Lynnae’s family likes to camp at the beach every summer.
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When I was growing up, late spring and early summer were some of my favorite days of the year. Both of my parents were teachers, and since they had the summer off, every year we would pack up our Volkswagen Vanagon and take off for a long family camping trip. Some of my best childhood memories were made on our camping trips. These were not overnight visits to the local KOA mind you, but rather large road trips across the western United States. Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Mesa Verde, these national parks had nothing on us! I have very fond memories of sitting shotgun with my Dad, map in hand, and being his navigator as we worked our way across this beautiful country.
My parents are pretty frugal people, and looking back at our camping trips, I realized just how very little these ventures cost them. The cost of gas these days is a much bigger issue. But as Frugal Dad pointed out awhile back, gas prices are still (relatively) cheap. Since my three kids are getting to be a good age to start doing some camping, I had a conversation with my parents about some of the frugal things they did to make our trips as affordable as possible. Here are some of the highlights that may be helpful if you plan on doing some camping this spring and summer.
~ Prepare Your Own Food – I remember maybe eating in a restaurant once on our long camping trip. The rest of the time we were cooking around the campfire and saving a lot of money. We would bring a lot of canned foods from home. Has anyone ever noticed that pork and beans just tastes better out under the stars? For weekend camping trips, you can essentially take the food you will need straight from your fridge to the ice chest. Don’t forget the marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers though!
~ Use Available Resources – Most state parks, national parks, and privately owned campgrounds offer AAA, AARP, and senior discounts if you ask for them. Get in the habit of asking about them when you are paying for your camp-site. Also, if you are on a long drive to your camping destination, don’t forget that many Wal-Marts will let you park your RV or camper overnight in their parking lot for free. I thought this was an ‘All Wal-Marts’ policy, but after doing some research it seems some stores post “No Overnight” signs in their parking lot. Has anyone had any experience doing this?
~ America The Beautiful Senior Pass – This was called the Golden Eagle Pass, and is now called the America The Beautiful Senior Pass and it allows you free or greatly reduced admission to national parks and national seashores if you are 62 or older. The cost is only $10 and is good for your lifetime! My Dad uses his all the time and swears by it.
~ Go Off-Season If Possible – Go when everyone else can’t! Particularly in the spring and fall when the weather is still warm. I know this is not always an option if you have school aged kids, but for seniors, those with no kids or pre-school aged kids you will not only save money, but have less crowded campgrounds and amenities.
~ Pay For Experiences, Not Stuff – This is the big one for me. Pay for the chuckwagon dinner ride in Yellowstone Park and skip the gift shop. After all, experiences are what stick with you and make great memories, not the $25 stuffed toy moose that will probably get lost or torn before you get home. But the cool thing about camping trips is that many of the experiences are free. The hiking trails, ranger led campfires, and many guided hikes are completely free. Take advantage of them.
All of this camping talk is making me want to pack up the tent and ice chest and head out this weekend with the family! What frugal camping tips did I miss? I look forward to your comments!
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Photo by Elsie esq.
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Kyle, thanks for the mention (and thanks to Lynnae for hosting the article!). I have many fond memories of camping up and down the east coast with my grandfather, from the time I was old enough to walk until I was about 17 years old. It was on those camping trips that the lessons of frugality were ingrained in my psyche at a very early age. After all, when you are heading out for two weeks in a modified cargo van (with two beds and two coolers) you learn to take only the bare essentials!
What a fun post. I’m more of a “hot showers, hot meals, warm snuggly beds” kind of person, more than a camper. But, Wes and the children just love it. We try to go a couple of times a year. Great suggestions!
Great article! I’m a big fan of camping.
As a family counselor (my other career), I’d rather see a family go camping every couple of weekends and stay connected all year long, then try and connect on one major vacation once per year!
Great post! It really made me miss camping. I used to all the time, but have fallen in with a “warm beds, hot showers” crowd. However, this reminded me to take advantage next time a camping opportunity comes up!
I enjoyed your post and reminiscing about the many many past camping trips, both with my parents and family and with my own daughters. My daughters are grown now and enjoying camping on their own, although we get together for the occasional trip.
If you’re planning to travel/camp in Texas, go to http://www.traveltex.com to order the 2008 Travel Guide. It’s free (!!) and comes with a colorful detailed guide to state parks and areas of interest, a nice Texas map and an accomodations guide. I can’t seem to keep the guide on hand because when friends or family visit, I always end up giving it away.
Now off to plan our next camping trip!
I like to cook ahead and freeze favs like beef stew, chowder, or soups. Freeze in heavy ziplock bags. Use them like ice in the cooler, then defrost on the day they are needed for dinner. Lasts several days in the ice chest.
Another fav is homemade hashbrowns – shred potatoes and partially fry up. Press into a cookie sheet and finish baking. When done, cut into potatoes with spatula into approx 3×4 inch size and freeze. When frozen break apart at your cut lines and freeze in a stack. These also are used as ice in the ice chest, and are easy hash browns for camp breakfast.
We camped every other weekend and a two week stretch every summer when I was a kid – Great family memories that my siblings and I still enjoy talking about.
Ken, agree that would be the ideal, but not practical for most families. To much going on with school, little league, ballet, and other activites to get out camping every couple of weekends. I think it is important to to stay connected in other ways. Like having dinner together every night and making time for family activites on a regular basis.
We just went on our first camping trip of the season over the weekend:) I think hubby and I love it just as much, if not MORE than the kids!
We never eat at a restaurant when camping. Even something as simple hot dogs roasted over the campfire beats restaurant fare any day!
Marci, love the frozen meals idea! Kills 2 birds with 1 stone. Especially since blocks of ice take up SO much room in the ice chest. I am so going to do this.
Gwen, thanks for the tip on camping/travel in Texas. I bet most other states have these as well.
Melinda, something about being outside, no TV, no cell phone, and the fresh air that makes hot dogs, burgers, and a can of chili taste so dang good!
Re: Frozen Meals – ANYTHING your family likes and that can be cooked ahead, frozen, thawed and heated up in your cast iron dutch oven or cast iron frying pan can be used for this frozen meal ice block. ENJOY! – Note: if you are ‘rough’ with your ice chest contents you might want to double bag it :)