BlogAugust 2022

7 Labor Day Weekend Camping Ideas

7 Labor Day Weekend Camping Ideas

By Jeff Bogle

Aug 25, 2022

With these fun camping activities and ideas, from fishing to Spike Ball, you and your family will have a memorable Labor Day weekend camping trip!
 

There is no better time to enjoy the pleasant end of summer weather than during Labor Day weekend camping. With the extra day off from work and school, Labor Day is the perfect time for a 3-day camping trip. Whether you decide to escape into nature to do nothing at all, bring your boots to go hiking, or plan to camp near the best Texas lakes for fishing, Labor Day camping is the perfect way to cap off the summer season, and ease you and your family way back into the rigors of the school year. Some of the classic camping activities include firing up the barbecue, fishing, hiking, swimming, or doing nothing at all while camping during Labor Day weekend. Consult our fall camping checklist, and then dis-cover these great camping ideas and activities to keep you happy, and your family entertained and active while at the beach, in the woods, or by a lake.

1. Spike Ball

From the beaches of Barcelona to American backyards from coast to coast, this active, multi-player outdoor game has become an international phenomenon over the past few years! With nothing more than a small round trampoline like device and a ball, four players use their hands, wits, physical strength, lateral movement, and a bit of geometry to play and win Spike Ball. As far as Labor Day weekend camping ideas go, few activities are more fun, or as easy to transport and set up than this!

2. Fresh Fish Cookout

Whether you’ll be catching your own food for a tasty Labor Day camping cookout, or stopping at a local fishmonger for some salmon, shrimp, and trout, having a fresh fish cookout over piping hot charcoal outdoors in nature is a delicious way to celebrate the end of summer and enjoy local Labor Day celebrations.

3. Watersports and Boating

There are many camping destinations including state and national parks and campgrounds with beautiful bodies of water ideal for end of summer and autumn watersports and fun family boating. You can bring your own kayaks and paddle-boards, hardshell or inflatable, or rent a pontoon boat to take your Labor Day camping to the next level.

4. Birdwatching

Outfit your family with binoculars, bird watching guidebooks, and journals, and set off on hikes to see how many species of waterfowl, birds, and ducks you can spot during a Labor Day weekend camping adventure.

5. Corn Hole

Thanks to collapsable corn hole games that are affordable and portable, this classic backyard party game can also be one of the equally epic Labor Day camping activities you bring with you to National Parks or your local campground. Consider having round-robin tournaments, breaking off into pairs, and eventually crowning the Corn Hole Queens or Kings of the Campsite!

6. Card Games

After a day in the sun, on the water, playing physical games, or taking hikes, settle around the campfire with a few card games for all ages. Games like Phase 10, Sushi Go, and the beautiful collaborative game Arboretum are each fun, fast-paced, and perfect for unwinding with family and friends during a Labor Day camping weekend.

7. Fishing

Could you have a Labor Day camping experience without fishing? Sure, but why would you!? Grab your rods, reels, tackle box, SPF shirts and hats, and make a plan to spend quality time on or along the water during an end of summer fishing trip. If you have children, make sure you have fishing rods sets for them and the best swim vests to keep them safe near the water.

Don’t forget to plan fun activities to do with your dog while camping on Labor Day weekend!

Jeff Bogle
Jeff Bogle
Jeff is a dad of teen daughters, avid traveler, photographer, and freelance writer. He’s penned stories on family travel, outdoor recreation, the environment, parenting, and more for Fodor’s, Reader’s Digest, Parents Magazine, Good Housekeeping, PBS, and Esquire, among other publications. Find him on his blog, OWTK.com and on Instagram @OWTK. Jeff is also the publisher of the quarterly literary zine, Stanchion