The Best Gifts for Outdoor Families: Outdoorsy Gift Guide

Last Updated on October 21, 2025 by Audrey

The Best Outdoor Gifts for the Whole Family

Choosing outdoor gifts for outdoorsy families can feel daunting, especially if you’re not an outdoorsy person. This list includes everything from whole family gift ideas to gift ideas for outdoorsy kids and parents. You’ll find practical gifts, amazing outdoor experience gifts, and gifts that make getting outdoors even more special.

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Outdoor Experience Gifts

Experience gifts are the perfect option when looking for a present for the whole family. These options get families into the great outdoors and possibly trying new activities for life-long memories. Outdoor excursions together are perfect ways to get everyone exploring together!

National Park Pass: Nothing says get outside and explore like a parks pass. The America the Beautiful pass is an $80 annual pass that gives you access to the National Parks, National Monuments, and Federal land. This is the perfect present for outdoorsy families who like to travel, camp, and explore our amazing federal lands.

Rafting Trip: This gift is one that will need to wait for summer! But, a rafting trip is an awesome way to experience a new outdoor activity – and get out of your comfort zone as an outdoorsy family! Trying new things together is a bonding experience that makes lasting memories. Are you still unsure about rafting as a family? Check out this podcast episode with a dad who rafts with his 5-year-old daughters!

Gift card to a Zipline Facility: Zipline adventures are the perfect family-friendly activity for outdoorsy families with elementary-age to high school kids.

Gift Certificates to for Sled Dogs: If you’re looking to gift an outdoorsy winter activity, consider gifting a family the opportunity to try riding a sled pulled by sled dogs. This would be a great outdoor activty for families with older kids.

Gift Certificates for Tubing: Many ski resorts have areas set aside for tubing. This high-speed, fun-filled adventure is the perfect outdoor family activity for winter, making it a great Christmas present.

Gift Certificates for Hot Springs Resorts: Swimming in hot water with my family? Sign me up! This gift is a great option for outdoor lovers who want to relax and soak the day away. Be sure to read my complete guide to hot springs with kids.

Family Camp Registration: More and more summer camps are moving toward a family camp week (or more!) Family camp has become one of our family’s favorite summertime activities! Spending quality time together and meeting other outdoor-loving families has been a priceless gift. The best part? Nobody has to worry about cooking or cleaning! The camp will cover that, and all you get to do is join in the family fun!

Outdoor Gifts for Every Family Member

Choosing outdoor gifts for everyone in a family can feel challenging, but consider gift ideas that foster relationships and experiences. This list includes family gifts for outdoor trips, as well as gifts that can be enjoyed in the comfort of your backyard. Choosing gifts for your next adventure is tempting, but don’t forget about the outdoor spaces closest to home.

Family set of hammocks- Is there anything better than relaxing in a hammock together after a big day adventuring outside? My kids love hammocks, and so do I! It makes the perfect spot to relax on a family camping trip. These hammocks come with everything you need for setup, plus they have three sizes for the whole family. The sizes are double, single, and kids.

New tent- Do you want to make an outdoor family super excited this holiday season? A new tent is a great gift option for camping families! Be sure to choose a high-quality option like the North Face Wawona 6. Or, consider a black-out tent! We love using our Sierra Designs Alpenglow 6 for car camping trips. See our full review here.

Solar-powered lights- Twinkle lights, whether they’re around a campsite or just used in the backyard add whimsy and fun to any evening outside!

Propane fire pit- A propane fire pit has been, hands down, one of the best gifts we’ve given my husband. Even better: the whole family gets to enjoy it! We pack our Outland propane fire pit with use when tent camping, taking out our camper, and to the ski hill. It’s so easy to ignite, bringing instant warmth and light to any outdoor adventure! Don’t forget a carry bag to make traveling with a fire pit easier!

Pickleball Set or Smashpaddle Set: I can’t think of anything better than fun games outside as a family! Recently, pickleball has become all the rage, but having a pickleball court isn’t an option. Instead, splurge for the ultimate family game with Smashpaddle! I love how compact and easy this is to setup, plus the base makes it possible to play anywhere, including at the beach or while camping.

