For many people, summer is the best part of the year. Camping is one way to enjoy the weather and make the most of the time off. Whether it’s laying under the stars, playing water sports or hiking, there’s so much to experience on a camping trip. Why not get into the spirit by watching these fun camping movies.
1. A Week Away (2021)
Kicking off this camping movies list is a Netflix film starring Bailee Madison as Avery and Kevin Quinn as Will Hawkins. Orphan Will keeps getting into trouble, forcing him to be sent to a Christian summer camp or risk juvenile detention. Despite a rocky start, he soon settles in and enjoys the experience.
The movie is a musical full of Christian songs with great arrangments and amazing vocals. There’s a sweet brewing romance between Will and Avery, who have voices that compliment each other nicely. This is one worth watching.
2. Addams Family Values (1993)
In this sequel film, Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) are sent to Camp Chippewa, where they’re surrounded by happy, perky children with personalities completely opposite to theirs. They meet fellow outcast Joel Glicker (David Krumholtz), with whom Wednesday later shares a kiss.
There are several great moments in the camp, but the final Thanksgiving show is the best. Wednesday plays Pocahontas and highjacks performance with the fellow outcasts, setting the whole stage on fire. It’s fun destruction yet deep historical and social commentary at the same time.
3. Camp Rock (2008)
If you thought there was only room for one musical on this list, you were wrong. Next, we have a Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock starring Demi Lavato as Mitchie Torres and the Jonas Brothers as a popular music group Connect 3.
The movie is set at a summer music camp and is all about accepting who you are, so prepare for cringey songs, dance moves and jokes. Perfect for watching in the summer months. The sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, is also a fun watch, and you can see how the relationship between Mitchie and Shane (Joe Jonas) develops.
4. Cheaper By The Dozen 2 (2005)
The first movie was such that they had to make a second film. This time, the Baker family have a final vacation together at the old lakehouse at Lake Winnetka. Like the first film, two parents, 12 kids, and a dog equals a lot of family drama, but this time, they’re competing with the Murtaugh family staying across the lake.
Two relationships between the families brooding in this movie, oldest son Charlie Baker with (Tom Welling) with Anne Murtaugh (Jaime King) and fifth child Sarah Baker (Alyson Stoner) with Elliot Murtaugh (Taylor Lautner). Both couples are at different stages in their lives, but both are super cute.
5. Eclipse (2010)
Camping is not at its finest when the weather is freezing and you’re in a tent. Lucky for Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), she had werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner, again), keeping her warm to Edward Cullen’s (Robert Pattinson) discomfort.
Eclipse is the third film in The Twilight Saga, bringing the tension between team Edward and team Jacob to an all-time high. Although the camping in this movie was only to lure the evil vampire Victoria to her death, it involved the outdoors, a sleeping bag and a tent, so it makes the list.
6. Grown Ups (2010)
Strictly speaking, Grown Ups is not about camping, but it promotes the same values as camping. When five childhood friends return home for their old basketball coach’s funeral, they rediscover what’s most important in life – spending time with family. There are hilarious moments in this Adam Sandler comedy movie starring Chris Rock and Salma Hayek.
The city kids are encouraged to abandon technology and embrace the outdoors. They learn how to play outside in the lake, skip rocks, and get creative, bonding with each other through paper cup telephones. It’s a cute movie which shows different romantic relationship dynamics and family relationships.
7. It Takes Two (1995)
In this romantic comedy starring the famous Olsen twins, the sisters play identical strangers. They bump into each other (literally) at summer camp and switch places. They decide Alyssa’s (Ashley) dad and orphan Amanda’s (Mary-Kate) social worker would be perfect for each other and devise different plans to help them fall in love. The summer camp offers a range of activities from canoeing, horseback riding and food fights. The children sit around a campfire and make s’mores – a camping classic.
8. Paul (2011)
When Graeme and Clive, two British sci-fic enthusiasts, encounter an alien named Paul (Seth Rogen) while on a road trip to San Diego Comic-Con, they agree to give him a ride in their RV. They discover Pauls has lived on earth for 60 years and is responsible for many of the world’s technological advances.
Their journey is far from smooth sailing. They meet Ruth (Kristen Wiig) at an RV Park, who grows closer to Graeme (Simon Pegg) as the film progress. There’s a great scene where they sit around a fire and share some strong weed. Warning – this movie is a fun watch but definitely not for children.
9. The Parent Trap (1998)
This classic movie is easy to rewatch, whatever the time of year. Starring Dennis Quaid as Nick and the late Natasha Richardson as Elizabeth playing the parents of identical twins (Lindsay Lohan), who they separate after their divorce. The twins meet when they’re sent to the same camp, switch places and plan to get their parents back together. The only problem is Nick is newly engaged to Meredith (Elaine Hendrix), who is interested in him for his money.
Lohan does a fantastic job playing each twin, and the film is shot in some beautiful locations. The chemistry between Nick and Elizabeth has us rooting for the two to get back together. When the twins go camping with their dad and Meredeth, they play pranks on her, like putting a lizard on her head and her mattress in the lake while she’s asleep. This movie is packed with comedy and charm; no wonder it’s a fan favourite.
10. We're The Millers (2013)
Camping is not exactly stress-free when you’re in a broken-down RV filled with two tons of marijuana, and the people who come to your rescue are a DEA agent with his wife and daughter. Small time drug dealer David (Jason Sudeikis) recruits his neighbour Kenny (Will Poulter), stripper Rose (Jennifer Aniston), and runaway Casey (Emma Roberts) to pretend to be a fake family. Together, they must smuggle drugs from Mexico across the border to David’s drug supplier if they want to get paid. This movie is packed with funny moments, and you’re never really sure what will happen.
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