{
  "slug": "tent-campsite-cost",
  "title": "Camping vs Hotel Trip Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Camping Trip Cost Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/tent-campsite-cost",
  "summary": "Compare camping totals against a hotel trip, including gear payback.",
  "description": "Camping isn't free once you count gear, campsite fees, and the fuel to reach the trailhead. This amortizes gear across trips and compares totals with a hotel version of the same trip.",
  "formula": "Camp total = fees + fuel + food + gear ÷ trips over gear life.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=tent-campsite-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "nights",
      "label": "Nights",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "siteFee",
      "label": "Campsite fee per night",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 32,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "hotel",
      "label": "Hotel per night",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 165,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gear",
      "label": "Gear cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 900,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "tripsLife",
      "label": "Trips over gear lifetime",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 30,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "miles",
      "label": "Round-trip drive",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 220,
      "unit": "mi",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "mpg",
      "label": "Fuel economy",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 24,
      "unit": "mpg",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gas",
      "label": "Fuel price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3.6,
      "unit": "$/gal",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "camp",
      "label": "Camping trip total",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "hotelTotal",
      "label": "Hotel trip total",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "savings",
      "label": "Savings by camping",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perNight",
      "label": "Camping cost per night",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "gearShare",
      "label": "Gear cost this trip",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Nights: 3",
      "Campsite fee per night: 32 $",
      "Hotel per night: 165 $",
      "Gear cost: 900 $",
      "Trips over gear lifetime: 30",
      "Round-trip drive: 220 mi",
      "Fuel economy: 24 mpg",
      "Fuel price: 3.6 $/gal"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Camping trip total: $159",
      "Hotel trip total: $528",
      "Savings by camping: $369",
      "Camping cost per night: $53",
      "Gear cost this trip: $30.00"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter nights.",
      "Enter campsite fee per night ($).",
      "Enter hotel per night ($).",
      "Enter gear cost ($).",
      "Enter trips over gear lifetime.",
      "Enter round-trip drive (mi).",
      "Enter fuel economy (mpg).",
      "Enter fuel price ($/gal).",
      "Read your camping trip total on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "nights": 2,
        "siteFee": 19,
        "hotel": 100,
        "gear": 550,
        "tripsLife": 18,
        "miles": 130,
        "mpg": 14,
        "gas": 2.16
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "nights": 3,
        "siteFee": 32,
        "hotel": 165,
        "gear": 900,
        "tripsLife": 30,
        "miles": 220,
        "mpg": 24,
        "gas": 3.6
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "nights": 5,
        "siteFee": 51,
        "hotel": 265,
        "gear": 1450,
        "tripsLife": 48,
        "miles": 350,
        "mpg": 38,
        "gas": 5.760000000000001
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why amortize gear?",
      "a": "A $900 kit charged entirely to your first weekend makes camping look absurd. Spread across 30 trips it's $30 a trip, which is the honest number."
    },
    {
      "q": "What about food?",
      "a": "Food is roughly a wash between the two, so it's excluded. Add it to both sides if your camp cooking is meaningfully cheaper than eating out."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Camping vs Hotel Trip Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/tent-campsite-cost)"
}