Kelly_B

As I learn more on camping with a family of 4 I'm trying hard to not overdue it. We pretty much have everything we need (except that I'm in a hunt for a good dutch oven).

What are your typical costs when going to a State Park (food & park expenses)? Is it cheaper in the long run to buy the year pass? How do you keep the costs down?

I really want to get our family camping more than just once a year. My dream is to be able to just pick up & go when we want (especially as the Texas air cools down).

Thanks for your help!
~Kelly

Troop198

First, the annual pass is easy recover the cost if you plan to go often. .

For the $5 per day for each person over 13 entrance fees its even quicker when you figure you are there usually 2 days
($5 times 4 people is $20 times 2 days is $80 and your at $60 is recovered. We have just 2 so it takes more than one visit or a longer trip

more later

Troop198

Camp fees depend on where your go. From $25 at Ray Roberts (one of the highest parks) to $17 at Tyler to $ 14 at Cooper South (all three water & electric) With Cooper one of our favorites and only 2 hours from North of Dallas we spend moe time there for very little extra driving All three offer water for swimming or boating or fishing, bike trails or hike trails and more. Really a cheap night out.

As for food, make what you do at home, (buy a nice cook stove, worth the investment) pancakes, eggs, lunch meats, burgers, brats, ham steak. All like eating at home. So its no more than eating at home with the bonus of fresh air
But sometimes have fun meals, like corn on the cob or foil meals

You can get better meals with a dutch oven , Let the kids help cook and clean (and make a fire for those marsh mellows) new thing, roll the hot marsh mellow in little m & M's yum !

happybooker1

Definitely buy the park pass. Last 3 years they've included 4 1/2-off one night camping coupons with the pass. Which is about $40 right there!

Can't offer you many ideas since it's only DS & me most times. I buy a lot of pre-frozen meals and we nuke 'em. I don't cook much at home either.

But my theory is we'd have to eat anyway, so I DON'T figure the cost of food into the equation of 'how much did I spend on that week camping'. I only count gas, site costs, and side trips.

It's very cost-effective for me!

campermom

No matter where you go or what you are doing, you still gotta eat, so I don't really calculate that as a cost. We like those easy to prepare foods, like preseasoned chicken breasts, frozen meatballs or ravioli, bagged salad, breakfast sausage, ground beef for taco salad or chili, instant potatoes, couscous, , lunch meat etc. I don't rely on the dutch oven since we've been in a burn ban down here for so long. I love my Coleman instastart 2 burner stove. I never need matches.

I like to think of the park pass as a seasons pass, like we could get for fiesta tx or seaworld, but it's cheaper, do you know how much the food is out there? If you make the investment in a season pass, you make every attempt to use it. TX pk pass is an investment in your family, not just something to do. When your pass comes in the mail, you also get 4 coupons for a half night off, when staying 2 nights.

So, If you don't count food, or the ice for the cooler, or the pass, you're paying for your overnight fee and the extra gas.

2 nights fee $40
1 tank gas $40
$80 for a weekend of fun.

dinner at TGIFridays for four $100
1 hour spent, you don't have to do the dishes, and you only have a good story to tell if the food was bad.

Camping is cheaper than dinner out once a month and a better value.

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