Who doesn’t love a day at the beach? And what would make a trip to the beach better? Beach Games of course!
Each year we head up to the mountains (a small one) where there is a small lake beach. This is the year’s highlight for bot of my girls. We also go to a more local beach and a “river beach” that is a natural wonder on quite the slope. Through all the years we’ve spent hours with our toes in the sand. And through it all, we’ve played a lot of games there.
Summer is the best time to play. There’s more sun, more time, and more fun to be had. Beach games adds to our list of growing games for the summer like Wet and Wild Minute to Win it games, water balloon games, swimming pool games and Don’t be Last Summer Party games!
In this post, we’ll cover all the best beach games ranging from games for the youngest kids right up to adults. So, grab your holding chair, sunscreen and get ready to make a Big List of the best games to play at the beach!
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Beach Games: Drip Castles
The first in the beach games is a drip castle contest. This one is great because you only need yourself and sand to play. You will need to get to the part of the beach that has wet sand (or you could get a bucket of water but know that this will limit your castles). Each player has their own space and when you say start, they will race to make the tallest castle as they can in the time limit. How do you make a drip sandcastle? You take a handful of wet sand and let it slide out of your hand to drip down in the same spot, building a tower of sand. The player with the tallest castle wins.
You could also make this a more creative activity by seeing who can make the most creative landscape castle or the most twisted tower.
The Best Beach Games: Obstacle Course
This beach game will need some equipment or anything you can find. To play, create an obstacle course with the items you found. Each player will take their turn to go through the course and the player with the best time is the winner. Make sure to have a variety of challenges in it—move sideways, backwards, crawl under chairs. You can add to the difficulty by saying that a player has to complete the course first forwards then backwards. You could also add that players have to carry a bucket or cup of water with them. The player with the best time and most water left is the winner.
The Flour Game as a Beach Game
For the next game you will need a bucket, a sand shovel and a small ball or other object. To play, you will first pack the bucket with sand. Next, flip the bucket over and remove it. You will now have a nice bucket-shaped pile of sand. Your next step is to place the ball on the top of the pile. Each player will now take a turn to slice the sand with the shovel. The sliced must start at the top and slice all the way to the ground. Players keep taking turns until the ball falls to the ground. The player who make the ball fall is the looser.
Beach Games: Dam It
This next beach game is one that I saw being played at what my girls call the “River Beach.” It’s a beautiful natural super soft white sand and it’s on quite a slope.
To play, you will only need sand, your creativity and a bucket of water. The game is to build the best dam out of sand as you can. You build your dam in your given time and then someone (usually a parent) fills a bucket of water and then pours the water downhill to see which is stronger: the dam or the water?
I thought this was brilliant. The dad got to sit and enjoy was peach and quiet while his kids worked like crazy to build their dam. And the best part? The kids always want to try again so as the parent you get even more time. Brilliant.
The Best Beach Games: Bowling Holes
For this beach game you will need some space, a shovel and at least one ball. To set it up, dig shallow holes that are just big enough for the ball to fit in. Arrange the holes in a pyramid layout with one hole at the front and more at the back. It is a good idea to build a sand wall behind the holes and on the sides especially if the beach is on more of a slope. Assign points to the holes with the further ones being worth more points. Last draw a bowl from line.
To play, players take turns rolling the ball towards to the holes. When a player gets the ball to stop in one of the holes, they score that many points. Decide one how many turns everyone gets and at the end of those turns, the player with the most points wins.
Beach Game: Fill the Bucket
For this next beach game, you will need two big and several smaller ones or cups. Players are in two teams. TO start, place the bucket in the sand a distance from the water. Now, players will race to the water and back to the bucket to fill it up. The team who fills their bucket first wins.
You can play this with sponges too. If you only have one bucket, you could time players and the player with the fastest time wins. To make this more challenging, and maybe more fun for you to watch, instead of a backet to fill, dig holes in the sand and the first team to fill their hole with water wins. Make sure that the hole is bigger than any of the buckets or cups that are used to fill it. Yes, this may make it almost impossible to for anyone to win but the goal is keep the kids occupied and tired them out while letting you sit back, watch and enjoy. You’re welcome.
Float the Ball variation. To make this a whole new game, add a small ball like a ping pong ball to the bucket. The first team to get their ball to the top is the winner.
This can also be a co-op game where you time them and they see if they can beat their time.
Races as Beach Games
Any type of race you enjoy is usually more fun at the beach. Make sure to set clear boundaries and start and finish lines. This goes for tag too.
One of our favorite races to the beach ball leg race. To play, each player gets a beach ball and places it in between their knees. Now they race and the player with the fastest time wins.
Another favorite is Back Beach Ball Race. In this game, teams stand back to back with a beach ball stuck between them. They then race to the finish line. This could be made harder by adding obstacle course elements to the race or seeing if how far out they can wade without dropping the ball.
Darts as a Beach Game
Our next game needs two pairs of old socks—they don’t have to match. To play, first draw three circles starting with the smallest one inside and working your way to two more circles on the outside, like a dark board. Next, take a scoop of sand and place it in one of the socks. Now tie a knot at the top of the sock and you have a sand dart. Repeat with the other socks. Last, draw a throw line I the sand.
Players take turns throwing the darts from the line and trying to get their darts into the bullseye. The inner most circle is worth three points, the middle circle is worth 2 points and the outer circle is worth 1 point. The player with the most points at the end of all the turns is the winner.
Don’t have socks? You can play this with flip flops or sandals. Make it extra funny by having players fling the flip flops using their feet.
The Best Beach Games: Tic Tac Toe
The classic game that everyone knows! Tic Tac Toe is a great beach game. First, everyone knows how to play. Second, all you need to is draw the grid in the sand and find matching pieces around. You can use rocks and shells (like we did) or you could just draw in the Xs and Os.
