Are you looking for some creative adult scavenger hunt ideas? These winning adult activities can be used for birthday parties, office parties, youth groups, team-building & more! Check out the list of forty (plus) adult scavenger hunt ideas you can print today.
Who says adults can’t have fun too? Having organized adult activities can create an instant connection. Adult games can be used at ice breakers, team-building activities, birthday party entertainment, and “just because” memories. One type of adult game that can easily become pulled together is a scavenger hunt.
Scavenger hunts are a came full of clues or a list of items that can be quickly collected. These items can be collected in an order using rhyming riddles and clue cards. The collected items don’t have to be picked up and alternatively, they can be photographed as photographic evidence. Lastly, they can be collected as physical objects. Scavenger hunts can be a race against the clock or against another team. They require a competitive spirit, problem-solving skills, and a bit of humor.
The benefits of scavenger hunts are the way they bring people together and improve relationships. The size of the group doesn’t necessarily matter. A bit of friendly competitive spirit can be found between a couple or between an entire team. Scavenger hunts stimulate the brain and boost one’s mood. They create instant connection and a feeling of accomplishment.
Pull out that inner child and take a look at these creative adult treasure hunts. These adult scavenger hunt ideas include both virtual and in-person ideas.
How do you make an interesting scavenger hunt for adults?
When you are ready to hold a scavenger hunt for adults, you want to ensure it’s engaging and enjoyable. A few scavenger hunts require setup. Many scavenger hunts can be printed and instantly played. Before planning an adult scavenger hunt, consider your audience, your players, and the environment where you want the treasure hunt to take place.
To guide you on creating an interesting hunt, follow these basic tips for hosting an adult scavenger hunt.
Step 1: Choose a Location
To being the process of hosting a scavenger hunt, choose your location. Will this be outdoors, indoors, at a venue, or at a special location? Knowing the location of your event, helps you decide what types of clues to have. Will your clues lead to a garden house or a popular store in the mall?
Step 2: Choosing a Theme for your Scavenger Hunt
Once you have the location, consider the occasion. If this is for a special occasion, it might easily establish your scavenger hunt theme. For example a baby shower or birthday party. However, if you have no special occasion or holiday, then you open the possibility of treasure hunt themes – let’s go camping, lake life, red, white, and blue, or even mall madness. Get creative. Your location can help you.
Step 3: Choose your Type of Scavenger Hunt
Once you understand your scavenger hunt location and theme, it’s time to plan the type of scavenger hunt you want. There are two main styles – a scavenger hunt checklist and scavenger hunt clue cards.
When finding items, you can use both physical and virtual items. Virtual items mean one can pick up a smartphone and quickly find something they need on Google. Virutal can also include creating a photo scavenger hunt where only photographic evidence counts.
If creating your own scavenger hunt clues and list of items feels daunting to you, then pre-built scavenger hunt list and customize it. Some of our scavenger hunt sets include editable text for Adobe PDF. Or use pre-built scavenger hunt clues and roll with it adding none of your own personalized ideas and thoughts.
Step 4: Create a List of Scavenger Hunt Rules and Goals
When creating the rules for a scavenger hunt, consider your location, theme, team members, and goal for participation. Is this a team scavenger hunt, is this a race against the clock, or is only one person searching for clues?
Example rules for a scavenger hunt for grown-ups might include:
Time: Is there a time limit for the hunt? Is this man versus clock or team versus team? Can you keep your own pace?
Difficulty: If completing a checklist of activities or things to find, assign various points for each activity based on how hard your list of challenges is.
Participants: Make a list of tasks for the participants! Will your players work with team members or on their own?
Winners: Winners are assigned based on having the most points, completing the tasks first, or finishing the most activities in the set amount of time.
Considering all these things will help you put together your final rules
Step 5: Organize Your Scavenger Hunt Party + Event
Now that you know the location, time, place, theme, and rules, it is important to put it all together before your occasion starts. Download your scavenger hunt printable or create your own. Gather a few prize ideas and set up the clues and scavenger hunt if necessary.
