camping trip songs

41 Best Campfire Songs Of All Time (Perfect For Camping)

There’s something deeply primal about sitting around a campfire. It’s always been where humans have come to share food, stories, and camaraderie, making it a great place to play music. Whether you’re strumming a guitar or humming away on a harmonica, there’s beauty in playing or singing around a campfire.

In this article, we’ll go over forty-one of the best campfire songs of all time, running the gamut of great acoustic songs to popular singles and some fun songs for the kids to sing along with.

1. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver

This one definitely saw a surge in popularity in the 2020s, primarily thanks to TikTok , but  Take Me Home, Country Roads  is precisely the type of song you want to sing around a campfire.

All you need to sound great is an acoustic guitar and your voice. For those unhappy with camping in the great outdoors, the yearning in the song can take on extra meaning for how badly you want to go home. 

2. House Of The Rising Sun – The Animals

House of the Rising  Sun has that southwestern cowboy vibe, making it a fantastic song to sing around the campfire. It may be a little more complex in terms of instrumentals and lyrics than  Take Me Home, Country Roads , but its slow build is almost made for a night around a campfire. 

3. American Pie – Don McLean

“Byeee, Byeee, miss American pie” is one of the most iconic lines in American music history. This is an easy-listening song with a faster tempo that works great around a campfire. Any song that has been constantly referenced for decades is one you should be considering for your campfire music session.

4. Good Riddance – Green Day

Acoustic guitar songs are almost always good campfire songs, and  Good Riddance  has one of the best introductions of them all. It’s also one of the most played songs on acoustic guitar and easy to learn, making it a good one to start out with if you’re new to playing around a campfire. 

5. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

This song works just as well as a karaoke tune as it does around a campfire. You have a popular, well-known song for everyone to sing along to that still sounds pretty good on acoustic instruments you’d probably have with you.

6. Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Almost everyone has heard this song, and rightly so. It’s one of the prettiest songs ever recorded. The artist actually showed up and did it  in a single take  in the middle of the night.

A good reason to make it a campfire song is that it sounds best on the ukulele, which is much smaller and easier to hike with than an acoustic guitar, so it’s easier to bring along to your campfire retreat. 

7. Let It Be – The Beatles

One of The Beatle’s final songs before their breakup and one you can find several different versions of,  Let It Be  is a peaceful commentary on leaving well enough alone and finding your inner peace in a way. 

8. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty

Free Fallin’  by Tom Petty is just one of those songs that sounds good whether you sing it with an acoustic guitar or with full instrumental backing. It’s got that yearning and emotion in it you would want in a campfire song too, and anything uber-Americana is a good choice for the fire.

9. Wonderwall – Oasis

Wonderwall  is much maligned for being the song just about every acoustic guitarist can play best when they’re starting out. Many people may have gotten tired of it, but in all honesty, that doesn’t change what a good campfire song it makes. 

10. Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker

Many people are probably tired of this song (at least in the South where it got played on loop 24/7) but it’s still an excellent option for sitting around the campfire. It’s a communal song, one that lets everyone around join in and have a good time, making it perfect for large groups instead of just solo campers. 

11. A Horse With No Name – America

A Horse With No Name  isn’t just the butt of a western joke; it’s a cowboy song that has transcended the ages. Anything country/western and focused on the cowboy lifestyle or the old west typically makes for a good campfire song, and this one is hard to beat.

Recommended: Songs about horses

12. Island In The Sun – Weezer

Another thing that makes a song suitable for sitting around the campfire is having an easy acoustic guitar section.  Island In The Sun  can almost entirely rely on a single repeated guitar chord. It’s also a song with multiple parts, so you can divide it up nicely for everyone you’re with. 

13. Lean On Me – Bill Withers

I remember singing this one over and over around campfires with my church youth group way back in the day. It’s an uplifting song that reminds us to lean on each other when we’re having a rough time or need help. It’s pretty simple, and you can add or remove verses at your leisure.

14. Hey Jude – The Beatles

Hey Jude  is a quiet, almost muted Beatles song that works in almost any scenario. It hits the communal part of campfire singing so well, reminding us not to be afraid and quit letting things get under our skin. And that’s the whole point of being out in nature, disconnecting from everything, and giving yourself a break. 

15. Stand By Me – Ben E. King

Here’s another song that works so well as a karaoke song and a campfire song. A bit of a love story,  Stand By Me  has some beautiful wailing sections to work your vocal cords around the fire, and it’s one of the best choices for grooving while enjoying yourselves out in nature. 

16. Blowin’ In The Wind – Bob Dylan

An anthem of the counterculture movement and one that works great for sitting around a campfire. All the answers to life’s biggest questions are blowing in the wind. You just have to take the time out of your day to actually listen to them and accept the wisdom.

17. Hotel California – The Eagles

Hotel Califo rnia is the Eagle’s best-known song and is a bit spooky when you focus on the lyrics . It’s a good one to follow up on some western ghost stories and works just as well as a highway song as it does when you’re sitting around a fire.

18. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash’s driving music and deep voice have the western feeling you want when sitting around a campfire. You can play  Ring of Fire  on an acoustic guitar or a harmonica, and its western bluesy sound just makes you feel like a cowboy. This one is one of his more straightforward songs lyrically, making it a good one for everyone to sing along with.

19. Come As You Are – Nirvana

A cowboy feel is something I’ve mentioned wanting in a campfire song, and Nirvana definitely doesn’t have that. However, they have an amazing acoustic guitar sound, with  Come As You Are  slotting in as a good campfire song for its instrumentals and communal lyrics. 

20. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

You can’t really go wrong with  Sweet Home Alabama . In any scenario. Seriously. It works everywhere. In this case, the song is a good one on a guitar or harmonica, with a pretty simple instrumental to learn to play. 

21. Campfire Song Song – Spongebob Squarepants

If you thought I wasn’t going to put this song on the list, you’re insane. My millennial heart simply couldn’t leave it out. If you’re in my age range and happen to be sitting around a campfire with people in the same age group, this song is sure to be a hit.

You might want to save it for tougher days of a camping trip as if people know the song; it will be an instant mood shifter in the positive direction.

22. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis

Elvis’s deep moaning voice on this one probably isn’t something you’ll be able to match, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. It’s a soft and slow song that’s perfect for singing to your love interest around the fire.

23. Cat’s in the Cradle – Harry Chapin

This is one of those classic songs that just fit when you’re sitting under the stars. You could use it as a kid’s song if you want to.

24. Ghost Riders In The Sky – Johnny Cash

Another Johnny Cash song that sounds like it’s made to be sung around campfires,  Ghost Riders In The Sky  actually might have been meant for that. Looking up into the sky and imagining the Devil’s riders streaking overhead is creepy, yes, but it fits into that western and cowboy niche that lends itself to making it a good campfire song.  

25. The Banana Boat Song – Harry Belafonte

This song has such a vibe to it. Pick whoever you want to lead it and let everyone else back them up. It’s a great group song; you can just beat on a log instead of needing a drum.

26. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival

If you want something a bit faster and more upbeat, give  Bad Moon Rising  a shot. Thematically, it works. You’ll be sitting out under the moon and stars or down by the river and having a great time. 

27. The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel

While I prefer the Disturbed version of this song better (blasphemy, I’m sure), Simon and Garfunkel’s version of The Sound of Silence makes a much better campfire song. It’s a beautiful commentary on the world today and sounds great played only on an acoustic guitar.

28. Rocky Mountain High – John Denver

Rocky Moun tain High hits on about everything you want in a campfire song. It’s a pretty acoustic song with some effortless vocals, details the beauty of nature, and is an instant classic—bonus points for pulling this one out if you’re camping in Colorado in the actual Rocky Mountains .

Recommended: Playlist of songs about mountains

29. (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

Not every campfire happens in the woods. Sometimes you need a good beach vibe instead of a western one.  (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay  has all of the Delta bluesy vibes you could ask for, and sitting around watching the waves roll in is just as mesmerizing as staring into a fire with friends. 

30. Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson

Our entry from Willie Nelson has to be the mellow  Always On My Mind . A bit depressing, maybe, but the song sounds good just about anywhere you go; sing it. 

31. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas

The old west and the freedom that came with it are synonymous with sitting around a campfire and heading out camping. The Mamas and the Papas delve into that kind of feeling with this song, yearning for California and the free lifestyle it’ll bring them once they get there. 

32. You’ve Got A Friend – James Taylor

You’ve Got A Fri end has helped many people through personal traumas and is honestly a great song to relax and sleep to. It has a calming effect that lends itself to a final campfire song of the night. 

33. I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash

Here’s your final Johnny Cash entry from me on this one.  Walk The Line  was one of his most famous songs and dips its toes into the love-song side of Johnny Cash’s repertoire . It’s also a timeless song that sounds great around a fire if you’ve got a deeper voice to pull it off. 

34. Walkin’ After Midnight – Patsy Cline

We’re going very old-school with  Walkin’ After Midnight . Patsy Cline sang it best with her crooning vocal style, but you can probably pull it off around a fire. One good way to play it is on a harmonica, and without singing at all, it really lends itself to a bluesy harmonica take.

35. Home On The Range – Gene Autry

Home On The Range is a Western classic you can pick up from several different places, but my favorite was Gene Autry’s. It has all the cowboy vibes you could ask for sitting around a fire, and it’s fun imagining living under the stars and being around wildlife day in and day out.

36. We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

So this is the part of the list where I’ll start giving you great kid’s songs to sing sitting around the campfire . The rest of this list will be aimed in that direction, so be forewarned if you hate these. Sorry, but they’ll probably bring back memories.

Anyways, this song is perfect for kids around a fire. They get to roar, sneak around in the brush, and talk about one of the biggest animals in the woods without it being way too scary for little ones.

37. On Top of Old Smokey – Gene Autry

This song has options. And when I say options, I mean there are plenty of kid-centric lyrics that are hilarious. One version is all about noodles, “on top of spaghettiiiiii… all covered in cheeseeee.” The original is great as a campfire song on its own, but there are so many variations out there. You can cater to any age group and sense of humor.

38. The Ants Go Marching Song

This one is based on a song called  When Johnny Comes Marching Home  and dates all the way back to the Civil War . It’s got a military marching rhythm to it, so it’s an excellent choice for kids on a hike, but it’s also perfectly acceptable to sit and sing it around a campfire in the middle of the night. 

39. My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean

I’m not sure this is a kid song in the first place, but it does work super well in that role. It’s very simple but has an old-timey sailor feel to it. Plus, as a campfire song, when you’re out there isolated, you’ll probably be thinking of a special someone or a friend back home that didn’t come when you sing it.

40. Kookaburra

I remember this one from when I was a kid. Singing about the kookaburra in the old gum tree was one of my favorite things to sing along with, even though I’m 99% sure I had no idea what a kookaburra was at the time (it’s a bird; by the way, a really loud one).

41. She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain When She comes

A classic kid’s song about traveling and one that works around the campfire a bit better than  Over the River and Through The Woods .  She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain  is a great kid’s song for campfire circles and an excellent way to start off your music session for the night before sending the kids to bed.

As a contributing writer for Music Grotto, Dakotah writes and produces professional music/media content. He works closely with editorial staff to meet editorial standards and create quality content for the Music Grotto website. Dakotah is passionate about music in a wide variety of genres, from hip-hop to country and lo-fi to metal, and he enjoys creating music pieces for Music Grotto.

