People who have never gone camping often think about it as the ultimate budget vacation. Make no mistake, though — if you’re not careful, camping can get very expensive, very fast. These Camping On A Budget Saving Tips are going to show you that it can be very Affordable Outdoors.
The costs you can expect to incur while camping include campground fees, transportation costs, parking permits, food, and the cost of activities like kayaking or zip-lining. That’s assuming you already have the right gear (tents, hiking boots, tarps, camping stoves…), which you might not.
Whether you’re on a tight budget or you just hope to keep your costs down, camping can be affordable. This guide walks you through the top tips to save money in sensible ways.
Chase Down Free or Low-Cost Campsites
Private campgrounds with an abundance of convenient amenities can cost you and your party $50 or more per day. They might seem like the best entry point for people who are new to camping, but they don’t truly offer you an authentic camping experience — and they’re not budget-friendly.
Look for public camping grounds, national parks, and Bureau of Land Management sites, where camping is either free or very cheap. If you want to save even more money, choose sites that aren’t too far away from home to save on fuel. Because you still want to keep things exciting, look for places you’ve never been to before.
Camp During the Off Season
This tip actually catches two birds with one stone. Camping fees are nearly always cheaper during the off season, and you won’t have to deal with noisy crowds, either. If you’re chasing personal bliss and you want it to be cheap, stay away from camping during the peak summer months and holidays, and pick a nice weekend in the fall or a lovely week in spring, instead. Even winter camping can be lovely, although you do have to come prepared.
Take Your Friends to Split Costs
Most campsites actually allow multiple tents and vehicles to occupy a single spot — without impacting the fee. While you should always check this in advance, it means that taking friends or relatives camping can reduce your overall costs.
It would be silly not to take advantage of this way to save money while camping, because nearly everyone will ultimately enjoy the experience more with a group of people around. Connecting with nature is great, but many hands make light work, and you’ll want a group of folks to play fun campfire games with at night!
Google Free Activities in Advance
What are you planning to do while camping? Plenty of activities cost money (and sometimes a lot), but you can nearly always find wonderful free activities, too. Once you settle on a camping spot, milk your friendly neighborhood search engine for all it’s worth to discover which free activities are available nearby.
You may just find out that there’s a guided stargazing tour available, that someone’s running a tour of the area, or that you can go swimming at a local lake. You never know!
Consider Renting Camping Equipment
Have you never been camping before, but have you always wanted to give it a try? If you don’t already have all the equipment you need, you may think you’ve got a steep investment ahead of you.
Quality tents can set you back anywhere from $100 to $1,000, depending on your expectations and how many people your tent needs to fit. Ultra-cheap tents are definitely on the market, but they won’t make you very happy if you want a decent camping experience. They’re completely off the table if you’re the type of person who always chases quality.
Consider looking for local tent rental companies. Even campgrounds may offer this service sometimes.
The advantage? You get to test out whether you actually enjoy camping without making a long-term investment. That way, you won’t have a luxury tent gathering dust in your garage if it turns out that you hate the experience.
Besides tents, these same rental services also often offer camping chairs, gazebos, camping grills and stoves, and other handy equipment.
These services can prevent unnecessary expenses in the short term, but they don’t make sense for regular campers. Once you’re ready to invest in camping equipment, research your options and look for deals. Some stores offer discounts for students, veterans, or seniors that might apply to you, but most run sales from time to time — especially during the off season.
Cook Your Own Meals
Cooking your own meals won’t just save you money compared to eating out every day, but it also ensures that you’ll enjoy the real camping experience. Basic camping stoves are actually pretty affordable, and you can choose from countless super-easy but delicious camping recipes that you can prepare in a single pan.
Cooking while camping does require you to plan ahead. We recommend bringing non-perishable foods (including small amounts of spices) with you from home, and then acquiring fresh meat and veg on the go. You may need a small cooler, but those often cost less than a single restaurant meal.
While we’re on the topic, why not bring empty water bottles with you from home and fill them wherever there’s a tap for potable water? This has two advantages over buying bottled water wherever you go. It’s cheaper, but it’s also far more environmentally friendly.
Here you can find our article on 10 Easy Camping Cooking Recipes.
A Final Word
Camping can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. Most campers spend around $50 a day, including campground fees and food, but your expenses are completely within your hands. If you’re not careful, you can easily spend $300+ per day — but if you plan ahead with the goal of minimizing your cost, it even becomes doable to spend $20 or less every day.
By choosing a no-fee public campsite, engaging in free activities like hiking, swimming, and fishing (free food!), and cooking your own food, you can definitely enjoy an ultra-cheap vacation. The good news? The less you spend, the closer to nature you’re forced to go. At the end of the day, isn’t that what camping is all about?
