RVing grants us the opportunity to get closer to nature, especially so when we set up camp in Michigan. But even though our RVs offer endless amenities, we still find ourselves drawn to the outdoors, spending most waking hours soaking up the sun and basking in the fresh air.
And while there are countless activities to partake near the campground, sometimes we just want to spend the day lounging around the campsite. With the addition of one, or all, of these yard games, you’ll be hard-pressed to find much reason to leave.
These games are perfect for entertaining your family, neighbors, and when hosting large parties. For you handy RVers, a simple Pinterest search will yield numerous DIY projects to craft your own set.
Cornhole: Cornhole is a backyard staple nowadays. It is typically played with two teams of two, but you can play one-on-one, too. You take turns throwing beanbags onto wooden planks, trying to land on the board (1 point) or in the hole (3 points). Play until someone gets exactly 21 points. You can move the boards closer together for the younger players, who can’t throw as far, or further away for those looking for a challenge.
Giant Jenga: We’ve all played the classic game, Jenga – you build a teetering tower of wooden blocks until someone knocks the tower over. Giant Jenga is the same thing, but, well, giant! The loser has to rebuild the tower for the next round. (Just don’t be in the way of the collapsing tower.) The blocks can be made of wood or a lighter material, and they can take up quite a bit of room, so if you have a storage shed on your lot, that’s a perfect place to store them.
Ladder Golf: Similar to Cornhole, divide into two even teams or select a single opponent, and space your ladders about 15 feet apart. Take turns throwing your bolas (a rope with two golf balls hooked to the end) at your ladder (a structure with three horizontal poles), attempting to wrap your bola around one of the rungs. The top rung is worth three points, the middle two points, and the third is worth one point. Play to 21.
Spike Ball: Spike Ball is a relatively new game, taking the country by storm. This is the perfect game for the active family, looking for an exciting activity that takes a bit of effort! It’s simple: You have a net (more like a mini trampoline than a typical net), one bouncy ball, and two teams. You take turns bouncing the ball on the net, hoping to get the ball pass your opponent(s). Many compare the game to volleyball because teams have three opportunities to settle the ball and return to the opposite team.
Bocee Ball: For this classic yard game, players divide into two teams of one, two, or four. Alternate throwing your ball toward the small ball, called the pallina. The team with the most balls closest to the pallina wins that round. This is a great game for large, open areas, and players of all ages.
Horseshoes: Horseshoes is another timeless game that’s appropriate for many ages. Your campground may even already have a set on site! As the name suggests, players take turns throwing horseshoes toward a stake; the goal being to wrap your horseshoe around the stake (a ringer) to earn points. Official rules vary, but you can either play by setting a certain number of tosses (such as 25) and counting up the points earned in those tosses or by setting a point goal (such as 21) and then working your way there. A ringer could be three points, hitting the stake could be two points, and landing within six inches of the stake could be 1 point. It’s all up to you!
Giant Yahtzee: Parlor room Yahtzee is played with dice and a small cup, often on the living room coffee table. Giant Yahtzee takes the party outside, and loses that obnoxiously loud cup! All of the scoring and rules remain the same.
Croquet: If your campsite has a large grassy area, croquet is a perfect game. You may consider setting up your court near the clubhouse, assuming it’s okay with the campground owners, for a bigger play space. Although this game is great fun, it may not be appropriate for all ages – you’ll likely want to wait until your children are seven or older before you place mallets in their hands.
What yard games did we miss? Comment with your recommendation for the next game we should try our hand at!