I came across a ridiculous article recently titled “How to Camp on a Budget” (link withheld as a courtesy ) and it got me thinking: Isn’t camping already vacationing on a budget?

I suppose there are ways to make camping even more inexpensive to the point of it being nearly free. Here are some ideas:

• Borrow equipment or buy used. Many families own camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, a stove, etc.) but rarely get to use it more than a couple times a year. Ask around your neighborhood or church and you should be able to outfit your whole crew for a weekend trip. Also check garage sales or craigslist for used camping gear for sale if you feel uncomfortable borrowing.
• Stay close to home. Nearly every person in the US probably lives within 25 miles of a campground and with gas prices back to reasonable levels anyone can afford to get outdoors. Splurge a little and drive further to your closest National Park.
• Find a no frills campground. Sure some privately owned campgrounds have wi-fi and video arcades but you can often find FREE campgrounds in National Forest areas. Amenities are usually sparse but if you can find a campground with running water and a restroom that’s really all you need for a short trip. Otherwise, even the most expensive state and national parks rarely charge more than $20 a night for a family campsite.

Yep, I’m pretty sure if someone tried hard enough they could find a way to go on a weekend camping trip for zero dollars and zero cents. But why do it? Compared to the cost of a trip to Disney or the beach camping is cheap enough - even on a $0 budget.