Family Camping as Frugal Travel: A Guide to Affordable Outdoor Adventures
How to Travel Frugally As a Family
I grew up going camping. When my husband and I got married we bought a used pop-up off of Craigslist instead of going on a honeymoon. Now that we have a child, I love that we are making the same memories with her.
Not only is camping a great family option, it is a frugal option for going on vacation. I’ve brought a tent and camped in a variety of places to save money on lodging. If you’re not a tent person, don’t automatically discount this as an option. Some state and national parks have glamping tents or cabins. You can bond with nature, minimize your travel expenses and have location flexibility on your next vacation. Camping can offer a great vacation experience for families on a budget.
Why Camping is a Frugal Travel Option for Families
Low Cost of Accommodations
Camping can be free on national forest land. I tend to focus on state parks as they have amenities. Campsites at one of my favorite state parks cost $30 a night for their most expensive site. This includes water, sewer and electricity hookups. The screened shelters are $35 a night. While they are very primitive you would have a roof over your head. Some state parks offer nicer cabins for a higher cost.
Flexible Food Expenses
Eating out is expensive. When you camp, you can bring all of your food with you. We bring things for picnic lunches, a dinner to grill, and lots of snacks when we are camping. Everything tastes better over a campfire.
Minimal Activity Expenses
Hiking, swimming and stargazing are completely free. Sitting by the campfire is a low cost activity. Some state parks will allow you to bring firewood. If that is the case, we will purchase ours ahead at Tractor Supply as it is cheaper there. Many state parks have free ranger programs for both adults and kids. From guided hikes to checking out animal tracks, we have learned a lot at our state parks.
Transportation Savings
If you stick to your local (or local-ish) state park you can save a lot on gas. We have a camper so we save even more if we stick to close parks. Towing a camper is very fuel inefficient.
Choosing a Budget-Friendly Campsite
State and National Parks
State and national parks often have low-cost camping fees and offer amenities like restrooms, fire pits, and picnic areas.
Free or Low-Cost Campgrounds
Look for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, U.S. Forest Service sites, and other affordable or free camping areas. We also like to camp at a park owned by the Local River Authority. The affordability is very similar to state parks.
Off-Season Camping
Some of my favorite campgrounds are hard to get into in the summer. If winter camping is an option in your area, consider trying it. The parks are less crowded and the fees are lower in some areas.
Essential Camping Gear for Frugal Families
Basic Camping Gear
To go camping in a tent you need a sleeping bag, mattress or mattress pad, basic cooking gear (think cooking stove, pan, and spatula), a cooler and a lamp. While all of that may add up, there are some options to save money. Camping chairs are nice and can be purchased fairly frugally at Walmart.
Budget-Friendly Gear Tips
Consider borrowing these items from a friend or a family member. Check your local library or post on Facebook and see if anyone has recommendations. Our state park checks out equipment to beginning campers and rents things like fishing poles. You could also see if there is a local option for renting the camping equipment. Whenever we were planning a trip that involved flying, I found a local place that would rent all of the equipment for camping. It was still a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel.
Packing Essentials
Bring more clothing than you think you will need, some reusable water bottles and a basic first aid kit. A shower caddy with toiletries and some dollar store flip flops are always a good idea too. If you need a list for everything you need for tent camping, click here.
Comfort Tips on a Budget:
I can’t say this enough: borrow, rent or buy a comfortable air mattress. A good sleeping bag can also keep you warm no matter how cold it gets. The last time I went tent camping my air mattress deflated in the middle of the night. It was not fun. Getting enough sleep makes a huge difference.
Frugal Camping Meals and Food Prep Tips
Plan Simple, Family-Friendly Meals
Stick to easy, affordable meals like sausage on a stick over the campfire, foil pack dinners, or grilled sandwiches. Growing up one of my favorite meals was a foil pack dinner that we made. Here’s a link to a website that has tons of foil pack recipes. I also try to make things ahead like a french toast casserole or already scrambled eggs saved in a mason jar.