What are examples of fun adult scavenger hunts?
We have a huge selection of the best scavenger hunts. In addition, we have hundreds of kids’ scavenger hunts. I you have a jovial adult who likes to have fun (or needs to have more fun) pick up any of these treasure hunts and let the fun begin.
Virtual Scavenger Hunts
One type of scavenger hunt that doesn’t even require anyone in the same location is a virtual scavenger hunt. This type of scavenger hunt can be done over Zoom, Skype, Google Hangout, or even over a text message. To play an online scavenger hunt, one person will act as the moderator and list an object that has to be found. All players will race to bring that item back to video chat. If doing this over text messaging, then players will quickly text a photo of that item and send it to the group over their cell phones. Points are awarded for being the first player to bring back the item, second or even third. Players after the third player get no points. For larger groups, combine into small teams for a bit of fun team building. The winners will enjoy the gloat for the rest of… well… forever. This game is a fun way for friends and family close and far since physical proximity is not necessary for the interaction of remote teams.
At-Home Scavenger Hunt with Clue Cards
Scavenger hunts with rhyming riddles are always fun. This adult scavenger hunt has clue cards, some of which include adult-themed birthday scavenger hunt clue ideas. There is a set for him. There is a set for her. That means, print this adult scavenger hunt and pull the clue cards that fit your celebration – birthday party games for adults, Valentine’s Day, date night for couples, or just because. One of these at-home scavenger hunt clues even ends up in bed creating a very romantic couple’s scavenger hunt.
Mall Scavenger Hunt
This Mall Scavenger Hunt has two sets. One is a checklist with mall scavenger hunt image ideas. The other includes a checklist of mall scavenger hunt ideas plus a blank template to add your own ideas. While you can certainly do the scavenger hunt with images, the list of scavenger hunt ideas is perfect for a youth group, office party with coworkers, or adults’ night out. This is the perfect activity to take to the mall, Target, Walmart, or any outdoor shopping area. It’s pretty generic plus the blank scavenger hunt template allows you to create your own personalized ideas for the public place you choose to visit.
Photo Scavenger Hunts
This photo scavenger hunt leaves many lasting memories. We have two types of selfie scavenger hunt ideas. Grab the summer selfie scavenger hunt or the editable selfie scavenger hunt (edit this fun photo scavenger hunt PDF online and totally personalize the list of ideas to your group and environment.)
Teen Scavenger Hunts
Pre-teen, tween, or eighteen – who cares the age for this teen game? This teen scavenger hunt has rhyming clue cards for an at-home teen scavenger hunt. They are a bit more challenging than the generic “Hey go look in the fridge next!” Teen players will work together to try to answer twenty-five challenging riddles and find the next clue card. At the end of the hunt, with the last clue, can be a huge prize or birthday present. Hidden with each clue can be fun prizes or even party favors. Make it your own and you decide what the grand prize is.
Baby Shower Scavenger Hunts
Are you hosting a baby shower? A baby shower scavenger hunt is a bit out of the box and can be used for multiple reasons. With a little creativity, this scavenger hunt game is the perfect way to reveal so many things about the baby. For example, each baby shower clue card can have a letter. Eventually, these letters can spell the baby’s first name for a name reveal. At the end of the hunt, you can have a gender reveal. This can be a surprise for the guests or even the parents-to-be. You can also have fun baby shower party favors along the way. Or the mother-to-be can do the entire hunt herself and gather fun baby shower gifts along the way – what baby shower game would you choose?
Bachelorette Scavenger Hunts
Bachelor and bachelorette parties are one of the best places to host a scavenger hunt. We have plenty of fun Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt Ideas that can be used in a bar or in a fun destination city. Visit Miami, Nashville, Las Vegas, and Charleston. You can also go on a cruise! For your girls’ weekend, make sure to print one of these bachelorette treasure hunt ideas for your location. The activity will bring so much fun to the girls’ night out and a little bit of inspiration for the bachelorette party games & activities.
