Camping

Camping On Any Budget

dryfoxco blog logo
dryfoxco logo with camping gear

Get Out Into The Woods This Weekend

Are you stuck working a 9 to 5 while the sun shines outside without you? 

Does the week seem to be dragging on? 

I feel you. I really do. 

You have to give yourself something to look forward to. 

Why not plan a camping trip?

It doesn’t matter if you tent, RV, or “glamp”, summer weather is perfect for rolling out your sleeping bag. 

Whether you’re out hiking, exploring a new city, or enjoying a summer music festival, there’s no need to spend excess money on a hotel room when you could be sleeping under the stars.


Camping is one of the most affordable ways to travel (and most memorable!). 

Don’t know if camping is for you?

Below you’ll find 3 awesome camping options for every budget and adventurer.

Alright…off to the woods!

1. The Investor

Not all of us can afford RV’s that cost more than a house and #vanlife might not be your style, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a convenient, portable sleeping chamber that requires minimal setup. 

Have you heard of a roof top tent? It combines the compactness of a tent with the ease of an RV. It’s a tent that you attach to your car’s roof rack, it folds down flat when not in use, and then pops up when you’re ready to sleep. Sure you’ve slept “in” the car, but what about sleeping “on” the car?

There’s a variety of different options and they generally start at about $800 making them an ideal investment for the avid camper, explorer, or festival goer. Anywhere you can drive, you can roof top camp. Plus, they come with the best view!

2. The Saver

I’ll put myself in this category. While sometimes it’s nice to stay in a fancy hotel, I prefer to travel on the cheap. The less I spend on lodging, the more I can spend on food. Am I right?

So how can you go camping for cheap? You’ve got 2 main options: buy used gear or borrow it.

All the camping gear I own, I purchased at an estate sale for under $40. You’d be amazed at how many people buy all their gear full price, go camping once, and turn around and sell everything. Keep your eye out the next time you’re at the thrift store or see a yard sale sign; you never know what you might find!

What about borrowing gear? Most people know someone who owns a tent and sleeping bags, but if not, borrow from people in your town on Nextdoor.com. Take a listen to Alex’s (Go: The Travel Podcast) awesome experience with borrowing from Nextdoor while spending less than $50 for his trip!

3. The FREE Spirit

camping lean to

I can’t say I’ve ever tried it, but there are plenty of people who wander into the woods with nothing but their backpacks and just spend the night on the ground with nature. I’m not opposed to the idea, but I’d really have to know what I was getting myself in to. If you’re daring, this camping method is truly FREEing. 

In the US, there are numerous state parks that have lean-tos and other free shelters for you to spend the night. These shelters are firstcome, first serve, but are a great option for light packers or impromptu campers. 

All about the free, but looking for something a little more enclosed? Freecampsites.net is an excellent database of free campsites all across the world! Check it out and plan your next adventure!

So…where are you off to? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy camping!

-Samantha, DryFoxCo owner

tent on a lake