DIY Snacks:
Prepare homemade trail mix, granola bars, or fruit slices for healthy, budget-friendly snacks. I will be honest, when we are camping we splurge on a giant variety box of individually packaged chips. We still bring some of the healthy snacks mentioned above, but we like chips with our lunches when we are camping.
Campfire Cooking Tips
When one of my nieces was younger, she was amazed when I made campfire chili in a dutch oven over the fire. A wide variety of dishes can be made in a dutch oven over the fire, it just takes some patience. I’ve also used a cast iron skillet on the grating over the fire to cook things like sausage and veggies.
Cooler Organization
Use a cooler to keep perishables fresh and plan meals to avoid waste. Consider pre-cooling both your food and your ice chest overnight. Make sure you keep the cooler in the shade and drain the water periodically. Most state parks will sell ice in case you need to top it off.
Free and Low-Cost Family Activities While Camping
Outdoor Adventures: Enjoy hiking, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching as free ways to experience nature. I love going on a long hike and swimming in a lake or river in the summer heat is hard to beat. My daughter loves listening to birds and looking for deer. There’s something for everyone.
Games and Activities for Kids: Bring along low-cost outdoor games like frisbees, cards, or binoculars for bird-watching. Half the time we end up playing with rocks and dirt, but I bring a ball for my daughter to kick around. We always have binoculars for the adults and kids in our camper. We also keep cards and kids games for rainy days.
Nature Learning Activities: Teach kids about the environment with nature walks, plant identification, or simple scavenger hunts. Our state parks have programs and activities that teach kids about nature and history. We love scavenger hunts that can be completed at the campsite too (i.e. find a stick, rock, etc.).
Nighttime Fun: Stargazing, storytelling by the campfire, and flashlight tag make for memorable (and free) evening activities. Melissa and Doug also suggested flashlight stomp whenever I purchased a flashlight for my daughter a few years back. We make smores and enjoy watching the fire.
Tips to Make Camping with Kids Easier and More Affordable
Prepare for the Weather: Check the forecast and bring extra layers, blankets, and rain gear to ensure comfort and avoid emergency purchases. I find it best to always pack a jacket and a raincoat unless it’s in the heat of summer. In the summer you may prefer umbrellas.
Stick to a Packing List: Having a checklist reduces the chances of forgetting essentials and helps avoid last-minute spending. Click here for a link to my camping packing list!
Engage Kids in Planning: Let kids help with simple tasks like packing or planning meals, which helps them enjoy the trip and teaches responsibility. My daughter is still very young but she likes to pick from some choices for meals. She is also responsible for packing a toy bag.
Start Small: If new to camping, consider a trial run in the backyard or a one-night stay to ease into it. Especially if you have never set up a tent before. Practice that in your backyard. There are plenty of videos on Youtube to help you out. For some reason it’s stressful knowing your campsite neighbors are watching you struggle to put up a tent or backup a camper.
How to Make Camping a Yearly Budget-Friendly Tradition
Invest in Reusable Gear: Budget-friendly camping gear lasts for multiple trips and saves money over time. If you’ve borrowed or rented equipment and you really enjoyed the trip it may be time to start slowly purchasing gear.
Involve Family and Friends: Consider group camping trips to split costs and add to the fun with family or friends. We always invite either my parents or my husband’s parents to come along. We can split meals and if you’re in tents you can share campsites. Having family come makes it even better.
Set Up a Camping Fund: Save a small amount each month for yearly camping trips, making it easier to afford without impacting the family budget. We camp almost every month of the year. So it’s really in our monthly budget. It’s a big priority for our family.
Explore New Locations: Keep things exciting by visiting different campsites or parks each year to create new family memories. We often visit the same parks, but once a year we try somewhere new. It could become a new family favorite!
Conclusion
Camping is an ideal choice for families looking to travel on a budget. It’s affordable, easy to avoid eating out and has frugal activities. We have created many family memories camping and it gives us quality time together. Consider giving camping a try for your next family vacation!
Like this post? Consider reading my post on Cheap Ways to Have Fun: 20 Free or Low-Cost Activities for Families.
