23 Best Long Distance Date Ideas to Stay Connected in 2024

It’s important to have an arsenal of long distance date ideas ready to go. If you're in an LDR, you know that it requires a lot more effort than normal relationships. So follow these ideas to keep the spark alive! 

If you find yourself asking questions like, "What can long distance couples do together?" or "What to do for a long distance date night?" You’re in luck. There are plenty of fun and creative long distance date ideas to make certain you and your partner stay connected.  

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• Creative Long Distance Date Ideas
• Foodie Long Distance Date Ideas
• DIY Long Distance Date Ideas
• Online Long Distance Date Ideas
• Long Distance Date Night Games

Creative Long Distance Date Ideas

1. Online Painting Classes

There’s nothing like exploring a new hobby with the person you love the most. So smock up with your partner and join an online painting class. With the help of top instructors, you will master painting techniques no matter your skill level. This is one of the top long distance date ideas for aspiring artists as there are plenty of classes for beginners and experts alike!

2. Online Dance Classes

Get playful and work up a sweat with online dance classes. Learn fun and energizing choreography in a no-pressure, zero-judgment atmosphere with highly recommended dance instructors who will guide you through each step. No matter which class you choose, this is one of the top long distance date ideas to foster intimacy between you and your partner. 

3. Plan Your Next Getaway

Everyone dreams of that trip to Tuscany, that romantic cabin getaway or that relaxing trip to the beach, but why not make it a reality? Turn trip planning into a thrilling Facetime date by using a number generator. Separately, you and your partner will each choose a few date trip locations and assign them to a number. Then you simply let the number generator, which you can easily find with a Google search, do the choosing.

4. Long Distance Date Night Box 

With so many long distance date ideas out there, it’s hard to keep track of them all. Instead of typing in “best long distance date ideas” into your Google search bar every time you’re ready to plan something, create a long distance date night box!

Stop pondering questions like: What activities can I do with my long distance boyfriend? What would my girlfriend like to do this weekend? What long distance date ideas would my partner like? And simply include them all over time.

Get together over Facetime and go over all the long distance date ideas you’ve come up with. Write down each idea you both like and put them in your very own long distance date night box, which you can break out and choose from before your next date night.

5. Facetime Picnic 

You’ve probably found yourself wondering, what can you do on a Facetime date? As Facetime date ideas go, putting together a picnic is a romantic option that will get you out of the house to soak up some sun. However, if you find yourselves in different time zones or the weather doesn’t call for an outdoor picnic, bring it inside! There are no rules when it comes to Facetime date ideas except for one: sharing a memorable moment with your person. 

6. Book Club for Two

Explore a story together with a book club for two. With so many great authors and genres out there, you’re sure to find the perfect fit. If you’re feeling adventurous and a little flirty, you can even read an erotic book together to stimulate intimacy. If reading isn’t your idea of the best long distance date ideas, don’t worry. Audiobooks are a great option if sitting down with a physical book feels more like studying than a fun way to get closer to your partner.

Foodie Long Distance Date Ideas

7. Online Cooking Classes

For these long distance date ideas, throw on an apron and cook together. Take a culinary adventure to the shores of Tuscany or the South of France through online cooking classes. With the option to filter by class type, price, date and duration, you’ll find the perfect class for you.

8. Romantic Dinner

Just because you can’t physically sit at the dinner table together doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a romantic dinner for two. Put on your best date night attire, set the table, light some candles and make a special dish together just the two of you with these intimate long distance date ideas.

9. Flight Night

Flights make for fun and appetizing long distance date ideas. Assemble your flight however you’d like and get to tasting! Maybe you and your partner are avid wine connoisseurs and would like to further explore more of the wonderful world of white wines. Pick out a few that you and your partner can both buy locally and enjoy them together over Facetime.

If alcoholic beverages aren’t your thing, simply switch out the wine for whatever you’d like! Maybe an assortment of flavored pickles for a pickle flight, coffee or teas from around the world or even canned mussels paired with a flighted snack of your favorite cheeses. The list is only as long as your imagination.

10. Bake-Off

Looking for virtual date ideas with a competitive edge? Then try recreating your own version of The Great British Bake Off. Bake a dessert from the show or pick your own and bake the night away. How do you win? Let a friend, roommate or family member taste your create and give it a rating out of 10. Better yet, you can decide who the judge of your partner's sweet treat will be and vice versa. You can judge your create on authenticity, originality, aesthetic, consistency and taste.

