Camping to save money

[ghostdog]

Originally Posted by Judy Ann

X2!!! My tent and linens are cleaner than a cheap motel and taking my dog with me saves me $40 in boarding fees nightly. My 3L platypus bladder does double duty as a shower backpacking and a couple of Arizona Tea gallon containers set out in the sun during the day allows me enough warm water to shower and wash hair if car camping. A quick visit to the Farmer's Market and the butcher shop on the way out of town and I'm golden for 24+ hours until I need more ice.

Two more weeks until the next trip!

You have a great system and take care of everything well! Its good to be independent and self contained.

Its a good time to be about out there.

[Judy Ann]

Ghostdog, My system has been honed by others and I just borrow from their experiences. Why reinvent the wheel? I'm looking forward to learning more from you too! I'm still trying to break free from car camping and learning to become more proficient in backpacking, but I'm a little skeptical about doing that adventure with just my old dog! Scared silly would be more accurate!!!

[briansnat]

I've been camping to save money since I was in my 20's. I recall going to Cape Cod, and later, Bar Harbor Me with my then girlfriend and camping. Back then it was like 6 or 7 bucks a night for a campsite and 40 or 50 for a motel. That was quite a savings.

I still do it today. My wife and I use a campground as a place to stay the evening before launching a backpacking or paddling trip, and sometimes when we are traveling we use a campground. We're going to Indiana for Geowoodstock (a huge gathering of Geocachers) around Memorial Day weekend and booked a motel for 4 nights at something like $80 a night. Then we considered camping and canceled the hotel and booked a campsite. Instead of spending $240 for lodging we're now spending $91. That and we can cook and eat our own food rather than eating out which saves quite a bit more.

What is interesting is how the price of a campground site has closed the gap with a night in a cheap hotel room. It used to be close to 1/10th the price and now it's nearer to 1/3.

[ChadTower]

The ratio is probably not too far off from before. The cheap motels are $120/night now.

[Grandpa]

On our recent two week trip, using either Best Western or First Choice hotels, we only went over $100 a night once. (French Quarter, New Orleans) We looked for full breakfast service, hot tubs, suites and had them most nights. We used AAA, or Senior discounts where we could.

Grandma exacts a little higher standard than I do. When I go camping and need a motel at the end of a long trek, clean sheets and a hot shower are my only requirements. I have a list of acceptable '50's and '60's era motels that may be old but provide those two criteria for $25-35 a night. My little notebook covers most of my hiking areas. However, campsites along the way may run anywhere from $0 to $10 because you won't catch me in some commercial campground and there is a lot of public land out here where you can pull off and set up shop.

[ghostdog]

Originally Posted by Judy Ann

Ghostdog, My system has been honed by others and I just borrow from their experiences. Why reinvent the wheel? I'm looking forward to learning more from you too! I'm still trying to break free from car camping and learning to become more proficient in backpacking, but I'm a little skeptical about doing that adventure with just my old dog! Scared silly would be more accurate!!!

Find some short hikes in to where you can have a nice place to yourself but are not too far away from getting out again, at first anyway. I know how it is with an older dog. Lucky for us there are vast areas of incredible beauty out here. We can hike in it all day long or just a few hours in the morning and evening when its cooler.

[ghostdog]

Originally Posted by Grandpa

However, campsites along the way may run anywhere from $0 to $10 because you won't catch me in some commercial campground and there is a lot of public land out here where you can pull off and set up shop.

Same here, we pay zero to car camp in some of the best places. We never stop in commercial campgrounds either.

[ppine]

Chad,
Maybe you need to drive north, to places like Maine, or Vermont or New Hampshire where there is plenty of room. Or maybe you should consider moving. There are lots of motels in the West for $50.

Judy Ann,
When it is a 100 degrees or there is a blizzard, or we are going light and fast we stay at Motel 6 which takes our 3 dogs. They cost between about $45-60 a night. Sometimes they charge $5 for each pet.

[littlefire]

I see how this could save money every once in a while, but I can't imagine it saving loads and loads of money. I mean, you still need to get good equipment and makes sure you have the necessities of food and such. I'd rather camp for fun, not necessity.

[firedancer]

Originally Posted by back2nature

I either want to go camping as my vacation or want to stay somewhere with all the amenities. Those are two different types of vacation in my mind, so I doubt I would ever camp out just to save a few bucks on hotels. When I camp, I want to stay in one spot for the entire vacation, not move every night.

I'm with you - I don't camp to save money - I camp to enjoy nature. I enjoy a five star hotel as much as a remote campsite, but nothing is worse than a cheap motel! I usually balance my road trips with a combination of camping nights and hotel nights.