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Best Campfire Songs: 25 Camping Classics for Kids and Adults

Turn your next camping trip into a jam session with these 25 classic songs for around the campfire. We’ve included all the favorites for both kids and adults along with some fun, lesser-known hits.

What better way to end a day of camping fun than singing a few tunes around the campfire?

When the fire’s roaring and the ‘smores are roasting, all you need is a few members of your crew to burst into song to take your camping fun to the next level. The memorable hits on our list are so catchy they’ll have both kids and adults singing, humming, or clapping along!

So if you’re looking for a way to liven up your next camping trip, you’ll love this list of camping greats (no great singing voice required!)

Table of Contents

1. “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash

2. “hallelujah” by leonard cohen, 3. wild mountain thyme, 4. “take me home country roads” by john denver, 5. “brown eyed girl” by van morrison, 6. “stand by me” by ben e. king, 7. “wagon wheel” by old crow medicine show , 8. “no rain” by blind melon, 9. “american pie” by don mclean, 10. “sweet caroline” by neil diamond, 11. “the joker” by the steve miller band, 12. “hey jude” by the beatles, 13. “sweet home alabama” by lynyrd skynyrd, 14. “sittin’ on the dock of the bay” by otis redding, 15. “free fallin” by tom petty, 16. a-camping we will go, 17. home on the range, 18. she’ll be coming round the mountain, 19. ain’t no bugs on me, 20. kookaburra, 21. the green grass grew all around, 22. the banana boat song, 23. we’re going on a bear hunt, 24. john jacob jingleheimer schmidt, 25. camp granada (hello muddah, hello faddah), best campfire songs: happy camping, classic camping hits.

Nothing beats the rugged country music of Johnny Cash for a campfire sing-a-long. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that doesn’t recognize this iconic hit from the Man in Black himself. Since “Ring of Fire’s” original release, this hit has been covered across all genres, but nothing beats the original Johnny Cash acoustic version for a great campfire song. 

It may surprise you to know that Leonard Cohen’s hit song “Hallelujah” was actually not very popular when it was first released. It wasn’t until the track featured in the movie Shrek that it soared in popularity. 

While “Hallelujah” might be a bit too chill and soulful for parties, it makes a great choice for some mellow singing around the campfire. The song has a very simple lyrical structure, so anyone can easily sing along. It’s also one of the best guitar songs for around the campfire if you have anyone in your crew that can play the acoustic guitar.

Wild Mountain Thyme is an old Irish/Scottish folk song, although most people recognize the cover versions by Ed Sheeran or Bob Dylan. While it’s not clear who originally composed the song, we do know the lyrics are about the beauty of the hills around Balquhidder in Scotland . 

If you’re hoping to sing this melodic tune during your next camping trip, try the Ed Sheeran version. It’s the easiest one to sing in a group. 

You don’t have to be from West Virginia to love this country song! Although “Take Me Home Country Roads” is a classic by John Denver, you likely heard best-selling country singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile’s version during the 2022 Super Bowl. 

“Take Me Home Country Roads” makes a great camp song that will resonate with anyone who grew up in a small town or loves nature. You’ll also score some major nostalgia points if you’re camping anywhere near the Blue Ridge Mountains! 

Nothing gets a crowd going quite like Van Morrison’s soulful love song, “Brown Eyed Girl”. It was actually the track that catapulted Van Morrison into the spotlight after leaving his first band in 1967. 

This catchy and whimsical tune is easy to sing and clap along to, making it the perfect song to sing around the fire. 

If you’re looking to add a little blues or R&B to your camping trip, you can’t go wrong with this soulful classic. It’s a simple song with humble intentions. In fact, Ben E. King stated he wrote it as a love song for his partner at the time. 

The lyrics are simple enough that anyone can sing or hum along and the chords aren’t difficult to learn either making it one of the best guitar songs for around the campfire. 

This tune is so catchy, you can’t help but hum or sing along! This is an old-timey tune that experienced a resurgence once it was covered by Darius Rucker. Although it was originally composed for the banjo, it also works well with someone playing guitar. 

Another great tune to belt out during your next camping sing-a-long is “No Rain” by Blind Melon. This famous rock song was written by bass player Brad Smith and became the band’s breakthrough single. Keep the rain at bay during your next camping trip with this classic and nostalgic song. 

What better way to start a camping sing-along than with this classic, rock-and-roll anthem? In fact, American Pie was so popular when it was first released that it was the number-one hit in the US for 4 weeks and then it went on to top the charts in several countries worldwide. 

This classic song is easy to follow and will have everyone joining in once you get to its iconic “bye, bye Miss American Pie…” chorus. 

Despite being released in 1969, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone that doesn’t recognize “Sweet Caroline”, the Neil Diamond classic. Neil Diamond actually wrote the tune for his wife who was named Marsha, but he needed a three-syllable name to work for the lyrics. Thus “Sweet Caroline” was born and campers everywhere rejoiced. 

The Joker is a fun song by the Steve Miller Band that will have your whole camping crew laughing and singing along. When first released in 1974, The Joker didn’t even chart in the UK. That’s hard to imagine for a tune that’s become so popular it’s sung around campfires everywhere! 

“Hey Jude” is the Beatles’ longest song and arguably their most famous. It’s a happy-go-lucky tune about maintaining a positive outlook – the perfect message for those camping trips where everything seems to be going wrong! The best part is that even tone-deaf campers can get in on the fun during the “na na na na” part at the end.

It doesn’t matter where you come from, when Sweet Home Alabama starts you just gotta sing along! In fact, artists from across all genres have been remaking this hit since its original release in 1936. This campfire song is the ideal country classic to enjoy with your family and friends. 

Few songs capture the magic of a cool summer day out on a lake or river quite like this one. Its catchy beat and repetitive lyrics make it an instant favorite for campers of all ages. Bonus points if someone manages to land that impressive whistled chorus! 

While many people might not recognize the lyrics to this Tom Petty classic, they’ll start singing along when they hear the unmistakable chorus! The song was even included in Rolling Stone’s The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time . This classic rock song enjoyed a long run at the top of the charts and it makes a fun tune to sing around the ol’ campfire. 

Kids Camping Songs

This song first debuted in Barney’s Campfire Sing-a-Long and it became an instant classic camp song for kids. The lyrics are repetitive and follow the tune of Farmer in the Dell, making it easy to follow for kids of all ages. 

This is a song that celebrates the simple things in life and spending time in nature – perfect for getting the littlest campers excited about spending the night under the stars! The lyrics tell the story of cowboys and pioneers from the old American west. 

Even Franklin D. Roosevelt claimed it was his favorite song, so you’ll be in good company jamming out to this tune around your next campfire! 

She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain is a fun campfire song with easy, repetitive lyrics so that everyone can join in. Despite being popular to this day, the earliest known recording is actually from the 1920s.

Every camper, big or small, knows all about battling bugs in the great outdoors. Blow off some steam from all those mosquito bites with this fun tribute to one of the peskiest parts of the camping experience. 

Kookaburra is a fun and silly song, giving you the opportunity to share a laugh with your kids around camp. It’s actually an Australian song about a native Australian bird, which provides the perfect opportunity to teach young campers about different animals and their native habitats. 

This fun and repetitive jingle is allegedly based on an Appalachian folk song. It’s an example of a “cumulative song” where the first verse is short and words are added during each round to make the song longer and longer. It’s a fun song for kids that will remind them to keep their eyes open to all the wonderful wildlife around them. 

The Banana Boat Song is a traditional Jamaican folk song. Despite often being considered a children’s song, the Banana Boat Song has a fascinating history as a call-and-response work song sung from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto ships.

Of course, kids can skip the history lesson and just enjoy this campfire song for what it is – an irresistibly catchy song with fun and repetitive lyrics. 

This was once a popular song that circulated around American summer camps in the 70s. While it might be a bit spooky for the youngest campers, it’s the perfect song to start a conversation with your kids about bear safety while camping. Take the camping fun to the next level by acting out every verse of the song. 

Your kids will get a real kick out of this fun and repetitive song! It is a traditional children’s song that first gained popularity amongst scout troop gatherings in the 1920s and 1930s. This one is especially fun to sing in a round since the tempo and volume vary throughout the whole song. 

Camp Granada is a 1960s Grammy-award-winning song written from the point of view of a young boy heading to summer camp. While the singer has a lousy time during his summer camp experience, the song is filled with funny words and rhymes that kids will enjoy. 

One of the best parts of any camping trip is building a fire, roasting marshmallows, and singing some tunes with your family and friends. We hope our guide to the 25 best campfire songs inspires you to start your own campfire sing-song! 

If we missed any of your favorites, be sure to tell us in the comments below and don’t forget to share this article with your camping pals!

Last update on 2024-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Jolanda Lapegna

Jolanda is a full-time writer and life-long outdoor enthusiast. Growing up on a small island off the Eastern Canadian coast, she spent most of her childhood hiking, swimming and fishing in the Atlantic ocean.

After a short stint in the corporate world, Jolanda quit her day job to write full-time and check out what lies beyond the Canadian shores. Ever since, she’s been hiking, biking and kayaking her way across 11 European countries and counting.

Jolanda currently lives in the beautiful, Tuscan countryside. When she isn’t hanging out in the woods or at the beach, you’ll catch her foraging for mushrooms and truffles with her truffle-dog, Red.

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The best campfire songs for families and groups: sure-fire hits for the campfire

Our campfire singing expert reveals his 5 best campfire songs for families and groups, from well-known classics to little-known gems

1. Campfire's burning

2: everywhere we go, 3: down by the bay, 4: boom chicka boom, 5: the bungalow.

Interaction. That's what all the best campfire songs have in common. Of course, you can sing anything you like with the fam, especially as songs your tribe know and love are bound to be a hit. However, if the musical taste of the singers gathered around the campfire is a bit more of an unknown, or if you’re not even sure they’re that eager to sing in the first place, you need sure-fire crowd pleasers that will entertain everyone, while maximizing involvement.

I’ve always loved a campfire, whether singing, telling ghost stories or toasting marshmallows. Over many years of leading groups of children on residential visits, I developed an arsenal of songs for camping trips, hits that I knew would have everyone smiling and laughing in no time.

The beauty of some of these camping songs is that they can be adapted to suit the audience and are often performed with different nuances from one group to the next. However, the core of the song remains the same and you can find plenty of YouTube videos that’ll give you a good idea of how to go about leading them.  They all work just as well when camping with kids on a family car camping trip as with a huge school or scout group.

Here, I’ve given my personal take on the five best campfire songs, detailing what makes them so special. So, before you load the car with your family tent and gear, arm yourself with this quintet of superb, interactive camping songs.

Meet the expert

Prior to becoming a freelance writer on all things outdoors, Alex was a senior leader in an Inner-London school. One of his responsibilities was leading the residential activity trips and has led (with some, gusto) many campfire singing sessions with up to 90 gathered kids.

Okay, this is a slow burner (excuse the pun). It’s not as immediately exciting or as interactive as the other campfire songs in this selection. However, it’s a nice, short, simple number that warms up the vocal cords and welcomes in the ritual of the campfire singalong while everyone stares into the mesmerizing, dancing flames. It's sang to the same tune as the London's Burning nursery rhyme. Sing it once on your own, then invite everyone to join in.

