Telling stories by the campfire and luxuriating in the wonder of nature is all well and good, but it doesn’t really get your blood pumping. When you want to move, active games—cornhole being a particularly popular example—are perfect campsite activities. They’re fun for adults, teens, and kids alike, and they provide an excuse to get up and work off the hotdogs without committing to something more strenuous like a hike.
To find the best games for this kind of situation, we tested five types:
I have a lot of experience playing these games at various tailgates, campsites, and picnics. But I wanted to also test with a big group of Wirecutter staffers, so we set up these five on the courtyard outside our office in Long Island City, New York, and got down to testing.
Throughout our testing, we discovered both the limits of the games and the limits of our own abilities. As it turns out, some of these games require a bit more hand-eye coordination than others, which tripped up a few of our testers. After a number of washers, bolas, and frisbees had been thrown and balls spiked, we ended up with two staff favorites.
A straightforward yet tricky throwing game: Ladder toss
Top pick
You can choose from many versions of this popular throwing game, but in our testing, this set provided the best mix of challenge and accessibility for our testers.
Ever since humans have had things to throw and targets to throw them at, they’ve made games about being the best thrower of things. From horseshoes to axe throwing to the rise of the American Cornhole League, these games have become so oversaturated that you’d think they’d be played out by now. That’s why it’s nice to play games that apply the same general principle with just enough variation to keep it interesting.
How it’s played: Ladder toss does this by using bolas—two weighted balls tied together with a string—and setting up the target vertically instead of on the ground, like most other throwing games. The tricky physics of the bolas can throw even the most seasoned bean bag tossers for a loop, but the general concept is simple enough that anyone can learn in a couple minutes.
Ladder toss has several variations of rules and scoring, but the goal is straightforward regardless of which version you play: Land as many bolas on the crossbars as possible to earn more points than your opponents, with the ultimate goal of being first to exactly 21 points.
Of the games we tested, this one was easiest for newbies to grasp. This meant that more of our testers felt like they had a chance at winning right off the bat, but more-experienced players were still able to enjoy the challenge of mastering the whirling bolas.
The weird physics keeps the game tense and exciting. Since you’re never quite sure how the bolas will react to the ladder—whether they will twist off a rung, wrap around it, or somehow spin right through the rungs without touching any—you’re always surprised by the result of a throw. And no one throwing technique reigns supreme, so every throw has a bit of drama to it, even when everyone knows what they’re doing.
It’s well built and portable. The set we tested folds down into flat squares for transport and storage. We liked the solid metal construction and sand-filled bolas. You can find sets made of flimsy PVC that are a bit lighter and might be cheaper, but the step up to a metal or wood set is worth the investment.
For Frisbee aficionados: Kan Jam
Top pick
This team game provides an invigorating mix of exertion and precision. From teens to adults, anyone who can fling a frisbee will have fun.
Name a more iconic duo than parks and Frisbees. You can’t. The flying disc is the quintessential toy for directionless outdoor gatherings. But after a few minutes of zipping it back and forth, it starts to lose its charm.
That’s why organized disc sports have risen in popularity, and it’s also why Kan Jam is such a good outdoor game. It brings a fun and engaging structure to those disc-tossing skills.
How it’s played: Two teams of two set up with a player on each side of the playing field. In between each opposing player, a small plastic cylinder with an opening in the top and a small slot in the front is placed on the ground. The goal of the game is to throw the disc at the can, getting various points if you hit it (one point), drop it into the top (three points), or zip it through the front slot (an instant win).
The twist is that your teammate, who stands near the target, is allowed to bat at and redirect the disc as they see fit. (Most often, this translates into smacking it down into the top opening for more points.)
The game encourages a thrilling mix of skill and teamwork. A really good thrower can probably get at least a point each time but will be rewarded with more points if they place the disc in such a way that their partner can slam it home.
Kan Jam has a slightly higher skill floor than ladder toss, since at least one team member needs to have basic disc-tossing skills. But since you also have a partner who can make up for bad throws with a bit of athleticism and creative thinking, the Frisbee-challenged can still participate.
And whereas ladder toss can be played with a drink safely in hand, Kan Jam is more often played with a drink spilled down the front of your shirt. Still fun, just a bit messier.
