The best outdoor toys for summer do more than burn off energy. They build the kind of active, adventurous habits that make camp season, family trips, and lazy backyard afternoons even better. Across Virginia, summer is made for getting outside: long evenings, wide-open yards, and parks and trails around nearly every corner. We’ve gathered 11 outdoor toys for summer that we love for sparking active play — whether your kids are warming up for their first week of camp or simply chasing each other through the sprinkler at home. Ready for the main event? Our Virginia camp directory is full of outdoor programs to round out the season.
Sidewalks and driveways turn into a canvas with this chalk-powered spiral maker. Kids spin the oversized wheel inside its gear to draw bold, looping designs — a calm, creative way to spend an afternoon outside that’s surprisingly hard to put down. $24.99, ages 5+, amazon.com
Cooling off gets a lot more exciting with this monster-truck sprinkler. It whirls in a full circle, flinging water in every direction for run-through-it relief on a hot day. Once everyone’s soaked, the truck pops off its stand and rolls away on real working wheels for round two. $21.99, ages 4+, target.com
The humble hula hoop gets an upgrade with a sweet bubblegum-and-cotton-candy scent. It comes in three sizes for different ages and skill levels, making it an inexpensive way to get kids spinning, balancing, and moving outdoors. $5, ages 3+, kess.com
This packable lawn game pulls the whole family into the action. Players lob cones into a net to score, and stacking a cone on someone else’s lets you swipe their points. It folds flat into a carry case, so it’s as easy to bring to a campsite or picnic as it is to set up in the backyard. $59.99, ages 8+, vangotoys.com
Part relay race, part brain teaser, this jumbo stacking game keeps kids on their feet. They draw from 50 challenge cards and scramble to build matching color towers before the timer runs out — active play with a sneaky dose of pattern-and-sequence problem solving. $59.99, ages 8+, amazon.com
An easy first taste of target practice: the lightweight bow loads with soft Koosh arrows gentle enough for the yard or a rainy day indoors. Kids hook an arrow, draw back, and fire at the included pop-up targets, tallying points with every shot. $19.99, ages 5+, target.com
For kids itching to cover more ground, this bike is built to go the distance. A light aluminum frame, flat-resistant tires, and kid-sized proportions add up to a steady, confidence-building ride, while the fuss-free design means less upkeep for parents. Best of all, it’s made to grow right along with your rider. $399, ages 6+, prioritybicycles.com
Got a young rider ready to roll? Pair those new wheels with one of our favorite family routes in this guide to Virginia’s best family-friendly rail-trails.
Built on Montessori peg-puzzle play, this 14-piece set gives toddlers a pretend garden of their own — pots, soil fillers, and plants to place and replace again and again. It’s a tactile, hands-on introduction to how things grow, perfect for your littlest outdoor lover. $39.99, ages 1.5+, ravensburger.us
Two summer favorites in one playset: a scoop shop on one side and a beachside surf-rental stand on the other. Kids dish out cones, then hand over boards and snorkels, inventing their own seaside-day stories with the retro truck’s many playful details. $59.99, ages 4+, playmobil.com
A hand-picked set of open-ended activities designed to get young imaginations going. Each one quietly supports a developmental step, helping kids build curiosity, independence, and confidence as they explore at their own pace. $75, ages 3+, goodevas.com
Every backyard hangout and road trip needs a soundtrack, and this kid-safe streaming service delivers one. It serves up millions of songs across eras and genres — minus the explicit lyrics, mature themes, and questionable visuals — through curated channels or playlists kids build themselves. $4.99–$10.99/month, gabb.com
Outdoor toys are a great way to kick off the season, but a Virginia summer has so much more in store. From mountain adventure programs to nature day camps close to home, the right camp gives kids room to run, explore, and make new friends all summer long.
Explore the Virginia Camp Directory →
Not sure where to start? Search camps by region, activity, and age, browse overnight camps for a first sleepaway summer, or get set with our guide to preparing your child — and yourself — for camp.
These toys are NAPPA Award winners — recognition from a program that has spent more than 35 years vetting the best products for kids and families.
At VirginiaSummerCamp.com, our editorial team creates practical, parent-focused resources about camps and youth programs across Virginia. While we occasionally use AI tools to support research and drafting, every piece is checked by a human editor before publication. Our goal is to provide helpful, trustworthy guidance—rooted in real-world experience as parents and educators—while continually improving our processes to reduce errors and offer the most reliable information possible. All articles are reviewed and refined by experienced editors who understand the needs of Virginia families and are committed to accuracy, clarity, and transparency.
We care deeply about raising curious, confident, active kids, and we approach every guide with that purpose in mind.
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