't yet need pro fishing equipment. (We all know how it feels to watch that expensive rod and reel sink to the bottom of a lake, right?)
This 2-person tent is perfect for older teens who want to sleep apart from other family members, or even for kids who want to go camping alone in the backyard. Easy to set up, it includes a rain fly and a carrying bag for easy storage and to take along on a hike.
This is one of the best camping gifts that every kid needs, and makes a great addition to their own personal camping gear! Available in other color options.
I almost included Hot Hands as one of the best gifts for this list, then I realized how much better rechargeable hand warmers are! This hand warmer also doubles as a backup battery and is easily charged via USB. It has 3 different temperature settings and is a great way to keep cold hands warm outdoors (or even indoors, if needed!).
Trust me when I say one of the best outdoor gift ideas is a simple hammock! We had one in our backyard when I was a kid, and we spent so much time relaxing on it. This one is lightweight, super affordable (no need to pay extra cost for anything fancy), and perfect for taking along when camping or hiking.
Nature and Camping Books for Kids
No camping trip is complete without having a fun book to read by flashlight in your tent or under the stars. These camping kids books are some of our favorite, and definitely must be included in our list of camping gifts!
From worms, birds, and spiders to trees, flowers, and clouds, young explorers learn what to look and listen for wherever they are — whether in a nature preserve, an urban park, or a suburban backyard. Seek-and-find lists, on-the-trail art projects, and discovery games get kids engaged in hands-on learning about nature, and a real pull-out magnifying glass helps them get a close-up glimpse of leaf veins, seed pods, and tiny insects. Filled with activities, checklists, and stickers, this interactive nature guide belongs in every kid’s backpack.
Perfect for kids ages 4-8.
One of our favorite characters, Llama Llama, is back again for a camping trip! Little ones will love reading this board book so they know what to expect on their first camping adventure, and to help them to not be scared to encounter new things.
Young explorers can use this journal to get started with bird watching. They can track the birds they see, record scientific details, and learn all about the world around them! Perfect for kids 8-12.
We hope this list of camping gift ideas has helped you to find the perfect kids’ camping gifts for your young adventurers! Whether you choose to give them an essential item that will grow their personal camping equipment or surprise them with fun gifts and games to make the outdoors more fun and exciting, we are sure they will love what they get!
Amanda
Amanda is a mom of four kids, two dogs, some chickens, and a few hundred composting worms. As a former teacher and fitness instructor, and the oldest of a houseful of kids, she has quite a bit of experience educating others – which she now does via writing! Gift giving isn’t her main love language, but she loves shopping for the perfect gifts for others.
You can find her on her main blog at amandaseghetti.com and on all social media @amandaseghetti <3