Merino Wool Socks: Consider buying new merino wool socks for your outdoor loving family. We love Darn Tough Socks for the durability (I have a pair that’s over ten years old, and still going strong!)

Family set of comfy camp chairs: I love GCI products, and their chairs are no exception. Super durable, comfy, and with rocking features, these are the perfect chairs for your favorite outdoorsy family.

LadderBall or Cornhole: These yard games make great outdoor gift ideas for families who like to enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of their own backyard! LadderBall can be a bit more challenging for younger kids, but makes a great backyard game for older children. I know my daughter has gotten frustrated with LadderBall when her balls don’t have enough momentum to stay on the ladder. Cornhole is a fun and easy backyard game for all ages!

Slack Line Kit: Similar to yard games, a slack line kit can provide endless entertainment for the entire family. With easy installation, this makes the perfect addition to an outdoor playground.

Exploring Nature With Children: This kid-friendly book provides plenty of ideas for outdoor activities for kids of all ages.

Kelty Lowdown Couch: This camping couch is the perfect portable couch for relaxing as a family at camp. I love that it folds easily and stores small after use.

Perfect Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Kids

Purchasing outdoor gifts for kids is a great way to inspire outdoor play for the whole year! Consider choosing outdoor gifts that help foster outdoor adventures that follow your kids interests. For example: if your kids loves science, consider a telescope or bug collecting kit. If you have a future historian, look into outdoor experiences at your local, state, or national park. Alternatively, you may already have a kid who loves hiking or skiing, or any other outdoor activity. Choose quality gear that enhances their interests. Creating outdoor enthusiasts can be easy when you tap into their personal interests!

The Best Outdoor Gifts for Kids

Choose outdoor gifts for kids that are good quality and inspire imagination, creativity, and fun. These great gift ideas will do just that!

High Quality Sleeping Bag: Choose a sleeping bag that’s going to keep kids warm on cold nights. We love these Kelty sleeping bags for older kids and Morrison Outdoors for younger kids and toddlers.

Bug Catcher Kit: Do you have a curious kid with a love for exploring nature? Consider a bug kit! I love that this one has a magnifying glass for studying bugs up close and personal!

Telescope: This is the perfect gift for big kids who are interested in Science! Set this up in your backyard and take in the stars, or if you live in an urban area, pack it for your next camping trip!

Snowball Maker: A snowball maker is a great gift idea for colder months. Creating uniform snowballs and bricks makes building in the snow even more fun! Bonus: We actually found a snowball maker on the beach this summer and it worked great for making sand balls too!

Scavenger Hunt Activity Cards: These are the perfect scavenger hunt cards for teaching sense and getting creative on a hike, at home, or on a long road trip!

Warm Base Layers: There’s something practical about gifting outdoor gear for kids, and one of the most well-used and practical clothing pieces for kids are base layers. We love Jan and Jul’s base layers, and think you will too! Made of soft and durable material, these are the perfect base layers for all your kids’ winter adventures.

Water Bottle: What Millennial mom doesn’t make sure her kid is outfitted with the perfect water bottle? I know, for me, everyone having their water bottle filled and packed is a prerequisite for any outdoor trip. Choose a stainless steel option that’s free of BPA and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup after trips outdoors. This Owala is the perfect option. My kids prefer solid colors, so they can decorate their water bottles with stickers they collect from their road trips and outdoor adventures.

Hiking Backpacks: My kids have been carrying their own hiking backpack since they were toddlers (not every trip!) These simple Deuter backpacks can hold a water bottle, snack, and a stuffy to join the adventure.

Outdoor Trampoline: Kids love trampolines! As a parent, we want to make sure we choose options that are safe and fun. The Skybound Springless is a perfect combination of the two. See my full review here.

Rock Tumbler: This rock tumbler is used indoors, but you can add your kids treasured rocks from their adventures to the rock tumbler to smooth and polish them. Our kids are obsessed with collecting rocks, and we’ve acquired quite the collection over the years. This rock tumbler can bring those rocks new life and make them worth keeping in the house!

