60+ Best College Date Ideas
This post is all about the best college date ideas.
These actually fun date ideas go beyond the basic “Netflix and chill” that so many people are accustomed to these days.
Since there are so many great date ideas on this list, I’ve broken them down into the following categories:
- Date ideas for each season
- Free date ideas
- Outdoor date ideas
- Indoor date ideas
- Fun and unique date ideas
Read on for the best college date ideas…
Fall Date Ideas
Fall is in the air! Here are some perfect fall date ideas you will love:
1. Go apple picking.
Going apple picking is a classic fall activity and makes a really cute date idea. Nothing like strolling through the apple orchard on a crisp fall afternoon!
2. Go to a fair or carnival.
Check to see if there’s a fair or carnival in town for a really great fall date night idea. You’re guaranteed to have a good time playing carnival games, riding the Ferris Wheel, and eating as many funnel cakes as possible.
3. Carve pumpkins together.
If it’s close to Halloween, carving pumpkins is a super cute date idea. You can even go to a pumpkin patch beforehand to choose your pumpkins!
4. Go to a haunted house.
This is a great Halloween date idea. You’ll quickly figure out which one of you is the biggest scaredy-cat on a date to a haunted house!
5. Hike a scenic area.
Going for a hike is always a fun date idea. And hiking in the fall is the best because it’s not too hot or too cold outside. Plus, if you choose a scenic hike, you can admire all the pretty fall foliage!
6. Go to a corn maze.
Getting lost in a corn maze on your own seems terrifying, but doing it with your date makes it a whole lot more fun!
7. Cider tasting at a brewery.
A lot of breweries have special seasonal events and during the fall you can typically find a cider tasting (or a pumpkin-flavored beverage tasting!) This is a great date idea that will get you in the fall spirit.
8. Go to a theme park.
A lot of theme parks have Halloween-themed events that would be super fun for a date! One that comes to mind is Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. Many smaller local theme parks have something similar.
9. Go to a bonfire.
If you’re looking for a low-pressure date idea in a group environment, a fall bonfire with a big group of friends is always a fun option.
10. Watch scary movies.
What could be a more classic Halloween date idea than watching scary movies together? Either have a movie marathon at home, or go to a screening at the movie theater. Don’t forget the popcorn!
11. Go on a hay ride.
It doesn’t get much cozier than snuggling up with your date under some blankets on a hay ride on a crisp fall night!
Winter Date Ideas
Looking for the perfect winter date idea? Here are some of the best college date ideas for winter that you will love:
12. Go ice skating.
Ice skating is a classic winter activity! Gliding around the ice rink or a frozen pond together is the ultimate cute winter date idea.
13. Go sledding.
When there’s fresh snow on the ground, nothing beats going sledding! This is guaranteed to be a super fun outing for you and your date.
14. Decorate a gingerbread house.
Get into the holiday spirit by decorating a gingerbread house together. You can buy a pre-made kit from the store or if you’re feeling bold, try to make your own gingerbread house from scratch.
15. See holiday lights.
If there’s any sort of holiday lights display near you, or streets known for their holiday decorations, hop in the car and take a drive to admire them! Don’t forget the hot cocoa and Christmas tunes.
16. Bake Christmas cookies.
Baking Christmas cookies together is a really fun (and delicious!) winter date idea. Be sure to have plenty of frosting and sprinkles on hand to decorate them.
17. Drink hot cocoa and have a movie night.
There is no better way to spend a cold winter evening than cuddling up with some old classic movies (or your favorite holiday movies!) and some homemade hot cocoa. This is the perfect winter date night!
Spring Date Ideas
Spring has sprung! Here are some fabulous springtime date ideas:
18. Go to a farmer’s market.
This is a great weekend date idea. Head to the local farmer’s market on a Saturday morning and do some shopping and taste-testing!
19. Visit a botanical garden.
Botanical gardens are a picturesque spot to spend a spring day strolling around and admiring all the flowers in bloom.
20. Have a picnic.
With the weather turning warm again, it’s the perfect time to go for a picnic. Pack a cute picnic lunch and hike to a scenic spot for the ultimate spring date.
21. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Go to a local Irish pub on or around St. Patrick’s Day for a super fun date idea.
22. Go to a butterfly garden.
Visiting a butterfly garden or conservatory is such a fun spring date idea, especially if you combine it with something like a picnic afterwards!
23. Go berry picking.
Going berry picking is the perfect way to spend a spring afternoon. Head to a local strawberry farm to pick your own berries, then go home and make fresh strawberry shortcake for dessert!
24. Go for a hike.
One of the best times of year to go hiking is in the spring, when the winter cold has melted away but it’s not quite hot summer yet. This is a fun and active date idea perfect for a spring weekend day.
Summer Date Ideas
Soak up the summer fun with these perfect summertime date ideas that are perfect for college students:
25. Watch an outdoor movie.
Head to an outdoor movie screening or drive-in movie for a classic summer date night that’s sure to be a fun time.
26. Go to a water park.
Nothing says summertime like going to the water park! You’re guaranteed to have a blast if you choose this cute summer date idea.
27. Go to the beach.
Pack up your bag and head to the beach for the perfect summer date!
28. Watch fireworks.
This is a great date idea for on or around the Fourth of July. Stake out the best spot to see the fireworks, and enjoy!
29. Go to a rooftop bar.
Summer is definitely the season for rooftop bars. Get there early to stake out the perfect spot for watching the sunset over the city.
30. Have a water balloon fight.
This is a super fun summer date idea. You’ll feel like a kid again having a water balloon fight. This is a great group date idea with a bunch of friends!
