Family Fall Camping Fun: Outdoor Activities Without Screens

Fall is officially here! This is my absolute favorite time to be in our RV because the weather is perfect for enjoying the great outdoors as a family. During Fall camping, I like to do everything I can to get my kids off of screens, up and moving around, and spending time outside. 

Here are some of my favorite ways to do that. 

Nature Scavenger Hunts: Fall Camping Edition

I love nature scavenger hunts. They’re perfect for keeping little ones occupied during hikes and getting everyone excited about spending time outdoors. This is just as true during the fall season as it is any other time of year. 

I recommend adding fall-specific items to your scavenger hunt list. These could include:

• A red maple leaf
• A pinecone
• A squirrel’s stash (acorns or nuts)
• Animal tracks in mud or leaves
• A feather
• A uniquely shaped rock
• Moss growing on a log
  

If you have very small hikers, consider turning the game into a “color scavenger hunt,” asking them to find something orange, something yellow, or something brown.

I have a teenager, so I like to add challenges like…

• Find something that makes a sound.
• Spot a natural pattern.
• Identify a tree species.

Bonus idea: We’ve found that many state and national parks have pre-made scavenger hunt sheets that include local flora and fauna. These are super cool and well worth asking for. 

Campfire Cooking (That Kids Can Help With)

I can’t imagine camping without some good food, and fall-time comfort foods are some of my favorites. Food is especially wonderful when it’s made with love, and what better way to add some love to your dishes than to include the whole family in the cooking process? 

Try one of these simple camping recipes during your next trip and encourage the kids to get involved:

• Campfire pies: Using pie irons, fill two slices of bread with pie filling or peanut butter and chocolate chips. Toast over the fire until golden.
• Tin foil dinners: Each person builds their own pouch with meat, veggies, seasoning, and butter. Place in the coals and cook for about 20–30 minutes.
• DIY s’mores bar: Go beyond the basics—add peanut butter cups, caramel squares, or cinnamon graham crackers.
• Campfire popcorn: Toss kernels, oil, and salt into foil packets, then shake them over the fire with tongs until the popping slows.

Leaf Art and Nature Crafts

During the fall, there are all kinds of amazing and colorful craft supplies just laying on the ground. Go on a walk to gather red and yellow leaves, acorns, and pinecones, and then return to your campsite to get creative. 

Some things we’ve made in the past include:

• Leaf rubbings: Place a leaf under a sheet of paper and lightly color over it with crayons to reveal the intricate veins.
• Nature crowns: Tape or tie colorful leaves and flowers onto a strip of paper or twine, then wear it around your head.
• Pinecone creatures: Use acorns, googly eyes, and sticks to build silly forest animals.
• Painted rocks: Collect smooth stones and decorate them with patterns or words of encouragement. (Leave them along trails for others to find!)
  

I love this idea because it encourages kids to really pay attention to and appreciate their surroundings while in the great outdoors. Of course, giving kids a chance to use their creativity is always a bonus as well. 

Campfire Storytelling (With a Twist)

No autumn camping trip is complete without a campfire, and no campfire is complete without some storytelling. Bring some excitement to every crisp fall evening by playing these storytelling games around the campfire:

• “Pass-the-story” game: One person starts with a line (“It was a cold autumn night when…”) and each camper adds a sentence or two. The results are hilarious and unpredictable.
• True stories: Encourage everyone to share a personal story from childhood, travel, or school.
• Nature mysteries: Have someone hide an object earlier in the day, then spin a story about discovering clues that lead to it.
  

My family has always loved games like these, and I’ve found that even the littlest members of our clan are able to join in. 

Hiking Games and Trail Challenges

My absolute favorite time to go hiking? The fall. The cooler temperatures and distinct lack of bugs are both wonderful, and the colors are simply amazing. That said, my kids aren’t always onboard with my hikes. That’s where our hiking games come into play. 

There’s the aforementioned avenger hunt idea, but here are a few others that we enjoy:

• I Spy (Nature Edition): “I spy something red and crunchy.”
• Sound Safari: Who can name the most natural sounds they hear? (Wind, birds, footsteps, water…)
• Trail Bingo: Create bingo cards with squares like “mushroom,” “squirrel,” “running water,” and “campsite sign.”
• Photo Memory Game (no cameras!): Have everyone look at a landmark for 10 seconds, then close their eyes and describe it in detail.

Campground Olympics

My kids, like most kids, have a lot of energy. This can be crazy-making when you live in an RV, and it makes finding ways to burn off energy outdoors a must. One of the best ways to do this? A campground Olympics event. 

