Camp Lazlo originated from a children's book concept about camp life that creator Joe Murray felt 'outgrew its medium', leading him to develop it into a TV series instead.

The show was initially pitched under the working title '3 Beans', but Cartoon Network executive Linda Simensky changed her mind after saying it sounded too much like a salad, so Murray renamed it Camp Lazlo.

Joe Murray drew inspiration from his own childhood summer camp experiences, from the pastoral, calming settings of classic cartoons like Looney Tunes and Yogi Bear, and from John Candy's cartoon series Camp Candy.

After the series was greenlit, Cartoon Network initially revoked its approval, leaving Murray and co-producer Mark O'Hare 'pissed' and 'depressed' until Murray managed to get it fully approved again.

Several writers on the show later went on to create their own hit series, including Thurop Van Orman (The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack) and J. G. Quintel (Regular Show, Close Enough).

Murray recruited many crew members from his previous show Rocko's Modern Life, describing his main tactic to bring them back as 'coercion', since they already understood his comedic sensibilities.

Voice actor Carlos Alazraqui, who plays Lazlo, had previously voiced Rocko in Rocko's Modern Life and Spyro the Dragon, a role later coincidentally taken over by fellow cast member Tom Kenny.

The opening theme 'Lazlo Was His Name-O' was adapted from the children's folk song 'Bingo' by musician Andy Paley, with new lyrics written by Joe Murray, and the score used unusual instruments like washboards and the musical saw.

Creator Joe Murray publicly opposed Camp Lazlo characters being featured in McDonald's Happy Meals in 2007 and refused to appear in the related TV commercials, though he did not fully explain his reasons out of respect for Cartoon Network's marketing team.

A 2006 Game Boy Advance tie-in game, Camp Lazlo: Leaky Lake Games, was poorly received, with IGN rating it 4 out of 10 and criticizing its confusing mini-games and calling its music 'some of the most horrendous music ever heard on the GBA'.