Campfire’s burning, campfire’s burning

Draw nearer, draw nearer

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In the gloaming, in the gloaming

Come sing and be merry

Of course, there are ways you could jazz it up. Divide your group into four and sing it as a round, with each division starting the song at different times. By the time the first lot get to Come sing and be merry , the second team will be singing In the gloaming , the third team will be on Draw nearer and the final bunch will have just started Campfire’s burning.

Another way to sing it, and a good exercise in dynamics, is to start quiet and steadily get louder after a couple of rounds, before fading out again to a whisper. Tell the group to picture a person singing on a raft approaching along a slow moving river and to imagine how it would sound if they were singing the song, steadily getting closer and louder, before fading away into the distance.

This one is a magnificent option for getting the group enthused and energized towards the start of the session. It’s a classic call-and-response camping song that must’ve been sang by hundreds of thousands of groups across the world. Perhaps the best thing about it is the sense of togetherness and pride it can instil in whatever family, school, scout group or sports team everyone belongs to.

The real fun comes from the fact that every time you sing a round, you get louder and louder. First time through, do it with a normal singing voice to familiarize the group with the song, then get really quiet for the next round. The quieter you go here, the more space you leave yourself to get louder with each repeated round. 

Everywhere we go-oh –   Everywhere we go-oh

People wanna know-oh –   People wanna know-oh

Who we are-ah –   Who we are-ah

And where we come from –   And where we come from

And so we tell them –   And so we tell them

We’re <name of group> – We’re <name of group>

The mighty <name of group> – The mighty <name of group>

And if they can’t hear us – And if they can’t hear us

We shout a little louder! – We shout a little louder

(Repeat until ridiculously loud.)

Once you get really loud and the kids are really going for it, everyone will be having a great time. Just remember that if this is one of the first numbers in your session, don’t go too hard too soon. The last thing you want to do is wreck your voice on song #1.

It’ll feel like a bit of a runway train by the end and the best way to stop it is to replace the final shouted We shout a little louder! by bringing the volume right back down and saying They must be deaf. This is bound to elicit a laugh from the masses.

This is another high energy classic that will have been sang countless times by families and groups enjoying time in the great outdoors. It works by adding animals doing odd rhyming actions ( goose kissing a moose or llamas eating pajamas or a bear combing his hair , to give three examples) to the end of each round and then memorizing them, adding them to the song each time.

Down by the bay!

Where the watermelons grow

Back to my home

I dare not go

For if I do

My mother will say

“Did you ever see <an animal doing a rhyming action>?

(Add previously sang animals and actions here)

To add participation, you could ask your singing buddies to come up with their own animals and actions, going around the circle and building the song in this way.

At the end, you could add a Did you ever have a time you couldn’t think of a rhyme? to wrap things up nicely.

This is a simple and highly effective call-and-response campfire song that children and grown-ups love in equal measure. Get the kids to click their fingers along with you and enjoy. The beauty of it is that every time you sing a round, you change your voice in some way or other, which you indicate at the end of the round by announcing how it will be sang next.

So, first time around, sing it in your normal singing voice, before announcing the next round will be in ‘high-pitched style’. Then, sing the round in a really high-pitched voice and laugh along with the kids as they attempt to imitate. After this, the options of styles are endless. It can be anything from: low, fast, slooooooow, loud, quiet, posh, cool, American, British, French, like a dog, like a cat, like you're underwater etc. etc.

I said a boom chicka boom – I said a boom chicka boom

I said a boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom – I said a boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom

Uh huh – Uh huh

Oh yeah – Oh yeah

One more time – One more time

<insert style> style

You can always open it up to the gathered group to come up with suggestions too and have a laugh when trying to meet their demands. “Like you’re a frog on a motorbike.”

This is probably the campfire song I looked forward to most on any given trip and, if you do more than one session with the group, it’s the one the kids will be imploring you to do again the second time. It’s the Bungalow, a high energy classic with loads of actions and participation from the kids. The leader goes around selecting people to show the group their “Bungalow”, which is a personalized dance move for everyone else to follow.

As leader, it’s your job to brief a few among those gathered beforehand on what is expected when they’re selected. Once you’ve gone through a few rounds, everyone will know how to do it and you can choose people at will. Sneaking around and surprising unsuspecting singers by choosing them is also great fun.

(Everyone) Bungalow! Bung-bungalow! Bungalow! Bung-bungalow!

(Leader pointing at singer) Hey you! – Who me?

(Leader) Yes you! Let me see your Bungalow!

(Everyone) Let me see your Bungalow!

(Chosen singer) My hands are high (lifts hands in the air), my feet are low (drops hands to feet) and this is how I Bungalow (sang while performing chosen dance move)!

(Everyone) His/her hands are high, his/her feet are low and this is how he/she Bungalows (while copying dance moves)

Having the rest of the group copy their dance moves is confidence building for the chosen kids. Try to make sure everyone who wants a turn gets one and don't push it too much of some children don't want to show their "Bungalow". 

Tips for leading a campfire singing session

Plan properly

Leading a campfire singalong can be intimidating. Big groups, darkness, excitement and a roaring fire can sound like a cocktail for disaster. Campfire safety is paramount and you should properly risk assess the environment beforehand, make sure you have a good ratio of adults to children and brief your audience fully on acceptable campfire behavior. Don’t be afraid to call the whole thing off if you have any doubts.

Put someone else in charge of the fire

Planning the session, knowing how to build a campfire , leading the songs, tending to the flames and keeping an eye on all the kids can all be a bit much for one person. If it’s just you and your family, this might seem doable but it’ll be all too much if you have a larger group. If you’re leading the songs, get another responsible adult to mind the fire and while the other adults keep an eye on the group. Better still, if other people have a song they want to lead, this will give you, and your voice, a nice break. I've had it where children have come up with their own campfire songs for the second session, having had so much fun during the first session and taken inspiration from it. Giving them a chance to lead is always rewarding.

Emergency provisions and the right wood

Fill the camping bucket and have the first aid kit nearby, just in case. Even during the most well-planned and controlled singing session, there’s always the possibility of a rogue missile spat out by the fire. Reduce the risk of this occurring by using a properly sourced and seasoned hardwood, such as oak, birch, ash, beech or hazel, which are chief among the best trees for firewood . You should be able to get a bundle from your campground or a local store. It'll burn much better than the potentially damp wood you'd find lying around, which would probably throw out a load of unpleasant smoke too – not ideal with kids about.

Give out some flashlights and headlamps to make the entrance and exit from the campfire circle as safe as possible. Insist they’re turned off during the session though, as it should really only be the magical light of the campfire illuminating matters once things get started.

Enthusiasm!

Enthusiasm and laughter are infectious. Your gusto is how you’ll win around even the most reluctant singers, along with the absolute campfire bangers detailed above. So, going into it knowing you’ve got everything sorted, that you've got the best camping songs up your sleeve and that they're going to be lots of fun will give you the confidence to just go for it.

Take it down occasionally

If you bash out high octane, loud and shouty songs for too long, everyone’s going to end up with a headache. Any gig has a mid-set lull where the performers take it down a notch or two in order to enjoy a little breather. Take the opportunity between songs to point out the wonders of the northern hemisphere night sky , or have an extended pause to toast those s’mores.

Alex is a freelance adventure writer and mountain leader with an insatiable passion for the mountains. A Cumbrian born and bred, his native English Lake District has a special place in his heart, though he is at least equally happy in North Wales, the Scottish Highlands or the European Alps. Through his hiking, mountaineering, climbing and trail running adventures, Alex aims to inspire others to get outdoors. He's the former President of the London Mountaineering Club, is training to become a winter mountain leader, looking to finally finish bagging all the Wainwright fells of the Lake District and is always keen to head to the 4,000-meter peaks of the Alps.  www.alexfoxfield.com

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145 of the Best Camping and Campfire Songs

One of my favorite things to do while camping, is to sing around the campfire. Campfire sing-a-longs are one of the best camping traditions and something we always look forward to when we go camping. Singing around the campfire and toasting marshmallows has been a camping activity that has been enjoyed by campers, scouts, pioneers, and cowboys for many years. It’s the only reason I wish I could play the guitar, so I could play along when people are singing. That’s why I get excited when my brother-in-law visits because he brings a guitar just for camp singing.

And sometimes if I am lucky, maybe someone brings a small drum or a harmonica. I can’t imagine camping without singing at night around the fire. It’s something that not only I enjoy, but also my kids and the rest of our friends and family. There are many traditional campfire songs, and some that even though they aren’t traditional, are just as fun. **You may notice a few traditional favorites not on this list and they have been omitted due to cultural sensitivity. I have put together some of our family favorites and have separated this listicle into several mini lists. I think singing is something that anyone of any age can enjoy, so I have included here some children’s songs as well as some for adults. There are also some recommended playlists and albums as well. I hope you find something here that you enjoy.

Camping Songs for Kids

I have started off this list with some of our favorite kid camping songs. Because the kids are with us on most camping trips, this is how we usually start off our evening. If you are interest more in camping songs for adults, feel free to scroll down. This list has been divided into two parts, kids camping songs and a Disney playlist for camping.

50 of the Best Camping Songs for Kids

Kids’ songs should be fun and easy, as well as repetitive. There are a few here for older kids and a few that the younger kids may recognize because older music is becoming more popular in children’s films.

• “Manah Manah”
• “The Campfire Song Song”
• “Kumbaya”
• “Boom Chica Boom” 
• “Bumpin Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon”
• “Yellow Submarine” – The Beatles
• “Wild Thing” – The Troggs
• “Down By the Bay”
• “Day-o” (“The Banana Boat Song”) – Harry Belafonte
• “Baby Beluga”
• “Don’t Worry Be Happy” – Bobby McFerrin
• “Puff the Magic Dragon” – Peter, Paul and Mary
• “Campfire’s Burning”
• “Kookaburra”
• “On Top of Spaghetti”
• “Grandma’s Feather Bed” – John Denver
• “Blackbird” (“Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night”) – The Beatles
• “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” – The Beatles
• “A Camping We Will Go”
• “In the Jungle”
• “Oh My Darling Clementine”
• “Froggie Went a Courtin'”
• “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
• “Michael Finnigan”
• “Alice the Camel”
• “The Wheels on the Bus”
• “The Camping Song”
• “Home on the Range”
• “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Justin Timberlake
• “Oh Susannah”
• “The Green Grass Grew All Around”
• “This is the Song That Never Ends”
• “Down in the Valley”
• “Crocodile Rock” – Elton John
• “Baby Shark”
• “There’s a Hole in My bucket”
• “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts”
• “Skip to My Lou”
• “John Jacob Jingle Heimerschmidt”
• “I Like to Eat”
• “The Happy Wanderer”
• “The Bear Went Over the Mountain”
• “Going on a Bear Hunt”
• “Camp Granada”
• “Do Your Ears Hang Low”
• “Yo Ho” (“A Pirate’s Life For Me”)
• “Great, Big Moose”
• “I’m a Nut”

10 Camping Songs for Singing Rounds

A fun thing to do during any sing-a-long including around the campfire is to sing a song in a round. This a particularly fun thing to do with kids and can get a little funny at times. For how to sing songs in a round, you can find some good information at bussongs.com . Here are some of our favorites:

• “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (this is an easy first one to try)
• “Three Blind Mice”
• “Make New Friends”
• “Campfire’s Burning” (“Fire’s Burning”)
• “London Bridge”
• “Bottle of Pop”
• “I Love the Mountains”
• “Kookabura”
• “Tom Tinker”
• “Hey Ho, Nobody Home”

Disney Songs for Campfire Singing

Because Disney movies are so popular, they are usually songs that most children already know the lyrics and the tune. Most adults know these songs as well, so any of these songs would be perfect for families.

