Summer is our favorite time of year for date night. There’s so much to do! We get to spend a lot of time outside and the sun and warm weather motivate and energize us! Each year we have a list of traditional activities that we add to our date night calendar. Summer date ideas are the easiest and my favorite to come up with!
When it comes to date night, you won’t find us doing the same thing each week. We love the classic dinner and a movie date and we love going out to eat at our favorite restaurants, but we also love to experience new things together. Date night is the perfect opportunity for a little adventure! We love to try new restaurants, check out different places made for fun in the area, and enjoy the seasonal activities that are available where we live.
This list of summer date ideas includes activities that can be done at home or out on the town. It has date nights for outdoor lovers and for those of us who prefer to stay indoors when it gets a little too hot. You can even take a few of the ideas and turn them into multiple dates depending on how you choose to participate in the activity each time. I hope these summer date ideas inspire you to make date night a priority in your marriage and spend intentional quality time together this season!
Seek out the closest drive-in theater near you. Bring along your favorite takeout to eat during one of the movies. And make your favorite movie treat to enjoy during the second feature.
Set up a projector to watch a movie on the side of your house after the kids are in bed. You can also use your laptop or a small TV set up where you can see. Don’t forget the blankets, pillows, and bug spray!
Related: Outdoor At Home Drive-In Movie Date
Look for free summer movie nights in your area, usually hosted by the city at a local park. Bring your favorite homemade popcorn or movie treat to enjoy during the movie.
Related: Homemade Gourmet Popcorn
Invite your friend group or your siblings and their significant others to your house for an evening. Have everyone bring their own meat and a side dish to share. For dessert, roast marshmallows and starburst over the grill or a fire OR enjoy soda floats (your favorite flavor of soda with vanilla or chocolate ice cream).
Related: The Best Recipe for Summer Barbecues
Find something that you have been wanting to learn how to grill and make it a competition. Check out this post for information on how we conducted our rib grill-off and learned how to grill ribs together.
Related: Grilled or Oven Baked Cookie Skillets
Browse Pinterest for delicious recipes you can make completely on the grill (minus your drinks of course). Make appetizers, your main course, side dishes, and dessert, all on the grill. Sit outside to eat so you can enjoy the food as it finishes cooking.
Related: Tips and Tricks for Cooking Ribs on the Grill
Find an easy hike in your area with an eastern view. Pack a breakfast picnic to enjoy at the end while you watch the sun come up.
If you aren’t up for a hike, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or a fruit smoothie while you watch from your own yard. Your kids can enjoy some morning cartoons while you enjoy your alone time.
Major league or minor league, nothing says summer like a ball game. Wear baseball tees and ball caps. Splurge on ballpark food, and share a hot dog and a bag of cotton candy. Sing along to ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ and take a picture with the team’s mascot. If you can attend a game that ends with fireworks, that’s even better!
Head to the store to pick out new squirt guns together, and don’t forget the water balloons. Have a war against each other or invite another couple over to join you. Enjoy an ice cream treat afterward while you dry off in the sun.
Related: This Mean War – At Home Date Idea
I love going out to eat somewhere with patio seating during the summer. Do some research to find out what restaurants in your area have patio seating that’s open during the summer. Then try them all out for your date nights during the warmer months! There’s an outdoor shopping center near us with a few different restaurants with patio seating. They all surround the fountain area in the center of the mall. It’s fun to eat outdoors, watch the fountain shows and people watch at the same time! This is probably my favorite of the summer date ideas!
Related: Discover a New Restaurant Together
We also love to eat dinner outside in our own backyard. Set up your outdoor space to entice you outside more nights than not. Patio furniture, outdoor lighting, an umbrella to block the sun, whatever your space needs, invest in it. Plan one or two nights each week for the two of you to eat outside together. It can be a full meal or even just a snack, drink, or dessert.
Local artists come together every year to support a charity and draw amazing pictures on the sidewalk down Main Street in a local town. It’s one of my favorite events because we get outside, support local businesses in the area, run into people we know, and admire the amazing chalk art. I know this is a tradition in many areas so you can search out one in yours!
Claim a square on the driveway or sidewalk in front of your house and see who can be the most creative. Ask your kids, or the neighbor kids, to be on the judging panel when you’re finished. The winner chooses where to go for dessert.
You could also take your box of chalk with you to a public park. Draw happy doodles or write uplifting quotes on the squares of a walking path, where others will see them.
Cuddle up in a blanket together and talk about life while the sun goes down. Put your phone on silent and resist the urge to snap a million pictures. Just enjoy the time together! Sit outside and watch the stars come out after the sun has gone down.
Research campsites close to your home and escape for the night. Pack all of your favorite camping foods and a few card games to play. You don’t have to travel far for
If your work schedules make it difficult to go camping without planning far in advance, set up camp in your backyard. Pretend you’re in the mountains without cell phone service or electrical outlets. Cook your food over a campfire, play card games, and go to bed early. Just don’t forget to turn off your sprinklers for the night!
