Are you looking for fun lake games to play with family and friends? View our list of 19 lake activities. From Minute to Win it Games, water games, outdoor games, and more. These games are perfect for kids and adults, a large or small groups. Grab these printable lakeside games with directions and a supply list.
Summer is the perfect time to head to the lake! Between boating, swimming, fishing, and relaxing in the sun, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. But sometimes, you need a little extra something to make your lake day even more special. That’s where lake vacation games come in!
There are tons of different games you can play in and around the water. Whether you’re looking for an idea for a crowd or just want to have some fun with your family, we’ve got you covered.
Water Games for the Lake
When it comes to the lake, we know the one thing all lakes have in common… water! There are so many traditional water games that are great to share with the kiddos. Here’s a list of a few of our favorites you’ll want to give a try.
What are some good water games for the lake?
If you are looking for a list of fun water games for the lake, take a look at a few of these examples.
1. Marco Polo: This classic game is a great way to get everyone moving and enjoying the water. To play, one person is “it” and closes their eyes while counting to 20. This is a perfect pool game if you have one!
The other players swim around and yell “Marco” when they’re close to the person who is “it”. The goal is for the person who is “it” to tag another player. If they’re successful, that player becomes “it” for the next round.
2. Water Balloon Toss: This water game is perfect for a hot day! All you need is a water balloon for each player and a way to keep score.
To play, players stand in a line and toss the balloon to the person behind them. If the balloon pops, that player is out. The last person standing is the winner!
3. Duck, Duck, Goose: This game is a childhood favorite for a reason! To play, one person is “it” and walks around the circle of players tapping each person on the head while saying “duck”.
When they tap someone and say “goose”, that player must chase them around the circle. If the player who is “it” makes it all the way around without getting caught, they stay “it”! Make it a refreshing game by dumping a cup of water over their head when you say “goose”.
4. Cannon Ball / Belly Flop Contest: If you love a good challenge, who can make the biggest splash with their front end or back end might be a fun game. This funny game is especially great with some drunk dads that hate to loose.
List of Fun Games to Play at the Lake
Want to save money on a bunch of water toys and lakeside board games. We have a solution. To help make planning fun lake games a breeze, we’ve gathered a list of games for you. In this list is a brief description as well as lakes supplies you would need to play these games.
What makes these lakeside games extra special is the require common things already found at the lakeside. That means you can save money on lake toys and instead put together some fun DIY games for kids and adults.
1. Pass the Water
Ready to get soaked? This game requires your pouring skills be on point. Fill a cup with water and pour it into your partners cup as quickly as possible. With a twist, of course. The goal is to get the most water in your bucket in the amount of time you have.
Supplies: Cups, water, buckets
2. Bottle Flip Challenge
This game is all about accuracy. Players take turns flipping a water bottle trying to get them to sit right side up. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins!
Supplies: Water bottles
3. Sardines
A fishy twist on hide and seek, one person hides and there are several seekers. When someone finds the sardine who’s hiding, they join them. Play until there’s only one seeker left.
Supplies: None
4. Sponge Relay
This game is perfect for a hot day! Divide players into teams and line them up. The first player in each team runs to the bucket of water, fills their sponge, and runs back to tag the next player who does the same thing. The goal is to be the first team to fill up their bucket!
Supplies: Sponges, buckets, water
5. Face the Cookie
In this classic Minute to Win it Game, see if you can get a cookie from your forehead to your mouth.
Supplies: Cookies, timer
6. Spoons
Who doesn’t love a classic card games and at the lake, a deck of cards should be easy to come by. Raid the kitchen and add some spoons for this fun card game.
Supplies: Spoons, deck of cards, food
7. Fire Tender
In this blindfolded game, IT must try to figure out who is stealing his fire tender. Every time someone approaches, it must try to identify when his fire wood is taken from his campsite. this is a great preschool game or game for younger kids… though we think adults will get a a fun laugh too!
Supplies: Sticks
8. Water Bomb Catch
In this fun 2-person water balloon game, there is a catch. Catch the water balloons on top of your head using a bucket or colander… an easy find in the kitchen, no? This game is silly!
Supplies: Water balloons, bucket, or colander.
9. 3 Flies Up
This is a traditional outdoor game that you might have played at summer camp. One player tosses the ball into the air, everyone races to catch the ball. The goal is to get 3 catches to become the next tosser.