• “The Bare Necessities”
• “Colors of the WInd”
• “Winnie-the-Pooh”
• “I Love to Laugh”
• “Under the Sea”
• “Hakuna Matata”
• “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah”
• “Friend Like Me”
• “You Can Fly”
• “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”

Camping Albums for Kids

These albums are fun for camping and road trips too. It reminds me of when I was a kid and every day at four my mom would turn on the local children’s radio show and we’d listen to the songs and music. Sometimes it is just easier to download music instead of putting together a playlist so I have recommended these albums that most kids will enjoy. I hope you find some new favorites.

Camping Songs for Adults

You can sing any of these songs around the fire or just add them to a playlist on Amazon Music or Spotify. But, I think that adults love singing too. This playlist has changed over the years, and I’m sure it will continue to change in the next few years. It was so hard to keep it to just 50 campfire songs, so I added some playlists as well to this section and a few albums. I guess it just depends on what your mood is, but I tried to include only songs that are pretty well known.

50 Camping Songs for Adults

There is something on this list for everybody. This also makes a fun playlist for any evening, especially around the bonfire. I really need to get on Spotify and create this list to share.

• “I’m Gonna Be” (“500 Miles”) – The Proclaimers
• “Aint No Sunshine” – Bill Withers
• “American Pie” – Don Mclean
• “Blowin in the Wind” – Bob Dylan
• “Bottle of Wine” – The Fireballs
• “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” – Deep Blue Something
• “California Dreamin'” – The Mama and the Papas
• “Come as You Are” – Nirvana
• “Escape” (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
• “Country Roads” – John Denver
• “Counting Stars” – One Republic
• “Highway to Hell” – AC/DC
• “Don’t Stop Believin'” – Journey
• “Friends in Low Place” – Garth Brooks
• “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys” – Waylon Jennings
• “Ghost Riders in the Sky” – Johnny Cash or the spoof “Ghost Chickens in the Sky”
• “Walk Me Home” – Pink
• “Hotel California” – The Eagles
• “House of the Rising Sun” – Eric Burdon and the Animals
• “I Love Rock and Roll” – Joan Jett
• “What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
• “I’m Like a Bird” – Nelly Furtado
• “Imagine” – John Lennon
• “Jessie’s Girl” – Rick Springfield
• “Jolene” – Dolly Parton
• “Kiss Me” – Sixpence None the Richer
• “Leaving on a Jet Plane” – Carpenters
• “Let It Be” – Beatles
• “Horse With No Name” – America
• “Lion in Zion” – Bob Marley
• “Love Song” – The Cure
• “Hey Ho” – Lumineers
• “Mamma Mia” – Abba
• “Mrs. Robinson” – Simon and Garfunkel
• “Nothing Else Matters” – Metallica
• “Red Solo Cup” – Toby Keith
• “Ring of Fire” – Johnny Cash
• “Roxanne” – The Police
• “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King
• “Strawberry Wine” – Deana Carter
• “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond
• “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Mr. Tambourine Man” – Bob Dylan
• “The Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
• “Time of Your Life” – Green Day
• “True Colors” – Cindi Lauper
• “Valerie” – The Zutons
• “Lost Boy” – Ruth B.
• “Yesterday” – The Beatles
• “Cups” (“When I’m Gone”) – “Pitch Perfect” / Anna Kendrick

Country Camping Playlist

You can’t blame me for adding this one. Even though my husband and I have a wide preference for music, it always seems that someone switches the music to country by the end of the day. I can’t blame them, because country music seems to be appropriate for beers and campfires.

• “Gods Country” – Blake Shelton
• “Lookin’ for Love” – Johnny Lee
• “Forever and Ever, Amen” – Randy Travis
• “Achy Breaky Heart” – Billy Ray Cyrus
• “My Maria” – Brooks and Dunn
• “Cold Beer Conversation” – George Strait
• “Follow Your Arrow” – Kacey Musgraves
• “Whiskey in My Water” – Tyler Farr
• “Raise ‘Em Up” – Keith Urban
• Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
• “You’re Still The One” – Shania Twain
• “Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton
• “Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker
• “Friends in Low Places” – Garth Brooks
• “Drink A Beer” – Luke Bryan
• “On the Road Again”  – Willie Nelson
• “Peter Pan – Kelsea Ballerini
• “Drink On It” – Blake Shelton
• “Little Red Wagon” – Miranda Lambert
• “Coal Miner’s Daughter” – Loretta Lynn
• “A Good-Hearted Woman” – Waylon Jennings
• “This Kiss” – Faith Hill
• “I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice
• “Wine, Beer, and Whiskey” – Little Big Town
• “Heaven on Dirt” – Teddy Robb

Camping Albums for Adults

And if I don’t have time to create a playlist or I can’t find one on Amazon or Spotify, I will just download an album. These are also my go-to albums for road trips, so I have these already downloaded to my phone. Sometimes you just need mood music.

And now that you have a lot of ideas for camping music, you probably would like some recommendations for speakers. Because my husband and his friends are in construction, we usually have a job site speaker, that can also charge power tools, so we bring those camping because they are pretty much indestructible. But, there are other durable speakers out there that are just as good as our DeWalt.

It was so hard to narrow down this list for the best camping songs for camping and campfires. Everyone’s taste in music is different, but I hope you have found something here that you can download and can enjoy on your next camping trip. Don’t forget to be courteous of your camping neighbors and sing too loud. If you have any favorite songs for camping not listed above that you love, be sure to drop them in the comments below. And as always, be outside with no limits.

DeeAnn Robinson

There’s a spoof on “Ghost Riders” that’s called Chicken Riders in the Sky. Hilarious!

Oh my goodness, I had to google it!!!! I almost peed me pants 🙂

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• March 20, 2019
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40 of the Best Campfire Songs in a Spotify Playlist

One of our favorite parts of camping is settling down in the evening next to a crackling campfire and cranking some relaxing tunes.  There is a lot of debate over the best campfire songs and of course we have our own opinion on what it should be.

Below you can find a list of our favorite campfire songs and a link to the playlist on Spotify.  If you are a Spotify Premium member, be sure to offline the playlist so you can access it when you do not have service while camping.

List of our 40+ Favorite Campfire Songs

• I’m On Fire – Town Mountain
• Redemption Song – Bob Marley & The Wailers
• Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
• Old Number Seven – The Devil Makes Three
• Heart of Gold – Neil Young
• Southside Of Heaven – Ryan Bingham
• Carry Me Back To Virginia – Old Crow Medicine Show
• Free / Into The Mystic (feat. Clare Bowen) – Zac Brown Band
• Corpus Christi Bay – Robert Earl Keen
• Ten Feet Tall – The Devil Makes Three
• Wait So Long – Trampled by Turtles
• Feelin’ Good Again – Robert Earl Keen
• God Must Be A Cowboy – Chris LeDoux
• Santa Fe – Jon Bon Jovi
• After the Gold Rush – Remastered Version – Neil Young
• Amarillo By Morning – Chris LeDoux
• The Armadillo Jackal – Robert Earl Keen
• Down On The Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Lookin’ Out My Back Door – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Heart of Gold – 2009 Remaster – Neil Young
• Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
• Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Chicken Fried – Zac Brown Band
• The Weight – The Band
• Strange Feelin’ In The Air – Ryan Bingham
• Ooh La La – Faces
• Moondance – Van Morrison
• Friend of the Devil – 2001 Remaster – Grateful Dead
• The Sound of Silence – Paul Simon
• The Promise – Sturgill Simpson
• Stranger – The Devil Makes Three
• Into The Mystic – Van Morrison
• Going Up The Country – Canned Heat
• Louisiana Saturday Night – Mel McDaniel
• Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound – Hank Williams, Jr.
• Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys – Waylon Jennings
• Turtles All the Way Down – Sturgill Simpson
• New Virginia Creeper – Old Crow Medicine Show
• The Plank – The Devil Makes Three
• The Poet – Ryan Bingham
• Red Right Hand – 2011 – Remaster – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
• Uncloudy Day – Willie Nelson
• A Little Light – Sturgill Simpson
• Sunshine – Ryan Bingham
• If It Hadn’t Been For Love – The Steeldrivers
• King Of The Road – Re-Recorded In Stereo – Roger Miller
• In Bloom – Sturgill Simpson

Looking for the Perfect Camping Speaker?

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Spotify Campfire Playlist

What are your favorite campfire songs.

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This is a great list and it gave me some awesome ideas! I like a lot of songs from an artist called “Caamp” and “Hollow Coves”.

Thank you for the list!

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30 of the Best Campfire Songs

Some of the best times spent camping are gathered around a campfire. here are 30 of the best campfire songs to keep you entertained….

• 1 Some of the best times spent camping are gathered around a campfire. Here are 30 of the best campfire songs to keep you entertained…
• 2.1 1. “On Top of Spaghetti”
• 2.2 2. “B-I-N-G-O”
• 2.3 3. “Five Little Speckled Frogs”
• 2.4 4. “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt”
• 2.5 5. “Boom Chicka Boom”
• 2.6 6. “The Campfire Song Song” by Spongebob Squarepants
• 2.7 7. “Home on the Range”
• 2.8 8. “Going on a Bear Hunt”
• 3.1 9. “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash
• 3.2 10. “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver
• 3.3 11. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals
• 3.4 12. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
• 3.5 13. “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor
• 3.6 14. “True Colors” by Cindy Lauper
• 3.7 15. “Hotel California” by The Eagles
• 3.8 16. “American Pie” by Don McLean
• 3.9 17. “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley
• 3.10 18. “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show
• 3.11 19. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
• 3.12 20. “Maybe I'm Amazed” by Paul McCartney
• 3.13 21. “(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
• 3.14 22. “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles
• 3.15 23. “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band
• 4 Best Campfire Songs – A Few Bonus Songs
• 5 Update: Hipcamp's Campfire Songs Spotify Playlist
• 6 Related Articles & Podcasts
• 7.1 Explore our 7 Day Adventure Guide to Colorado

Whether you will accompany your song with the dulcet tones of an acoustic guitar, radio, or sing a capella, sitting around the campfire is a great time to share a new song or an old favorite.

The following is my list of the best camping songs to sing during your next camping trip.

I have organized them into two groups. The first is a list of family-friendly favorites that the kids in your group will love.

The other list comprises popular songs that are easy and catchy for adults to sing along to. Kids would like many of these as well!

(I give a bonus list at the end, too!). UPDATE: Hipcamp created an Ultimate Campfire Playlist on Spotify, too! I've linked to it at the end of this post.

8 Best Campfire Songs for Families

These family-friendly traditional campfire songs are some of the best pieces to get everyone singing while enjoying a warm fire. You may even remember some of them from your days spent at summer camp.