Possible events include:

• Pinecone toss (closest to the log wins)
• Sack race or three-legged race
• Tent setup speed contest (parents vs. kids, anyone?)
• Balance beam (use a fallen log)
• Leaf relay (carry a leaf on a spoon without dropping it)
  

Keep score or just play for fun. If you want to get really into it, you can even make homemade cardboard medals!

Astronomy Nights: Stargazing Without Apps

Stargazing is easily one of the best camping activities out there, and the clear falltime skies are ideal for stargazing. We adore the Sky Guide app on iPhone for finding planets and constellations, but even a book of constellations will work if you really want to avoid screens entirely. 

Lay out some blankets, snuggle up as a family and try to find:

• Cassiopeia (the “W” in the sky)
• Orion’s Belt (three stars in a line)
• The Pleiades (a tight cluster of twinkling stars)
• The Milky Way (visible in dark-sky areas)
  

You could also make your stargazing into a game by asking everyone:

• Who can find the most constellations?
• Which star seems brightest tonight?
• What shapes or animals do you see in the stars?
  

Sometimes we like to break out the binoculars or the telescope to make things even more interesting. 

Campground Music and Dancing

We are a very musical family, so it makes sense that we find ways to make music wherever we roam. A guitar or ukulele is perfect for playing around the campfire, and kids love simple rhythm instruments like shakers or tambourines. 

You can:

• Sing campfire classics (“Country Roads,” “This Land Is Your Land”)
• Make up silly songs about your trip
• Host a mini “talent show” night
• Teach kids old hand-clapping games or simple folk dances

DIY Nature Education

We’re a roadschooling family. That means we find opportunities for learning everywhere we go. I’ve found tons of great ways to learn in the outdoors during the autumn months. 

Some of my favorite include: 

• Leaf identification: Use a field guide to name local trees.
• Wildlife observation: Sit quietly at dawn or dusk to spot birds or deer.
• Weather watch: Track temperature changes morning and evening.
• Compass fun: Teach kids how to find north using a compass—or even the sun and shadows.

Board and Card Games by Lantern Light

Family game nights are a hit with my crew. Sure, you could just head into the RV, but we’ve found it’s sometimes even more fun (and a bit magical) to set up a lantern, bundle up, and play games around the picnic table while enjoying the cool fall weather. 

Some favorites include:

• Uno
• Go Fish
• Travel Scrabble
• Charades 
• 20 Questions 

Sunrise or Sunset Watch Parties

Nothing beats the beauty of a sunrise or a sunset. Since I am decidedly not a morning person, I prefer sunsets, and watching the performance the sky puts on at the end of each day is just incredible. That said, sunrises are equally beautiful, so if you enjoy mornings, that option is also wonderful.

Whichever you choose, pack up some blankets and hot drinks, find a good spot, and spend some time as a family enjoying the beauty of the sunrise or sunset. Take some time to sit quietly and notice the changes that happen during the event. It’s a great exercise in mindfulness and the perfect way to connect as a family and with nature. 

Geocaching (the One Exception)

Recently my mom has gotten into Geocaching and it looks like a total blast. Technically, this one does require a GPS or a phone so it isn’t completely screen-free, but since most of the activity is away from the screen, I think it counts. 

Basically, Geocaching is like a giant treasure hunt. Participants use GPS coordinates to find “caches” of little treasures that they can add to and take something from. It’s great fun for all ages and a wonderful way to practice navigational skills. 

Campfire Science Experiments

Another way to sneak some learning into your camping adventure? Some campsite science experiments. 

Some cool ideas include:

• Pinecone hygrometer: Observe how pinecones open in dry weather and close in humidity.
• Fire color test: Sprinkle a bit of salt (yellow), copper sulfate (blue-green), or baking soda (green) into the fire (from a safe distance).
• Melting race: Compare how quickly ice melts on different surfaces—rock, metal, wood.

Building and Decorating Camp Forts

My kids absolutely adore building forts in the woods with their friends. Over the years, I’ve seen all sorts of different structures and their creativity and ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. 

Set some ground rules—for example, only use fallen materials and don’t damage living plants—and then challenge your kids to build a structure of their own. You’ll probably be surprised at what they come up with!

Campfire Reflections 

Lastly, I highly recommend building a campfire on the last night of your trip and spend some time reflecting around the fire as a family. Go around the circle and have each family member tell the group…

• Their favorite moment of the trip.
• Something they learned.
• Something they’re thankful for.
  

I adore this simple ritual, as it helps everyone realize how amazing these trips really are and helps solidify happy memories so they can be revisited for years to come.