While we’re at it any pen and paper game like tic tac toe or dots and boxes are great for playing in the sand. Check out our 5 Pen and Paper games here for some more inspiration.
Beach Game: Pass the Water
This one can either be a challenge or a competitive game. To play, you will need a cup or bucket for each player and a bucket for each team. Player will sit in a line, facing the water. The first player will scoop up a cup of water and then pass it to the next player by dumping the water over their head. The next player will try to catch the most water as they can and then pass it to the next player in the same way. The last player in the line does the same but hopes to hit the bucket instead.
After passing the first cup of water, the player at the water can scoop up another cup of water and pass it too. Teams keep passing water until a judge announces a winner when one bucket it is filled.
You can playing standing up where the last player has to dump their cup and then run to the water where they become the first player in the line and everyone takes a step back in line.
The Best Beach Games: Pictionary
Pictionary is one of our family favorites and what better way to play than with a stick in the sand? Somehow the challenge is even harder but more fun this way. To play you only need a stick and some sand. Each player comes up with something to draw and then draws it while others guess! If you prefer, you can et our Summer Draw it cards here to make it summer themed and easier to come up with something to draw!
Beach Game: Skee Ball
This beach game will need a little construction time but is worth it. First, build a big pile of sand. You can make a ramp if you’d like. Next, make a hole in the pile big enough from the ball you have. The ball is better at the size of a tennis ball instead of a scorer ball. Last, make walls around the area to keep the ball from escaping. Last, draw a throw line.
To play, players will roll the ball from the throw line, trying to get it into the hole. If they do, they get a point. Decided how many rounds you’re going to play and the player is the person how has the most points.
You can make this simple like the one above or you can make it as complex as you’d like. I’ve seen on where the ramp is high (knee height or so) and the holes behind the ramp so you can’t see what you’re aiming at. It just depends on how old your players are, how much time and commitment you have. How ever you like to build it, it’s a fun game.
The Best Beach Games: Do you Want to Build A Snowman?
A snowman? At the beach? Sure! It’s as simple as it sounds. Instead of build sandcastles, you can have a snowman building competition. Or you can see how big of a snowman the group can build together. You can use rocks and shells as buttons and face details and even seaweed for hair! Kids will love the unexpended winter twist.
LIMBO!
What trip to the beach would be complete without the classic limbo? Use a pool noodle as the bar and you have fun that will have you laughing until your sides hurt.
Beach Game: Noodle Circle
For the game you will need a pool noodle for each player. To start, each player will stand with their noodle in a circle. When you say go, each player will let go of their noodle and move clockwise to the next noodle. They need to get their before the noddle hits the ground. If it does hit the ground, then that player and noodle are out of the game. If a player throws or leans a noodle when letting go, they are out of the game. The last player with a noodle is the winner.
Too easy or taking too long? Have everyone in the circle take a step backwards making it harder to race to the next noddle.
Beach Games that are more Activities
Next, we have a list of games that are more like activities than games. All are really fun at the beach so we had to include them this list.
First is Hopscotch. The classic playground game is perfect for the beach.
Next is a scavenger hunt. You can make a list before hand or make it up when you get to the beach. You will need a list of items for the kids to find. You can put things like a pink rock on it or a feather from a bird or something that starts with the letter S. You can paly where every player needs to collect everything on the list or you can play in teams or as just one big group.
Fort building is next. What kid doesn’t love a fort? You can use your beach towels for roofs and your chairs for walls and you can use the sand for so many things. Kids love this and it takes time and energy too—again giving you some relax time.
Next is bubbles. Blowing bubbles is always great. The beach is the perfect spot because it’s fun to watch the bubbles float out to sea and you can wash sticky hands off right away.
Last, is rock art. Collect as many rocks as you’d like and then make pictures with them. You’d be amazed at the creations you can come up with!
The Best Beach Games with Equipment
Now that my kids are older, we find it fun to bring some of our lawn games to the beach with us. Here are some of the best ones.
First up is Baci Ball. This simple game of throwing a small ball and then trying to roll your big ball as close as you can to it is really engaging. Just make sure that your balls don’t roll into the surf!
Volleyball is always a classic beach game. If you’re lucky there will be a net set up and all you have to bring is the ball.
Washer Toss is an easy game where players throw small washers or discs into a center circle in a box. You get three points in you get it in the inner circle and one point if you get it in the outer box. You could make your own set up out of sand if you want and toss quarters—just make sure to keep track of them!
Ring Toss is also a classic game that is fun at the beach. You can turn this to a human size game by using people as the pegs and throwing swim rings at them.
And then there is Frisbee the ultimate summer game. It’s fun to throw the Frisbee back a forth. This works on the sand and in the water too—especially since Frisbees float. You can also use the Frisbee to play Disc Golf and make holes in the sand to toss it into.
Fun Until the Sunsets
The games you can play at the beach are really endless. Any game that requires you to run is a hit as running in the sane is not only fun but a challenge too. Most sports can be moved to the beach (soccer baseball, hockey with pool noodles, badminton). And your can bring pen and paper games to play with using the sand as the paper. And if you give kids some equipment and some time you’ll be amazed to see the games they come up with on their own!
Do you have a favourite beach game that I missed? Let me know in the comments!
And when the sun does set or your nose is crispy and you head home keep the fun going with games like these 10 Easy Card Games for kids Hot Summer Dice Games and the Lazy Dice game.
Be sure to visit our Family Game Shelf shop where you can find favorites like Road Trip games and our Whacky Putt mini golf dice game—kids can’t get enough of this one!
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