Going to the lake is always a fun summer activity. When packing for your lake trip, don’t forget to bring games and activities to keep everyone entertained. Playing games together at the lake can create lasting memories. Here are some of the best games to play at the lake for people of all ages.
Page Contents
Outdoor Games
Outdoor games are perfect for enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery at the lake. These games require space to run around and get your heart pumping.
Tag
A game of tag is a classic that everyone loves. Set boundaries for the playing area and choose who will be “it” first. Take turns chasing each other and tagging people. To make it more interesting, try variations like freeze tag where you have to stay frozen if tagged until someone frees you. Or blobs tag where each person you tag joins hands with you until everyone is caught.
Flag Football
For a more competitive game, break into teams and play flag football. Use cones or landmark trees to designate the end zones. Make sure everyone knows the rules and boundaries ahead of time. You can play with a real football or a soft tossable one for younger kids. Flag football at the lake is the perfect way to get everyone running around and working as a team.
Frisbee
Frisbee is easy to pack and simple to set up. Designate goal points and take turns throwing the frisbee back and forth, keeping track of catches and misses. Or play frisbee golf using landmarks as the “holes” and keeping score of how many throws it takes to hit each one. Get creative with frisbee games like seeing how many consecutive catches you can make as a group.
Beach Volleyball
All you need for beach volleyball is a net set up along the shore and a ball. Split into teams and play by traditional rules or make it more casual. Toss the ball around between both sides rather than serving. It’s fun to play beach volleyball barefoot in the sand. If you don’t want to pack a full net and poles, use a badminton net or hang a volleyball net from trees.
Water Games
Cool off from the summer heat by getting in the water and playing these fun games.
Marco Polo
One person closes their eyes and calls out “Marco!” while the other players respond “Polo!” The person who is “it” tries to tag the other players just by following their voices. If you get tagged, you become the next Marco. This is a pool game but works in lakes too if you set boundaries.
Water Balloon Toss
Divide into pairs and have each pair stand across from each other. Start close together and take turns gently tossing a water balloon back and forth without dropping it. After each successful catch, the pairs should take a step backward. See which pair can throw the balloon the farthest distance without it breaking. The losing pair gets soaked!
Backfloat Race
Line up at one end of the swimming area and have everyone lay on their backs. Say “Go!” and see who can float on their backs to the other end of the designated space first. This silly race requires you to relax and focus on your backfloating skills.
Underwater Fetch
Have one person stay above water while the other submerges with a weighted object. Take turns dropping the object to the bottom and seeing who can retrieve it the fastest while holding their breath underwater. Time each other for added competition. This is a great game for kids to practice holding their breath.
Beach and Shoreline Games
The sandy beach and shoreline provide unique terrain for setting up games.
Sandcastle Building Competition
Break into teams and have a set amount of time, like 30 minutes, to build the most elaborate sandcastle you can. Provide buckets and shovels for gathering and shaping the sand. Get creative with materials like sticks, rocks, and seaweed to decorate when time is up. Have someone judge the completed castles and crown a winning team.
Limbo
Find a long stick or pool noodle and have two people hold it parallel to the ground. Take turns going underneath the stick arching backwards. After each round, lower the stick until only one limbo master emerges victorious. This is fun game for a group or kids’ birthday party at the beach.
Cornhole Toss
Set up cornhole boards in the sand or grassy area by the lake. Use sandbags or beanbags and take turns trying to toss them into the hole in the board. Award points for bags that make it in. You can make this game as competitive or casual as you want. It’s easy to play over conversation and relaxation at the lake.
Beach Ball Volleyball
You don’t need an actual volleyball net for this game. Use two beach towels held up by volunteers as the net boundary and hit a beach ball back and forth over the “net” with your hands. Set rules against catching and stopping the ball. See which team can volley the ball the longest without letting it touch the ground. Rotate the volunteers holding the towels between rounds.
