Camping can be one of the cheapest ways to get outside. It can also get costly in a hurry. The price depends on where we sleep, what gear we own, how far we drive, and how much comfort we want.
A simple tent trip on public land may cost little more than fuel and food. A weekend at a private RV resort can cost as much as a hotel. Most trips fall somewhere in the middle.
For a basic two-night tent trip, many campers can expect to spend about $75 to $250 after they own the main gear. A first trip can cost more because a tent, sleep system, stove, and cooler must be bought or borrowed.
The Quick Cost Range
Free dispersed camping may have no nightly fee. A basic public campground often costs about $15 to $40 per night. A full-hookup RV site may run from about $45 to well over $100 per night. Busy parks and holiday weekends can cost more.
Gear is the big swing. A basic new tent setup for one or two people may cost $250 to $700. Light backpacking gear may cost much more. Used gear, loaner gear, and simple car-camping gear can cut that bill.
Then add fuel, food, firewood, ice, permits, and small fees. For a nearby weekend, those costs may be modest. For a long tow or a far-off national park, fuel may become the largest part of the trip.
Campsite Fees
Public campgrounds tend to offer the best value. Federal, state, county, and city parks often have clean sites, toilets, tables, and fire rings. Some have showers and power. The price rises as more services are added.
Reservation systems may charge a service fee. Some parks also charge an entry fee on top of the site fee. Read the full booking page before you pay. A $25 campsite can become a $40 stop after fees and park entry.
Private campgrounds often cost more, but they may include a pool, laundry, WiFi, cable, dog park, and full hookups. Those extras can be useful on a long RV trip. They may not matter on a one-night tent stop.
Free Camping Is Not Always Free
Dispersed camping on some national forest and Bureau of Land Management areas may have no nightly fee. Yet we still pay for fuel, water, food, waste bags, and wear on the truck. Rough roads can also lead to tire or repair costs.
A free site may be far from town. That means more driving for ice, gas, or supplies. It may have no toilet, trash can, table, or safe water. We must bring what we need and pack out every scrap.
Free camping is a privilege. Follow the stay limit. Use an existing site. Keep away from water. Obey fire rules. Never leave trash or human waste for the next family to find.
The Cost of Basic Camping Gear
A safe sleep setup comes first. We need a sound tent or shelter, a sleeping bag or quilt made for the weather, and a pad that blocks the cold ground. Cheap gear can work in mild weather, but it still must keep us dry and warm.
For car camping, a starter tent may cost $75 to $250. A sleeping bag may cost $40 to $150. A pad may cost $30 to $150. Add a light, stove, pot, cooler, chair, and water jug, and a simple setup may land near $300 to $800.
Do not buy every camp gadget at once. Borrow a tent. Use kitchen pots. Sit on a log or folding chair you already own. Spend first on shelter, sleep, rain gear, light, and a basic first-aid kit.
Food, Ice, and Firewood
Camp food does not have to cost more than food at home. Oatmeal, eggs, sandwiches, beans, rice, pasta, and foil meals are cheap and easy. Steak, snack packs, bottled drinks, and last-minute store stops push the total up.
Ice can become a steady expense in hot weather. A good cooler and frozen water jugs help. Keep the cooler shaded. Open it less. Use a second cooler for drinks so the food box stays cold.
Buy firewood near the place where you will burn it. Moving wood can spread insects and tree disease. Some parks ban outside wood or sell approved bundles. During a fire ban, skip the fire and cook on a legal stove if rules allow.
Fuel and Travel
A close-to-home camp is almost always the low-cost choice. A one-hour drive may use one tank or less. A long trip with a trailer can burn several tanks each way.
Know your true fuel use. A truck that gets 18 miles per gallon alone may get 9 or 10 while towing. Mountain roads, wind, and slow traffic can make it worse. Use the towing number when you build the budget.
We also plan for tolls, parking, ferry fees, and a little repair money. A flat tire, dead battery, or broken hose should not end the trip or force us onto a credit card.
Permits, Passes, and Other Fees
Some areas need an entry pass, backcountry permit, fire permit, fishing license, or boat launch fee. A bear canister may be required. A shower or dump station may charge a few dollars.
Federal recreation passes can save money for people who visit often, but they do not cover every camping fee. State park passes work the same way. Read what the pass covers before buying it.
Pet fees and extra-vehicle fees are also common. Large groups may need a group site. Reservations can have change or cancel fees. These small costs matter when we camp several times a year.
Sample Weekend Budgets
A low-cost local tent trip for two might include a free site, $35 in fuel, $45 in food, and $10 in ice. Total: about $90. That assumes the gear is already owned.
A public-campground trip might include two nights at $30, a $10 booking fee, $60 in fuel, $60 in food, and $20 in firewood and ice. Total: about $210.
An RV weekend might include two nights at $65, $140 in tow fuel, $80 in food, and $30 for propane, dump fees, or extras. Total: about $380. A longer drive or resort site can raise it fast.
How to Camp for Less
Camp close to home. Go on a weekday. Pick a basic site. Share fuel and site fees with trusted friends. Cook simple food. Refill water jugs instead of buying small bottles.
Rent, borrow, or buy used gear before you buy new. Check tents for leaks and sleeping bags for clean loft. Avoid damaged fuel gear, cracked helmets, old climbing gear, and other safety items that cannot be trusted.
Most of all, use what you buy. A $300 tent used ten times costs less per trip than a $100 tent used once. Good gear earns its keep when it gets us outdoors year after year.
Common Questions
Is camping cheaper than a hotel?
It often is after we own the gear. Yet a long drive, paid site, gear purchase, and restaurant meals can make a camp weekend cost more than a cheap room. Compare the whole trip, not just the nightly fee.
How much should a beginner spend on camping gear?
A careful beginner can build a safe car-camping setup for about $300 to $800. Borrowing and buying used can cut that number. Do not trade away warmth, weather cover, or basic safety just to save a few dollars.
Can we camp for free in national parks?
Most developed national park campgrounds charge a fee. Some nearby national forest or BLM land may allow free dispersed camping. Park and land rules vary, so check the managing agency before you go.
Spend on the Trip, Not the Clutter
Camping does not need to be fancy. We need a legal place, safe shelter, clean water, enough food, and gear that fits the weather. The rest is comfort.
Start small. Camp close. Learn what you truly use. Then spend with care. The best camp kit is not the one with the most gear. It is the one that gets us outside and brings us home safe.
Sources
- Recreation.gov Rules and Reservation Policies
- National Park Service Campground Finder
- Bureau of Land Management Camping
- Leave No Trace Seven Principles