I've linked to the lyrics so you can print or screenshot them before your next trip.

Enjoy these fun songs with your children or grandchildren. I guarantee you will be singing along with these oldies, but goodies!

1. “On Top of Spaghetti”

This great song is sometimes called “The Meatball Song” and is set to the same tune as “On Top of Old Smokey.” It tells the fun story of a meatball that falls off a plate of spaghetti and onto the floor.

2. “B-I-N-G-O”

Who doesn't know this favorite about a farmer and his dog? It's a fun interactive song with clapping and repeat lyrics, making it great for all ages.

3. “Five Little Speckled Frogs”

This catchy jingle helps kids learn to count to five in a fun way- by singing about frogs!

4. “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt”

If this beloved family-friendly tune is not already, it is sure to become one of your kids' or grand kids' favorite songs. It is so fun to sing! Especially when you whisper leading up to JOHN JACOB JINGLEHEIMER SCHMIDT!

5. “Boom Chicka Boom”

Everyone around the fire will love this fun, nonsensical song.

6. “The Campfire Song Song” by Spongebob Squarepants

It may seem funny to bring up Spongebob around the campfire. I'm not the biggest fan of Spongebob but this song is loved by kids (of all ages). It's a fun one to bring out when enjoying that bonding time.

7. “Home on the Range”

An old country song is perfect for spending time in the outdoors. It tells the story of cowboys and pioneers from the old American west.

This reminds me of our article on Retracing Lewis and Clark and the Pioneer Routes West .

8. “Going on a Bear Hunt”

What better way to celebrate the outdoors than to sing about finding bears through all sorts of different outdoor terrain? Kids will love this interactive tune.

It's a great way to segue into teaching kids about Camping in Bear Country , too.

15 Best Campfire Songs for Adults

These classic songs were instant hits when they hit the radio waves. They stayed favorites because they are good, catchy, and sometimes deeply meaningful. Most adults will recognize these classic hits.

9. “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash

This catchy tune is an iconic favorite and has been covered in many different genres over time. This hit is a must at your next campfire.

10. “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver

What a good song! So good that many different country singers have covered this hit. Not only is this popular in cities across America. West Virginia made it an unofficial anthem!

11. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals

This well-known song from the 70s is iconic, and most people will recognize it right when it starts.

12. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison

Van Morrison's signature song is a beloved love anthem for any couple. It also has a fast tempo that is fun to sing and clap along with.

13. “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor

This sad but beautiful song has three verses all about different types of heartbreak. It covers suicide, drug addiction, and mental illness. Despite that, many love it and make a great sing-along tune for camping.

14. “True Colors” by Cindy Lauper

This lovely song is all about being true to yourself and has been remade several times. All generations love this simple song.

15. “Hotel California” by The Eagles

This hit by the Eagles describes an unforgettable landscape and experience. Some rumors claim that it has a deeper meaning, but one thing is sure. It is an excellent time to sing with a group!

16. “American Pie” by Don McLean

When it was released, this hot by Don McLean stayed on the number-one hit chart for four weeks. Even at 8-minutes long, this song is considered an American rock-n-roll anthem. It is beloved by so many that in 2015 the handwritten lyrics were auctioned off for 1.2 million dollars!

17. “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley

This sad song is still beloved by many and is one of Bob Marley's most famous tunes.

18. “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show

You may be familiar with Darius Rucker's newer version of this excellent song. Either way, it is a catchy and fun song to sing around the fire.

19. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond

This power ballad is always a crowd pleaser! Neil Diamond wrote this in 1969 for his then-wife, Marsha. He needed a different name to make the lyrics work with the melody, and “Caroline” was born!

20. “Maybe I'm Amazed” by Paul McCartney

This is one of the most memorable songs ever written and talks about a romantic favorite!

21. “(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding

Conjuring up images of a great day spent seaside, this classic song is a perfect way to end a great day outdoors.

22. “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles

Children and adults of all ages love this Beatles song. Everyone will love to sing along with this fun tune.

23. “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band

This country song is bound to get everyone standing and clapping. It is a fun and catchy tune that is most definitely a crowd-pleaser.

Best Campfire Songs – A Few Bonus Songs

If you still need some tunes to include in your campfire playlist, consider these other bonus hits for your list!

• “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
• “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young
• “Imagine” by John Lennon
• “Free Fallin” by Tom Petty
• “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “I'm Yours” by Jason Mraz
• “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees

We'd love to add to this list of the best campfire songs! Please share your favorites in the comments below.

Update: Hipcamp's Campfire Songs Spotify Playlist

I recently learned of a Hipcamp post of the 100+ Best Campfire Songs, According to Spotify Users . Quite a few of the songs overlap with our list, plus they have dozens more songs listed.

Better yet, Hipcamp actually put the “ Ultimate Campfire Playlist ” together on Spotify so you can listen to it at your next outdoor gathering.

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Explore our 7 Day Adventure Guide to Colorado

When Jennifer and I first went to Colorado, I felt like I finally understood what John Denver meant by his song: I've now been Rocky Mountain High.

And like Denver, exploring all that Colorado has to offer made me want to sing, too.

This is a fully designed and edited guide that you can download and start reading immediately on your phone, tablet, computer or e-reader.

Published on 2022-09-04

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

5 Responses to “30 of the Best Campfire Songs”

February 07, 2022at1:34 pm , Davis Freeman said:

“Don’t fence me in.” Cole Porter “I’m a old cowhand.” Johnny Mercer

February 06, 2022at8:23 am , Susan Paterson said:

These are great choices. How about Kumbaya?

February 04, 2022at4:38 pm , Allen Meng said:

Another song that sang on the farm (eight kids), especially on hay rides to put the hay into the barn, was “Henry the Eighth” by Herman’s Hermits with infinite verses as the second verse is the same as he first.

February 04, 2022at12:19 pm , Van Darby said:

You are my sunshine

February 04, 2022at9:02 am , Jackie W said:

What an eclectic mix of music. I love it!

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85+ Best Campfire Songs To Sing While Camping

Are you looking for the best campfire songs? Everyone loves thinking about sitting around the fire and singing the perfect song! Truth be told, you don’t even have to know the campfire song lyrics to really sing along with a classic song or two.

If you’re looking forward to your next camping trip, having a great collection of songs ready to go is key. Use this list of classic campfire songs as a great way to sing a fun song or two. 

During our last trip, we had everyone add a few songs to our campfire playlist – and let me tell you…It was quite a unique compilation of some of our favorite songs! 

The Essence of Campfire Songs

​Everyone knows that a good campfire song is meant to help everyone have good times in a fun way. Most have a catchy tune, but it’s safe to say that you’ll have all types of genres, from a country song to a love song and anything and everything in between. 

Everyone will get to choose the best song that they love to sing, making it fun for friends or the whole family to join. 

Timeless Appeal

Campfire songs have a timeless appeal because they have been passed down through generations. These songs evoke a sense of nostalgia and tradition, creating a connection between the past and present. They often tell stories or convey emotions that are universally relatable.

Campfire songs also have a simplicity to them, with catchy melodies and easy-to-remember lyrics. This makes them accessible to people of all ages, allowing everyone to join in and sing along.

Whether it’s classic folk tunes or modern pop hits, campfire songs bring people together around the warmth of the fire.

Sing-Along Culture

The sing-along culture associated with campfires fosters a sense of community and camaraderie. When gathered around the fire, individuals bond over shared musical experiences as they harmonize or take turns leading the group in song.

It creates an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels involved and connected.

Singing together encourages teamwork and cooperation as campers work together to create beautiful music. This communal activity promotes unity among participants, making it an integral part of the camping experience.

Regional Flavors

Different regions often have their own set of great campfire songs, adding unique flavors to this tradition. For example, country-inspired tunes might dominate campfires in rural areas, while beachside gatherings may feature tropical-themed melodies.

These regional variations showcase diversity while celebrating local customs and cultures.

Moreover, these regional flavors introduce campers to new styles of music from various parts of the world, broadening their musical horizons beyond what they typically encounter in their daily lives.

Family Bonds

One significant aspect is how campfire songs strengthen family bonds during camping trips. Families come together to share these musical moments which become cherished memories for years to come—creating strong emotional connections between relatives.

Thinking about trying out camping? Find out how to rent an RV easily here !

Here is a quick snapshot of some popular songs for camping, but make sure to scroll down and check out even more suggestions for kids, seniors, and guitar players ! 

Fun Campfire Songs Everyone Will Enjoy

• “I’m A Believer” by Journey
• “You’ll Be In My Heart” by The Pretenders
• “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Judy Garland
• “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Neil Diamond
• “The Way We Were” by Billy Joel
• “Ave Maria” by Franz Schubert
• “Amazing Grace” by John Newton
• “Puff The Magic Dragon” by Peter Paul & Mary
• “When You Wish Upon A Star” by Disney
• “Hava Nagila” by Benny Goodman
• “Rhapsody in Blue” by Gershwin
• “My Favorite Things” by Rodgers & Hammerstein
• “Old MacDonald Had A Farm” by Bobby Helms
• “Happy Trails To You” by Johnny Cash
• “The First Noel” by Harry Chapin
• “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie
• “We Shall Not Be Moved” by Pete Seeger
• “Oh Happy Day” by Chris Tomlin
• “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin
• “Summertime” by George Gershwin
• “America The Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates
• “Don’t Fence Me In” by Robert Johnson
• “What Child Is This?” by Bob Dylan
• “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash
• “Amazing Grace” (Reprise) by John Newton
• “Home On The Range” by Merle Haggard
• “Ding Dong Bell” by Alistair MacLean
• “Shine On Harvest Moon” by Hank Williams
• “Wagon Wheel” by Merle Haggerty
• “Minnie The Moocher” by Chuck Berry
• “Red River Valley” by Marty Robbins
• “Down By The Riverside” by Jimmy Buffett
• “The Great Speckled Bird” by Shel Silverstien

Some other great choices include Baby Shark, California Dreamin, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, Time of Your Life, Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay, Ring of Fire, House of the Rising Sun, American Pie, Hotel California, and more! 

What are the best campfire songs for kids?

If you’re looking for some fun campfire songs for the little ones, we’ve got a few suggestions.

Our favorites include “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” nursery rhyme, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” by traditional, and “Bingo” children’s song.

These fun and upbeat songs are perfect for getting kids excited about singing around the campfire!

Need a few more ideas? Here are some fun camping songs to sing while you’re out on the trail.

These campfire songs will help keep your kids entertained and happy, even if they don’t want to go outside!

Camping Songs For Kids: Fun Songs to Sing Around the Campfire

These are also funny campfire songs for adults to sing and be a kid again with, too!

• “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” by Mother Goose
• “Baa Baa Black Sheep” by Mother Goose
• “Mary Had A Little Lamb” by Mother Goose
• “Itsy Bitsy Spider” by Mother Goose
• “Jingle Bells” by Father Christmas
• “Old McDonald Had A Farm” by Father Christmas
• “Little Bunny Foo Foo” by Father Christmas
• She’ll be coming round the mountain
• The ants go marching one by one

What are the best campfire lullabies?

If you’re looking for some calming campfire lullabies, we’ve got you covered.

Our favorites include “Swanee River” by Stephen Foster, ” Brahms’ Lullaby” by Johannes Brahms, and “Rock-a-Bye Baby” traditional.