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Telling stories by the campfire and luxuriating in the wonder of nature is all well and good, but it doesn’t really get your blood pumping. When you want to move, active games—cornhole being a particularly popular example—are perfect campsite activities. They’re fun for adults, teens, and kids alike, and they provide an excuse to get up and work off the hotdogs without committing to something more strenuous like a hike.
To find the best games for this kind of situation, we tested five types:
I have a lot of experience playing these games at various tailgates, campsites, and picnics. But I wanted to also test with a big group of Wirecutter staffers, so we set up these five on the courtyard outside our office in Long Island City, New York, and got down to testing.
Throughout our testing, we discovered both the limits of the games and the limits of our own abilities. As it turns out, some of these games require a bit more hand-eye coordination than others, which tripped up a few of our testers. After a number of washers, bolas, and frisbees had been thrown and balls spiked, we ended up with two staff favorites.
A straightforward yet tricky throwing game: Ladder toss
Top pick
You can choose from many versions of this popular throwing game, but in our testing, this set provided the best mix of challenge and accessibility for our testers.
Ever since humans have had things to throw and targets to throw them at, they’ve made games about being the best thrower of things. From horseshoes to axe throwing to the rise of the American Cornhole League, these games have become so oversaturated that you’d think they’d be played out by now. That’s why it’s nice to play games that apply the same general principle with just enough variation to keep it interesting.
How it’s played: Ladder toss does this by using bolas—two weighted balls tied together with a string—and setting up the target vertically instead of on the ground, like most other throwing games. The tricky physics of the bolas can throw even the most seasoned bean bag tossers for a loop, but the general concept is simple enough that anyone can learn in a couple minutes.
Ladder toss has several variations of rules and scoring, but the goal is straightforward regardless of which version you play: Land as many bolas on the crossbars as possible to earn more points than your opponents, with the ultimate goal of being first to exactly 21 points.
Of the games we tested, this one was easiest for newbies to grasp. This meant that more of our testers felt like they had a chance at winning right off the bat, but more-experienced players were still able to enjoy the challenge of mastering the whirling bolas.
The weird physics keeps the game tense and exciting. Since you’re never quite sure how the bolas will react to the ladder—whether they will twist off a rung, wrap around it, or somehow spin right through the rungs without touching any—you’re always surprised by the result of a throw. And no one throwing technique reigns supreme, so every throw has a bit of drama to it, even when everyone knows what they’re doing.
It’s well built and portable. The set we tested folds down into flat squares for transport and storage. We liked the solid metal construction and sand-filled bolas. You can find sets made of flimsy PVC that are a bit lighter and might be cheaper, but the step up to a metal or wood set is worth the investment.
For Frisbee aficionados: Kan Jam
Top pick
This team game provides an invigorating mix of exertion and precision. From teens to adults, anyone who can fling a frisbee will have fun.
Name a more iconic duo than parks and Frisbees. You can’t. The flying disc is the quintessential toy for directionless outdoor gatherings. But after a few minutes of zipping it back and forth, it starts to lose its charm.
That’s why organized disc sports have risen in popularity, and it’s also why Kan Jam is such a good outdoor game. It brings a fun and engaging structure to those disc-tossing skills.
How it’s played: Two teams of two set up with a player on each side of the playing field. In between each opposing player, a small plastic cylinder with an opening in the top and a small slot in the front is placed on the ground. The goal of the game is to throw the disc at the can, getting various points if you hit it (one point), drop it into the top (three points), or zip it through the front slot (an instant win).
The twist is that your teammate, who stands near the target, is allowed to bat at and redirect the disc as they see fit. (Most often, this translates into smacking it down into the top opening for more points.)
The game encourages a thrilling mix of skill and teamwork. A really good thrower can probably get at least a point each time but will be rewarded with more points if they place the disc in such a way that their partner can slam it home.
Kan Jam has a slightly higher skill floor than ladder toss, since at least one team member needs to have basic disc-tossing skills. But since you also have a partner who can make up for bad throws with a bit of athleticism and creative thinking, the Frisbee-challenged can still participate.
And whereas ladder toss can be played with a drink safely in hand, Kan Jam is more often played with a drink spilled down the front of your shirt. Still fun, just a bit messier.
5 Camping Games We Love (That Are Also Great for Backyards)
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