25 Best Games to Play at the Beach for Kids, Families, and Adults

Looking for the best games to play at the beach? Whether you want action-packed water games or relaxing sand activities, this list has 25 fun ideas for kids and adults alike. No matter your beach style—whether you love playing in the waves or prefer staying on the sand—you’ll find the perfect game here.

Personally, I was never the girl who laid out to get a tan. I’d rather be swimming, building sandcastles, or climbing lighthouses. And of course, I love beach games!

Here’s a list of fun beach games for families, kids, and adults to make the most of your time at the shore. This includes games in the water, on the sand, classic favorites and new ideas.

Easy Games to Play at the Beach

If you’re looking for simple but fun games to play at the beach, these require just a ball or a single piece of equipment.

• Volleyball
• Soccer
• Football or even a simple game of catch
• Frisbee
• Kite Flying
• Limbo – Use towels or a piece of driftwood
• Bubbles – Get real fancy and bring a Giant Bubble Wand.

I’ve always loved volleyball, but as my son played soccer, this became our new go to at the beach.

I always grab my beach gear from Dick’s since they offer free curbside pickup—perfect for last-minute game additions! You also get free shipping with orders over $49.

Games to Play in the Water at the Beach

Beach toys for kids come in all shapes and sizes. Some are great for water or the sand or both! You can come up with games to play with toys you have or add a few to your beach collection.

• Marco Polo is one of the best beach water games for kids
• Water Tag – tag, but in the water, makes running away more challenging.
• Dodge Ball – Playing in the water is harder to run away!
• Inner Tube Target – Get some floating rings and beach balls and try to hit the target at the center of the inner tube. This gets harder as the tube is always moving!

The more the merrier with these games. We like to play dodge ball with a large group of our friends at the beach.

Best Games to Play in the Sand at the Beach

• Tug of War – Use some Towels, draw a line in the sand, see who’s the strongest.
• Collect Shells – Make this challenging for older kids by seeking out specific types of shells. For younger kids, give them certain colors to find.
• Musical Beach Blankets – All you need is your phone and some tunes.
• Tic Tac Toe – Draw a board in the sand. Use sticks for X and stone or shells for O.
• Frisbee Target – Put a few circles in the sand and see who can come closest to the bullseye
• Hopscotch
• Beach Toss – This beautifully designed beach toss game is perfect for the sand. Sturdy ropes and bamboo pole make this a durable yet easy to play game.

We once turned collecting shells into a mini treasure hunt, setting a timer to see who could find the most unique shell in five minutes. It became a family tradition!

With musical beach blankets, I recommend these Turkish towels for your beach towels. They are lightweight, dry quickly, and shake off sand easily—perfect for beach trips!

More Fun Games

These games require a little more equipment but can be hours of entertainment, especially for older kids who tire of digging in the sand.

• Building Sand Castles and Other Sand Toys
• Water Bucket Relay
• Cornhole – This one is a portable, vinyl one perfect for the beach.
• Spikeball – This one is a popular one I see at the beach all the time.
• Bocce Ball
• Paddle Ball
• Scoop Ball
• Frisbee Toss – a couple of stands used to knock an item off.

Our favorite on this list is spikeball. It’s easy to learn, but challenging to master. It gets us up and moving.

Again, a lot of these items I linked to are at Dick’s Sporting Goods. I love shopping at Dick’s for my beach game gear—not only do they offer free curbside pickup, but they also align with my values on diversity and inclusion.

You can order online and pick up curbside at the store, making those last-minute purchases no sweat.

Ready to head to the beach? Don’t forget your checklist for everything you need to pack for the beach here.

With these 25 fun beach games, your next trip to the shore will be full of laughter, competition, and unforgettable memories. Whether you’re tossing a frisbee, building sandcastles, or playing a round of Spikeball, there’s something for everyone.

Want to make sure you have everything you need? Check out my Amazon list of must-have beach game gear here!