Supplies: Ball
10. Frisbee Golf
In this fun challenge, have a series of targets. Players goals are to hit the target with the Frisbee in the fewest number of moves.
Supplies: Frisbee
11. Marshmallow Pong
Who doesn’t love a good game of pong? Make that game even better when you add Marshmallows. In this fun kids pong game, line cups in a triangle shape and toss marshmallows into the cups.
Supplies: Plastic cups, marshmallows
12. Flick & Sticks
Gather your cups and sticks. Plus a cup on each stick and arrange like goal posts. Split players into two teams for this fun frisbee game.
Supplies: Frisbee, plastic cups, sticks
13. Puddle Jumper
This is a great game for teens or older kids. See if you can skip a ping pong ball on water using only your breath. Short on time, this can easily become an outdoor water minute to win it game.
Supplies: Plastic Cups, ping-pong balls, water
14. Snack Cap
In this silly kids party game, players wear a shower cap with shaving cream. Their partner must toss cheese puffs (or cheese balls) on top of the shower cap. Team with the most cheese puffs at the end of time, wins.
Supplies: Cheese puffs, shower caps, shaving cream.
15. Sleeping Bag Races
Who doesn’t love a sack race. Grab your sleeping bags in this hoping relay race. If you don’t want to dirty the bags, use trash bags instead.
Supplies: Sleeping bags or trash bags.
16. Flashlight Tag
This is a fun game after the sun sets… just grab bug spray before you go out into the sticks. In this hide and seek game, It has a flashlight and tags players with the light. Play until all players are tagged.
Supplies: Flashlights
17. Twenty Questions
In this fun game, choose an object. Players can ask 20 questions to try to guess the object the main player is thinking. If they can’t guess after 20 questions, they loose.
Supplies: None
18. I’m Going to the Lake House
Just like the word game, I’m going on a picnic challenge your memory skills with a fun game of “I’m going to the lake house…” See how can remember the largest packing list ever!
Supplies: none
19. Water Bottle Toss
Carefully toss an open water bottle within a team. Toss it on down the line where the last player empties the bottle in the bucket. First team to fill their bucket wins.
Supplies: Water bottles, water, bucket.
What is best about most of these fun lakeside games is they require supplies you already have. Grab your stockpile of outdoor sticks, buckets, flashlights.
Lake Games Printable Set
Headed to the lake? If it’s a group of kids, your family, a youth group, adults or whomever – let us make your lakeside activities easy.
Enjoy these 19 Lake Games PDF Set. Bring these fun games for kids and adults to the great outdoors. This set includes the full list of lawn games, sixty-second challenges, water games, ball games and more! Each games includes instructions.
Your supply list includes many common outdoor accessories like balloons, balls, sticks and more. With so many fun games, it’s hard to choose just one. So why not try them all? Download the PDF, head to the lake and have a blast!
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What are some good lake toys?
Of course if staying at the lake is something you might do over and over, it could be wise to invest in some good lake toys. Common lake toys include…
- Water Floating Mat
- Lake Trampoline
- Inflatable Wheel Roller
- Spikeball
- Watermelon Ball
- Cornhole
- Remote Control Racing Boats
- Lake Pool Raft
- Floating Pong Set
- Inflatable Swim Island
- Kayak
- Pool Noodles
- Inflatable Basketball Hoop and Volleyball Net for Water
- Water Blasters
- Inflatable Lake Slide
- Diving Toys
- Hot Dog Towable Tube
- Skip Ball
Some of these games are not cheap and might be a good investment if you are hosting an Air B&B or putting together activities for a rental property.
For a low cost option, consider laminating a copy of the lake games set and attaching it the refrigerator. This gives your guests ides for fun activities when they arrive. It’s an extra action that goes the extra mile and welcomes your guests. You could even create a mesh laundry bag with all the re-usable supplies inside.
More Fun Travel Games
Traveling this summer? Try one of our other fun game packs! These fun outdoor games are perfect for travel or enjoying nature.
After the kids are down, drinking games are always fun for the adults. Just like beer pong only classier. You could also look at these wine party games or beer party games for a larger list.
Add the games early in the trip because by the end of the week, most of the adults might find themselves exhausted, wanting to kick their feet up and snuggle under the blanket on the dock.
Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your lake vacation games and activities. Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!
Play these games at the lake, on the shore, or even in your own backyard. Share with us your favorite!
WHAT’S TRENDING? Get ready for summer with low-cost activities and games for the kids! GET YOUR SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTER BUNDLE.
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