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10 Fun Ideas for Your Backyard Campout

Awesome camping fun for Seattle-area families — without leaving home

Nancy Chaney
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Published on:

kids smiling in a tent camping in the backyard
Photo:
Break out the tent for a fun camping adventure in your own backyard. Photo: iStock

When the weather begins to warm up (even just a little) my family starts itching for a change of scenery and that refreshing dose of nature only camping can deliver. But since we don’t always have a campsite lined up (or want to brave the crowds), we’ve found a simple fix: the backyard campout. It’s a fun, low-stress way to soak in the outdoors, even when the weather’s a little unpredictable. Plus, it’s the perfect warmup for the summer camping season, complete with s’mores, stories and sleeping under the stars (without forgetting the tent stakes). Check out our favorite tips to make your at-home campout feel just as magical as the real thing.

First, you need your shelter. If your family are regular campers, you can just pitch your tent in the yard. If you don’t have a tent and still want to sleep outside, get creative stringing a cord between a tree and a fence post. Drape some sheets over it and pin the edges to the ground with toothpicks or slim stakes (Note: This will leave holes in your sheets.). Or rig up a teepee with broom handles and a sheet. A tarp or thick picnic blanket on the ground will give you a dry surface.

tent with a family inside camping in the backyard
Set up a tent and get ready for some family fun, right in your own backyard. Photo: iStock

So maybe you don’t have a yard, or don’t fancy the idea of sleeping outdoors. For your camp-in, pitch a small tent right in the living room or in your basement. No tent? Build a blanket fort with blankets, sheets and tons of pillows. Clothespins work well to secure all your corners and seams. (Or perhaps your fam would enjoy a ready-made fort kit?)

family camping in their living room
The weather not cooperating? No problem! Photo: iStock

Cozy beds required! For kids to sleep, all they need is a sleeping bag and a camping pad. But here’s where (nearly?) middle-aged parental bodies are going to super-love the at-home campout. Drag out your memory foam mattress topper or the airbed you use for guests. Your fave flannel sheets will do nicely, plus all the covers you want. And you can gather up every pillow in the house and not worry about stuffing them all in the car. Ahhhh.

girl lying on a large air mattress outside
If you can drag it outside, you can sleep on it. Photo: iStock

Cookout time. For an authentic camping experience, get out your camp stove or your grill. If you’re the ambitious sort, try a genius campfire meal for your backyard dinner or grill up some tasty burgers. For a less-fuss dinner, break out the hot dogs and grill them, or just boil them on the stove inside.

Asian family cooking over a camp stove
When you camp at home it’s easy to make a yummy dinner over a grill. Photo: iStock

Set the camping mood with a backyard firepit or chiminea, if you have one. A hibachi also works — because you know we’re getting to the s’mores in a sec. No firepit? Turn off all the lights inside and outside your house and hang up some string lights, or gather around a lantern or some candles. (Of course with any type of fire or candles, you’ll need a grown-up eye on them at all times.)

hanging up lights on a tent
Pull out those Christmas lights and make your tent feel extra special. Photo: iStock

Dessert. It’s really why we’re doing all this. Set your s’more over your firepit or hibachi grill, or just melt (and grow!) your marshmallows briefly in the microwave. And how good is it that you can just pop inside and easily wash all the sticky hands and mouths? When you’re ready to go beyond the traditional s’more, try elevating your campfire dessert with these sweet cook-over-a-fire recipes.

dad and son roasting marshmallows in the backyard
Isn’t this the whole point of camping, really? Photo: iStock

Game time. You’re never going to get the kids to sleep without burning off the sugar bomb they’ve just ingested. Convince your crew to leave all the devices inside and play some old-school games. Try a no-equipment game such as charades, red light, green light or Simon says. Larger families could try sardines (a twist on hide-and-seek) or Mother, may I? For fun lawn games, try kid-safe lawn darts or croquet. For very young kids, go nuts with the bubbles for a popping-good time.

kids running around backyard camping
Play a game or just run around, whatever it takes to burn off that energy! Photo: iStock

 

After games, it’s time for music or stories. My husband likes to play guitar by the campfire. Do you have a musician in the family? Or see if you can get the troops singing in a family sing-along. It might be fun to teach the kids classic folk songs like “This Land Is Your Land” or “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Or sing whatever you know — belt out a Beyoncé song if that’s what you like. Ghost stories are fun for older kids; you could look one up beforehand if you don’t know any.

family singing while camping in backyard
Inspire the family with a little backyard camping sing-a-long. Photo: iStock

For families with older kids, cozy up for an outdoor movie. You could watch together on a device in your tent, or set up the big screen following these DIY outdoor movie ideas. After your movie or stories, have everyone zip inside to brush their teeth and for a final bathroom break, then snuggle in to sleep.

girls watching a movie in their backyard
Pass the popcorn and watch a family favorite in the backyard. Photo: iStock

 

Good morning!? First things first: Run inside and get the coffee maker going. Then, if you’re feeling ambitious, fire up the camp stove for pancakes or oatmeal. Or there’s nothing wrong with a buffet of cereal, fruit and milk grabbed from the kitchen.

woman drinking coffee in the kitchen looking out the window
Go ahead and drink that first cup of coffee before you head back outside. You earned it! Photo: iStock

You know, I generally like camping and being in the woods, sleeping outside in our state’s beautiful places. But not needing to make reservations nine months ahead, skipping packing the car and not battling traffic or ferry lines ... plus having the comforts of home 10 yards away? I think I could become a backyard camping convert.

More camping family fun: 

Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago and was most recently updated on May 19, 2025, by ParentMap’s associate editor, Kari Hanson, with new links for your summer campout adventures. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase products through links on our site, ParentMap may earn an affiliate commission.

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