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For a family of four to enjoy a park camping trip for a weekend, lets look at something. Lets say this is a young couple that does not have the equipment.

1. A good tent for four $130.00
2. simple cookware $30.00
3. food for the weekend $60.00
4. camping permit $30.00 $15.00 per night some are more
5. firewood $30.00 some parks do not allow outside wood brought in and you must purchase it from them
6. sleeping needs $60.00 $15.00 per mattress
7. fuel cost $60.00 this includes cook stove fuel if brought along.
8. misc. $50.00 this is bug repellent, games for the kids, snacks for hiking, etc.

Now take this and tell me.....wouldn’t a nice weekend at the beach at a $85.00 a night hotel make much more financial sense?

Aside from the fact that your numbers are mostly wrong, your rationalization is seriously flawed.

The fixed assets should be considered as capitol equipment. I just returned from a two week camping trip to southern Florida that cost $18 to $25 pernight in state and national parks...... with electricity.

Among the old, reused many times equipment were two down sleeping bags that have been well maintained since the purchase in 1975.

When the reuse factor is calculated, the cost per night now is near 0

Buy good equipment and use it many times.

Lets revise this a little bit:

Start-up costs for camping:

1. Good tent for four: $130.00
2. Simple cookware: $30.00
3. Sleeping needs/Sleeping bags: $80.00/person
4. Cookstove: $70.00

Now for the actual camping trip:

1. Food for the weekend: $60.00
2. Camping permit: $12.00/night
3. Firewood: $12.00
4. Fuel cost for cook stove: $8.00
5. Misc/games/snacks/bug repellent: $50.00
6. Bar tab for weekend (Strohs 30 Pack) $18.00

Now lets go to the beach:

1. Hotel room: $85.00/night
2. Eating six meals out fam of 4: $240
3. Misc. games/suntan oil/snacks/floats $60.00
4. Jet Ski rental: $95/hr per person
5. Bar tab at beach and hotel $45/ per day (Conservative estimate)

Lets figure staying Friday night and leaving Sunday morning. This is is what we get: Initial start up costs for camping = $550.00. The cost for a weekend of camping = $172.00. The cost for a weekend at the beach = $655.00. Lets add the start up costs of camping to the weekend of camping and we get: $772.00. Its cheaper to go camping than to spend the weekend at the beach.