Camping vs Hotel Cost Calculator

Comparing camping and hotel costs

Camping looks cheap because a campsite costs less than a room, but the full comparison has more lines. Gear has a purchase cost, camp meals cost money, and firewood, ice and fuel add up. Hotels add tax and usually mean restaurant meals. This calculator puts both sides in the same frame.

Gear is handled as a share: a $500 set of tent, stove and sleeping gear used for 10 trips adds $50 to each trip. If you already own the gear, enter 0 for the purchase cost. If you rent, enter the rental cost as the gear total and set trips to 1. That keeps the comparison fair for first-time campers.

Default example: four people, 3 nights. Camping costs $105 in site fees (3 nights at $35), $45 of firewood and ice, $180 of camp food at $15 per person per day, plus $50 of gear share, about $380 in all. Two hotel rooms at $140 with 12 percent tax cost $941, and restaurant meals for four at $50 a person per day add $600. The hotel total is around $1,541, so camping saves roughly $1,161.

Groups gain the most because one campsite holds many people while a hotel needs more rooms. Solo travelers and couples see smaller gaps, and a pricey campground can close it. Campsite prices vary a great deal by park and season, so check real rates. For outdoor and lodging choices see the hotel vs Airbnb calculator and the national park pass calculator. Safety and skill also matter: pick sites that match your experience, and check fire rules and permits before you go. Weather and comfort count too. A cold, wet weekend can turn a cheap trip into a miserable one, and a cabin or a one-night hotel stop in the middle is a common compromise. Enter each leg separately to price a mixed trip that mixes both styles.

Where these numbers come from

The formulas and default values in this calculator are based on:

• Editable planning examples
• no outside price tables were used. Campsite and hotel rates vary by area and date. Note: every price in this calculator is an example default to replace with your own quotes

This is a planning estimate, not medical, legal or immigration advice. Fees, allowances, limits and entry rules change, so confirm the figures with your airline, cruise line, customs agency or the official government source before you book or travel, and follow their rules if they differ from this page.