When we went on our first campervan road trip, we had no idea how much it would cost to stay at a campground and what kind of different campgrounds exist.
In general, a campsite for small campervans costs between US$15 and US$120 per night depending on the location, whether it is private or state-owned and the time of year. In our experience, prices vary between countries, and on average, you should plan with US$40 per night.
Of course, that is just a rough guide and based on our own experience. You will encounter less expensive and more expensive campgrounds on your own road trips. Are you wondering why there is such a difference even within the same country? Let me help you understand.
In this article, I will share the price of campsites for small campervans for two people in North America, Europe, the Pacifics, and Japan. I will go into detail about the fluctuation of prices and share some tips on how to avoid overpriced campgrounds. All prices are based on travel outside of high season for unpowered campsites (if available).
Next time you plan your vancation, you will be able to start with an idea about your trip's budget and campground costs.
Let's start with a quick overview, before I will go into more detail:
Campground costs in the USA
During our road trip through the Southwest and California, we spend an average of US$35 per night on a campsite (which, at the time of writing, equals €32). That being said, it truly depends on the time of year you travel, what state you visit and whether you overnight in state parks or private campgrounds/RV parks.
We traveled in the shoulder season, Mid-April - Beginning of May and spend about half of our nights in private campgrounds and half in State/National parks.
State and National Parks offer less expensive campgrounds, the cheapest one for us was the Mather Campground at the Grand Canyon National Park with US$18 per night. The two most costly nights were at private campgrounds, at the Lo Lo Mai Springs in Sedona (US$45) and at the Circus Circus RV Park in Las Vegas (US$50).
The type of campsite you chose also has a significant effect on the price. Powered sites are more expensive than unpowered sites. In the National Park campground, most campsites are unpowered, while private RV parks usually offer powered sites, another reason why they are more expensive.
In general, the Southwest is the cheapest area in the US to camp in, while the North East and Florida are the most costly. Campground fees depend highly on state taxes and the cost of living in a particular state.
Wand'rly Magazine has conducted extensive data analysis on this subject per state. Should you be interested in more details for the US, be sure to read their post. Here are two impactful images provided by them.
Free Camping Possibilities in the US
Free camping or dispersed camping is also popular and possible in the US. Typical areas are National Forests and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands. There are different regulations and rules for each region, and we suggest that you check with the local ranger. You can find the National Forrests state-by-state on the official homepage.
Most BLM lands are in the West of the US, and not all are marked on Google Maps; although the one we stayed at north of Joshua Tree was, you can best identify the BLM spots to overnight with the Roam Free App. They are marked with the brown pins.
Campground costs in Canada
Upon research, the average campground cost per night in Canada is CA$40 (which, at the time of writing, equals US$30 and €27).
Canada has a vast network of Provincial State parks run by the state governments. These parks have a very transparent fee set-up publicized by each province. Here you can find the fee schedules for Alberta, British Columbia, Québec and Ontario. In Canada, it is quite common to also pay an online reservation fee on top of the campground fee. Similar to the US, camping in the East is more expensive than in the West of Canada, except for Vancouver and Vancouver Island, where campgrounds and RV parks average above CA$40 per night.
Free Camping Possibilities in Canada
In Canada, the land designated for public use is called Crown Land, and it makes up almost 90% of the country. The majority of these sites are away from paved roads. Research suggests that you need a 4x4 vehicle to reach these areas.
In some cases, like in Ontario, public use is limited to Canadian residents, and of course, different restrictions apply, making it quite complicated. Visitors could request permits also to use Crown Land. Should you choose to do so, be sure to dig in deeper research about the different restrictions per region.
Campground costs in Australia
During our road trip along the East Coast of Australia, we spend an average of AU$43 per night on a campsite (which, at the time of writing, equals US$29 and €26). We didn't experience the same kind of National and State Park campground network as in the US and only stayed at two National Park campgrounds. One time in the Wilson Promontory National Park in the state of Victoria, which was our most expensive night with AU$65 (also included the National Park permit) and the other time at Pebbly Beach Campground in New South Wales, which was our cheapest night with AU$25. The latter hardly had any amenities, as it was off the grid and also only had a decomposing toilet and no showers. Facilities also have an impact on price.
We again traveled in the shoulder season in April; however, we had some high season prices due to the Easter holidays.
All other nights we spend at non-governmental RV or Holiday Parks, with an average nightly cost of AU$43.
In Western Australia, prices seem to be slightly lower with a range of AU$22-35 for state campgrounds and AU$37-44 for Holiday Parks.
Free Camping Possibilities in Australia
Free camping areas in Australia exist but are hard to find. They are usually not on the coast but more in the hinterlands. The Spaceship App is excellent at showing you where they are (the green pins). Should you overnight somewhere illegally, you can get an AU$200 fine.
Campground costs in New Zealand
Upon research, the average campground cost per night in New Zealand is NZ$29 (which, at the time of writing, equals US$19 and €17).
The camping options and campground networks in New Zealand are stellar. As in most countries, you can differentiate between privately operated Holiday Parks and government-run campgrounds. In New Zealand, these are called DOC (Department of Conservation) campsites.
