How cheap can we do a week of camping?

[la79al]

Not at Disney sadly. We've been very lucky to have other people pay for 95% of the 2 vacations we have already done this summer. Now we are trying to do one more, just DH, me and the kids, before the kids go back to school. We have a campsite booked in an area where there are a lot of free/really cheap activities. I think we have most if not all of the camping gear we need. Without eating hotdogs for every meal, how cheaply do you think we can do a 4 night camping adventure?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Probably no more than a typical weekly grocery bill, plus the cost of ice. Lots of things you can cook over an open fire

 

[usnuzuloose]

You can make all kinds of things just to warm up while camping.

Spaghetti

Chili

Eggs

Bacon

Cut up potato's with onion's, peppers and place them in single foil pouches to cook over an open fire.

Bring stuff for amore's


Hamburgers

You could make Ziti ahead and bring it frozen and warm it up

Make cooked pulled pork and bring the fixings.

You can look up camping food. So many good things to fix and have fun with it.

 

[Happyjen27]

Like a PP said, probably for the same price as a week's groceries. Don't forget meatless foods like baked beans cooked over the fire, egg salad sandwiches at lunch. Quesadillas in a cast iron pan for dinner.

If you have a site with electrical you can use a crock pot to make things like pulled pork like a PP said, also a crock pot full of meatballs for subs or spaghetti.

Prep-cooking can be your friend here, as you can prep and freeze some things ahead (like the meatballs, pulled pork, buffalo chicken sliders) and that spreads the cost of the food out over a few weeks before you go.

 

[EMode]

If you are used to eating surf and turf every night for dinner, you can do camping meals for much less lol.If not then it will be like a typical week of groceries.
I do a lot of things I can pre cook like bbq pulled chicken, pork, taco meat, chicken thighs/legs. I make pasta salads for sides, baked beans, coleslaw and salad food.
Lunches are usuaaly sandwiches or hotdogs.
Breakfasts are premade breads like banana and apple cinnamon, eggs, pancakes, corned beef hash, sausage and pancakes.
I find that I spend a little more for camping foods because i'd rather have easy than cheap when I'm there.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Speaking of baked beans, I'm partial to Bush's Grillin' Beans.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Would not need to cost much more than the campsite, plus your typical grocery budget, or a bit more for a few extra treats like smores. Just don't purchase any new things for the trip, other than maybe gas for the stove or grill or batteries. Pull out old games you have not played for a while, cards, a few forgotten outside toys, water guns, etc you have around the house, and set a amount you are willing to spend on extra activities etc and try to stick to it.

 

[3boymthr]

We just went camping for a week. On top of your regular grocery budget, depending upon where you are going and how hot it is and whether you can keep your cooler in the shade allow around $5-$10/day for ice. (With temps in the high 80s/low 90s we were using two bags/day per 60 qts of food. Food was stored in the shade). OR you can cut the ice budget significantly by buying your perishable food daily and not chilling drinks. This is more of a pain as far as # of trips to the store but I've done it. I buy only non perishables ahead of time and only buy meat, cheese and milk as needed.

Also if planning on cooking over an open fire allow $6-$10/day for wood. 99% of places around here will not allow you to bring your own wood anymore unless you are using pallets or other processed wood and that's not the kind of wood you want to cook over as it has been treated with chemicals.

Coleman propane canisters are about $4-$5/ea. I figure one/week for food and one for our lantern. If using Coleman Liquid Fuel figure half a can unless cooking time intensive foods.

ETA - double check with the campground about the shower situation. The one we just stayed at charged 50 cents/shower. The kids showered every other day and youngest showered with DH to save money but DH and I were showering every day. Also, if the campground has a rec room they may charge a rental fee for things like pingpong paddles and ping pong balls and air hockey paddles and pucks. We stayed at one that charged $1/use. Ask ahead of time on this one. My kids also want to go to the camp store for treats every day - soda and candy and to use the pinball machine.

 

[damiel]

Camping used to be the "Poor Man's vacation". Not any more! In our state a standard non utility tent site is close to $30.00 a night!
I always feel like grocery shopping for a camping trip is way more expensive than a week at home. I guess we buy alot of fun extras and I don't go with a budget in mind. Propane, batteries, ice, bug spray, $ for showers, fire wood are all of extras that you need to plan for.
We love to camp and it is a great family vacation where you don't need to spend alot of extra $ on activities but getting there can be a big expense.