Board and Card Games
It’s a good idea to pack some traditional board and card games in case of rainy days at the lake. Even on sunny days, these games provide entertainment in the shade. Here are some great options:
Bocce Ball
Similar to lawn bowling, bocce ball can be played right on the sand or grass. Take turns rolling balls and see whose lands closest to the target ball called the jack. Earn points for balls that end up closest. Bocce ball sets are portable and easy to travel with.
Giant Connect 4
For a larger scale classic game, pack a giant Connect 4 board. Take turns dropping jumbo checkers into the slots and attempt to get 4 in a row either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Kids love the excitement of releasing the checkers from the top and seeing them drop.
Giant Jenga
Regular Jenga on an amplified scale makes for an action-packed game for the whole family. Carefully remove the wooden blocks from the tower one by one until it comes tumbling down. Set it back up and play again and again!
Playing Cards
A deck of cards opens up endless game options like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, Spit, and Slapjack. Try teaching some new card games to the kids that you played growing up. Cards are lightweight to pack and you can easily use a beach towel or table on the porch as your playing surface.
Conclusion
The lake offers the perfect environment for playful connection through games. Which games you choose depends on the style of your lake trip. Quieter cottage weekends may call for leisurely card games while action-packed family vacations require outdoor games that harness energy. Ultimately, the best activities are those that bring people together to laugh, relax, and build memories that will be treasured for summers to come.
| Game Category | Game Ideas |
|---|---|
| Outdoor Games | Tag, Flag Football, Frisbee, Beach Volleyball |
| Water Games | Marco Polo, Water Balloon Toss, Backfloat Race, Underwater Fetch |
| Beach and Shoreline Games | Sandcastle Competition, Limbo, Cornhole Toss, Beach Ball Volleyball |
| Board and Card Games | Bocce Ball, Giant Connect 4, Giant Jenga, Playing Cards |
This table summarizes different categories of games to play at the lake along with specific game ideas for each category. The four game categories are: Outdoor Games, Water Games, Beach and Shoreline Games, and Board and Card Games. Each category includes four examples of fun games to play that fit within that gameplay style. This provides a quick visual overview of the different types of games discussed in the article.
Going to the lake is always a fun summer activity. When packing for your lake trip, don’t forget to bring games and activities to keep everyone entertained. Playing games together at the lake can create lasting memories. Here are some of the best games to play at the lake for people of all ages.
Outdoor Games
Outdoor games are perfect for enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery at the lake. These games require space to run around and get your heart pumping.
Tag
A game of tag is a classic that everyone loves. Set boundaries for the playing area and choose who will be “it” first. Take turns chasing each other and tagging people. To make it more interesting, try variations like freeze tag where you have to stay frozen if tagged until someone frees you. Or blobs tag where each person you tag joins hands with you until everyone is caught.
Flag Football
For a more competitive game, break into teams and play flag football. Use cones or landmark trees to designate the end zones. Make sure everyone knows the rules and boundaries ahead of time. You can play with a real football or a soft tossable one for younger kids. Flag football at the lake is the perfect way to get everyone running around and working as a team.
Frisbee
Frisbee is easy to pack and simple to set up. Designate goal points and take turns throwing the frisbee back and forth, keeping track of catches and misses. Or play frisbee golf using landmarks as the “holes” and keeping score of how many throws it takes to hit each one. Get creative with frisbee games like seeing how many consecutive catches you can make as a group.
Beach Volleyball
All you need for beach volleyball is a net set up along the shore and a ball. Split into teams and play by traditional rules or make it more casual. Toss the ball around between both sides rather than serving. It’s fun to play beach volleyball barefoot in the sand. If you don’t want to pack a full net and poles, use a badminton net or hang a volleyball net from trees.
Water Games
Cool off from the summer heat by getting in the water and playing these fun games.
Marco Polo
One person closes their eyes and calls out “Marco!” while the other players respond “Polo!” The person who is “it” tries to tag the other players just by following their voices. If you get tagged, you become the next Marco. This is a pool game but works in lakes too if you set boundaries.
