Budget-Friendly Tips for Visiting National Parks just got back from another broke-girl national park summer and my bank account is still speaking to me. here’s every cheap trick i know.
1. The $80 Pass Is Non-Negotiable
america the beautiful pass = $80 for the whole year covers every single person in your car pays for itself after 3-4 parks buy it at the first entrance or online (i still have mine taped to my dashboard like a trophy)
2. Camp Like You Mean It budget national parks tips
inside-park campgrounds: $20-30/night outside-park blm land: free or $5-15 i used freecampsites.net + thedyrt like my bible shower at recreation centers ($3-5) or just embrace the dirt gremlin aesthetic
3. Food Hacks That Saved My Soul
- costco membership ($60/year) = rotisserie chicken + tortillas + giant peanut butter = 5 days of meals
- aldi before the trip: $40 feeds one person a week
- one cooler for food, one for drinks (learned this after the great yogurt explosion of 2024)
- breakfast: instant oatmeal + jetboil
- lunch: peanut butter sandwiches forever
- dinner: whatever costco chicken is left + bag salad total food for 18 days: $187 (yes i have receipts)
4. Gas Station ≠ Death Sentence
- gasbuddy app saved me $180 on the last trip
- fill up in towns, not on park roads (price gouging is real)
- costco gas when you can find it
- drive 55-60 mph on highways (i gained 5-7 mpg and only got honked at 47 times)
5. Free & Cheap Activities Only budget national parks tips
- sunrise/sunset = free and better than any paid tour
- ranger talks = free and actually hilarious
- visitor center movies = free air-conditioning
- skip antelope canyon ($80+) → do cathedral canyon (free, 10 min from page)
- skip helicopter tours → just hike higher
6. My Actual $1,780 Southwest Trip Breakdown (one person, 18 days)
gas: $480 america the beautiful pass: $80 camping (mix of free + paid): $210 food: $187 random showers/laundry: $38 one emergency motel 6 when i smelled illegal: $89 souvenirs (one $8 sticker): $8 total: $1,792 (rounded down because i’m delusional)
Bonus Cheapskate Wins budget national parks tips
- flew into vegas, rented cheapest car on turo ($28/day)
- used library wifi to upload photos (glamorous)
- showered at planet fitness black card trial (don’t judge me)
- found a half-eaten bag of someone else’s trail mix at bryce (kidding… maybe)
national parks are literally the cheapest therapy on earth.
tell me your best broke travel hack below because i’m already planning yellowstone 2026 and my wallet just filed a restraining order.
now excuse me while i eat leftover costco chicken for the 4th day in a row. send $6 sparkling wine and a working shower
