As soon as the weather gets warm, the beach begins to call. And nothing makes a beach visit more fun than some good beach games. Beach games for kids keep them entertained when they are out of the water. Beach games for adults provide both exercise and fun. Everyone loves playing with a beach ball, and our beach ball games take this fun to a new level. Of course, every beach has sand and we’ve included an entire section on sand games your whole family will enjoy. Many of the beach games we have listed here require no special equipment or preparation. Read on to find the perfect beach games for your day at the beach.
Beach Games for Kids
Water Relay
All kids love relay races, and have played the old favorite with the egg and spoon. For this race, all you need is a plastic cup and a beach bucket for each child. Set the buckets on the sand in a row and have the kids run to the water, fill their cup, and run back to empty the cup into the bucket. The first one to fill their bucket wins the race. You can also set this up as a team game or have the kids play in pairs.
Beach Kite Flying
The beach is a perfect place for kite flying – large, flat areas with no trees. Keep a few inexpensive kites in your beach bag and wait for a breeze. You can find kites in toy and discount stores, or help your kids make their own.
Beach Bubble Blowing
That beach breeze also makes a great space to blow bubbles. Make your own bubble blowing liquid before you head for the beach.
Blowing Bubble Mix
- Ingredients:
- A large container with a lid
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup dish detergent
- 1 tablespoon glycerin
- ¼ cup corn syrup
Measure water into the container. Pour in one cup of dish soap and stir slowly until completely mixed. Add the glycerin and corn syrup and mix completely. Put the lid on tightly and carry to the beach.
Beach River Race
Kid will love this game and it will keep them entertained a long time. Have them dig two long narrow trenches with beach shovels or hands that lead to the water. Use buckets to create a flowing stream. They can make a dam to hold the water back and then release it all at once. Use small pieces of drift wood or paper to make “boats.” They can make the river curve if they want and add obstacles along the way.
Beach Tag
Tag is great on the beach as the sand makes the chase more fun. Kids slip, slide, fall, and sand flies! Try having the person who is “It” be a shark or an octopus. Whoever gets tagged last is the new It.
Beach Games for Adults
Beach Limbo
Most adults are familiar with the limbo. Create a beach version with a boat oar, pool noodle, or large beach towel. Two people hold the “bar” and each person leans back and “dances” under it. Add some beach music. The “bar” is lowered each turn and the “winner” is the dancer who can go the lowest.
Beach Survivor
You will need some preliminary planning and a fairly large group for this game. Divide your group into groups of three to five people. Create a list of challenges the teams must master, such as:
- Hopping across the sand – very difficult in soft sand
- Bury teammates in the sand
- Stand on one leg the longest
- A relay race
- Tug of war with a wet beach towel
Eliminate one team or one player each challenge – whoever fails first, loses, etc. The last team or individual remaining in the game wins.
Beach “Bocce” Ball
You don’t need a bocce ball for this game, but if you have one, throw it in your car trunk for a fun beach day. The goal in this fun game is to throw the weighted bocce ball as close as possible to the target (jack) tossed on the sand. Use any other weighted object (a full water bottle works well) as a target, and beach stones for tossing. Just make sure you play where no one will be hit!
Beach Darts
Draw a dart board on the sand with points for each ring. Instead of darts, use shells or beach rocks. Toss your “dart” and add up points to see who wins. Bored with the circle? Try drawing a hopscotch pattern instead.
Beach Ball Games
The Space between Us
Draw two parallel lines in the sand about fifteen feet apart. Have the players compete, two at a time, taking a beach ball from one line to the other with variations, such as:
- Holding the ball with only one hand
- Crawling and moving the ball with the head
- Holding the ball between the knees
- Kicking the ball
- Walking backwards
To make the game a bit of a challenge for older kids or adults, set boundaries on the side and players are out if their ball goes outside the lines.
Beach Dodge Ball
A game that is sure to wear everyone out, beach dodge ball involves chasing the ball as well as avoiding it. Begin by throwing the beach ball into the air. Someone grabs the ball and has three steps and five seconds to throw it to hit another player. If someone gets hit, they sit down. The ball can now be grabbed by any other player. Those sitting can grab the ball if it comes near them and throw it at a standing player. If they manage to hit someone, they can stand up and get back into the game.
Squirt Ball Race
You will need to plan ahead a bit for this game, as you must bring some squirt guns with you to the beach. Players use squirt guns to spray the beach balls and move them forward towards a goal line drawn in the sand. If you have several players, divide them into teams. When the squirt guns are empty, players must run to the water’s edge to fill them. This can be part of the challenge, or you can stop the game for refills, then begin a new game. The first player whose ball reaches the goal line wins the game.
Beach Volleyball
Some beaches have nets set up for play, or bring your own. There is something about playing volleyball at the beach. Maybe it is because the sand cushions falls, so players are more aggressive. Whatever it is, beach volleyball is a favorite for young and old.
Sand Games at the Beach
Sand Hopscotch
Hopscotch is a fun way to pass the time. Draw your hopscotch grid on the sand and use small beach rocks or shells for markers. Playing barefoot helps maintain stability on the sand. If the sand is hot, play close to the water’s edge, marking your grid in the water cooled and hardened sand.
Beach Sand Art
Grab a bucket of water to moisten the sand and then get creative in the sand with these ideas:
- Smooth out a large flat area in the sand. Then draw a picture, write words, or both.
- Collect stones, shells, and driftwood to create a “painting” on the sand.
- Build a sand castle or fort.
Beach Games for Families
Pong Beach Race
If the beach has a slight slope leading to the water, this game provides fun for the whole family. Divide your group into pairs and give each pair a ping pong ball. Each team digs a channel to the water. Set a starting line and on, “Go!” teams dump buckets of water into their channel to move the ball to the water’s edge. The first team to do so, wins the game.
Beach Tug of War
Divide the family into two teams, making sure they are as evenly matched as possible. You can use a rope or beach towels tied together. Draw a line in the sand and have each team take positions on either side of the line. The teams pull to see which crosses the line first.
Beach Obstacle Course
Create a beach obstacle course with whatever you have on hand. An umbrella suspended between two beach chairs to jump over, towels to hop on, a sand castle to run around. Take turns running the obstacle course and see who is the fastest.
Beach Bowling
Grab some toy or dollar store plastic pins and balls or use plastic water bottles partially filled for stability. Throw a ball to knock them down and see who can get a strike or spare. Keep score or just play for fun.
No need to take a great deal of equipment for your fun day at the beach. However, with a little planning, you can pack your bag with a few inexpensive items such as card games (like Spider Solitaire), buckets, toys, and kites from the local discount store and be ready to play the day away. Enjoy!