The calculation of cost in New Zealand is mostly not based on the vehicle but per persons. Some DOC campsites are for free, while others charge NZ$8 or a maximum of NZ$15 per person.
Holiday parks average at NZ$35 per couple and as usual offer more amenities.
Free Camping Possibilities in New Zealand
Next to campsites, New Zealand is famous for its free camping possibilities, as long as you travel in a self-contained campervan. There are still some guidelines and areas where it is not allowed to free camp, so always check with the closest i-Site (tourist information center) before assuming to overnight somewhere. The Spaceship App is also great for New Zealand to locate free DOC campgrounds. Should you overnight somewhere illegally, you can get an NZ$200 fine.
Campground costs in Europe
Upon research, the average campground cost per night in Europe is €30 (which, at the time of writing, equals US$33). Belarus being the cheapest with €11 and Italy and Switzerland being the most expensive with €36.
Camping.info did a thorough research study of 23,000 European campgrounds and have come up with the following results:
They have also released a press kit with further numbers.
These numbers are based on a caravan with electricity, so feel free to subtract 2-5 Euros for a small campervan without hookup. In Europe, it is quite common to charge separately per person, vehicle, electricity, and sometimes even a clean-up fee. You will rarely find a package price.
Free Camping Possibilities in Europe
Depending on the countries, the rules might be a bit different. The Scandinavian countries are known for their freedom to roam, even on private land, and thus are paradises for free camping. But also on continental Europe, you have the options to overnight for free at camper stops. They usually are rest stops and do not convey the charm of camping in nature. Wild camping, as in terms of staying in a beautiful remote spot, is somewhat of a gray area. Take a look at iOverlander app to find free spots where other campers have overnighted before.
Campground costs in Japan
Upon research, the average campground cost per night in Japan is 2,000 yen (which, at the time of writing, equals US$18 and €16).
The camping options and campground networks in Japan are often underestimated. Yet 70% of the Japanese Islands are covered by forests and mountains, and you can find over 3,000 campgrounds. Car camping is more popular than campervanning, so be sure to book a car camping spot and not a regular camping spot, as you might end up with just a small area for your tent. There are some free campgrounds, but most will have a fee. Smaller campgrounds start at 400 yen (at the time of writing US$4 or €3) per person, and more equipped ones go up to 3,000 yen (at the time of writing US$27 or €25) for the whole site. The Japan National Tourism Organization has put together a comprehensive list of favorite campgrounds, including their fees, directions, and sights close by.
Free Camping Possibilities in Japan
Next to some free campgrounds, Japan offers 24h free roadside rest areas called 'Michi-no-eki'. Most of them even come with vending machines and public bathrooms. Some of these stations are also equipped with a grocery store, restaurant, gas station, and even offer WiFi. In general, you can park anywhere, where there is no 'No Parking' sign, and you will be unlikely to face a fine, should you stay somewhere you are not supposed to. The Japanese are very polite and will kindly ask you to move along.
Tips for keeping your campground costs low
These four tips summarize not only the best way of controlling your campground fees but also your overall campervanning cost.
Time of year
As with all tourism-related activities, the summer months and school vacations are the high season, where higher demand drives prices higher and availability lower. If possible, for your own vacation planning, try to avoid these periods. Our favorite travel time of the year is the shoulder season in spring and fall.
Type of van
This article has been focused on small campervans without an electrical hookup, and choosing such a campervan, will reduce your campground costs and increase the number of campsites that will be available. If you are still on the fence on what type of RV to rent, make sure to check out our post 'Which Campervan to Rent for Your Next Road Trip: A Complete Guide'.
Look up national holidays
While national holidays will, in most cases, offer you a great cultural insight into the country you are discovering, they also drive up prices. When you can't or don't want to skip a national holiday, be sure to book your campsite in advance, as popular areas book out very fast.
Type of campground
In the country overview above, we have covered quite some different types of camping possibilities. I hope I have been able to show you the impact on the cost the type of campground can have.
We prefer National or State Park campgrounds, as they are more remote with direct access to nature. However, we know by experience that on a road trip, it is not possible to spend every night at such a campground, and sometimes Holiday/RV parks are the only option.
Conclusion
If you are new to campervanning and staying at campgrounds, you can sometimes have a shock when you look at the rates from one campsite to another. Factors like the country, the time of year, the type of campground, and campervan will have an effect on your campground budget.
At the end of the day, you will want to make the most out of your vacation. Staying at gorgeous campgrounds with a splendid location might just be worth 10 bucks extra.
Be smart about your road trip planning to save money in general. Use my tips above to your advantage.
Should you, at this stage, consider skipping campervanning and switching to a regular car rental while staying at hotels/Airbnbs, stop considering it! Campervanning (at least the Road Trip Explorers way) is mostly by far less expensive.
Not convinced yet? → check out our comparison guide 'Car or Campervan: What is Better and Cheaper?'.
What is your experience with campground costs? Do you prefer to free camp or stay at campgrounds? Let us know in the comments.
