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Sitting around a crackling fire, toasting marshmallows, and singing campfire songs with your friends and family is an American pastime. We all have memories of those lazy summer nights that we wish would never end.
If you want to make your next gathering even more fun, you can do it with these songs. So grab your acoustic guitar or just your singing voice, and let’s get jammin’.
11 Simple and Fun Acoustic Campfire Songs Everyone Should Know
Here are our favorite singing songs for the adults in the crew. You’ll love singing these with your friends after you safely tuck the kids in bed or drop them off at grandma’s house. Don’t worry; we have memorable songs for kids coming up next.
1. Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver
Even if you’re not from West Virginia, you’ll feel like you are when you sing this fun campfire folk song. It resonates with anyone who grew up in a small town and is missing those backcountry roads.
We love this song because it reminds us of the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and some of our favorite travel memories.
2. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
Sweet Caroline is another classic song that you’ll hear all over the place. This uplifting tune is often played at dances or sporting events, but it is also a great one for back and forth over the campfire. This perfect song makes a great addition for people in your group who may only want a few lines. That way, you include everyone.
3. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
If you’ve ever been in a relationship (or even if you haven’t), you’ve probably heard this song. The words are sweet and easy to catch on to, making it an excellent campfire song.
4. Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
How much more “campfire” can it get than singing Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash? Not much! This great song screams, “sing me around a bonfire.” It also has easy-to-remember, repetitive lyrics so everyone can join in on the chorus.
5. Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show
When it comes to classic campfire songs, Wagon Wheel is another country song to add to your list. The tune is catchy, and you won’t be able to help but sing or hum along. Wagon Wheel also brings in some other instruments, so if you’ve got a banjo, this folk song is your time to shine at the bonfire!
6. Hey Jude by The Beatles
Hey Jude is a great campfire song, because can you have a campfire without listening to the Beatles? And even if your friends don’t have a musical note in their bodies, they’ll love singing along when you get to the “na na na na” part at the end! If you’re looking for easy campfire song lyrics, you found them!
7. Wonderwall by Oasis
If you think you don’t know this song, you’re probably wrong. The second you hear the first notes, or at most the chorus, you’ll find yourself singing (or shouting) along. This song has been around since 1995, but it is still played on the radio to this day.
8. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Do we even need to explain why you should sing Sweet Home Alabama at your next campfire? If you’re looking for campfire guitar songs, add this one first.
If any song screams campfire song, it is this one. Even if you aren’t from Alabama, this traditional campfire song will have you feeling like you are. It’s a perfect country classic to enjoy with friends.
Pro Tip: If you’ll be doing any cooking in between songs, check out the Best Campfire Cooking Kits You’ll Actually Use!
9. Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty
You also can’t go wrong singing Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty. You’ll undoubtedly feel free when jamming to this American classic. Just watch out for those campfire bad boys, so no hearts are broken!
10. American Pie by Don McLean
This song is sometimes considered America’s rock-and-roll anthem. It’s a great campfire song because chances are you might be enjoying whiskey and rye at your bonfire, or at the very least a beer or two.
11. House of the Rising Sun by The Animals
House of the Rising Sun is a great song to play at the end of the night. Its cool vibes will make you wish you were born in the 60s. The first verse immediately pulls you in and you’ll learn quickly why this is one of the most well-known songs to sing around the campfire.
10 Best Campfire Songs for Kids
If you’ve got kiddos in your life, they’ll love singing along to these camp songs. Even if they haven’t heard these songs before, we know they will love them. With easy-to-remember lyrics and catchy tunes, they’ll be singing along in no time.
1. A-Camping We Will Go
This is a classic camp song for kids. It debuted in Barney’s Campfire Sing-Along. It’s sung to the tune of the Farmer in the Dell, so you probably know the music yourself already. And since the lyrics are so repetitive, even young kids will catch on in no time.
2. Camp Granada
Your kids will get a kick out of this fun campfire song. Although, it might not inspire them to go away to summer camp. The song singer has a lousy time, so your kids will probably appreciate their camping trips after hearing what could go wrong.
3. Home On the Range
This is a timeless campfire song that pines for a simpler time. It will help your little campers want to get out and enjoy nature and get off the technology. They’ll love singing about everything the outdoors offers, and you can enjoy the twinkling starlight while you sing, just like this simple song suggests.
4. Kookaburra
Kookaburra is a classic nursery rhyme that you can sing along with. This song is short and sweet, so the kids will quickly catch on. They’ll love telling Kookaburra to share the gumdrops!
5. The Green Grass Grew All-Around
This is a repetitive song and builds until you’ve sung about almost everything there is to see in nature. It’s a great way to get your kids to appreciate the great outdoors.
6. Ain’t No Bugs on Me
Your kids will giggle, sing along, and maybe even freak out a little about bugs when they sing this song. It is a goofy tune about all the creepy crawlies you might find when you’re out camping. Kids love this song!
7. She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain
She’ll Be Coming Round the mountain is a classic folksong that first appeared in written form back in 1927. But people have sung it for even longer than that. You can take advantage of this to teach your kids a brief history lesson once the song is sung.
8. John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
Another great campfire song for kids is John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. Your little campers will get a kick out of the name and love singing or shouting along to the chorus. It is a song to hear around campfires everywhere.
9. B-I-N-G-O
BINGO, do we need to say more on this one? This awesome song is one almost every kid has heard before. And even though your kids think they’re just singing, they’ll be learning too!
10. The Ants Go Marching
Last up is another campfire song that lets your kids learn—the Ants Go Marching. Your kids can practice counting and singing at the same time. It’ll make learning even more enjoyable.
A Staple for Any Camping Trip
When the campfire’s burning, and you’re with friends or family, the night is made so much better by music. There is just something about a song that brings people together.
So, if you have an acoustic guitar or just your singing voice, give these songs a try. You don’t have to be an incredible musician to enjoy the best songs, and we know they’ll make for an even more memorable camping trip! Whether you’re with friends or the whole family, you’re sure to have a good night singing these songs.
And be sure to check out the best short scary stories for around the campfire too!
As a long time Girl Scout except John Denver and a couple of the kids songs none of these are what I’ve sang around the campfire. I guess if I played the guitar a few more of these would be in my wheelhouse. Thanks for opening up my song choices beyond ” I wear my pink pajamas”…