5 Tips for an Affordable Family Adventure

Campgrounds in Yosemite and other popular national parks often fill up months ahead of time. Fortunately, there are several online platforms that simplify finding alternatives. Hipcamp offers tent sites on farms, ranches, and private properties, as well as public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and other organizations. It also features enhanced accommodations, like an A-frame cabin in Oregon with a swimming hole and a creekside farm in Mississippi where guests can gather fresh eggs for breakfast. Pitchup.com lists about 100 campgrounds across the U.S., including West Beach Resort on Orcas Island, Washington, which provides safari-style tents and whale-watching opportunities. France-based Huttopia offers a select number of glamping spots in Canada and the U.S., featuring sturdy wood-and-canvas tents with ample amenities. For instance, Huttopia Southern Maine, located about 30 minutes from Kennebunkport, includes a café, camp store, swimming pond, and hammocks nestled among the pines.

Discover new arrivals.

Several emerging hotel brands are catering to nature enthusiasts with locations near national and state parks. Many offer gear rentals, including bikes and child-carrier backpacks. Loge has 17 locations either open or in the works, including one near Glacier National Park in Montana, granting guests access to 700 miles of hiking trails. Field Station currently operates two locations, one in Moab, Utah, and another near Joshua Tree National Park in California; both feature quad rooms, a gear shop, and a swimming pool. Trailborn Rocky Mountains is situated close to Rocky Mountain National Park, with plans for a sister property opening this summer in Highlands, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Customize your hotel experience.

Recreational vehicles (RVs) are an alternative worth exploring—even if you’ve never driven one before. Many rental RVs on Outdoorsy can be delivered directly by the owner to your chosen campground or driveway, and a lot of listings on RVshare offer the same service. If you're comfortable driving, a great way to discover quality parking spots is through Harvest Hosts, which lists u-pick farms, breweries, drive-ins, and other businesses that welcome overnight visitors.

Enhance your search criteria.

Utilize filters to discover some of the most unique listings on Airbnb. Selecting “Domes” reveals geodesic homes, including one with views of the Potomac River in West Virginia’s mountains. Choosing “Play” uncovers a Colorado cabin featuring an indoor climbing wall and an outdoor play fort for kids. The “Treehouses” option presents an off-grid retreat on a wooded farm in rural Ohio.

Consider the extended-stay hotel option.

Often perceived as basic, these hotels can be surprisingly well-equipped, offering family-friendly features such as in-room kitchens, playgrounds, and swimming pools. For instance, Atwell Suites, a brand by IHG Hotels & Resorts with locations in Austin, Denver, and Miami, provides complimentary breakfast—including churro doughnuts—and has games and puzzles available in the lobby; over 40 more locations are planned. Choice Hotels has introduced the pet-friendly Everhome Suites, with eight locations expected to open in 2024, including one in Bozeman, Montana.

A version of this article first appeared in the July 2024 issue of Dinogo under the title "How to Execute an Affordable Summer Getaway."