These gentle melodies are perfect for lulling everyone to sleep after a long day of fun!

Campfire Singalong Songs for Everyone

The Campfire Singalong is a sing-a-long that takes place around the campfire . It’s a great way to get everyone involved and have some fun at the same time.

The songs are usually about nature, animals, or holidays — so it’s perfect for families who love singing together.

• Sweet Caroline. Neil Diamond
• Good Riddance. Green Day 
• Brown Eyed Girl.
• Free Fallin’ 
• Friends in Low Places 

What are the best country campfire songs?

If you’re in the mood for some toe-tapping country music around the campfire, we’ve got a few suggestions for you.

Our favorites include “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash, “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker, and “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John.

These songs are sure to get everyone in a good mood and have them singing along all night long!

Other great country songs to add to your list of favorite campfire songs include: 

• Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country
• Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
• Take me home Country Roads by John Denver

What are the best campfire party songs?

If you’re looking for some campfire party songs, look no further!

Our favorites include “I Love It” by Kanye West, “I’m Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO, and “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.

These songs are sure to get everyone in a good mood and have them dancing all night long!

What are the best campfire love songs?

If you’re looking for some love songs to sing around the campfire, we’ve got a few suggestions for you.

Our favorites include “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, and “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. These heartfelt ballads are perfect!

When it comes to campfire love songs, there’s no better classic than “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.

However, if you’re looking for something more modern, try “Softly” by Ed Sheeran. Whichever song you choose, make sure to dedicate it to your loved one!

What are the best guitar campfire songs?

If you’re looking for some great guitar campfire songs, we’ve got you covered. In our opinion, these are some of the best campfire songs on guitar!

Our favorites include “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “Free Fallin'” by Tom Petty.

These classic rock tunes are perfect for strumming along to around the campfire!

What are the best campfire rock songs?

If you’re looking for some great campfire rock songs, we’ve got you covered. These aren’t modern campfire songs by any stretch of the imagination, but they’re still amazing!

Our favorites include “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses, and “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses.

These hard-hitting tunes are perfect for getting everyone pumped up around the campfire!

What are the best campfire songs for adults?

If you’re looking for some great campfire songs for adults, we’ve got you covered.

Our favorites include “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison.

These upbeat tunes are perfect for getting everyone in a good mood! These are perfect for an acoustic guitar! 

What are the best campfire songs for seniors?

If you’re looking for some great campfire songs for seniors, we’ve got a few suggestions for you.

Our favorites include “Yesterday” by The Beatles, “Let It Be” by The Beatles, and “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel.

These timeless tunes are perfect for reminiscing around the campfire!

Whether you’re looking for classic campfire songs or newer tunes to get your groove on, we’ve got you covered. The above list is great but these are two of our favorites! 

“The Hokey Pokey”

This is a classic for a reason! Everyone knows the words, and it’s perfect for getting everyone in a dancing mood.

“Lean on Me”

This feel-good song is perfect for winding down after a long day of fun. It’s also great for singing around the campfire.

As you can see, you can choose a beautiful song, a country campfire song, or simple fun camp songs for the kids.

As long as you’re in the company of friends or family, any type of camp song is sure to be a hit!

Choose a simple song list and work in some action songs for everyone to get in and boogie! You’ll love this list of traditional campfire songs!

What are the key elements of a great campfire song?

A great campfire song should be easy to sing along with, have catchy melodies, and evoke a sense of nostalgia or joy. It’s like finding the perfect ingredients for s’mores – each element contributes to creating a delightful experience around the fire.

Where can I find diverse cultural campfire songs?

You can explore diverse cultural campfire songs through online resources, music streaming platforms, or by connecting with local community groups and organizations.

Embracing diversity in campfire songs allows us to appreciate different traditions and create meaningful connections through music.

How can I encourage group harmony during campfire sing-alongs?

Encouraging group harmony during sing-alongs involves choosing familiar tunes that everyone can join in on, providing lyric sheets if needed, and fostering an inclusive atmosphere where all voices are valued. It’s like weaving together different threads to create a beautiful tapestry of sound around the fire.

What makes a campfire song family-friendly?

Family-friendly campfire songs typically have simple lyrics, wholesome themes, and engaging melodies that appeal to both kids and adults.

They’re like stories told through music that captivate listeners of all ages while adding warmth and cheer to the evening gathering.

Can you recommend some iconic folk and traditional campfire melodies?

Certainly! Some iconic folk and traditional campfire melodies include “This Land Is Your Land,” “Kumbaya,” “The Wild Rover,” “Down in the Valley,” “Home on the Range,” and “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round The Mountain.”

These timeless tunes carry echoes of history while kindling camaraderie under starlit skies.

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100+ Best Campfire Songs, According to Spotify Users

Birdsong, flowing rivers and rustling winds. 

While nature’s soundtrack is one of true harmony, listening to music while exploring the great outdoors can make the experience even more enjoyable. 

We appreciate that camping is about unplugging from the hustle and bustle of the grind but, whether it’s cruising in a campervan with friends or having a sing along around the campfire  with marshmallows, there are certain times when a few tunes only add to the experience. 

But what, we wondered, are the best campfire songs? Do you need to strum an acoustic guitar for true folk song fireside vibes? Or do people prefer pop or perhaps a few ’80s classics?

Inspired, we decided to have a root around Spotify and study exactly which songs people are listening to when they take a camping holiday. And, with a list of over 41,000 songs across 500 different camping playlists, we really have delved into the catalogue to determine the most popular tracks that go beyond  Home on the Range and Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire .

Taking the top spot among camp songs is Lynyrd Skynyrd’s absolute classic, Sweet Home Alabama . The country favourite may just be the perfect song, featured on 63 of the 500 playlists analysed! One, two, three, turn it up and sing along…

So, whether you’ve got a hardcore adventure planned for your next camping trip or you’re just camping out back on a particularly starry night, we’ve put together the ultimate camping playlist based on our findings.

The Most Popular Campfire Songs

When it comes to pitching a tent, kicking back and cranking up the music, it appears that those spending a night under canvas enjoy listening to feel-good songs. A strong country thread also runs through the top 10, with the genre taking all three top spots among classic campfire songs.

The Most Popular Artists To Listen To When Camping

And when it comes to artists, Canadian alternative rock duo LEN is featured 364 times across the 500 campfire playlists. Funnily enough, their most well-known track, Steal my Sunshine , is something that pretty much all campers dread!

Methodology

We scraped 500 playlists, created by both users and by Spotify itself, that had the word ‘camping’ in the title. From this, we collated a list of just over 41,000 songs.

From there, we then found the songs and artists featured in the most playlists, allowing us to discover the most popular camping songs and artists.

In the list of the most popular songs, artists were limited to their highest ranking three songs.

Playlists were taken from across the Spotify database, without any determining locational factors. This means our ranking of the top 100 songs represents the best campfire songs for worldwide campers, whether you’re camping in Australia , Canada , the UK , the USA or beyond.

In addition to serving as a Hipcamp editor in the UK, James Warner Smith is the author and editor of the UK's best selling camping guidebooks, the Cool Camping series. As well as appearances on television and radio, James has had articles published across the national press, in magazines, and online.

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Music Enthusiast Magazine

The 15 Best Campfire Songs For Your Next Adventure

Planning a camping trip and looking for some new songs to sing around the campfire?

Well, you’re in luck!

We’re rounded up some of the best songs out there that you can sing around the campfire with your buddies.

Keep reading for inspiration.

1. “Ring of Fire”

In my opinion the best campfire song is Ring of Fire from Johnny Cash.

Easy to play, easy to sing for most (even nonsinger) and everybody knows it.

— Michael Barnett, Performer Life

2. “The Campfire Song Song”

I’m not ashamed to say that I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Camping Episode from SpongeBob Squarepants, especially the bit where they sang the Campfire Song Song !

And since I play a little bit of the guitar myself, it just became a staple song for camping trips with the family because of how fun it is to sing and how it easily puts a smile on everyone’s faces.

— Matthew Paxton, Hypernia

Maybe I’m just a product of my generation, but I genuinely love and enjoy the Campfire Song Song from Spongebob Squarepants! It’s short, fun, and easy for anybody to learn!

— Kieren Windsor, That Hammock Life

3. “Good Riddance (Time of your life)”

The best campfire song for me is the song of Green Day, which is the Good Riddance (Time of your life). Why?

Because the rhythm of this song is so pleasant and the hype of traveling and camping makes the vibe so good.

If you will check the lyrics of the song it says, It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right. I hope you had the time of your life.

These lines are so powerful that the song moves me whenever I am listening to it. It reminds me of how my life passes by based on my decision and not by the dictation of others.

In the end, I have considered all decisions I’ve made have resulted in success and it is indeed the best time of my life.

— Petra Amara, Rowing Crazy

4. “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”

My wife and I have 2 little boys, so a lot of the campfire singing we do these days are children’s songs. Our family favorite is “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”.

The kids love it, and they’re always singing it when we go hiking as well, pretending they’re little explorers out looking for a bear.

— Matt Price, ATVA Online

5. “I’m Yours”

My favorite and go-to campfire song is I’m Yours by Jason Mraz. As a guitar player, I love playing this song.

Its chord progression is pretty simple but catchy. It has a clear on-beat and off-beat so that even if there isn’t any instrument around, we can still clap to ourselves and make it sound good.

Additionally, this is a song that everyone can sing along to. There isn’t any high or low note, you just have to sing the lyric and enjoy yourself.

— John Vo, Your Destination is Everywhere

6. “5 Green and Speckled Frogs”

My favorite campfire song comes from my days as a girlscout.

I remember us all sitting around a campfire and singing 5 Green and Speckled Frogs, at the top of our lungs. I had so many memorable camping trips with the Girl Scouts.

— Savanah Gordon, Vanah Lynn Designs

7. “You Are My Sunshine “

I’m usually camping with my Jeep so I can bring my ukelele with me.

You Are My Sunshine is a good campfire song that most people know, so I’ll play that typically.

It’s important to play things that people know so they can sing along, or at least hum along.

— Johnathan R. Smith, Camper Guid e

8. “Wagon Wheel”

My favorite song to play while camping is Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker.

It’s got a rustic feeling to it that sounds like a cowboy song, which is perfect for sitting around a campfire.

It’s popular enough that most people know it — but it’s not so popular that my camping companions are disappointed I’m way worse singer than Darius Rucker!

— Alex Williams, Get Vegan

9. “Kumbaya”

My favorite campfire song is Kumbaya because it is a classic song that is easy to sing and fun for kids and adults alike.

It reminds me of camping with girl scouts when I was a child.

— Angela Wills, Savvy Homemade

10. “Boom Chicka Boom”

I think the best campfire song (especially for kids) is Boom Chicka Boom. This song is so fun and goofy and my kids love to sing it every time we go camping.

The great thing about this song is you don’t have to know the exact lyrics, you just have to remember the chorus.

It allows the kids to freestyle the lyrics and get creative and just have a great time with it.

— Greg Halter, Year of the Dad

11. “Sweet Caroline”

“Sweet Caroline… and then the trumpet played!” It is my favorite campfire song, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.

What makes me into this song is that it was the first song that I memorized on our camping when I was just a boy and every time we get together until now, we always sing this together.

