Camping is a beloved outdoor activity that allows us to reconnect with nature, escape the daily grind, and spend quality time with friends and family. However, there’s something about the isolation, the darkness, and the unknown that makes camping the perfect setting for scary camping movies.

Over the years, filmmakers have capitalized on this primal fear, creating a subgenre of horror movies that take place on local camping trips. In this article, we’ll explore the 12 best camping horror movies that will make you think twice about venturing into the woods alone.

The 12 Best Horror Movies About Camping

1. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

This is one of the groundbreaking camping films that follows three student filmmakers who venture into the Maryland woods to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch. As they get lost and strange occurrences begin to happen, the line between reality and fiction blurs, creating a sense of unease that lingers long after the credits roll.

2. Deliverance (1972)

While not strictly one of the greatest camping horror films “Deliverance” is a psychological thriller that taps into the fear of being stranded in the wilderness with dangerous locals. When four Atlanta businessmen embark on a canoe trip in the Georgia backwoods, they encounter a group of sinister hillbillies who turn their adventure into a nightmare.

3. The Evil Dead (1981)

Sam Raimi’s low-budget horror classic follows five college students who rent a remote cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway. When they unwittingly summon demonic forces by playing a tape recording of an ancient incantation, all hell breaks loose in a gory, over-the-top fashion that has become a cult favorite.

4. Cabin Fever (2002)

In this gruesome tale of terror, a group of college graduates rent a cabin in the woods for a celebratory vacation. When they contract a flesh-eating virus from contaminated water, they must fight for survival while their friendships and sanity unravel.

5. Friday the 13th (1980)

No list of camping horror movies would be complete without mentioning “Friday the 13th,” the slasher film that launched a franchise and countless imitators. When a group of teenage camp counselors arrive at Camp Crystal Lake to prepare for the summer season, they are stalked and murdered by a mysterious killer seeking revenge.

6. The Ritual (2017)

Based on the novel by Adam Nevill, “The Ritual” follows four friends who embark on a hiking trip in the Swedish wilderness as a tribute to their recently deceased friend. When they take a shortcut through an ancient forest, they encounter a terrifying creature that feeds on their guilt and fears making it one of the best camping movies.

7. Backcountry (2014)

Inspired by true events, this Canadian survival horror film follows a couple who go on a camping trip in a remote provincial park. When they encounter a territorial black bear, they must fight for their lives in a harrowing battle against nature’s fury and make it’s way to our camping horror movies list.

8. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

This meta-horror comedy is one of the best friends camping horror movies that follows five college students who visit a remote cabin for a weekend of fun and debauchery. Unbeknownst to them, they are being manipulated by a group of scientists who are using them as pawns in a sinister experiment that involves ancient gods and horror movie archetypes.

9. Eden Lake (2008)

In this British horror film, a young couple’s romantic camping trip turns into a nightmare when they are terrorized by a gang of violent teenagers. As the situation escalates and the couple fights for survival, the film becomes a commentary on the breakdown of society and the savagery of human nature undoubtedly making it one of the scariest camping movies.

10. Severance (2006)

This British horror-comedy follows a group of corporate employees who go on a team-building retreat in a remote Hungarian forest. When they discover that the area was once a site of war crimes, they become the targets of a group of vengeful killers who will stop at nothing to settle an old score.

11. Wrong Turn (2003)

This is one of the scariest horror movies about camping in the woods, where a group of young people on a camping trip in the West Virginia woods take a detour and find themselves stranded in the territory of a family of inbred cannibals. As they fight for survival, they must confront not only the depraved family but also their own moral choices.

12. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

This horror-comedy subverts the “killer hillbilly” trope by following two well-meaning but misunderstood friends who are mistaken for murderers by a group of preppy college students. As the misunderstandings pile up and the body count rises, the film becomes a clever satire of horror movie clichés and a celebration of friendship and acceptance.

Conclusion

Camping horror movies tap into our primal fears of the unknown, the isolation, and the savagery of nature. By placing ordinary people in extraordinary situations, these horror movies about camping force us to confront our own mortality and the fragility of our social bonds.

Whether you’re a fan of slasher films, psychological thrillers, or meta-horror comedies, there’s a camping horror movie out there that will keep you up at night. So the next time you’re planning a camping trip, remember to pack your sleeping bag, your marshmallows, and your sense of humor – you never know what terrors lurk in the woods.