There are six practical ways to camp, and they differ on four axes: how much you carry, how much you spend, how comfortable you sleep, and how much gear you must own before the first night. Choose by the axis you cannot compromise on — usually effort or comfort — and the type follows.
The six types compared
| Type | Cost per night | Effort | Comfort | Gear to own first | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive-up tent camping | $15–45 | Low — car carries everything | Medium | Tent, bag, pad | First trips, families, car-based weekends |
| Walk-in / primitive | $5–25 | Medium — 100–500 m carry | Medium-low | Same, lighter | People who want quiet without hiking far |
| Backpacking | $0–15 | High — everything on your back | Low-medium | Lightweight full kit | Hikers, fit travellers, remote access |
| Car / van camping | $0–40 | Low | Medium-high | Sleeping platform or small tent | Road trips, solo travellers, remote work |
| RV camping | $25–80 | Low at camp, high in prep | High | Rig, hookups, tanks | Families, long trips, cold weather |
| Glamping / cabin | $80–250 | Minimal | Highest | None | Non-campers, winter comfort, celebrations |
The cost column is the nightly fee, not the cost of entry. Backpacking looks cheapest per night and is the most expensive to start, because a lightweight kit costs 2–3× a car-camping kit for the same warmth.
Cost: entry versus per night
| Type | Setup cost | Per-night cost | Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive-up tent | $250–500 | $15–45 | Immediately |
| Backpacking | $600–1,200 | $0–15 | After ~20 nights |
| Car / van | $300–800 (platform) | $0–40 | After ~10 nights |
| RV | $15,000–80,000 | $25–80 | Rarely; it is a lifestyle purchase |
| Glamping | $0 | $80–250 | Never — it is a hotel substitute |
If you camp fewer than ten nights a year, drive-up tent camping wins on total cost by a wide margin. If you camp thirty nights a year, a lightweight kit pays for itself in access and comfort.
Effort: the axis people underestimate
| Type | Setup time | Daily effort | Packing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive-up tent | 15–25 min | Low | 30 min |
| Walk-in | 25–35 min | Low-medium | 30 min |
| Backpacking | 10–15 min | High (5–15 miles) | 20 min |
| Car / van | 5–10 min | Low | 10 min |
| RV | 20–40 min | Medium (tanks, leveling) | 45 min |
| Glamping | 0 | None | 10 min |
Backpacking has the shortest setup and the highest daily effort. RV camping has the longest setup and the lowest daily effort. If your holiday is meant to be rest, RV or glamping; if it is meant to be movement, backpacking.
Comfort: what each type actually gives you
- Tent: a dry bed, no heating, shared space. Comfort comes from your pad and bag, not the tent.
- Van / car: a flat, elevated bed and shelter from wind; no standing height, condensation is the enemy.
- RV: heat, fridge, toilet, shower — the comfort jump is real and it is why RVs cost what they do.
- Glamping: a bed, a kitchen, and often a bathroom; you are paying for someone else’s logistics.
The comfort-per-dollar curve is steepest between tent and RV, and flattest between RV and glamping.
Gear: what you must own before night one
| Type | Minimum kit | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-up tent | Tent, bag, pad, cooler, stove, light | 40–60 lb (car) |
| Walk-in | Same, lighter versions | 20–25 lb |
| Backpacking | 15–20 lb base weight kit | 22–27 lb with food/water |
| Car / van | Sleeping platform, bedding, cooler, light | 20–30 lb |
| RV | Rig plus hookup cables, hoses, leveling blocks | Vehicle |
| Glamping | Nothing | 0 |
Do not buy backpacking gear to try camping. Rent or borrow for two trips, then buy against the type you actually enjoyed.
The decision rule
- If you have never camped: drive-up tent, one night, within 90 minutes of home.
- If you hate setup and love scenery: backpacking, but rent the kit first.
- If you need a bed and a shower: RV or glamping; do not force tent camping on a comfort requirement.
- If you are travelling for weeks: van or RV — the logistics amortise.
- If you want solitude and zero fees: walk-in or dispersed, with a self-contained toilet system.
- If children are under six: drive-up or RV; the margin for error matters more than the scenery.
One rule overrides the rest: choose the type that makes the third trip likely, not the one that makes the first trip impressive.
Mixing types on one trip
The types are not exclusive. A common pattern is to drive to a basecamp, set up a tent, and day-hike from it — car camping comfort with backpacking days. Another is a van as a mobile base with two tent nights in the middle. Choose the type per night rather than per trip: the rig that gets you there and the shelter you sleep in can be different decisions.
The only rule when mixing is that the heaviest commitment sets the plan. If one night requires a permit or a reservation, that night anchors the itinerary, and the flexible nights fill in around it.
Where to go next
Once you have picked a type, the beginners guide covers the first-trip plan, the tent guide covers shelter choice, and the destinations guide covers where each type is allowed to camp. For weather that changes the choice, see the seasonal guide.