I think it is not just the beat of the music, it is about the good memories that you remember every time the song played.

— Matthew Brown, Sleep Authorities

12. “Stand by Me”

“Stand by Me” is a well-known campfire song that is an excellent, choice especially when gathered with big groups.

The song touches on togetherness and loyalty and it is also quite simple to learn and sing along to, which makes it an enjoyable choice to also perform while amongst good company.

Moreover, since the track is very popular, it’s actually quite easy and catchy to remember too. Plus, even if you are unfamiliar with it, it only takes a few minutes to get used to the song’s chord structure.

— Anita Carroll, Very Create

13. “Take Me Home, Country Roads”

My favorite campfire song is John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

Easy to play with a guitar, and easy on the ears. And I also love the very descriptive lyrics, like it’s meant to be sang outdoors, where home is, for some people.

— Mike Powell, Dog Embassy

14. “Let It Be”

“Let It Be” – The Beatles. During a campfire, we want to relax, chill and unwind and this song’s melody can give us that.

It is easy to play on guitars and can be a perfect bonding session with your friends. Not only that, this song encourages people to not give up because there is always hope in everything.

So in every campfire experience, I let it be. 🙂

— April Maccario, Ask April

15. “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”

Growing up in the South, I have to say that there are a lot of great options here.

But my favorite has got to be Will The Circle Be Unbroken – especially if you have a large group of people sitting around the campfire.

And even better if you’ve got a few people with instruments.

— Steven Evans, Air Fryer Bro

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25+ Summer Camp Songs to Sing Around the Campfire

Making and sitting around a warm campfire is one of the most special activities to do with friends and family while camping, hiking , or adventuring!

On top of this, singing a song that everyone knows and loves is a way to boost spirits and bond with one another. After all, there’s nothing quite like a singalong to make us feel connected!

If you’re planning a camping trip, we’ve got a mix of 30 of the best summer camp songs below so that the music can keep flowing right until bedtime!

In this list, we’ll cover a variety of classic and contemporary songs for you to sing with your crew, so get the marshmallows out for toasting, and let’s get started!

The Magic of Campfire Sing-Alongs

Singing at campfires is an important tradition that can promote connectedness and camaraderie amongst campers traveling together.

Often, these songs are considered campfire classics and have been passed down among generations as songs made for the fire. Along with this, the beautiful tradition can evoke nostalgia, making us feel even more connected with each other.

Especially for solo campers initially joining a bigger group, you may have nothing in common except for a song that everyone knows!

Singing a song at a campfire melts the world away and leaves us relaxed and certain that even the most complicated things will eventually resolve themselves.

Classic Campfire Songs: Time-Honored Tunes

Let’s get into it with the classics first!

These songs are time-honored classics that never get old and that everyone should know and sing at least once.

A lot of these songs have folk song origins and have been sung for generations, making them more traditional and special than you may originally think.

List of Classic Summer Camp Songs

Let’s start with ‘Kumbaya’!

Kumbaya is an old folk song likely to have originated in the south of the United States in African-American communities.

Its popularity was boosted in the 1950s, and it has stayed popular ever since. It is said to promote peace and unity, which is a perfect theme for singing around the campfire.

This Land is Your Land

‘This Land is Your Land’ is another classic American folk song!

This one was written by Woody Guthrie, a famous folk composer, around 1940. Similarly to Kumbaya, the song promotes socialism and unity among its singers.

Home on the Range

‘Home on the Range’ is another folk song that can be traced back to the 19th century.

The song has themes of peace and tranquility, with the lyrics telling a story of wishing for simple times in nature with nice weather.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

One of the more simple songs on this list, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” is an English children’s nursery rhyme—wonderful for the campfire!

The song is only 4 lines long and can be sung in a round with harmony if desired.

Down by the Riverside

Moving on to “Down by the Riverside,” another classic folk song with gospel notes!

The song has traditionally been used in civil rights movements as it promotes freedom and the end of war.

She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain

‘She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain’ is a song everyone should know to sing around a campfire.

It’s another traditional American folk song that dates back to the 19th century and has humorous roots in the ease with which the singer can change the lyrics.

The Bear Went Over the Mountain

Another children’s song, ‘The Bear Went Over the Mountain’ also provides an opportunity for lyric changes to make the bear see something funny! The song is great for children with its simple melody and easy lyrics.

I’ve Been Working on the Railroad

This folk song also originates from the 19th century from the building of the railroads.

“I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” is a simple and melodious song that has been passed down through generations, and one that should be sung around your campfire too!

The Ants Go Marching

“The Ants Go Marching” is another children’s song that increases the number of ants featured with each verse. It presents a fun challenge for everyone to keep up with around the campfire!

On Top of Old Smokey

Yet another traditional American folk song! Like so many of these campfire classics, “On Top of Old Smokey” is a slightly sadder song about loss and love that has remained popular for years.

You Are My Sunshine

This is another classic American song, written and recorded by country artists Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell in 1939.

It is a soft and sentimental song about comparing someone to sunshine, which is sure to cheer your fellow campers up!

‘Clementine’, or ‘Oh my Darling Clementine’ has a sad history, written about a miner whose daughter has drowned in a river.

It is popular due to its emotional history, and those emotions will be brought to the forefront around a crackling flame.

Michael Row the Boat Ashore

‘Michael Row the Boat Ashore’ is another traditional African-American folk song. It is another song related to hope and unity and is often sung in call and response between two groups.

This American folk song was written by Stephen Foster in 1848. It became increasingly popular and was sung by miners during the California Gold Rush.

It tells the story of a man traveling to see his love in Louisiana – a hopeful tale for all to enjoy!

Contemporary Campfire Hits: Modern Melodies

Now that we’ve covered the classics, we can move on to the newer or more modern melodies that are increasingly popular around the campfires.

These songs are fairly new to the campfire classics; however, they are just as prominent!

List of Modern Summer Camp Songs

“ho hey” by the lumineers.

This song is another folk-rock popular campfire song, known for its heartfelt lyrics and clapping repetitive rhythm, making “Ho Hey” a perfect campfire song!

“Riptide” by Vance Joy

“Riptide” by Vance Joy is an increasingly popular campfire song due to its easy and fun lyrics, along with being extremely easy to play on the ukulele or guitar (if a camper has one).

“Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show

“Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show was written in collaboration with Bob Dylan, a classic American musician. The song has become more and more popular due to its catchy and energetic nature!

“Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver

“Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver almost doesn’t need an explanation as to why it’s so popular.

The song has a great melody, the lyrics are easy, and everyone on earth knows the song!

“Hey Soul Sister” by Train

“Hey Soul Sister” is a song written by the rock band, Train. The song is catchy, fun, and upbeat, making it a great candidate for a campfire song!

“Fire and Rain” by James Taylor

This next song is another heartfelt and easily accessible song for around the campfire.

It details the loss of a friend, making it emotional and nostalgic for the older campers.

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, more commonly known by Jeff Buckley’s version of it, is a wonderful campfire song that has a repetitive chorus and an easy and beautiful melody for everyone to learn.

“Lean on Me” by Bill Withers

“Lean on Me” by Bill Withers is an extremely appropriate campfire song as its lyrics discuss the importance of friendship and bonding. How fitting for a campfire gathering !

“Imagine” by John Lennon

“Imagine” by John Lennon is a classic for many reasons.

Coming from the biggest band in the world, John Lennon wrote “Imagine” about a world with peace. It’s an emotional and powerful song that will continue to be sung for decades.

“In the Night” by Basia Bulat

“In the Night” is a song written by Canadian-American artist Basia Bulat that talks about letting go of the past and moving on through the night.

It is a healing song about letting go and is great to share with others.

“Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People

Another song with a dark origin, “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People is a story written from the perspective of a school shooter.

Apart from its dreary lyrics, the song is upbeat and repetitive – making it good for around the fire.

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz

This classic love song by Jason Mraz is a wonderful addition to any singing session, especially one with camping involved.

The song talks about not being able to hide the love that he has for his subject, and eventually admitting that she has made him fall in love with her. Another easy ukulele song for those more musically ambitious campers!

“Wonderwall” by Oasis

Oasis is another huge band of our generation, so there’s no wonder why a song of theirs has made it on this list!

Wonderwall is well-known and catchy, and generally a song that everyone loves.

“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond

If ‘classic singalong song’ had a dictionary definition, it would say ‘Sweet Caroline’ by Neil Diamond!

This song really gets everyone singing with its building verse into the fun chorus.

Tips for a Memorable Campfire Sing-Along

No matter how great a singer you are or how big your campfire is, getting everyone else involved can be difficult. Here are some tips for a memorable campfire sing-along:

Song Selection

Firstly, the song selection and variety of songs. It is important to select songs that most people will know already, based on age and preference.

For 20-year-olds, the more contemporary songs are a better choice, whereas 50-year-olds might prefer the classics!

Get a good mix of fast and slow-paced songs so that there is a good mix of relaxation and fun.

Print Lyric Sheets and Encourage Participation

Where possible, print out a couple of lyric sheets before you go camping so that those who don’t know the lyrics (or have forgotten them) can read them over, promoting participation.

It is important to encourage participation from everyone so that nobody feels uncomfortable or excluded!

Create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere

A campfire is not a concert, and nobody expects you to sing like Adele!

It’s a good idea to try your best to make everyone feel welcome and relaxed, meaning they’re more likely to join in and participate.

Include campfire snacks and drinks

If you want everyone to sit at a campfire, food and drink are a certain persuader—perhaps some classics, marshmallows, smores, hot chocolate, potato chips, and more.

I promise, everyone will come and sing at least one song if it means they can have a s’more!

Use instruments if available

If your backpack and camping kit allow it, bring some instruments! They really help to keep tune, beat, and energy to make everyone join in singing summer camp songs.

Share personal stories related to songs

If you or others feel comfortable, try telling a story of your own that reminds you of a song you’ll sing. There’s no better way to bond than by opening up.

Instruments and Campfire Songs

We mentioned instruments earlier, but guitars, ukuleles, tambourines, or hand drums can especially enhance the campfire singing experience hugely! It’s like karaoke – more people will sing if there’s a backing track.

If you’re a musician, some of the easiest songs to learn on this list are Riptide, I’m Yours and Imagine. A lot of the more classic songs don’t necessarily need backing, but it’s always welcome!

So, there you go! Hopefully, this guide has been helpful for you in holding the perfect campfire singing session.

Singing and laughing with friends and family is one of the most powerful ways to bond people together by creating new and happy memories that everyone is bound to look back on fondly.

Think there are other songs you’d like to sing? Go ahead! There is no limit to the amount of good campfire songs , so please add to this list of summer camp songs with your own suggestions. Happy singing!

How do I choose the right song for my camp group?

It can be stressful to pick songs that everyone will want to sing, but the most important thing to remember is to pick them based on age group and to get a good variety of slow and upbeat songs!

With a wide enough variety, your group is bound to know at least one or two.

What are some good summer camp songs for kids?

There are many good summer camp songs for kids, including ‘Row Row Row Your Boat’ and ‘She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain’!

Kids can lose focus easily, especially if they’re tired, so make sure to pick simple and easy songs that everyone can enjoy.

Are there themed campfire songs for specific occasions or events?

There are no rules to what songs you can sing around the campfire, so don’t worry about singing a Christmas song in the middle of summer!

