Today’s post is from Kyle at Rather Be Shopping. His site features online coupons and discounts. If you enjoy this post I hope you’ll consider subscribing to his RSS Feed. ~Nicki
On Sunday we returned from a weekend camping trip with the kids and another family. We have the dirt to prove it. Oh, do we have the dirt to prove it! There were times on the trip when I could only spot my kids when they smiled. Good thing we have them brush their teeth twice a day. But if you have a family camping trip planned this summer here are 5 easy ways to save both time and money:
1. Bring Frozen Meals From Home
Not only do you save money on your food bill but they double as great ice blocks in the ice chest.
2. Bring Your Own Firewood
No camping trip is complete without S’mores around the campfire, but the state park we stayed at wanted $7 for a small bag of firewood. Rip-off!! Bring your own.
3. Find Free Entertainment
Again, the state park we stayed at had a bunch of free activities for the kids. We participated in Junior Rangers and the campfire program and they were both free with your admission. Ask about what they have going on and be sure to take advantage.
4. Stay Close To Home If Possible
The park we stayed at was about 70 miles away from our home. With the price of gas, this was about as far as I wanted to travel. Ask around about nice camping spots close to home. They surely exist.
5. Improvise With Stuff you Already Have
If you are tent camping, you don’t need to invest in sleeping bags as well, just bring blankets from home. Try to bring as much camping stuff and food that you already have and avoid the big expensive trip to the grocery store or Wal-Mart.
Please add your suggestion or tip. I look forward to any new ideas. Happy Camping! Now on to some online coupons that can help save you money!
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photo credit: jon_a_ross
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I appreciate the spirit behind your tips, but you absolutely should not bring firewood from home for camping. There are many pests that destroy trees, and bringing wood from one area to another helps them (and their destruction) spread. Google the Emerald Ash Borer for one example. Have a good day and fun camping!
That’s interesting Susan. I’ve always brought my own firewood when I go camping. I never would have thought of that. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for mentioning that, Susan. I’ve seen the devastation to our State Parks in Missouri from invasive species. The most common reason, according to our Department of Conservation, is moving of firewood. We now have several areas of the state under quarantine because of these insects. No wood is allowed out of the area at all, complete with checks by rangers for vehicles exiting the state park areas.
As an alternative, many camp areas allow you to use any fallen wood for campfires. You cannot, understandably, cut or dig out your own, but fallen wood is often fair game. Just check with the park guidelines.
We play a scavenger hunt with different types of trees, rocks and insects from the brochures that the parks provide. It really encourages everyone to get out and enjoy the natural setting.
i have to second Susan on the firewood issue – there are all kinds of pests that spread from one area to another when people bring in wood elsewhere. It is even against the law in certain areas. This is from the PA state parks website:
Movement of any/all firewood from infested and/or quarantine areas is prohibited in accordance with the Pennsylvania Plant Pest Act of 1992. All such regulated firewood will be confiscated and destroyed. First time offenders will be issued a warning letter by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, with repeat offenders subject to prosecution according to provisions in the Pennsylvania Plant Pest Act. Even if you are not within a quarantine area using local firewood is best. Do not take wood home with you and do not leave firewood – Burn It!
We like to bring along easy games to play & pack:
Uno and other card games
Dice
Yahtzee
Jenga
and of course no campfire is complete without the sparklers…
one of our favorite campfire treats, besides the smores…
banana boats:
Take a banana in the the skin and slice it lengthwise, cut only 1/2 way through, pry open carefully and fill with either choco chips, p.butter or mini marshmallows (or all 3!) pinch it back together, wrap tightly in foil and put close to the burning embers (NOT IN THE FIRE), remove with tongs, open foil (CAREFULLY, will be boiling hot) and enjoy! The kids love making these and eating them!
have a happy summer!
Isn’t camping all about free entertainment? And camping food is the business!!! Frozen meals kinda kills the fun of cooking on an open fire and picking the dirt off the sausages your dropped:) Plus it’s fun to try and live like they did prior to refrigeration.
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We just got a book called “The Best in Tent Camping – Wisconsin” that reviews dozens of campsites in the state (and I’m sure other versions do the same for other states). There are plenty of county and local campgrounds that charge only for parking, or have a much lower rate than the state parks (for which you also need to buy an annual pass). If you’re staying for longer than a weekend, park fees can add up!
I’m glad someone mentioned the fire wood. I learned about that when we camped at Maramec Caverns. Maybe you should amend the post just in case people don’t read the comments.
How would you cook the frozen dinners? I haven’t figured out how to cook over a fire so I bring a small camp stove and make what we need, but I do like the idea of bringing all the food from home. That’s where all the money usually goes for us.
I know the Missouri state park by the Caverns has a section on a trail that is free for camping. The Caverns site also has stay 7 nights get one free or something like that. We camped for 2 weeks a couple of years ago and saved some money that way.
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The frozen meals we had were BBQ chicken and pork in a marinade, and Ziplock bag, that I cooked on a small propane BBQ that I brought from home.