Water Balloon Toss
Divide into pairs and have each pair stand across from each other. Start close together and take turns gently tossing a water balloon back and forth without dropping it. After each successful catch, the pairs should take a step backward. See which pair can throw the balloon the farthest distance without it breaking. The losing pair gets soaked!
Backfloat Race
Line up at one end of the swimming area and have everyone lay on their backs. Say “Go!” and see who can float on their backs to the other end of the designated space first. This silly race requires you to relax and focus on your backfloating skills.
Underwater Fetch
Have one person stay above water while the other submerges with a weighted object. Take turns dropping the object to the bottom and seeing who can retrieve it the fastest while holding their breath underwater. Time each other for added competition. This is a great game for kids to practice holding their breath.
Beach and Shoreline Games
The sandy beach and shoreline provide unique terrain for setting up games.
Sandcastle Building Competition
Break into teams and have a set amount of time, like 30 minutes, to build the most elaborate sandcastle you can. Provide buckets and shovels for gathering and shaping the sand. Get creative with materials like sticks, rocks, and seaweed to decorate when time is up. Have someone judge the completed castles and crown a winning team.
Limbo
Find a long stick or pool noodle and have two people hold it parallel to the ground. Take turns going underneath the stick arching backwards. After each round, lower the stick until only one limbo master emerges victorious. This is fun game for a group or kids’ birthday party at the beach.
Cornhole Toss
Set up cornhole boards in the sand or grassy area by the lake. Use sandbags or beanbags and take turns trying to toss them into the hole in the board. Award points for bags that make it in. You can make this game as competitive or casual as you want. It’s easy to play over conversation and relaxation at the lake.
Beach Ball Volleyball
You don’t need an actual volleyball net for this game. Use two beach towels held up by volunteers as the net boundary and hit a beach ball back and forth over the “net” with your hands. Set rules against catching and stopping the ball. See which team can volley the ball the longest without letting it touch the ground. Rotate the volunteers holding the towels between rounds.
Board and Card Games
It’s a good idea to pack some traditional board and card games in case of rainy days at the lake. Even on sunny days, these games provide entertainment in the shade. Here are some great options:
Bocce Ball
Similar to lawn bowling, bocce ball can be played right on the sand or grass. Take turns rolling balls and see whose lands closest to the target ball called the jack. Earn points for balls that end up closest. Bocce ball sets are portable and easy to travel with.
Giant Connect 4
For a larger scale classic game, pack a giant Connect 4 board. Take turns dropping jumbo checkers into the slots and attempt to get 4 in a row either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Kids love the excitement of releasing the checkers from the top and seeing them drop.
Giant Jenga
Regular Jenga on an amplified scale makes for an action-packed game for the whole family. Carefully remove the wooden blocks from the tower one by one until it comes tumbling down. Set it back up and play again and again!
Playing Cards
A deck of cards opens up endless game options like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, Spit, and Slapjack. Try teaching some new card games to the kids that you played growing up. Cards are lightweight to pack and you can easily use a beach towel or table on the porch as your playing surface.
Conclusion
The lake offers the perfect environment for playful connection through games. Which games you choose depends on the style of your lake trip. Quieter cottage weekends may call for leisurely card games while action-packed family vacations require outdoor games that harness energy. Ultimately, the best activities are those that bring people together to laugh, relax, and build memories that will be treasured for summers to come.
Going to the lake is always a fun summer activity. When packing for your lake trip, don’t forget to bring games and activities to keep everyone entertained. Playing games together at the lake can create lasting memories. Here are some of the best games to play at the lake for people of all ages.
Outdoor Games
Outdoor games are perfect for enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery at the lake. These games require space to run around and get your heart pumping.
Tag
A game of tag is a classic that everyone loves. Set boundaries for the playing area and choose who will be “it” first. Take turns chasing each other and tagging people. To make it more interesting, try variations like freeze tag where you have to stay frozen if tagged until someone frees you. Or blobs tag where each person you tag joins hands with you until everyone is caught.
Flag Football
For a more competitive game, break into teams and play flag football. Use cones or landmark trees to designate the end zones. Make