Get ready to add an extra dose of fun to your Independence Day celebrations with these free 4th of July Scavenger Hunts! Perfect for families, friends, and community gatherings, these scavenger hunts are designed to keep everyone entertained while embracing the patriotic spirit of the holiday.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ, a picnic in the park, or a festive neighborhood event, our printable scavenger hunts will engage participants of all ages in a delightful search for iconic 4th of July items.
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Download your free scavenger hunt printables today and make this Independence Day unforgettable with a fun-filled adventure!
How to Have a 4th of July Scavenger Hunt
4th of July scavenger hunts are so easy to do because there’s next to no prep work!
All you need is a few of the printable 4th of July scavenger hunt sheets and a pen or marker to mark off all the things you find. That’s it! Easy-peasy!
Not sure exactly HOW to hold a 4th of July scavenger hunt for kids? Here are a few tips to get you started.
Choose an appropriate sheet for your needs. There are 3 different scavenger hunt sheets to choose from below:
- A 4th of July-themed word list
- A 4th of July-themed picture list
- A list using the letters of the word INDEPENDENCE
The picture list is perfect for young kids who aren’t good at reading, they can simply look at the pictures. It’s also a shorter list for smaller attention spans.
The word list is perfect for older kids and adults who can read and want the challenge of finding more items.
And the INDEPENDENCE list is great if you have less decorations and patriotic objects around– you can find anything at all, as long as it starts with the correct letter.
Give everyone their own sheet. You know, because sibling rivalry! If you only have one sheet for the whole family things can turn argumentative quickly. So use that ink and print out one for each person.
Make your scavenger hunt a small competition. Again, siblings tend to love to compete– see who can find all their items first. You can even have some prizes back home for those who finish!
Collect the items or pictures of the items. Add another layer to your Independence Day scavenger hunt by taking pictures of each of the items along the way.
Tips for a Successful 4th of July Scavenger Hunt
Here are a few tips for making your hunt go smoothly:
- Dress for the weather.4th of July is in the summer, make sure to dress appropriately and bring water!
- Use a clipboard. It can be frustrating to try and write on a flimsy piece of paper while on the move. Secure your scavenger hunt to a clipboard so you have a hard writing surface- and it won’t blow away!
- Make sure you’re in a good location. Some items may be hard to find if you aren’t in a place that’s decorated for 4th of July!
What if you have teens or tweens? Here are few ways to make the Independence Day scavenger hunt more fun:
Take a 4th of July SELFIE Scavenger Hunt: Teens love taking selfies, right? Have them take a selfie next to each of the objects listed.
Make it a Team Effort: Have a big group of teens or tweens? Split them into teams and have them race to finish the list first.
4th of July Hunt FAQs:
How many copies do I need to print?
One per person is best. If you’re doing teams, then one per team.
What if I can’t find all the items on the list?
That’s fine! This is a fun activity to do with the whole family and it’s meant to be just that- fun! Just find as many as you can- and if it’s a competition, the one who finds the most is the winner.
Does the scavenger hunt have to be done on 4th of July ?
Nope, you can do it anytime in the month or so leading up to 4th of July.
Do I have to do the scavenger hunt outside?
Nope. While it’s probably easier to find some of the items outside you could totally think outside the box and do a scavenger hunt inside a store (like Hobby Lobby!) or even inside a shopping mall. Even a school or classroom can provide a nice place to search- as long as it’s decorated for Independence Day!
4th of July Scavenger Hunt Prize Ideas
What kinds of things could you give out as prizes? Here are a few ideas:
- Patriotic stickers
- Summer or 4th of July books
- 4th of July pencils
- 4th of July Mini Erasers
- Special 4th of July cards or coupons
- Extra treats! Such as Red, White, and Blue cupcakes, cookies, or popsicles!
Download The 4th of July Scavenger Hunt Printables
There are 3 different scavenger hunt pages to choose from.
The printables are in an easy to print PDF format.
To download the scavenger hunts simply click on the image or the link below to open the file in a new tab and download it.
4th of July Scavenger Hunt #1
This 4th of July Scavenger Hunt is picture based, making it perfect for younger kids who aren’t reading yet.
They can visually see what to search for without reading the label.
This hunt has 12 different items to search for.
Download the 4th of July Scavenger Hunt Now
4th of July Scavenger Hunt #2
This extra long 4th of July Scavenger Hunt has 28 different items to search for.
This one is perfect for older kids and teens to complete!
Download the 4th of July Scavenger Hunt Now
Independence Day Scavenger Hunt #3
Here’s a different version of a scavenger hunt.
Instead of searching for specific 4th of July items, you search for items that begin with each letter of the word INDEPENDENCE.
Bonus points for making the items 4th of July or patriotic themed!
Download the 4th of July Scavenger Hunt Now
This resource is available for you to use for free in your home, classroom, or group. It can not be sold or reproduced for commercial purposes. If you’d like to share the 4th of July Scavenger Hunt, please share the link to this article instead of sharing the file directly.
Looking for more 4th of July fun for you and your family? Check these out:
Free Printable 4th of July Sudoku
Free 4th of July Coloring Pages for Kids
7 Free Printable 4th of July Potluck Sign Up Sheets
T-Shirt Decorating: DIY Red White and Blue Patriotic Shirts
Looking for more scavenger hunts? Try these:
Road Trip Scavenger Hunt for Long Car Rides
How to Do a Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids (of All Ages!)
Printable Halloween Scavenger Hunt
