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QR code scavenger hunt

To make a QR code scavenger hunt, write a chain of clues, turn each clue into a plain-text QR code, print them and hide each one where the previous clue points. Players scan a code with their phone camera and read the next clue. Text codes work offline and need no app, so they suit parks, schools and party venues.

QR code generatorUpdated 4 min read

The code below holds a sample clue. Scan it to see how it looks on a phone.

Step 1: plan the route

  1. Pick 6–12 hiding places, depending on age and time. Walk the route once.
  2. Put the places in order. The last one is the prize or the finish.
  3. Write one clue per place that points to the next place. The first clue is handed out at the start.

Keep the codes in reach of the shortest player and out of rain and direct sun, or put them in plastic sleeves.

Step 2: write the clues

Each clue goes into its own code, so keep it short. A plain-text code with a sentence or two is easy to scan; much longer text makes a dense code that needs printing bigger.

  • Number them ("Clue 4 of 8") so teams know if they skipped one.
  • Riddles, picture descriptions, a maths question whose answer is a room number, or a word in another language all work.
  • For teams of mixed ages, add an easier hint in the same code: "Stuck? Look near the sink."
  • End with a clear finish: "You found the last clue. Go back to the start to claim your prize."

Step 3: make the QR codes

  1. In the generator below, choose Text and type the first clue.
  2. Scan the preview with your phone to check it reads correctly.
  3. Download a PNG and name the file after the clue number, for example clue-01.png.
  4. Repeat for every clue.

The codes are made in your browser and nothing is stored, so you can make as many as you like. They're static, so they won't expire before the party.

QR code generator

Open the full tool

Step 4: print, hide and test

  • Print each code at least 3–4 cm (1.5 in) wide on white paper. Leave white space round the code; don't trim right up to the edge.
  • Write the clue number small below the code, so you can hide them in the right order. Don't write the clue itself.
  • Before the players arrive, walk the route and scan every code in place. Corners, dim cupboards and glossy sleeves can cause trouble.

Ideas for different groups

Kids' parties. Short picture clues ("I'm cold inside and keep the milk") and a treat at each stop. One adult per team helps with phones.

Team days. Mix the clues with tasks: "Take a team photo with something blue, then find clue 5 by the coffee machine." Give each team a different starting point so they don't follow each other.

Classrooms. QR codes in the classroom work well for:

  • Clue trails around the school, with each clue answering a question from the lesson.
  • Answer checks taped to the back of worksheet stations, so pupils check their own work.
  • Revision stations, where each code holds a question and the answer is at the next station.
  • Links to a video or reading on a wall poster. Use a link code instead of text, and check the school network allows the site.

Plain-text codes are the easy choice for schools: there's no login, no link to a site that might be blocked, and nothing to collect pupils' data.

Text or link?

Use text codes for clues. They work offline, open instantly and nobody can peek at the next clue in a browser history. Use link codes when the stop needs a video, a form or a photo upload. If you link to a form, see how to make a QR code for a survey.

Related guides

Sources

Questions

How can I create a scavenger hunt using QR codes?

Write a list of clues where each one leads to the next hiding place. Turn each clue into a plain-text QR code, print them, and hide each code at the place the previous clue describes. Players scan to read the next clue.

Do players need the internet or an app?

No. A plain-text QR code holds the clue itself, so phones show it without a connection. Most phone cameras read QR codes without an app.

Is there a free scavenger hunt app?

You don't need one. Printed QR codes and the phones players already have are enough. Apps add things like scores and timers if you want them.

How can QR codes be used in teaching and learning?

Common uses are clue trails, answer checks stuck to the back of worksheets, links to a video or reading on a poster, and a code on the board that opens a quiz or form. Plain-text codes work without a school login.