Whether you’re on a 12-hour road trip or sitting by the campfire with a drink in hand, music simply makes life better. Whatever music you like or the mood you’re in, we’ve got songs that should be on your camping playlist and a few reasons you’ll love them.
Why Playlists Make Camping Awesome
Camping can quickly become a dance party, a karaoke party, or just a good-ole fashioned sing-along. If you’re lucky enough to camp with musically talented people, start singing while somebody’s strumming. A night of making music together will be one you won’t forget soon.
Music brings people together.
But more importantly, a camping playlist will get your feet moving and bring you closer to the people you love. If you’re alone, it can evoke emotions in you that deepen your personal experience in nature. Plus, when you hear the songs on your playlist while you’re not camping, it will take you to that happy place around the campfire.
Let’s start with some great guitar songs, and as the stars start to flow, the mood inevitably turns to these great campfire guitar songs. Everyone knows these classic tunes. Add a few simple guitar chords and actually correct words, and you’ll be drawing crowds from the rest of the campsite in no time.
American Pie — Don McLean
“A long, long time ago I can still remember how that music used to make me smile”
Dream — Everly Brothers
“Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream”
Hotel California — Eagles
“On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air”
Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison
“Hey, where did we go? Days when the rains came”
Stand By Me — Ben E King
“When the night has come, and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light we’ll see”
Ring of Fire — Johnny Cash
“Love is a burning thing and it makes a fiery ring”
Hey Jude — The Beatles
“Hey Jude, don’t make it bad, take a sad song and make it better”
Build Me Up Buttercup — The Foundations
“Why do you build me up (build me up) buttercup, baby”
California Dreamin’ — The Mamas and The Papas
“All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown), and the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)”
Yellow Submarine — The Beatles
“In the town where I was born lived a man who sailed to sea”
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) — Green Day
“Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road, time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go”
Yellow — Coldplay
“Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do, yeah, they were all yellow”
Take Me Home, Country Roads — John Denver
“Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River”
I’m Yours — Jason Miraz
“Well you done done me and you bet I felt it, I tried to be chill but you’re so hot that I melted”
No Woman, No Cry — Bob Marley
“I remember when we used to sit In the government yard in Trenchtown”
Torn — Natalie Imbruglia
“I thought I saw a man brought to life, he was warm, he came around like he was dignified”
Kick off the evening with some campfire songs for the kids. This popular selection can be noisy and fun, and a good choice to tire the wee ones out (even more) before bed. They are also pretty easy to pick up quickly if the kids aren’t familiar with them.
The Wheels On The Bus
“The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round”
I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly
“I know an old lady who swallowed a fly, I don’t know why she swallowed a fly, perhaps she’ll die”
Agadoo
“Agadoo-doo-doo, push pineapple, shake the tree”
My Grandfather’s Clock
“My grandfather’s clock was too large for the shelf, so it stood ninety years on the floor”
She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain
“She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes, she’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes”
The Music Man
“I am the music man, I come from down your way, and I can play (what can you play?)”
Our Sergeant Major Jumped From Forty Thousand Feet
“He jumped from forty thousand feet without a parachute”
Any Dream Will Do
“I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain to see for certain”
The next selection of campfire songs is guaranteed to get the olds crooning and reminiscing about the good old days. They are also songs that the young will probably know or be able to learn quickly. Just make sure you keep the setlist limited, as once they get started there’s just no stopping them!
A Bicycle Made For Two
“Daisy, Daisy give me your answer do. I’m half crazy all for the love of you.”
White Cliffs Of Dover
“There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, tomorrow, just you wait and see”
It’s A Long Way To Tipperary
“Up to mighty London came an Irish man one day”
Show Me The Way To Go Home
“Show me the way to go home, I’m tired and I want to go to bed”
You Are My Sunshine
“The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms”
Molly Malone
“In Dublin’s fair city where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone”
Shine Your Buttons With Brasso
“My fathers a lavatory cleaner, he cleans them by day and by night”
There are thousands more brilliantly fun campfire songs out there and many that you will hold close to your heart. Silly, simple, loud or gentle, whether you can sing or not I hope that whatever campfire songs you choose to sing on your next camping trip, will be sung with soul and gusto.
Sing it loud, happy campers!