Related: Indoor Camp Out – At Home Date Idea
Purchase an ice cream maker from Amazon or research how to make ice cream in a plastic bag. You can stick with the classic flavors or get creative and come up with one of your own. Spend your date making ice cream, listening to music, and eating your delicious creations!
Nothing says summer like ice cream. Try a variety of ice cream and frozen treat shops near you. And make the delicious treat the third wheel on all of your summer dates.
Related: 6 Ways to Enjoy Summer Nights at Home
Ski resorts and other outdoor venues have great concert series during the summer. Find one that interests you and make it a getaway by reserving a hotel room near the venue.
You might also find an outdoor concert series at a park near you, usually hosted by the area’s arts council. The outdoor shopping and dining center in our area hosts fun concerts once a week near their fountains as well.
Research food trucks in your area. Pick out the ones you want to try and make a night of it. Both of you order something different at each food truck and share so that you get to try more things. Some areas have food truck round-ups, find out if there are any near you!
Seek out fun mini-golf courses in your area and plan a date for a bit of friendly competition. The best time to go to the mini-golf course is after dinner when the temperature has cooled off a bit. This would be a really fun group date as well! Pick up ice cream cones to eat while you go for a stroll after you’ve finished your game.
Fishing is a low-key, relaxing date and a great opportunity for a bit of bonding. If you live in the United States, you can visit the takemefishing.org website to find the best fishing holes near you and find out how to get your fishing license for the day. Pack some food and enjoy each other’s company for a few hours. If you aren’t catch and release people, you can finish your date off with a fresh fish meal that you cook together.
You can order a simple popsicle mold for a really decent price, and make your own frozen creations to enjoy together. I see unique recipes on Pinterest all the time. Turn your favorite dessert into a frozen treat. Make an extra smoothie and freeze it for a healthy treat on a hot day. Spike your frozen pops and label them “adults only” for the two of you to enjoy evenings after the kids are in bed.
A lot of couples look forward to the day when their favorite snow cone shack opens every year. Make a weekly mini-date of seeking out new snow cone shacks or food trucks and enjoying a delicious treat. Hopefully, by the end of the summer, you’ll have discovered a really good place that you can frequent the next summer.
Summer rainstorms are warm and perfect for playing together! Jump in puddles and dance together in the next storm, but be sure to avoid lightning and thunder. When the rain stops, warm up with a shower and cuddle up in a blanket together afterward.
The air after a summer shower is the best! It feels fresh and the smell of rain lingers. Take a short walk together after a rainstorm. You might want jackets if the temperatures drop during the rainstorm.
Don’t feel like going outside or getting wet? That’s ok because the two of you make a spontaneous date out of a good summer shower. Open the window in your room and cuddle next to each other in bed, talking and enjoying the sounds and smells of summer rain. Or make your favorite warm drink and sit on the couch in front of an open window enjoying the storm.
Related: Romantic Playlist for All of Your Date Nights
There’s something about cooking over a campfire and smelling like it afterward, that is just so summery. And there are so many fun ways to cook a meal over the fire. You can roast your entire meal on sticks; hot dogs, roasted veggies, kabobs of some kind, and a variety of s’mores for dessert. Or put together tin foil dinners and let them cook near the fire while you play card games nearby. If you’re feeling ambitious, pull out the dutch oven and learn how to cook your main dish, side dishes, and dessert in them.
Find a trail near you and go on a bike ride together. If you don’t own bikes of your own, borrow some from family or friends or rent one from a local shop. If you find that you really like biking together and want to participate more regularly, purchase bikes of your own and make a weekly date of it.
When I was a teenager, scooters were the new rage and everyone saved up their money to get that popular brand, for a lot more money than the basic scooter costs today. I’ve been looking at buying myself a scooter in my 30s, not only to ride with my kids but to ride with my husband as well. Find a well-paved trail you can ride on and enjoy!
When was the last time you put rollerblades on? Do you feel like you could rollerblade now? I see people post occasionally on social media about rollerblading around trails or their neighborhood and I think it sounds like a lot of fun! I’m a bit scared of losing my balance, but shouldn’t let that stop me. You could search a thrift store or something similar near you for low-priced blades you can use this summer.
Whether you live inland or on the coast, you can find a beach of some kind to enjoy. We live in the middle of a desert, but there are at least five beaches that I can think of, in our state. Pack a picnic, bring your swimsuit, and maybe rent a paddleboard or raft you can take out on the water. If you’re up for it, plan for a little beach camping.
You don’t have to live near the mountains to go hiking together. A lot of areas have nature trails, even right in the middle of the city. We have some trails that are paved and just a short walk from our house and others that are a bit of a drive and in the mountains. Get outside and be active together, enjoy nature, and explore the area where you live.