Some songs might be more fitting for certain locations, such as “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain” if you’re camping on a mountain or “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” if you’re near a stream. There are no strict rules, so have fun with it!

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15 Songs to Listen to While Camping

Welcome to July! This month is perfect for all kinds of things: going to the beach , having cookouts, and eating ice cream outside with friends are just some of the activities perfect for July's warm weather.

But one thing that often gets overlooked is camping . This is the time of year many brave pillagers will pack their bags, head out to the woods with friends or family, set up tents, and live in the forest for a few days. While camping is all about being one with nature, it's still possible to have serene music experiences while living in the wilderness. Maybe you need some songs to listen to while fishing, biking, or having a bonfire. Or maybe you need some campfire songs to sing with your friends!

We've got you covered. Below are 15 woodsy tunes that will keep you occupied during the slower moments of camping. Most of them are slow acoustic numbers, while others have a bit more pep and energy to them for when you're engaging in lively activities.

1. "Woods" - Bon Iver

As the title of this Bon Iver track suggests, this song is perfect to listen to while wandering through the woods. It's slow and quiet at first, but builds up into something as majestic as mother nature herself. Despite the heavy autotune, there's something so natural about this tune. It feels like a flowing river, or a tree growing up. Essentially "Woods" is just a paragraph of verse repeated 11 times, but the experience is so much more than that.

2. "The Wild Hunt" - The Tallest Man On Earth

A hidden gem of a song we've been holding on to forever and are so happy to share. "The Wild Hunt" is a 2010 track created by Kristian Matsson, AKA The Tallest Man On Earth. The lyrics are poignant and poetic, telling the listener a folkloric myth of raging gods and birds. However, the fast pace of the acoustic song makes the story feel jovial and flowing. In essence, "The Wild Hunt" is about Matsson wishing for better times. It's outdoorsy, charming, and soothing to the soul.

3. "God's Whisper" - Raury

Ever since we've heard this in Andrea Arnold's American Honey , we've been wanting to blast this song around a bonfire. Perfect for a wild party with friends (or as much of a party you can have while camping), "God's Whisper" will make you feel like a wolf howling at the moon. It will get you in touch with your intuitive side, or maybe your "animal instincts." We recommend this one for nighttime adventures.

4. "I Will Wait" - Mumford & Sons

Want to go for a jog or a bicycle ride down a trail? Mumford & Sons' 2012 hit "I Will Wait" is perfect for the occasion. This is also a good one to sing out loud during a campfire if someone has a guitar and everyone knows the lyrics. Despite the upbeat pace, "I Will Wait" is a melancholy song that tells the story of a man fighting through troubled times to be with the person he loves. If you take a closer look at the lyrics, it could even be interpreted as a man dying first, getting to heaven, and waiting for his lover to join him.

5. "Blowin' In the Wind" - Bob Dylan

It only feels right to listen to Bob Dylan when you're in the wilderness. "Blowin' In the Wind" is Dylan's most well-known song, and also the best for camping. With lyrics that reference seas, mountains, the sky, and even roads a man walks down, this feels extra appropriate for a day in the woods. Since this song is also an acoustic jam, "Blowin' In the Wind" is a good song to sing in a group if everyone knows the lyrics.

6. "Ring of Fire" - Johnny Cash

What is a campfire? It's a fire lit from a circle – or square – of logs all arranged in a certain way so that the fire is a contained. So if you were Johnny Cash...what would you call a campfire out in the woods? A ring of fire!

Yet another fun song to yell out with friends. But also just a classic bop perfect to listen to any time during your camping experience. Maybe something to help you wake up, or keep you entertained while waiting for a big catch when you're fishing on the lake.

7. "Wagon Wheel" - Old Crow Medicine Show

If you know this song, you know how much of a crowd pleaser it is. "Wagon Wheel" is the perfect mix of pine-y allure, succulent strings, and earwormy goodness. While this is probably the best on our list to perform around a bonfire (it's popular yet obscure enough to really put your singing leader in the spotlight), we also think it's a good one to blast out during other occasions – like while everyone's enjoying dinner. This is one you can't listen to alone: only when it's the end of the day and while you're in good company. Oh, and did you know Bob Dylan wrote the chorus to this song?

8. "Norwegian Wood (The Bird Has Flown)" - The Beatles

If you're looking for a good camping song with more of a psychedelic edge, we recommend "Norwegian Wood" by The Beatles. Why this makes us think of running rivers and waterfalls? We're not sure. But this folksy tune will bring out a freeing part of you. Maybe it's because of the sitar sounds or because John Lennon had most of the influence in this track. Whatever it is, it's pure beauty.

9. "A Forest" - The Cure

This beloved Cure song is perfect to play, well...when you're in a forest. This song was the Cure’s first charting single in the UK, reaching #31. It was their second to chart in New Zealand, peaking at #38. It's got a slightly spooky edge to it, and many people first believed it was about band member Robert Smith getting lost in the woods. However, he later clarified it's just about a forest. Maybe a good one to play before building up to a scary story session?

10. "Willow" - Taylor Swift

Like peanut butter and jelly, camping and cottagecore songs go together. And we all know the mainstream queen of cottagecore is Taylor Swift. There are so many Taylor tracks – especially off Folklore and evermore – that work for camping. For this list, we're sticking with the can't-go-wrong bop "Willow."

It's heartwarming, enchanting, and will bring out your romantic side. Which is important because sometimes camping can be dirty, stressful, and scary. (Hey, it's not all fun and games! But it's also the challenges of camping that make it so rewarding.) "Willow" just reminds you that when the camping gets rough, you gotta be like a willow and bend right to the wind.

11. "Moon Song" - Phoebe Bridgers

Every camping trip needs stargazing music, and "Moon Song" by Phoebe Bridgers is a tune we know will do the trick. A beloved track off Punisher , "Moon Song" is slow, relaxing, deep, and dark. Even a little emotional between the edges. It's the soundtrack to your next shooting star encounter.

12. "Can I Call You Tonight?" - Dayglow

A fizzy, youthful jam that makes us nostalgically think back to our summer camp days. Perfect to blast while everyone's taking a swim in the lake, or while having a lunch break. "Can I Call You Tonight?" is equally parts energizing, shy, and hopelessly romantic. If you feel like falling in love during your camping trip, maybe this is one you'll want to keep on your playlist.

13. "Flowers In Your Hair" - The Lumineers

We love to play "Flowers In Your Hair" when going on a road trip through the country. We also think this is one you should play while driving to your camping site. Or while setting up your campfire. Or while walking down a trail. Hey, did we mention that literally any Lumineers song is perfect for the art of camping? Because they are. "Flowers In Your Hair" is pretty short, so you may want to pack extra Lumineers songs onto your playlist...y'know, just in case you need more.

14. "Wolf" - First Aid Kit

Listening to any First Aid Kit song makes us want to run through a field of wildflowers while wearing a flowy dress. For this list, we're saying "hey ya hey ya!" to this catchy track off their album The Lion's Roar . "Wolf" definitely has all the woodsy, camping vibes you need, plus a witchy feel added in. We just know you'll want to bark along to the lyrics on this banger.

15. "The Campfire Song Song" - Spongebob Squarepants

"After a long day of camping, it's nice to unwind with a nice relaxing campfire song."

Yes...we had to throw this one in before we close the list. Not only because we're avid lovers of Spongebob Squarepants over here at Live365, but because "The Campfire Song Song" is a really fun tune to chant around the flames. It's sort of become a classic in its own right. It all starts with spelling out C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E S-O-N-G and eventually increasing in speed. If you don't think that you can sing it faster, then you're wrong.

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Article Image: A photo from the POV of inside a tent. A lush forest landscape awaits outside. ( Scott Goodwill via Unsplash .)

About Kathryn Milewski

The music scout (alternative) - june 2022.

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Nick Schroeder’s perfect day includes a show in South Paris and vintage shopping in Biddeford

The communications manager for Space and member of Mad Horse Theatre Company would also make Rockland and several Portland shops part of the itinerary.

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Nick Schroeder, 42, of Portland, is communications manager and multidisciplinary programmer for Space, a nonprofit arts venue in Portland. He’s also an actor, director and ensemble member with Mad Horse Theatre Company in South Portland. A native of Old Orchard Beach, he’s worked as a journalist and editor at several local publications.

As much as I like bopping around the state by myself, I’ll spend my perfect Maine day with my partner, Mallory, and our nearly 3-year-old toddler. The kid’s in the stage of life where she asks why to just about everything, and that question makes for good conversation.

Getting dressed (finding pants, socks, etc. and negotiating their deployment) can take a while in my house, so we’ll put on WMPG to keep the energy loose. I’ll pour a good cup of coffee, Speckled Ax Early Riser preferred , in my clunky travel mug. Then we’ll get things cracking at that one real good climbing tree in the park for a little proprioceptive rinse. The branches are real low to the ground and I don’t have to worry about my kid taking any nasty falls.

The Palace Diner in Biddeford. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Will Zu Bakery still have croissants by now, or is that too much morning meandering? The neighbors tend to swarm the little West End spot – how is it this good? – and it can quickly sell out. If that’s the case, we’ll drive south. Actually, scratch that – Mallory will drive this leg, and I’ll bike. Our destinations will be the same, Palace Diner (in Biddeford). I’ll have the omelet du jour and those great big potatoes, and maybe a bite of my kid’s pancake – the dad handbook clearly states that you must eat your children’s leftovers. We’ll all poke our heads inside Biddeford Vintage Market and see what new vendors they’ve got (my aunt Barb runs the place with some friends) before making a quick spin into Color.Sound.Oblivion to check their newly stocked records.

The Basico – an arepa stuffed with chicken, cheese and pico de gallo – with a side of pan de bono and a cup of verduritas (spicy green sauce) from Maiz in Portland. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

With family who live nearby, I’ll be able to ditch the bike and hop into the car, heading north. We’ll stop in Portland to grab a couple of arepas for the road from the outrageously good Colombian food restaurant Maïz, and head to South Paris. In this fantasy, the Celebration Barn has a perfectly timed matinee show, and true to form, it’s equally enchanting for kids and adults.

The Celebration Barn in South Paris. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

After that, we’ll drive to Rockland (here’s where the kid naps) and head to a beach (any beach) before I pop into Curator , one of few consignment shops that bothers to stock nice stuff for tall fellas. Then it’s over to Rock City Cafe for a refill and a poke around Hello Hello Books behind the cafe. Last time, I found a nice used paperback of a Judy Chicago biography. Will I get this lucky again?

A stack of books at Print: A Bookstore in Portland. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Returning to Portland, we’ll have had our fill of driving and Raffi sing-alongs. It’s time for our A-list East End retail trifecta – Ferdinand  for handmade wonders, Starry Eyes  for snazzy kids’ stuff, and Print: A Bookstore (more books!).

For dinner, the ideal is Asmara , the great Eritrean gem, where we as a family can share big communal plates of colorful food using only our hands as utensils. After we put the kid to bed, I’ll text a friend, and if his kid’s asleep, too, we can sneak out for a little nightcap at the Continental and discuss the news.

How would you spend your perfect Maine day? Send your itinerary, in 500 words or less, with a little about yourself, to [email protected] .

A Belhaven beer, a Negroni and a pint of Guinness at The Continental in Portland. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

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