STARTING-WORD GUIDE

CAMP to POOP.

A reusable word-ladder guide, rather than a dated daily puzzle. Every move below changes exactly one letter.

3minimum moves
2shortest routes
Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from CAMP.

CAMP reaches POOP in 3 moves. The list includes 4 words because the starting position costs no move.

  1. StartCAMPThe starting word; no move used
  2. Move 1COMPReplace A with O in position 2
  3. Move 2COOPReplace M with O in position 3
  4. Move 3POOPReplace C with P in position 1
Compare 2 shortest routes
  1. CAMP · COMP · COOP · POOP
  2. CAMP · COMP · POMP · POOP

This list contains every shortest route in the checked word list.

Which first moves work?

One next word keeps you on a shortest route from CAMP: COMP.

The table lists all 11 accepted one-letter neighbors. “Moves remaining” starts after that first move. “Total via this word” includes it, so you can compare that choice with the 3-move minimum.

Next wordMoves remainingTotal via this wordResult
CAME45Longer route
CAMI45Longer route
CAMO45Longer route
CAMS45Longer route
CARP45Longer route
COMP23Shortest route
DAMP45Longer route
LAMP45Longer route
RAMP34Longer route
TAMP45Longer route
VAMP45Longer route

Why 3 moves is the minimum.

CAMP differs from POOP in 3 letter positions, so any route needs at least 3 changes. This route meets that lower bound.

The solver searches the checked word graph in distance order. It reaches every word one move away before trying two moves, then continues until it reaches POOP. The minimum applies to this word list; another game or dictionary may accept different connections.

Our Easy label uses distance only: up to 5 moves is Easy, 6 is Moderate, 7 is Tricky, 8 is Hard, and 9 or more is Expert. It does not measure how familiar you will find each word.

Try CAMP with a different target or read the verification method.

More 3-move ladders.

These starting words have the same shortest distance to POOP in the checked list.