How I Planned a Scavenger Hunt at Home

Who doesn't love a good scavenger hunt? I set one up for my kids and their friends at home, and in no time our house turned into a race to find and collect items from the list – plus lots of laughter!
Here's my simple, step-by-step plan for creating a scavenger hunt at home.

Step 1 — The List

Start with the list! Decide what players need to find or do: physical items (something red, something that tells time), photo challenges (take a picture with the family pet), or mini-tasks (find something that starts with each letter of your name). Mix a few of each so the hunt stays fun and varied. I kept our list to about 12–15 items so it didn't drag on but still felt like a real challenge.

Indoor scavenger hunt list and items to find at home

Step 2 — Rooms and Hiding Spots

Use different rooms so the hunt isn't all in one place. You can list items that are naturally in each area (e.g. kitchen: something you use to eat with; bedroom: something you sleep with) or add simple riddles so they have to think before they find. Need more ideas? Check out these scavenger hunt list and riddle ideas for at home.

In our game I used a mix: some items were straightforward ("something round", "something soft") and a few were photo challenges ("take a photo of the team in the bathroom mirror"). We gave each team a printed list and a time limit – first team to complete the list (or the one with the most items when time was up) won!

Home scavenger hunt list example - rooms and items

You can keep the list plain text or add a bit of mystery with a word search or cipher that reveals the next item – the kids loved decoding one of the clues!

Scavenger hunt list and checklist - final items at home

Like this idea? Try building your own scavenger hunt on MyRaceParty – you can create missions and checklists, and each task can appear as a QR code or on a printable sheet. Great for ages 8+, runs about 25–30 minutes, and you can edit the list to fit your family or party theme.

Treasure Hunt

DIY Treasure Hunt

Free tools that can help you add puzzles to your list:
Word‑Search Generator - Cipher (Crypto) Generator

Step 3 — Theme (Optional)

Not required, but a theme makes it more fun. Pick something your players love – superheroes, colors, nature, or "spy mission" – and shape the list around it. For example, a spy theme could include "find something that could be a secret message" or "take a photo of the team in disguise." We went with a simple "house explorer" theme and it worked great for mixed ages.

Scavenger hunt supplies and checklist at home

Step 4 — Test the List

Walk through the list yourself. Make sure every item or challenge is actually doable in your home and that nothing is too vague or impossible. Tweak any that feel unfair or boring so the game runs smoothly on the day.

Step 5 — Hand Out and Play

Print the list (or share it on phones), set a time limit if you want, and let everyone go! You can play as one group or in teams. First to complete the list – or the team with the most items when time runs out – wins. Have a small prize or just celebrate together. Either way, your at-home scavenger hunt is ready to go!