The fair is a great place to enjoy a date. Fair food, free entertainment, and local talent are all fun to enjoy together. Our local fair has added a hot air balloon festival that we’re really looking forward to. Depending on where you live, your fair might include a variety of fun events and activities unique to your area.
Our relationship started with lots of late-night walks. We get out of the house together after the sun goes down and the temperature is more bearable and we walk for a good hour. The quiet night air and fresh evening breeze make for excellent conversation and quality time.
No matter how long you’ve lived where you live, there is always something new to explore. Whether it’s a mom-and-pop restaurant you’ve never been to, something new that just opened, or an area of town that you’ve never explored. You’ll always have something new to try. Make a date of walking through the area you’re not familiar with or try all new things together.
Is there an area near you with great attractions and food? Make an all-day date of it and explore the area like you would if you’d traveled across the world. Visit the area’s tourist website and see what they suggest you check out. Then find some lesser know, but just as awesome things to do and places to eat. You don’t need to travel the world to find cool things.
I love playing on the playground as much as my toddlers. Sometimes I want to go try out a park for myself when it’s not filled with little kids or before I take my own kids. The best time to go to the park and play if you don’t want it to be you alongside a bunch of toddlers is around 9 pm on a summer night. After the little ones will be in bed but before the parks close for the evening. Make it even more fun and bring a picnic of cracker stacker sandwiches and other kid food to enjoy before or after you play.
Research to find places in your area where you can rent a canoe and take it out on the water. It’s a great opportunity to practice your teamwork and see if you can work together to make your way across the water.
I’ve always thought paddle boats (which I often call pedal boats) are a lot of fun! You sit side by side in a boat and pedal with your feet to make the boat move. You get to enjoy some time on a lake or pond together, get physical activity, and have time to talk at the same time.
It’s summer, why not?! Visit your community pool. See who can swim laps the fastest, make up your own water aerobics routine and practice it together, and dare each other to jump off the diving board, and take a lot of trips down the water slide. Have fun together and grab dinner after you’ve worked up an appetite.
Just like when you were teenagers! Kick the can, sardines, mafia, etc. Pick your favorite night games and host a game night for all of your couple friends. Have fun but be aware of noise levels depending on how late you’re out playing.
It’s been fun to see all of the games that couples and families have taken up recently. I see lots of badminton nets, home laser tag sets, and even old classics like croquet. Find some fun backyard games you can invest in and pull out on a summer night to play together.
Attach glow sticks to your person and play tag at night. You can get glow-in-the-dark versions of almost any backyard game. Invest in some and play for a late-night date night.
Summer is the time to pull out some really great homemade desserts! You can make them over a campfire, on the grill, or in a dutch oven. Homemade ice cream, creative s’mores, and grilled fruits are all a favorite. My new favorite thing is the homemade lemonade that my brother makes. Find some recipes and make them together for date night!
Make a list of summer treats you don’t want to miss out on this year. Snow cones from your favorite shack. Frozen hot cocoa from a drink shop nearby. Treats made with fresh fruit. Make your way through your list, enjoying all of your favorite summer treats during various date nights.
We are lucky to live near a dark sky park, where light pollution is not allowed and you can see the entire night sky. Find an area near you that’s certified and marvel at the universe together.
Grab a blanket and some bug spray and spend an hour or two outside under the stars. There are great apps you can use to identify constellations and stars in the sky above you. What you’re able to see will change throughout the year, so enjoy this date multiple times.
If you don’t have a dark sky park near you but want to see all the stars, drive out into the middle of nowhere together. Head to the mountains, or drive to a less populated area. Lay in the back of the truck together and listen to music while you enjoy the night air and watch the stars come out.
What are your favorite picnic foods? Pack up a picnic and take it with you to a local park, picnic area in the mountains, or on a hike.
Charcuterie boards are all the rage right now. Snack trays, cheese boards, adult lunchables, no matter what you choose to call them, they’re delicious! You can make a charcuterie board for any type of food. This would be fun to take out to your yard and enjoy on a blanket together. Lay down to watch the clouds go by after you’re both full.
Put a blanket in your truck, grab your favorite takeout, and find a grassy area nearby to eat.
One weekend we put all of the sandwich fixings into a cooler and drove until we found a fun park with a playground and picnic area. We let the kids run between playing and eating while we made sandwiches, watched them play, and talked together. It was the perfect summer activity!
I think the best part of summer dates is being outside together. Stay active and enjoy all of the hot weather activities. You’ll miss them when the snow falls, which always happens way too soon. Whether you use these summer date ideas or come up with a list of your own, make date night a weekly tradition this year!
Share your favorite summer date ideas in the comments below!
For more date night ideas like these ones, check out my book, Prioritizing Date Night in Your Marriage, with 300+ date night ideas.
