The Best Games to Play on a Multi-Day Rafting Trip

Here’s something first-timers don’t always expect about a multi-day rafting trip: the time between rapids is just as good as the rapids themselves.

You’re camped on a riverbank with no Wi-Fi, no obligations, and a group of people who just shared something genuinely exciting. The guides are handling dinner. The cooler is full. The sun is going down. What happens next is entirely up to you — and in our experience, what happens next is usually the part people remember most.

Most groups arrive with their own ideas for downtime: reading, hiking, napping, fishing (license required), or just sitting by the water doing absolutely nothing. That’s all great. But if you want to add a little structured chaos to the mix, we’ve got you covered.

River Drifters brings game kits on every multi-day trip — think Bananagrams, hacky sacks, and star charts for the night sky. And then there are the camp classics: the games that have been played on river trips for years, evolved in sandy arenas and around fire pits, and somehow get better every time.

Not yet booked? Browse our multi-day river trips to find the right adventure for your group.

Here are six of our favorites.

1. All in the Family

The simplicity and total involvement of this game make it one of the best for river groups. It’s even better a few days into a trip, once everyone has gotten to know each other a little. Think of it as the campfire version of a social experiment.

How to play:

Sit in a circle and nominate a moderator (someone who knows the game).
Everyone writes a name on a small piece of paper — any name, but ideally someone the whole group will recognize.
The moderator collects and reads every name aloud.
Players guess who wrote each name. Guess correctly, and that person joins your “family” — you’re now a team and keep guessing. Guess wrong, and it’s the next person’s turn.
Names are read again in round two. Only family heads and solo players guess. The game ends when everyone is under one family.

2. Blaze-o / Groover Wars / Hunker Down / Hoosker Doosker

Four names, one game, zero mercy. Whatever your crew calls it, this one is equal parts strength, balance, and pure psychological warfare. The ammo cans are the arena. The throw bag rope is the weapon. Dignity is optional.

How to play:

Two players face off, each standing on an ammo can and holding opposite ends of a rope attached to a throw bag.
When play begins, each person tries to control as much rope as possible. When it goes taut, it’s tug of war — but the real move is going slack at just the right moment to throw your opponent off balance.
Whoever gets pulled off their ammo can lose and is replaced by the next challenger.

3. Chess / Checkers (River Edition)

Didn’t pack a board? Doesn’t matter. Half the fun is building one. This is the game that separates the resourceful from the people who pack too lightly.

How to play:

Use a throw bag, straps, or extra rope to lay out a board on the ground. Chairs optional but encouraged.
Raid the campsite for pieces — rocks, cans, hot sauce bottles, whatever you can find in two different varieties.
Play chess or checkers as normal. Trash talk is encouraged.

4. King Paddle

Musical chairs, but with paddles and considerably more chaos. Fast reflexes help. Following directions under pressure helps more.

How to play:

Everyone stands holding a paddle vertically, blade on the ground.
One person calls directions: left, right, or spin.
On each call, everyone moves in that direction — releasing their paddle and grabbing the next one before it falls. Spin means you grab your own paddle before it hits the ground.
Wrong move or dropped paddle — you’re out. Last one standing wins.

5. Magic Numbers (a.k.a. Ninja Numbers)

Musical chairs meets dodgeball in a sandy arena. The blindfolded player in the middle is more dangerous than they look. Move fast, stay low, and trust nobody.

How to play:

Sit in a circle. Assign everyone a number.
One person stands in the middle with eyes closed or blindfolded.
The center player calls two numbers. Those two people must stand up and swap seats without getting tagged.
Get tagged, and you’re in the middle. Simple rules, surprisingly frantic gameplay.

6. The Paddle Game

Part strength challenge, part yoga pose, part sheer stubbornness. The goal is simple: reach as far as you can, plant your marker, and get back up — using only the paddle for support. Easier said than done.

How to play:

Define a starting line. Find two small sticks or objects to use as markers.
Standing behind the line, place a paddle ahead of you, blade down.
Slide or climb down the paddle, reach out as far as possible, and plant your marker in the sand.
Without touching the ground with anything other than your hands and feet (and the paddle), return to standing. Farthest marker wins.

Got a camp game we haven’t heard of?

We genuinely want to know. Our guides are always looking for new ways to make multi-day trips even better — send it our way.

And if you’re starting to think a multi-day trip might be exactly what your family needs, check out our multi-day river trips — or read our guide on How to Pack & Prepare for Multi-Day Rafting.