Family Camping on a Budget

One of the attractions of family camping is that it can provide an affordable way to enjoy weekends away and longer holidays throughout the UK. There is an initial cost involved. You’ll need a tent, sleeping equipment and some basic camping gear, but you don’t have to buy everything at once or choose the most expensive equipment available.

Once you have the essentials, the same equipment can be used for many future trips. Choose your purchases carefully, keep campsite and food costs under control and family camping can provide excellent value over several years.

Set a Camping Budget

Before buying equipment or booking a campsite, decide roughly how much you want to spend.

Think about the complete cost of the trip rather than concentrating entirely on the tent.

Your budget might need to cover:

Family tent
Sleeping equipment
Camping furniture
Cooking equipment
Campsite fees
Travel
Food
Activities
Additional accessories

If you’re starting from scratch, prioritise the things you genuinely need for your first trip.

You can always add more equipment later.

Don’t Automatically Buy the Biggest Tent

A large family tent can look impressive, but additional space usually means a higher purchase price.

It can also mean:

More weight
A larger packed size
Longer pitching times
More space needed at home
Potentially larger campsite pitches

Choose enough space for your family to sleep and live comfortably without automatically buying the largest tent you can afford.

For many families, moving one size above the advertised sleeping capacity provides a useful balance between comfort and cost.

Decide Which Features You Really Need

Family tents are available with an enormous range of features.

Depending on the model, these can include:

Darkened bedrooms
Multiple entrances
Large porches
Inflatable beams
Removable bedroom dividers
Extensive storage
Large panoramic windows

Some of these can make camping considerably more comfortable, but you may not need all of them.

Decide which features matter to your family before shopping.

Paying for useful features makes sense. Paying for features you’ll never use doesn’t.

Consider a Pole Tent

Air tents can make pitching a large family tent easier, but they can also cost more than comparable traditional pole tents.

If you’re comfortable using poles and don’t mind spending a little longer pitching, a pole tent may provide excellent value.

Your budget may buy more space or additional features than it would with an equivalent air tent.

For families who camp regularly and value quicker pitching, the extra cost of an air tent may still be worthwhile.

The important thing is paying for convenience because you’ll use it, rather than assuming you automatically need an air tent.

Look for Sales

Family tents and camping equipment are regularly discounted.

Retailers may offer reductions:

During seasonal sales
At the end of summer
When new models are introduced
During promotional events
When clearing previous-season stock

A previous-season tent can provide particularly good value if the newer version only introduces relatively minor changes.

Don’t buy purely because something is heavily discounted, though. A bargain tent is only a bargain if it suits your family.

Build Your Camping Equipment Gradually

You don’t need a complete luxury camping setup before your first weekend away.

Start with the essentials:

Tent
Beds or sleeping mats
Sleeping bags
Basic chairs
Lighting
Simple cooking equipment

After a few trips, you’ll know what would genuinely make your holidays better.

Perhaps you’ll want a larger table, better storage or a tent carpet. Buying these things gradually spreads the cost and prevents you purchasing equipment that never gets used.

Use Equipment You Already Own

Not everything you take camping needs the word “camping” printed on it.

You may already own suitable:

Pillows
Blankets
Towels
Cutlery
Plates
Storage boxes
Cooking utensils
Reusable water bottles

There’s little point buying camping-specific versions of everything if something you already own works perfectly well.

Just make sure anything used with camping stoves, electricity or other specialist equipment is appropriate and safe for its intended use.

Compare Campsite Prices

Campsite prices vary enormously.

A large holiday park with swimming pools, restaurants and organised entertainment will usually cost more than a small countryside campsite offering basic facilities.

Think about which facilities your family will actually use.

If most days will be spent exploring beaches, countryside and local attractions, you may not need to pay extra for extensive campsite entertainment.

Compare:

Pitch price
Electric hook-up charges
Additional person charges
Vehicle charges
Dog charges
Booking fees
Charges for extra equipment

Look at the complete price for your stay rather than just the advertised starting rate.

Consider Camping Outside Peak Periods

If you’re able to travel outside the busiest dates, campsite prices can sometimes be lower.

Families with school-age children will obviously have less flexibility, but even within school holidays there may be differences between dates and destinations.

Short breaks outside major bank holiday weekends can also offer better value.

If you have younger children who aren’t yet tied to school holidays, travelling outside peak periods can provide both lower prices and quieter campsites.

Choose Destinations Closer to Home

A family holiday doesn’t need to involve driving hundreds of miles.

One of the advantages of owning a tent is being able to explore places relatively close to home.

A campsite an hour away can still feel like a proper break.

Staying closer can reduce:

Fuel costs
Travel time
Motorway stops
The temptation to buy expensive food while travelling

It’s particularly useful for weekend camping because more of your time can be spent enjoying the campsite rather than getting there.

Plan Your Meals

Food costs can quickly increase if every day involves cafés, restaurants and takeaways.

One of the advantages of camping is being able to prepare your own meals.

Simple campsite food can be inexpensive and easy to cook.

Plan meals such as:

Pasta
Sandwiches
Breakfast rolls
Burgers or sausages
Simple one-pot dishes
Salads

Bring some food from home and use local supermarkets to top up supplies during longer trips.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a meal out during your holiday, but it doesn’t need to happen every day.

Take Snacks and Drinks With You

Small purchases can add up surprisingly quickly, particularly with children.

Keep drinks and snacks available for days out.

Reusable water bottles, fruit, sandwiches and simple snacks can save repeated stops at cafés and convenience shops.

A picnic on the beach or during a countryside walk can also be part of the holiday rather than simply a way to save money.

Look for Free Family Activities

Some of the best things to do on a camping holiday cost very little.

Depending on where you’re staying, you can enjoy:

Beaches
Walking
Cycling
Countryside
Parks
Wildlife watching
Exploring towns and villages
Playing games at the campsite

You don’t need to book an expensive attraction every day.

Mixing paid attractions with free outdoor days can keep the holiday interesting while controlling costs.

Look After Your Camping Equipment

One of the best ways to make family camping cheaper over the long term is to look after the equipment you already own.

Dry your tent completely before long-term storage, clean equipment when necessary and repair small problems before they become bigger ones.

Store everything somewhere suitable between trips.

A family tent and camping setup that lasts for many holidays provides much better value than equipment that needs replacing because it wasn’t properly maintained.

Think About Cost Per Holiday

The initial cost of camping equipment can seem significant.

However, equipment used repeatedly can become much better value over time.

A tent used for:

Several weekends each year
A main summer holiday
Bank holiday breaks
Future family trips

can provide many nights of accommodation over several years.

The more you use equipment you already own, the less important the original purchase price becomes.

Related Guides

Final Thoughts

Family camping doesn’t have to involve spending a fortune on equipment or staying at expensive holiday parks.

Start with the essentials, buy additional equipment when you know you’ll use it and choose campsites that provide the facilities your family genuinely needs.

Planning meals, exploring closer to home and mixing paid attractions with free outdoor activities can reduce holiday costs even further.

The real value of owning a family tent comes from using it. Once your basic setup is in place, the same equipment can help turn weekends and school holidays into affordable family adventures for years to come.

Family Camping on a Budget