Camping is one of the most affordable ways to vacation and to travel, but without a solid plan, expenses can creep up fast. Fortunately, staying frugal doesn’t mean eliminating fun or comfort. With a few smart strategies, you can enjoy the great outdoors while keeping your budget in check. From building your gear collection over time to prepping cost-effective meals and using everyday items you already own, these practical tips can help you create memories without creating debt. And when you’re ready to map out your summer adventures, Ideal Credit Union offers the financial tools to keep your savings goals on track.

Smarter Ways to Get Camping Gear: Borrow, Buy Used and Build Over Time

Buying all your gear at once can quickly turn a frugal trip into an expensive getaway. But with a little creativity, you can gather quality equipment without draining your wallet.

• Borrow First: Ask friends and family if you can borrow essentials like tents, sleeping bags or camp stoves. It’s a great way to test gear before spending the money to purchase your own.
• Buy Secondhand: Search local thrift stores, garage sales or online marketplaces for gently used gear. Retailers often have events featuring discounted returns.
• Build Over Time: If you plan to camp more often, spread out purchases across seasons or years. Focus on big-ticket items first (like a reliable tent), then add extras gradually.
• Prioritize Durability: For frequently used gear, invest in solid, dependable basics: think a quality cooler, cooking stove or sleeping pad. Avoid splurging on niche items you won’t use as often.
  
  

By taking your time and sourcing gear wisely, you can enjoy well-equipped trips without financial strain. 

Car Camping on a Budget: Use What You Have, Skip the Fancy Stuff

Car camping, where you drive to your campsite and stay in or near your vehicle, is one of the most cost-effective and beginner-friendly ways to enjoy the outdoors. It requires less specialized gear than backcountry camping and offers the freedom to pack more.

Here’s how to do it affordably:

• Skip the Tent (If You Can): Clear out your SUV or van and lay down foam pads or an air mattress in the back. It doubles as a sleeping space and storage and it can be very comforting to have more than waterproof fabric above you during bad weather.
• Use Household Items: Instead of buying new cookware or storage bins, raid your kitchen for pots, dishes and utensils. Transport gear in plastic tubs you (probably) already own.
• Don’t Overbuy: It may feel like you do, but you don’t need high-end lanterns, camp showers or the very latest and coolest backpacking gadgets. A headlamp, cooler and your favorite pillow from home will go far.
• Plan for Rain: A simple hardware store tarp over your vehicle or tent provides reliable rain coverage as long as you can bring your own poles and set up some guy lines.
  
  

The goal is affordability and comfort, not luxury that breaks your budget. With a little resourcefulness, car camping keeps your costs low and your financial health high.

Plan Budget Meals Before You Go

One of the easiest ways to overspend on a camping trip is on food, especially if you're buying last-minute supplies at gas stations or overpriced campground stores. That’s why meal planning is an incredible way to save.

Start with a menu built around versatile, affordable ingredients like pasta, rice, canned beans, tortillas, eggs and vegetables. These staples can be used in a wide range of meals, from burritos to breakfast scrambles to one-pot soups. Add flavor with a few seasonings and sauces from home rather than buying new ones on the road.

Use this framework:

• Plan every meal: Breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks
• Prep at home: Pre-chop vegetables, pre-mix marinades and portion out dry goods
• Avoid single-use foods: Bring bulk items you can stretch across multiple meals

Smart meal planning reduces waste and provides better nutrition than you’ll get from improvising or eating out. 

Smart Cooking Tips

You don’t need a trunk full of special camping cookware to eat well outdoors. In fact, you can probably rely on what’s already in your kitchen.

Instead of disposable plates, forks and cups, which create waste and repeated costs, pack reusable plastic or other durable dishes and utensils. Bring:

• A lightweight pot or two
• A skillet you don’t mind blackening over fire (cast iron if you’ve got it)
• A cutting board and knife from your kitchen
• A cooler stocked with frozen meals or pre-chilled ingredients
  
  

Use old bedding for insulation in coolers, bring mason jars for snacks or sauces and pack a dishpan for easy cleanup (use one of your plastic bins). The key is functional and effective, not expensive.

By investing once in a few durable items and skipping the single-use gear, you save money over time while reducing trash and hassle at the campsite. 

DIY and Budget Hacks That Actually Save Money

Smart camping means thinking creatively and using what you already have. Here are some effective ways to stretch your gear and your dollars:

DIY Tips

• Make fire starters from dryer lint wrapped in wax paper
• Use frozen water bottles as dual-purpose ice packs and drinking water
• Repurpose old pans, towels or storage bins from home for camp use
  
  

Budget Hacks

• Buy used gear, during off-season, if possible
• Borrow or swap gear with friends—items like coolers, camp chairs, tents and stoves are often used infrequently
• Build your camping kit gradually. For example, get one upgrade per year. This will help you to avoid large upfront costs
  
  

These small strategies can drastically cut costs while keeping your experience enjoyable. Less financial stress means more energy to focus on the outdoors.

Budget Planning

The best way to make camping part of your summer routine? Plan for it like any other financial goal. Create a digital savings account with Ideal Credit Union specifically labeled “Camping Fund.” Deposit loose change, side hustle income or automatic small transfers.

Additionally, prepare early to spend less:

• Reserve campsites early to lock in the lowest prices
• Map your route in advance to avoid pricey detours or gas station markups
• Make a checklist to avoid duplicate purchases or forgetting essentials

Budgeting and preparation go hand in hand. Use Ideal CU’s online tools to track your savings goals, monitor spending and plan for every aspect of your trip.

Let Ideal Credit Union Help You Plan a Smarter Summer

From scoring gear deals to using smart meal planning and campground strategies, there’s no shortage of ways to travel well without overspending. But the real secret to a stress-free summer getaway without overspending is budgeting and saving for your trip.

Ideal Credit Union offers a full lineup of resources to help you prepare your finances summer getaways. Build your camping fund with a dedicated savings account, track expenses with our digital budgeting tools and earn rewards toward your next trip with an Ideal CU credit card.

Wherever you go this summer, Ideal Credit Union can help you make the most of it without breaking the bank. Explore our savings options today so you can get started living your Ideal Life!