After millions of years, campfires remain mystifying to us. 

They’re mesmerizing, drawing us together with a magnetic force and slowing us down in the thick of evening cold—powerful enough, even, to transport us back to childhood summer nights, gathered around the fire, when life was much more simple. Something we all crave. 

Campers today are looking to satisfy this specific yearning. A recent Campspot Marketplace survey found that campers—nostalgic for these carefree days of the past—are heading outdoors to recapture them, and they’re prioritizing the campfire to do so. 

When asked what nostalgic elements they most appreciated at a campground, 72% of campers said campfire pits. As for what they most wish to re-experience from childhood while camping, campfire cooking and telling stories around the campfire were in the top three answers.

The campfire experience is so significant, in fact, that campers want to pass it on to future generations. Survey respondents said building a fire and campfire cooking are the top outdoor skills they want to share with their children and grandchildren. Given fire’s significance in human history—from our ancestors to campers today—it’s important to understand the power of this iconic symbol, and consider how you can prioritize this amenity for the ultimate guest experience at your campground.

The Original Maker of Community

There are few things that force us to slow down and come together as extraordinarily well as the campfire. Its flames draw us into a circle together, prompting either a shared conversation or moment of quiet—both of which are powerful and feed us a sense of comfort, connection, and safety as a part of something bigger. A sense of belonging. 

Anthropologist Polly Wiessner, who studied the Bushmen of Botswana for over 40 years, found that campfires indeed cultivate a sense of intimacy. “There is something about fire in the middle of the darkness that bonds, mellows, and also excites people. It’s intimate,” she says. “Nighttime around a fire is universally time for bonding, for telling social information, for entertaining, for a lot of shared emotions.” 

In her research of the Bushmen, she goes on to detail how campfires redirected conversations and attitudes towards building relationships and storytelling.

“Day talk centered on practicalities and sanctioning gossip; fire-lit activities centered on conversations that evoked the imagination, helped people remember and understand others in their external networks, healed rifts of the day, and conveyed information about cultural institutions that generate regularity of behavior and corresponding trust. Appetites for fire-lit settings for intimate conversations and for evening stories remain with us today.”

Perhaps we chase the campfire because we sense that its effects, including these feelings of social connection, all do one thing: improve our wellbeing.  

Positive Psychology and Physiology 

These positive effects of the campfire can tie directly to the fundamentals of positive psychology, says Jennifer Willford, associate professor of psychology at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. 

Wilford cites the PERMA model developed by renowned psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman, which identifies five components people pursue because they’re innately motivating and are conducive to our well-being: positive emotion, engagement, relationship, meaning, and achieving. Wilford details,

“Positive emotion and relationship tie into what happens when we are around a campfire. The campfire can elicit positive emotions that allow us to be more open, rather than situations that might be more anxiety-provoking.” 

If camping is something that people did with their families, it’s going to bring up memories of positive emotions and social connection that will influence a current situation. Also, when we are around a campfire we tend to be very present and mindful, which also is important for well-being, and not being distracted by cell phones and other things that cause stress.”

People are instinctually comforted by fire as a multi-sensory experience as well. Research confirms that watching a campfire, with its crackling sounds, decreases blood pressure. 

7 Ways to Level Up Your Campfire Amenities

As campers specifically look forward to time around the campfire, campground owners can’t afford to overlook this iconic amenity. Follow these practical tips to upgrade the campfire experience for your guests.

1. Upgrade Fire Pits and Surrounding Areas

Ensure your fire pits are consistently in solid, clean condition, and add comfortable seating for campers to enjoy the fire and each other.

2. Offer Campfire Treats and Tools

Provide amenities and equipment that help campers build and cook over the campfire, from s’mores kits to cooking tools.

3. Provide DarkSky Approved Lighting

As guests enjoy their campfires, you can also consider providing other lanterns or lighting to further elevate the ambience at their campsites. Just make sure to use DarkSky Approved lighting to help all campers safely enjoy the nighttime environment without increasing light pollution.

4. Offer Campfire Prompts 

Encourage campfire conversations by offering your own list of questions or a pack of prompts. Simple conversation starters can spark deeper bonding and discovery, even among the closest of people. 

5. Ensure Campground Rules Support Time for Connection

Consider how your campground as a whole can contribute to meaningful experiences for connection. Set a quiet time, ensure sites are spaced apart comfortably enough, and offer dark sky tools such as rentable tablets with stargazing apps, or telescopes such as Galileoscope kits.  

6. Create a Community Campfire Experience 

Beyond private campfires, consider how you can engineer an experience that brings different campers together. Do you have a staff member who plays the guitar or banjo, or is a master storyteller? Perhaps they can facilitate a community campfire that everyone can enjoy.

7. Highlight the Campfire in Your Marketing 

Make sure your marketing materials showcase how you prioritize the campfire experience at your campground. List associated activities or amenities on your website and brochures, and highlight images that appeal to people’s intrinsic appetite for the campfire and everything it symbolizes. 

Prioritize the Campfire Experience

The campfire is a huge reason many go camping in the first place, so take the necessary steps to upgrade this amenity for them. The memories and emotions from their wonderful experience will only lead to positive associations with—and future business for—your campground.

Download our 2025 Camping Trends Outlook for more insights on what campers are looking for and how to adapt your campground strategy accordingly.

Elizabeth Pun writes for ecommerce and SaaS businesses. A former content marketing manager, she has over 11 years of experience helping brands grow through compelling content. She loves scouring for vintage finds, exploring the outdoors, and getting her glamp on.