15 guides
Outdoors on a budget guides
Plain-English guides to getting outdoors for less. Fees and rules change; check with the park or agency. We don't sell gear or earn commissions.
Parks and passes
Annual passes, free days, state parks and discounts.
- Annual pass or pay at the gate?
Count the visits, then decide.
- Free entrance days
Several days a year, every park.
- State park passes
Often the best local deal.
- Free and discounted federal passes
Seniors, military, fourth graders and more.
Camping
Budget camping, dispersed sites, booking and food.
- Camping on a budget
Start close, start simple.
- Free dispersed camping
Free sites on public land, with no facilities.
- Reserve campsites early
Popular sites book up months ahead.
- Camp food on a budget
Simple meals from your own kitchen.
Gear
Buy, rent or borrow, used gear and basics.
- Buy, rent or borrow?
Try before you buy.
- Buying used outdoor gear
Big savings, with a few checks.
- Start with the basics
You need less than the catalog suggests.
- Make your gear last
Clean, dry and store it right.
Safety and care
The Ten Essentials, Leave No Trace and plans.
- The Ten Essentials
Carry them on every hike.
- Leave No Trace
Keep wild places wild, and free.
- Plan, and tell someone
The cheapest safety gear there is.