Cheap Vacation Idea: Camping in the Great Outdoors

My wife and I just got back from a nice weekend camping trip. It was an absolute blast! Spending time outside is one of our favorite things to do and camping is an amazing way to get out there and do it! Waking up and immediately going outside the tent and starting the morning fire to warm the morning chill is the perfect way to start any day. It is also a super cheap vacation idea! Do yourself a favor and book yourself a camping trip!

As Cheap a Vacation as They Come

Since this is a personal finance blog, I have to talk about the cost of camping. The campsite is well…cheap. Probably because of the time frame of late fall here in Upstate New York but the price was roughly $20 a night. We then extended for an additional $18 so we didn’t have to pack up and leave by 10 AM. Money well spent.

Of course, camping brings limited amenities. So you need to pack well. Tents can be expensive but are cheap when you consider how many times you will use it before you need a new one. They are definitely cheaper than getting a hotel room for a week. Packing all the food you need can be a hassle, but the joy of cooking over the open fire cannot be overstated. There are various other supplies your need, flashlights, wood, pots and pans, but other than the wood, these can be used over and over again. Overall, the camping trip is a vacation as cheap as they come.

Do You Love to Cook?

I said it before and I will say it again, cooking on the open fire is fantastic. The taste the fire gives the food brings everything to a whole new level you just don’t get with a traditional oven. We only made dinner for one night but wow was it good. Beyond Meat Sausages. Baked potatoes. Corn on the cob. Zucchini and yellow squash. Pure bliss.

It may not feel like it when you are at the store buying all of your supplies, but cooking your meals when camping is a huge money saver as well. Going out to eat is expensive. There is no really getting around that if you want a solid meal. Cooking while enjoying your camp fire will save you money and let you have some of the best tasting food you can cook.

Peace and Relaxation

Now I am sure that there have been times when camping is not peaceful or relaxing. Rain plus tent does not equal either of those things. But we got lucky this weekend because the weather was perfect. Due to the time of year, the campgrounds were not overly packed and people are cognizant of the current situation the world finds itself in and keeps their distance. This allows you to find peace outdoors where you may not have it otherwise.

We would get up around 7 AM and get the morning fire started. Just sitting there in our own world enjoying the fresh morning air was magical. Closing your eyes for a 10 minute meditation is perfect when the only sounds you hear are the crackling of the fire, birds chirping in the distance, and the squirrels nestling among the leaves around you. That is peace.

The Best Part of Camping

The best part of camping has nothing to do with money. It is all about spending quality time with the people you love, doing the things you enjoy doing most. For me, that means spending time with my wife seeing all that is beautiful in nature. Camping is perfect for that. Wake up, unzip the tent, and you are right out in the middle of nature! How perfect is that?

What is crazy about this trip was this was my wife’s first time camping! For someone who loves going out to hike anywhere she can, you would thing she would love to get a head start on the outdoor life by camping. I am happy to report that she had a fantastic first time and is looking forward to our next camping adventure!

Book Yourself a Cheap Vacation!

Camping really is an amazing vacation. You get away from the hustle and bustle. Get away from all of the technology that steals our attention (I had my phone in the car the entire trip, never taking it out for anything). Get outside and enjoy the fresh air and the wonders of nature!

If it is something you have never done before, I implore you to try it out! Start out with a short, two night trip like we did! That will give you plenty of time to see how amazing it is while not making you feel like you are stuck out in the middle of the woods forever. I promise you won’t be disappointed!