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Enter your nights, group size and prices to see what the whole trip costs, what each person owes and where the money goes.
A weekend camping trip in the US usually costs less than a hotel stay, but the total is rarely just the campsite fee. Gas for the drive, food for every meal, firewood, park entry and any gear you rent often add up to two or three times the price of the site itself. This calculator puts every line on one bill so you can budget before you book, and split the cost fairly with your group.
As a rough guide, a two-night trip for two people at a public campground, with a couple of hundred miles of driving and home-packed food, often lands somewhere between $150 and $300 in total. Private campgrounds, rented gear, or a long drive push that number higher.
Total = (site fee × nights × sites + reservation fee) + park entry + (gear rental × days) + (food × people × days) + stove fuel + fuel for the drive + (firewood bundles × nights × bundle price) + extras
Fuel for the drive is miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon in US mode. In UK mode it is miles ÷ UK MPG × 4.546 litres × price per litre, because UK MPG is measured in imperial gallons.
Days are counted as nights plus one, because a two-night trip usually means eating across three days. If you’ll eat lunch on the road before you arrive, lower the food figure a little rather than changing the day count.
| Cost | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National park or national forest campsite | $15–$45 per night | Popular parks book out months ahead. |
| State park campsite | $15–$50 per night | Out-of-state visitors often pay more. |
| Private campground or RV park | $35–$90+ per night | Showers, Wi-Fi and hookups cost extra. |
| Dispersed camping on public land | Free | No facilities; check local rules. |
| Firewood bundle | $6–$12 | Buy it locally to avoid spreading pests. |
| Camp food | $12–$25 per person per day | Less if you cook simple meals. |
Prices vary by state and season. Use the numbers from your actual reservation when you have them.
Usually, but not always. A single night in a hotel near a popular national park can cost more than an entire weekend of camping. When you have to rent every piece of gear, or you’re a solo traveler who would eat out either way, the gap narrows. Run both options through the campsite vs hotel comparison to see the difference for your exact trip.
The calculator works for UK trips too. Set “Where are you driving?” to UK so fuel is priced per litre and your car’s MPG is read in imperial gallons, as UK cars and fuel stations measure them. Many UK campsites charge per pitch plus a fee for each adult, so enter the full per-night price for your group as the campsite fee. National parks in England, Scotland and Wales don’t charge an entrance fee, so you can usually leave park entry at 0; car parks are the more common cost.
All figures are in US dollars. If your prices are in pounds, convert them at today’s exchange rate before you enter them.
Last updated September 24, 2026. All costs are in US dollars.
For two people at a public campground with home-packed food and a moderate drive, many trips land between $150 and $300 in total. Enter your own numbers in the calculator above for a precise figure.
Yes. Set the driving option to UK so fuel is priced per litre with UK MPG. Amounts are shown in US dollars, so convert pound prices first.
Enter prices as you'll pay them. Most campground reservation prices already include taxes; if yours adds tax at checkout, include it in the nightly fee.
The calculator shows the cost per person. Share the link with your group so everyone sees the same numbers, and adjust if someone brings their own gear or food.
A trip with two nights usually spans three days of meals. That's why food and gear rental use nights plus one.