Are you a camper on a budget? If you are then you have come to the right post, because I have compared the costs of camping at national and state parks. This will help you to find the most cost-efficient campsite for you.
It costs $10 – $36 a night for national park and $12 – $34 for state park tent camping. Each national park and state park sets its camping price based on public demand and cost of upkeep. RV campsites will often cost more than tent camping sites because of the RV-related amenities they offer. Lower fees can be found in some parks for off-season, senior or primitive camping.
There are so many factors that go into camping costs such as permits, type of camping, and activity costs. Below you will find the top five national and state parks and all the different costs to camp there. Read on to learn more about the costs of camping in national and state parks.
National Parks Tent Camping Cost
| Yosemite | $20 – $36 (Most common: $36) per night |
| Yellowstone | $20 – $34 (Most common: $29) per night |
| Glacier National Park | $10 – $23 (Most common: $23) per night |
| Grand Canyon | $18 per night |
| Zion National Park | $20 – $30 (Most common: $30) per night |
On average, the tent campsites in a national park cost $27 per night. This is a reasonable price, especially when compared to park lodge and nearby hotels /vacation rentals, which can easily exceed $200 per night for a family. There are lots of different factors that go into how much your campsite is going to cost you.
As you can see in the table above, there is no one set cost for camping at a national park. This is because certain campsites are better and more sought after than others. By pricing according to desirability, the parks can generate more revenue from their nicer locations.
For instance, the national parks may charge you extra if your campsite is near a river. A river location is more popular for its natural relaxing effects. Swimming and fishing are popular river activities and visitors are often willing to pay extra to have those activities conveniently located nearby.
Other locations like Yellowstone National Park will have electric campsites where you can charge your phone. This amenity will cost you extra to help cover the park’s electricity bill.
Parks may offer cheaper campsites that have no restrooms or laundry units. If your campsite has a laundry unit or shower, you will often have to pay more to stay there. Seniors and off-season campers may also see campsite discounts at national parks.
State Park Tent Camping Cost
| Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park | $30 per night |
| Makoshika State Park | $12 – $28 (Most common: $18) per night |
| Baxter State Park | $34 per night |
| Iao Valley State Park | $30 per night |
| Valley of Fire State Park | $25 per night |
State park camping fees tend to similar to those for national parks, as you can see from this table. The average cost per night to stay at a state park is also $27. The state park range of costs ($12 to $34) is also similar to that for national parks ($10 to $36).
A state park’s campsite costs are more consistent than a national park’s costs. Makoshika State park is the only park above that has a range of fees. This may be because state parks tend to be smaller and their campsite options are fewer than those for the national parks.
Seniors, off-season campers and veterans may see state park camping discounts. Some state parks also offer resident discounts. For example, at Iao Valley State Park, residents only pay $20 a night to camp, whereas non-residents pay $30.
National Park Backcountry Permit Cost
| Yosemite | $10 to enter lottery and $5 per person if successful |
| Yellowstone | $10 to enter lottery and $5 per person + $10 if successful |
| Glacier National Park | $7 per person per night |
| Grand Canyon | $10 per permit plus $12 per person or stock animal per night |
| Zion National Park | $20 to $30, depending on group size |
All of the national parks require permits for backcountry camping. Backcountry camping is camping in remote areas away from roads and facilities and is typically associated with backpacking. When you sign up for a backcountry permit, you are taking full responsibility for your own safety in the park.
The total cost of these permits can range widely as some are priced per night and some are not. For example, a 5 night, 5 person trip permit might cost $25 at Zion (does not have a per night fee) and $310 at the Grand Canyon (does have a per night fee).
It is important to make sure you have accounted for all of the permits needed on your backcountry trip and their specific regulations. For example, leaving the permitted wilderness and returning to it may invalidate it. Some features like Half Dome at Yosemite require a sperate permit.
State Park Backcountry Permit Cost
| Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park | No permits |
| Makoshika State Park | No permits, but only one designated backcountry campsite |
| Baxter State Park | No permits, but registration required |
| Iao Valley State Park | No camping allowed in park |
| Valley of Fire State Park | No dispersed camping allowed in park |
Backcountry camping or backpacking is closely associated with national parks and the three multi state trails, the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. Far fewer people are interested in backcountry adventures at state parks. Most state parks do not have epic, multi-day trail systems. National parks use permits to limit the number of people entering the more pristine areas of those parks.
National Park RV Cost
| Yosemite | $30 – $36 (Most common: $36) per night |
| Yellowstone | $20 – $83 (Most common: $83) per night |
| Glacier National Park | $23 per night |
| Grand Canyon | $18 – $71 per night (Most common: $71) per night |
| Zion National Park | $20 – $30 (Most common: $30) per night |
RV camping is more costly than tent camping because often the wider roads and RV-related amenities are only available at the more expensive campsites or special RV parks. For example, at Yellowstone, dump sites and generator use are only available at the more expensive tent or RV sites. Both Yellowstone and Grand Canyon have separate, higher cost RV parks that better accommodate RV’s.
State Park RV Cost
| Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park | No RV camping |
| Makoshika State Park | $12 – $28 (Most common: $18) per night |
| Baxter State Park | $34 (Large RV’s not allowed) |
| Iao Valley State Park | No camping allowed in park |
| Valley of Fire State Park | $25 per night |
The tent-like RV prices listed above reflect the fact that state parks do not provide different campsites that are more accommodating to RV’s. Some state parts do not provide RV camping options. For others, campsites are more a one size solution that is more tent-focused.
State parks can rarely justify building a separate RV park. State parks are smaller than national parts and tend to run on a smaller budgets. RV’s require additional resources like wider roads, dump stations and hook ups. This means that RV campers, especially those with larger RV’s may often have to look for options outside of the state park property.