There is no better way to spend the weekend than to pack up the car, get out into nature, and camp in the woods for a few days. On top of that, car camping has to be one of the most accessible ways to get outdoors: You’re not limited by weight, and you should be able to bring everything you need in your car.
However, we live in a world where a new tent or cooler can cost hundreds of dollars. And if you’re traveling with your family or kids, all that gear can quickly lead to sticker shock. With a little work and a little planning, it’s possible to drive to a campsite and have a decent sleeping setup – without breaking the bank.
When I first started camping on a climbing trip a few years ago, I was a poor grad student with no extra money. Any extra money I had spent on riding gear, so I had to ride and ride to my camp. Here are some tips and tricks that allow me to enjoy the outdoors while saving some money.
Forget Weight
If you plan to camp next to your car, and don’t pack, forget about any weight concerns.
Brands will market things as “ultralight,” but that description is code for “expensive.” So, unless you’re carrying it for miles in a pocket, weight doesn’t really matter. Shaving a few ounces off your sleeping bag for an extra $100 doesn’t help when you throw the bag in your car.
Choose Reliable, But Affordable Brands
If you’re trying to save money, it can be tempting to choose the absolute cheapest brand possible. In the long run, however, that strategy costs more money, as you’ll have to buy new gear to replace bargain items that eventually break. Instead, I focused on buying from reputable, established brands that were a step up from the low price.
Coleman and Igloo are good examples of these types of products. Their products aren’t flashy or super rich, but they get the job done, and will last a long time. I bought a used Coleman Sundome tent from a friend for $20, and have used it for over 6 years. It has survived thunderstorms and tornado watches, and is still going strong. Brand new, under $100, excellent value for a durable tent.
For a cooler, I use the classic $40 Igloo Playmate Cooler. Its ice storage cannot compete with YETI. But at the same time, it keeps things cool enough, and it’s not as expensive as a car payment.
Also, I could write a love letter to the Coleman camp stove I bought at Walmart. This stove only cost $70, and it lasted for years. It has two burners and a good temperature adjustment. Meanwhile, nearly every two-burner stove sold at REI costs more than $100.
Avoid Campground Stores If Possible
Whenever you have to, avoid buying things that are marketed for camping, as they tend to be more expensive.
Take plates and silverware, for example. Plates and bowls from REI sell anywhere from $6 to $20 a pop. Instead, I just bought reusable plastic plates and bowls from Target – the kind of stuff they advertise for college students to use in their dorm rooms. It is indestructible, efficient and cheap.
Likewise, you don’t need a special sponge or a special frying pan to cook at camp: Things you have at home work just fine outdoors. Heck, I still carry regular forks and spoons in my kitchen when I go car camping.
Camping chairs are another good example. No one really needs a $180 Nemo camping chair. A $20 purchase at Costco will work too. Not every product has to reinvent the wheel and offer a great new feature. A chair can be just a chair.
Used Store
Buying used is a great way to save on clothing and sleeping bags. Every REI store has a large used gear section, and many brands these days have online resale stores. It’s also worth checking your local, independent gear store to see if they offer luggage.
Unless you can inspect them properly, I wouldn’t buy used bedding or tents, as these are some of the things that are most likely to break. If you’re looking for a fleece or daypack, though, there’s no better place to look for a bargain than the used section.
Spend in Sleep
There’s only one thing I think is worth spending more money on: your sleep setup. A bad night’s sleep is a surefire way to ruin a camping trip, and spending the extra $20 to $30 on a good mattress is worth it. Sea to Summit and Big Agnes both make high-quality, well-reviewed sleeping pads that offer comfort without costing a fortune.
If you’re looking for a large air mattress pad, Exped’s DeepSleep Duo Pad fits two people comfortably. The $300 price tag isn’t cheap, but it’s only $150 each, and our reviewer called the brand’s mattresses “firm, comfortable, and stable.” What more could you ask for?
The camps themselves
Designated campsites can be expensive these days. I recently paid $25 a night for a bare bones campsite in Arkansas, and $30 for a backcountry site in Oregon.
If possible, look for a dispersed campsite. In most areas managed by the US Forest Service, you can disperse camp for free, as long as you follow the specified regulations and use the Leave No Trace principles. Of course, these camps have nothing: no bathrooms, no water, no garbage collection, etc.
But that’s also part of the appeal: It’s a great way to escape into nature and experience true solitude. Saving money and hearing birdsong in the morning is a real win.
Resist Overuse
If you’re an outsider, you’ve no doubt seen posts on social media from influencers like: “10 hot hiking pants worn by hot girls” or “My 8 favorite jackets you must try.” It’s easy to get caught up in these reels (social media is designed to be addictive, after all).
But it is worth stopping to ask them. WHO really needs 10 pairs of hiking pants, or multiple jackets? Instead of being lured into following trends and buying more than you need, find a few select products that really work for you.
For example, I tried on so many pants before I found prAna’s Halle pants. They were one of only a few options that fit my hips and waist correctly, so I bought two pairs. While each pair costs $98, I have worn them whenever I went out for 5 years. The cost per wear at this point is very low.
They put up with me scrubbing the chimney while I was climbing, and I reluctantly jumped into the sea in New Zealand. Whenever I’m tempted to buy some “trendy” or “cool” shorts or pants, I pull my Halle pants off my shelf and give myself a reality check, a way to save me a lot of money.
Brands rely on people buying more gear than they need, and advertise new fancy features or technology to convince you to buy. There is a place for the brightest and best gear out there, but your car camping setup is not.
Save on expensive professional gear for singers, and save yourself money.