Outdoors

Camping Trip Expense Splitter

Divide campsite fees, groceries, firewood, gear, and gas for group camping trips. Track everything and settle up when you get home.

Common camping trip expenses

A weekend camping trip costs $50 to $200 per person. Here is what you will need to track.

Campsite fees

$20-$50/night

Reserved spots, hookups, and backcountry permits split among the group.

Groceries and cooler supplies

$100-$300

Shared meals, snacks, drinks, and ice for the cooler.

Firewood and charcoal

$15-$40

Bundled firewood, fire starters, and charcoal for cooking.

Gas and transportation

$50-$150

Fuel for the drive plus any tolls or parking fees along the way.

Gear rentals

$20-$80/person

Tents, sleeping pads, lanterns, or cooking gear for those who need them.

Park entrance and activity fees

$10-$30/person

Day use passes, fishing permits, and guided hikes.

Example: 6 friends, 2 nights

ExpensePaid byAmountSplit
Campsite reservation (2 nights)Sam$906 ways
Grocery runAlex$2106 ways
Firewood and iceJordan$356 ways
Gas (round trip)Casey$804 riders
Canoe rental (3 people)Morgan$753 paddlers

Nudj calculates the minimum settlements, turning many potential payments into just a few transfers.

The tricky parts of splitting a camping trip

Shared gear vs personal gear

The group tent and cooking supplies are shared. Personal sleeping bags and headlamps are not.

Some people drive, some ride

Split gas and parking among those in the car, not the whole group.

Different food preferences

If someone brings their own specialty food, keep it separate from the shared grocery run.

The early leavers

Friends who leave a day early should still pay their full campsite share (it was reserved for them) but not for the second night's groceries.

Focus on the campfire, not the calculator

Create a Circle for your camping crew. Log expenses as they happen and settle up when you are home.