What are good Scavenger Hunt Prizes for Adults?
While gloating about your victory, really might ad enough satisfaction, it’s not a bad idea to put together a few fun prize ideas. When braining storming what the winners can receive, think about items you would like to buy for yourself. Then began to gather such things.
Adult Scavenger Hunt prizes might include…
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Birthday Presents
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Wine Bottles
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Liquor Bottles
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Gift Cards
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Lottery Tickets
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Restaurant Vouchers
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Memberships
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Cash
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Gas Cards
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Spa Vouchers
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Airplane Tickets
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Movie Tickets
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Suprise Travel Plans
If the cost of prizes might raise your party budget, then ask for help. Ask your party guests to each bring a $10 item to the gathering. You can use these fun white elephant-type presents to hand out as prizes to the winning teams.
More Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts are super fun for adults and kids alike. There are many ways to have a fun treasure hunt outside of the home space. From the park to the zoo, on an airplane, and more, take a look at these printable scavenger hunts you can download, print, and play instantly.
Travel Scavenger Hunts
Are you going on a family vacation? Having activities for the kids is a must. First, pick up a hotel scavenger hunt. This resort scavenger hunt includes a checklist for younger kids and older kids.
If you are traveling by plane, download the Aiport Scavenger Hunt too. And finally, if you are hitting the shore, download the beach scavenger hunt.
Museum Scavenger Hunt
Museums are great places to explore. I recall visiting the museum with my three boys (ages 5, 5, and 6) and praying to God they didn’t break anything. Having an activity sheet was actually very helpful. If you are visiting a museum, download and print this free printable scavenger hunt. These art scavenger hunt ideas will help make the event less stressful.
Zoo Scavenger Hunt
There are plenty of zoos to visit in the country. I you find yourself in a major city, bring this zoo scavenger hunt on your adventure. Find some of your favorite animals including monkeys, llamas, lions, elephants, tigers, and bears. Pin to Pinterest.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Looking for something to do on a lazy Sunday? Have you recently moved and are new to your environment? Whatever the reason, take a look at this neighborhood scavenger hunt. This includes two scavenger hunts. One style is a neighborhood scavenger hunt list with images and the other includes 20 rhyming clue cards. It can be used for younger kids and older kids. Pin to Pinterest.
Camping Scavenger Hunt
Are you headed to the great outdoors? Bring with you a scavenger hunt for camping. The riddles for campers can be used in a public location as they include clue cards that state “Do not touch.” For more outdoor ideas, take a look at these outdoor scavenger hunt clue cards or I Spy Nature scavenger hunt. Pin to Pinterest.
Team Photo Scavenger Hunt
If you are looking for a good photo scavenger hunt for youth groups, teen birthday parties, fun weekend ideas, etc, grab this mall scavenger hunt. It can be used at Walmart, Target, the mall, and other public locations. It’s super fun. Just pair up players for the group scavenger hunt for teams. See who finishes first! Pin to Pinterest.
Holiday Scavenger Hunt Ideas
If you are looking for more themed scavenger hunts, these easy scavenger hunt clues are perfect for any major holiday. The clues are easy to read and easy to find, but that doesn’t mean adults can not participate. However, it does mean that they can be used for kids of all ages as the rhyming scavenger hunt clues are not challenging to solve.
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New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt
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Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt
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St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt
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Easter Scavenger Hunt
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Summer Scavenger Hunt
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July 4th Scavenger Hunt
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Back to School Scavenger Hunt
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Classroom Scavenger Hunt
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Halloween Scavenger Hunt
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Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
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Christmas Scavenger Hunt
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Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt
Get the entire set of Holiday Scavenger Hunt Ideas.
Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your themed scavenger hunt ideas for adults, teens, and kids. Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!
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WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Christmas, Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.
