Camping, it seems, is a celebrity’s secret for escaping the hectic reality of life in the public eye. Not every celebrity spends their off-screen hours in one of Hollywood’s lavish five-star hotels or a modern mansion tucked away in LA’s iconic Bel Air neighborhood. Between the flashing camera lights and never-ending series of TMZ interviews, no one needs a backwoods getaway more than Hollywood’s elite.
In recent years, several chart-topping artists and movie stars have begun sharing their surprisingly down-to-earth hobbies through social media platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube — with camping featured as a recurring popular outing. While it may not always involve pitching a tent lakeside, several celebrities are embracing a “rustic” approach on their weekend retreats that’s still well within the realm of camping. From swapping hotels for luxury caravans while on tour to last-minute family road trips, find out how some of the world’s most iconic figures disconnect and recharge in the great outdoors.
Zac Efron
Zac Efron’s flourishing career as a Hollywood star is transitioning into the world of social media. Subscribe to the movie star and heartthrob’s new YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes clips of his off-screen life. According to The Refinery 29, Efron has launched a new series on the platform called “Off the Grid,” featuring everything from travel to nutrition. Titles of his videos range from “We Spent 96 Hours in the Desert” to “Breaking Free in Mammoth Lakes, California.” The Australian native has embraced a castaway lifestyle since childhood, taking frequent camping trips with his father and brother.
When he’s not filming, you can find the “High School Musical” star expressing his passion for the outdoors by supporting wildlife conservation campaigns and doing commercial shoots for Columbia Sportswear. Efron has even been known to embrace his wanderlust spirit during shoots (in style, of course, from inside his luxury caravan). According to Daily Mail, the actor spent several nights living out of his portable abode (worth a value of $140,000) while filming “Stan Original.”
P!nk
In between studio recording sessions, American icon and artist Pink likes to squeeze in the casual outdoor weekend getaway. According to Daily Mail, family time for Pink, her husband, and their two children often takes place in the serenity and seclusion of the outdoors. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, was a chance for the pop star and her family to embrace the rare occasion of escaping back-to-back tour shows and the paparazzi’s flashing lights. In 2021, Pink released a series of snapshots documenting a “last-minute getaway” RV camping trip. The photos depict Pink’s family in a state of relaxation and harmony, valuing the time spent together in the wilderness. It seems even the most elite pop stars are often in need of a far-flung retreat in The Great Outdoors.
Justin Bieber
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The Canadian chart-topping artist might be known for his hit singles “Yummy” and “10,000 Hours” but don’t be surprised if you spot him roughing it in the wilderness. By “roughing it,” we mean glamping in his $1 million luxury RV, often with his wife and American model, Hailey Bieber, in the passenger seat. The luxury caravan has all the bells and whistles, including an infrared sauna, heated floors, and a fireplace. His social media feed is teeming with evidence of camping trips in Monroe, Michigan and La Crosse, Wisconsin. When Bieber’s life calls for a much-need getaway from his home in the Hills, it’s not uncommon for him to embark on a spontaneous celebrity road trip. In 2016, photos from Justin Bieber, DJ Martin Garrix, and Rory Kramer’s social media feed suggested the trio even spent a week camping seaside on a secluded beach.
Ashton Kutcher
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Every celebrity has their own private life hidden behind the camera lens and gossip headlines slashed across tabloids. Yet, who would have guessed “That ’70s Show” co-stars and celebrity couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis had a knack for camping? The pair even spent their honeymoon weekend road-tripping across Yosemite Park, trading the wealth and luxury of posh hotel life for a week in the backwoods.
Outdoor chic is this duo’s approach to glamping with their luxury Mercedes Benz Sprinter, which includes a full kitchen and appliances. According to an interview with Jimmy Falon, the duo’s camping trip was not the romantic retreat they were planning for. They had a series of mishaps change the trajectory of their summer honeymoon plans just a smidge, including a broken air conditioner and a campsite next to a prison.
Gwen Stefani
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We’ve all heard the timeless phrase, “opposites attract,” and celebrity couple Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani certainly prove this popular trope true. Born and raised in Ada, Oklahoma, a mid-sized town in Pontotoc County, it’s no surprise that Shelton thrives in a wilderness setting. Not wanting to leave his country roots behind, Stefani and Shelton now own a 1,300-acre ranch in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Stefani, however, had a slightly different upbringing. One thing Stefani and Shelton are in alignment with is their shared passion for the pursuit of peace in the wilderness.
As an Orange County native, adapting to Shelton’s rural Oklahoman lifestyle was a difficult transition, Stefani revealed in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Yet, even in the midst of embracing a lifestyle of soil and foliage, she learned to love it, commenting that “Nature, and God, is all right there.” Overall, the American singer seems to be adjusting to life outside the city limits. According to NBC New York, the duo set out on a camping trip together in 2019, embracing the wilderness in its most authentic state.
Dolly Parton
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Dolly Parton may be living a life of glitz and glam in the world of country music, but hidden beneath a life under the neons is a passion for the tranquility of nature. The acclaimed country singer’s life isn’t as tangled up in the drama and glamor of the music industry as most celebrity singers. In an interview with Country Living Magazine, Parton revealed that she and her husband own a small camping RV that’s not only their accommodation during weekend getaways but is also a frequent sighting at Taco Bell drive-thrus.
If the Dollywood theme park isn’t enough, Parton’s passion for camping has even been transformed into a five-star Airbnb experience with a custom, Dolly Parton-themed camper. The luxury RV is located in the Smoky Mountains of Knoxville, Tennessee. Its color scheme stays on trend with the singer’s two favorite colors, yellow and white. The interior “sings” of Parton’s style down to the most minuscule details, including coffee mugs, vanity plates, and album decor covering the white-washed walls.