31. Go tubing in the river.
If there’s a river nearby, chances are they offer tubing. Rent a tube, bring some snacks and drinks in a waterproof container, and spend the afternoon floating down the river. So relaxing and fun!
32. Go to an outdoor concert.
Summer is the perfect time to go to an outdoor concert. See if a band or artist you both like will be in town, and grab the cheapest lawn tickets!
33. Go ice cream tasting.
Make it your mission to sample the best ice cream places around all in one day. You can split a cup at each place so you don’t get too full on ice cream!
Free Date Ideas
Going on a fun and memorable date doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Here are the best free date ideas for college students:
34. Volunteer together.
Volunteering together is 100% free and will make you feel good while helping the community. Some great places to volunteer are with an animal shelter, local park beautification project, or food bank.
35. Go stargazing.
Get some blankets and pillows, pile them into the back of a truck or car, and drive off to the country for some incredible nighttime stargazing.
36. Build a blanket fort.
Who said building a blanket fort is only for little kids?! This is a super cute idea, and you can watch movies from inside your blanket fort afterwards!
37. Watch the sunrise/sunset.
Simple, but classic date idea: Watch the sunrise or sunset somewhere pretty.
38. Have a movie marathon.
This is a great date idea for a rainy day. Get cozy, make some popcorn, and prepare for a movie marathon!
39. Go for a bike ride.
For a fun and active date idea that doesn’t cost any money, head out on a bike ride together. You can pack a picnic lunch to eat along the way.
40. Have a game night.
Game night is a super fun and free date idea. You can also do this with a group. Board games like Monopoly or Scrabble are always a good idea, while a fun card game like Cards Against Humanity can be extremely entertaining.
41. Go to a free museum.
A lot of museums have free admission days once a week or once a month. You may also be able to get free admission to museums by showing your student ID. Research free museum days in your area, pick one, and go!
42. Go on a scavenger hunt.
For some really fun and free entertainment, do a date night scavenger hunt! You can find a lot of free scavenger hunts online for everything from people-watching to finding crazy things at Wal-Mart.
43. Try out a new recipe.
This is a great date night idea you can do at home. Find a new recipe you can make with ingredients you already have, and get cooking!
Outdoor Date Ideas
Love being active and spending time outdoors? Here are some of the best outdoor date idea you will love:
44. Go camping.
For a really adventurous date, go camping together! Don’t forget to pack the ingredients to make s’mores.
45. Go kayaking.
Rent a kayak and get out on the water for a fun outdoors date!
46. Go to an outdoor sporting event.
Going to an outdoor sporting event is a fun date idea. Head to a baseball game in the spring or summer, or bundle up for a football game on a crisp fall evening.
47. Swim at a waterfall or natural spring.
Rather than hitting the pool, research cool natural swimming spots like waterfalls or springs in your area and make an adventurous day out of it!
48. Go to the zoo.
Going to the zoo is a cute and fun date idea that’s guaranteed to be a good time.
Indoor Date Ideas
Looking for something to do indoors on date night? Here are some great ideas for when it’s raining or too hot or cold to spend the day outside:
49. Take a cooking class.
Taking a cooking class is a fun way to learn a new skill. Some great ideas are are learning how to make your own pasta or sweet treats like macarons.
50. Visit an art museum.
For a fun indoor date idea, spend the day at your local art museum.
51. See a play.
For another great date idea that will give you a dose of culture, grab some tickets to a play that’s in town and spend the evening at the theatre.
52. Go to an arcade.
Whether you go to classic arcade or a big entertainment venue like Dave & Buster’s, this is definitely going to be a fun (and competitive!) date night.
53. Go roller skating.
Head to an indoor roller skating rink and skate the night away!
54. Try indoor rock climbing.
If you’re looking for a fun and active date idea that’s still indoors, head to an indoor rock climbing gym and give this sport a try.
55. Go bowling.
Classic date night idea: Go bowling! Always a good time.
Fun and Unique Date Ideas
These are some of the best fun and unique college date ideas:
56. Go on a food crawl.
Pick any type of food (tacos, pizza, etc.) and spend the evening on a DIY food crawl trying all the best spots in town.
57. Go to a comedy show.
Comedy shows are typically inexpensive and are a super fun way to spend a date night. You may end up laughing at how good the comedians are… or how bad they are! Either way, it’s guaranteed to be an entertaining time.
58. Go thrift shopping.
This is another cheap date idea that can be really fun. Hit the thrift stores in your area and come up with the craziest outfits possible!
59. Go mini golfing.
Who doesn’t love mini golf? This is always a lot of fun… and if you have a competitive streak, things can get intense!
60. Learn a new skill.
Take a class to learn a new skill together. You can try your hand at something artistic like painting or pottery, or do something outdoorsy like archery or paddle-boarding. The options are endless with this!
61. Play laser tag.
Playing laser tag will make you feel like a kid again and is so fun. This is guaranteed to be a super entertaining date idea!
62. Go indoor skydiving.
This is definitely an adventurous date idea! You can experience the sensation of free-falling out of an airplane at an indoor skydiving place. Not quite as scary as real skydiving, but still exhilarating!
63. Attend a trivia night.
Show off your trivia skills at a local bar or pub trivia night. This is a great group date idea to do with some friends too.
64. Sing karaoke.
Karaoke is always a blast, although it can be a combination of embarrassing and hilarious at times. Definitely a memorable date night idea!
65. Go to a campus event.
Check out events going on around your college campus. You can typically score free or super cheap tickets to sports games, concerts, performances, and other events. You might find something really fun and you won’t have to go far!
These are the best college date ideas that are fun and affordable!
Related: 57+ Discounts for College Students
