Value For Your Camping Dollar

Ever wonder where your camping dollars go when you pull into a campground? Even though a camping staycation compares favorably to a higher- priced family vacation, for many, the questions remain: what am I paying for? And how can I stretch my camping dollars?

Here’s ten easy ways to get the biggest bang for your camping buck:


1. Camp mid week or in shoulder seasons. Often discounts apply when you camp during times of low occupancy. If the website does not indicate “best price camping” opportunities or “specials” then call and ask! There may be short-term promotions that could be posted at the last minute, so familiarize yourself with your favorite campground’s website and return often to browse. Lock 30 Woodlands in Lisbon, Ohio, surprises campers with these unannounced specials.

2. Add a day or two to your stay. Good planning cuts down on unforeseen expenses when camping, but consider the amount of time you spend grocery shopping, packing and preparing for your trip when you calculate cost. Adding an extra day or two not only increases the likelihood that you’ll get a better rate, but it means fewer hours on the road and more “relaxation time“ once you ‘ve settled in for your stay.

3. Take advantage of “Fuel saver specials”. Do you have a favorite campground? Ask what it might cost if you stored your 5th wheel from Sunday to the following Friday, when you intend to return for a weekend of camping. You’ll save money hauling your RV back and forth, plus you save yourself the hassle of packing twice.

4. Consider camping where pets or children are free. But keep in mind that leaving your dog in a kennel adds to your vacation cost and lessens your fun. Most campgrounds have graduated pricing for children and campgrounds who charge for children often offer amenities specific to kids’ tastes. Consider what motels charge if you want your pet to be part of the family vacation. Pet-lovers might agree it’s worth spending a few dollars more. Look for dog-friendly park that do not restrict breeds, numbers of pets or discriminate against pets greater than 50 lbs.

5. Celebrate a holiday at a campground. Whether it’s hosting a birthday party or frying a Thanksgiving turkey, holiday camping can actually save you money because casual is almost always cheaper than decorating, cleaning, and hosting for a party at home. Even with added costs for guests not staying in your camper, (day visitors who drop by for a meal) let the great outdoors be a backdrop for your next party. Ask guests to contribute to the potluck and see how creative partiers get when they’re faced with a limited size kitchen—or no kitchen at all!

6. Just as is the case in a motel or hotel, you are paying for the fitness room, the pool, the front lobby, game rooms and spacious, clean rest rooms. So use what the campground has to offer! Explore the nooks and crannies and make the effort to broaden your horizon checking out recreation amenities you might not typically use. Who knows who you’ll meet or what spark of talent you’ll uncover if you put a fishing pole in your hand and go for it.

7. Unlike a motel or a hotel, you can build a campfire and open doors of your imagination that may have remained closed for years. Can you think of a better place for a real conversation with your lover or your children? Can you think of cheaper way to unwind than by pulling up a lawn chair to the warmth of a fire? Consider the cost of a bundle of firewood vs. an hour of therapy with a counselor. ‘Nuff said.

8. Do you belong to a health or fitness club? Do you pull on a pair of running shoes every morning just to keep your weight in check? There isn’t a campground on the planet that doesn’t offer recreational opportunities probably far superior to what can be retro-fitted to the indoors. Hiking and biking are naturals at campgrounds. If there’s a pool or a lake, make the decision that you’ll jump start your exercise program by treading water, if not swimming laps. Control the urge to sit in front of the tube interrupted by trips to graze in the kitchen. Money dedicated to health club memberships can be stretched further at most campgrounds, where outdoor activity takes the place of machines.

9. Know what you are paying for. Just as the airlines have started “unbundling” costs, some campgrounds have adopted a similar practice. Why pay $3 to $5 extra each night for the camper in the next site who is using two air conditioners when you are using none? Look for campgrounds who give you options. Pay for what you actually use—not the electric one assumes you might use.

10. Know what amenities are included in the price. If you know you are intending to fish, ask when you make your reservation if miniature golf, fishing or pool use cost is additional. Some campgrounds bundle recreation opportunities and sell arm bands or punch passes. Campgrounds like lock 30 Woodlands have an all-inclusive recreation program. Compared to hauling the kids in the car to day recreation opportunities, a weekend at a campground can be a bargain.

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