The best picnic date ideas keep things simple: pick a shady spot with a view, pack easy finger food and a blanket, and add one small activity like cards or stargazing. Below you'll find places to picnic, a packing checklist, easy food ideas, food safety basics and a rain backup plan.
Labels are a rough guide: Free, Low cost (entry fees or a small purchase) and Mid-range (a ticket or tasting fee).
A big city park. Look for shade trees, a lawn away from the playground and a restroom nearby. (Free)
A lakeside or riverside lawn. Water views make the date feel special. Stay well back from the edge. (Free)
A hilltop or overlook at golden hour. Time it so you can watch the sunset, then walk out while it's still light. (Free)
A late-afternoon beach. Smaller crowds and softer sun than midday. (Free)
A botanical garden or arboretum. Check whether picnics are allowed, or eat on a lawn outside the gates. (Free to Low cost)
A state or national park picnic area. Tables, views and trails for a walk after lunch. (Free to Low cost)
A free concert or movie in the park. Bring low chairs or a blanket and arrive early for a good spot. (Free)
A college quad or sculpture garden. Quiet on weekends, with plenty to look at and talk about. (Free)
A pick-your-own farm. Pick fruit together, then eat some of it at a picnic table nearby. (Low cost)
A vineyard, orchard or farm that welcomes picnics. Buy a drink or a snack there to support the place. (Mid-range)
Your backyard, balcony or rooftop. String lights and a blanket make it feel like an outing. (Free)
A stargazing picnic. Choose a dark park that is open after sunset, and bring layers and a flashlight. (Free)
Before you go, check the park's rules. Some places limit glass, alcohol, grills or after-dark visits.
A blanket, plus a waterproof layer if the ground might be damp
A cooler with ice or frozen gel packs, and a separate cooler or bag for drinks
Plates, cups, napkins, utensils and a clean serving spoon
A water jug, soap and paper towels, or moist towelettes for hands
Trash bags so you can pack everything out
Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and bug spray
A deck of cards, a frisbee or a few conversation questions
A light jacket and a flashlight if you'll stay past sunset
Choose food you can eat with your hands that won't fall apart. Ask about allergies and food preferences before you shop.
Snack board: crackers, cheese, grapes, nuts, cut vegetables and a dip, packed cold.
Wraps or sandwiches: cut in halves so you can swap and try both.
Cold pasta or grain salad: make it the night before and keep it in the cooler.
Fruit: berries, melon cubes or apple slices. Rinse produce at home before packing.
Something sweet: cookies, brownies or a small pastry from a local bakery.
Drinks: plenty of water, plus iced tea, lemonade or sparkling water.
A stomachache is not the memory you want from a date. The FDA's advice for eating outdoors comes down to a few habits:
Keep cold food cold. Pack it in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. The FDA says cold food should stay at 40°F or below.
Use two coolers if you can. Drinks in one, perishable food in the other, so the food cooler stays closed while you grab drinks.
Watch the clock. FoodSafety.gov says germs grow fastest between 40°F and 140°F. Don't leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when it's above 90°F. If it sits out longer, the FDA says to throw it away.
Keep raw and ready-to-eat apart. If you're grilling, wrap raw meat well and use a clean plate for cooked food.
Clean hands first. No sink? The FDA suggests a water jug, soap and paper towels, or moist towelettes.
Set cold dishes on ice. Put a shallow container in a deeper pan of ice and refresh the ice as it melts.
The National Park Service shares the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, and several fit a picnic:
Know the rules for the place you're visiting.
Pack it in, pack it out, including leftover food and small scraps.
Never feed wildlife, and keep food and trash stored securely.
Leave flowers, rocks and plants as you find them.
Keep voices and music low so others can enjoy the quiet.
Only light a fire or grill where it's allowed.
The CDC notes that UV rays are strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight saving time. A morning or late-afternoon picnic is often more comfortable. Sit in shade and wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
Check the forecast that morning. The National Weather Service says there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. Postpone early if storms are expected, and if you hear thunder, head to a sturdy building or a hard-topped car. Rain shelters, like an open picnic pavilion, are not safe from lightning. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back out.
A good backup is a living room picnic: blanket on the floor, same food, a movie or card game. For more ideas, see these rainy day date ideas or our list of cheap date ideas.
A blanket, a cooler with ice packs, easy food, water, plates and napkins, hand wipes, trash bags, sunscreen and one small activity like cards.
Finger foods that travel well: wraps, a snack board, fruit, cold pasta salad and cookies. Skip anything that melts fast or needs a lot of cutting.
The FDA says no more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if it's above 90°F. After that, throw perishable food away.
It can be, if you choose a busy public park in daylight and keep it to an hour or two. Each of you should get there on your own.
SecondYes: Second Date Planner is an iPhone app for adults who have already met and want to plan a date together; it is not a dating app. It suggests ideas from your saved places, nearby spots and an original idea library you can filter by budget and setting, and its Plan a Date flow builds three different plans from your mood, budget, area and availability. You can send up to three plans in one private link, and the other person picks one in a web browser without installing the app.
Get SecondYes free on the App Store