A simple one is about a camper who tried to make a tent for the first time. He followed the instructions but ended up with something that looked like a big, lumpy blob. His friends laughed so hard when they saw it that they decided to sleep under the stars instead. It was a memorable camping trip just because of that tent - making disaster.
In a camping trip, a group of friends decided to tell spooky but funny stories. One girl told a story about a ghost who was scared of the dark. So every time the night came, the ghost would hide in a camper's sleeping bag. Everyone was laughing so hard imagining a scared ghost.
One more is about the 'haunted campfire'. Campers saw the fire seem to flicker in strange patterns and heard whispering sounds. They were all spooked. But then they found out that there was a group of kids playing pranks in the bushes nearby. The kids had made some simple devices to create the spooky effects, which turned this initially scary situation into a funny one.
There were campers who told stories around the campfire every night. One night, a small boy said he saw a magic frog by the lake. Everyone laughed. But then they heard a croaking sound. They all ran to the lake and saw a frog with a shiny stone on its head. It was like the frog was really magical.
Once there were two campers. One said to the other, 'I can make the fire burn green.' The other was skeptical. So the first camper threw a bunch of wet leaves on the fire. The fire hissed and sputtered and for a moment, in the smoke and steam, it did look kind of green. They both laughed at the silly trick.
Sure. Here's one. A bear walks into a bar and says, 'Give me a whiskey... and a cola.' The bartender asks, 'Why the big pause?' The bear replies, 'I'm not sure; I was born with them.'
I heard a story about a group of campers who decided to have a singing competition around the campfire. One guy was so confident in his singing, but when he started, he was completely off - key. His friends couldn't stop laughing, and even the nearby animals seemed to be making noises as if they were also laughing at him. This made the whole situation even funnier.
The use of sounds can make a story better. In a campfire story, you can describe how the wind was howling like a wolf, which is scary. Then when the 'wolf' turns out to be just a dog from a nearby farm, the contrast is funny. Also, the anticipation of something bad is a great element. You keep the listeners on the edge of their seats, waiting for the big scare, but then it turns into a laugh - out - loud moment.
One classic is 'The Hook'. A couple is parked at a lovers' lane. They hear on the radio about an escaped lunatic with a hook for a hand. Strange noises start coming from outside the car. In the end, they speed away and when they get home, they find a bloody hook hanging on the car door handle.
One campfire funny story is about a hiker who thought he saw a bear in the woods. He started running and climbed up a tree. But it turned out to be just a big log with some moss on it. His friends laughed at him for hours when he finally came down.
The relatable situations. Many short funny campfire stories involve common outdoor or camping experiences. Say, a story about forgetting the tent poles and trying to make a tent without them. People who have camped can easily relate and find it humorous. Also, the unexpected twists. Like in a story where you think a hiker is going to find a beautiful view but instead he finds a group of dancing raccoons. It catches you off guard and makes you laugh.