DIY Long Distance Date Ideas

11. Virtual Flower Arranging

As your LDR continues to blossom, these long distance date ideas offer several opportunities to grow into a new hobby together. Learn all there is to know about floral design with virtual flower arranging classes and create something beautiful. 

12. A Lover’s Care Package

Show someone special how much you care by sending them a care package of goodies to open on your next virtual date. If you need a cute Valentine's Day idea, this is the perfect opportunity to express your unwavering affection. Include a jar filled with love notes, their favorite candies, a hand-crafted candle that smells like your perfume or cologne. These fun Valentine’s Day gift ideas are endless!

13. DIY Spa Day

Unwind with these relaxing long distance date ideas. It’s important to find time to wind down with your partner and distance shouldn’t get in the way of relaxation. Grab your favorite self-care essentials and pamper yourselves together with these simple yet imperative events to add to your stay-home date ideas.

14. Make Jewelry

Crafting is the name of the game for this long distance date idea. Keep it simple with an assortment of string and beads or find a more advanced jewelry-making kit online. Either way, making jewelry together is a fun-filled and creative activity you can easily do together over Facetime.

Online Long Distance Date Ideas

15. Mixology Class

When looking for long distance date ideas online, consider online mixology classes. With the help of top mixologists, you and your partner can take your cocktail-making skills to the next level. Forget about a gin and tonic or a vodka cranberry, and craft the best cocktails that are out of this world. But if an online mixology class isn’t up your alley, there are plenty of other options for a virtual happy hour.

16. Virtual Wine Tasting

It’s not easy to expand our pallets, but with the help of world-class sommeliers, you can discover the world of wine culture through virtual wine tastings. These long distance date ideas are sure to help you and your partner enjoy the finer things. Surprise your partner with the planned event for a cute long distance relationship gift by preordering the different wines to their address, along with a few other nice touches like a Riedel wine glass or a bespoke waiter's friend.

17. Attend an Online Drag Show

Whether you're part of the LGBTQQIP2SAA community or not, drag shows are always super fun to attend. There are plenty of options to celebrate the art of drag from the comfort of your home. There are also options to book performers for a virtual drag event, so if you’re on the hunt for virtual birthday party ideas, this could be the one.

18. Virtual Museum Tours

Long distance date ideas online don’t have to be boring, in fact, you can discover a whole new world! While you may not be able to experience new and exciting cultures firsthand, you can get a glimpse with virtual museum tours.

In this virtual age, there are plenty of museums from around the world you can tour together online like The British Museum in London or Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

Long Distance Date Night Games

19. Trivia Games

Online trivia games will put your knowledge to the test in a fun and competitive environment. With plenty of topics to choose from, you and your partner will have a blast going head-to-head in a rousing game of trivia. But if you’d like to try something new, there is an assortment of other virtual game nights to choose from.

20. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Keep the mystery alive with long distance date night games like virtual scavenger hunts. Race throughout cyberspace in the search for hidden clues to find web treasures. All you need is a smartphone and a sense of curiosity.

21. Virtual Escape Room

With the rise of escape rooms over the past few years, there are now options to crack clues and unravel riddles online through virtual escape rooms. Become a cyber spy or make your way out of a cursed forest.

22. Virtual Murder Mystery

Have fun, break out those problem-solving skills and work together to solve a murder mystery. With so many different themes and storylines out there, a virtual murder mystery game is one of the classic long distance date ideas you can use again and again.

23. Double Date With Charades

Invite your friends for long distance date night games! Chances are you’re not the only couple in the friend group trying to come up with long distance date ideas. Luckily, there are plenty of games you can play for double date ideas, and Charades is a date-night classic. Simply ask each player to download the same Charades app (there are plenty online) and get to playing! Just make sure the app is suited for all phone or computer types. 

According to an article from the Society for Couple and Family Psychology, “Intimacy and perceptions of closeness between partners are a fundamental reason for fear and anxiety that arise in both well-functioning and clinical couples.” For couples who are trying to bridge the gap of distance, this means finding inventive solutions to keep intimacy alive.

Luckily, distance truly can make the heart grow fonder if you’re willing to get creative. With so many virtual events to be discovered, you will definitely stay connected, and may even form a stronger bond.

For even more fun date ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!