Water Table: A water table is the perfect gift for younger children and babies. Although best used in the summer, this is the perfect present for warmer months.

Outdoor Activities Gifts Kids will Love

Ski or Snowboarding Lessons: If someone you love is considering trying to ski or you want to teach your kids to ski, make sure you get lessons with a certified ski and snowboarding instructor. You can typically purchase lessons directly from the ski school. Consider choosing a If your child is too young for lessons, check out my guide to teaching toddlers to ski.

Summer Camp Experience: Summer camp is such an incredible way for kids to learn and grow outdoors! Many summer camps begin registration in the winter, and often have discounted rates for early registration.

Sports Programs: Cover the cost of your favorite kid’s sports programs as a present to both the kid and their parents! Recreation league sports programs have lower costs associated with them, but cover those costs could be a huge help to a family you know!

Outdoorsy Gifts Parents will Love

Often, all I really want for my birthday, or Mother’s Day is quality time with my family outside. Trips to hot springs, camping in Glacier, and hiking through the forest on my special days feel extra meaningful when planned by my husband and kids. However, if I’m receiving a gift (like a Christmas present) I love receiving an outdoor gift, or a gift I can use on our family adventures. Choosing a gift for an outdoorsy friend or spouse can be made simple with these suggestions.

Outdoorsy Experience Gifts for Adults

Weekend Glamping Getaway: Honestly, someone please gift this to me and my husband! For most parents, sneaking away for a date can be challenging these days. Getting a full weekend getaway sounds impossible! A glamping trip to reconnect with your spouse, no kids allowed, would be the perfect outdoorsy adult gift!

Ski Tickets: If you have a skier in your family, you probably know how expensive skiing has become! Taking care of day tickets for a skier is the perfect holiday gift.

Amazing Outdoor Gifts for Adults

Stainless Steel Wine Tumblers: When outdoorsy moms are ready to relax after a day of hiking or skiing, break out the stainless steel wine glasses. I use these boating, camping, and actually at home! In fact, a few years ago I replaced my glass wine glasses with these and haven’t looked back! I also love that they’re insulated and keep cocktails or juice cold for a long time.

High-quality jacket: My husband and I love these AKOVA mid layer jackets. We use them year-round for everything from camping, hiking, skiing, and just running errands around town. The durable outer material is so much nicer than a tradition puffy jacket, that can easily rip. This holds up against wear and tear, plus does well as a water resistant layer for light rain. Use the code OUTDOORSY25 for 25% off your AKOVA order!

Camping Kitchen Table: My husband has declared the GCI Master Cook camping table his favorite piece of gear for 2025. And rightfully so, this table has it all! It keeps all our camp kitchen essentials organized and easy to access.

Pour Over Coffee Maker and Camping Kettle: One thing I can’t live without is coffee. But I don’t like to deal with a lot of clean up while camping. This pour over works perfectly for camp coffee, and I love this camping kettle for getting our water up to temperature.

Nice Camping Dining Set: Be sure the outdoorsy adults in your life have a nice set of camping dishes! I prefer enamel camp dishes to prevent breaking and for durability.

Rumpl Blanket: I’ve wanted one of these blankets for years! They’re soft, easily stored, and come in such gorgeous designs. The Rumpl blanket is the perfect choice for the outdoorsy mom in your life who needs a little something extra to enjoy evenings camping .

Cribbage Board: Playing cribbage is a long-standing tradition in my husband’s family. Even though I don’t play, we always travel with a small cribbage board for the rest of the family to play this fun card game!

Hiking Backpack: Another one of my husband’s favorite pieces of gear from this year has been his Gossamer Gear hiking backpack. He’s been putting this thing through the ringer on hiking trips, beach days, and basically any time he needs a backpack. I will never stop recommending my Osprey Sirrus 24 liter backpack designed specifically for women. I’ve had mine for almost ten years now, and it’s still in perfect shape.

Outdoorsy Gifts for Families

This ultimate gift guide for the entire family provides amazing gift ideas for getting outdoors all year long! Choose the perfect outdoor gift for your loved ones, whether they’re an outdoor-loving friend or the outdoor kids in your life.