Booking a summer camping trip can be stressful. The best campsites will sell out just minutes after the online reservation system opens for bookings, which can leave you scrambling to find an alternative.



Last year, some friends and I wanted to go camping over the August long weekend. We started planning a trip to Golden Ears Provincial Park – about 90 minutes from Vancouver. Three nights was $63 all in and even when we added in gas, food, and drinks and firewood it was still a good deal.



There are always ways to make a camping trip even cheaper. Here are a few tips to help you save money on your next camping adventure.



Camp for free

There are many beautiful places across Canada where you can camp for free. I’m fortunate to be from British Columbia, where there are an abundance of forestry sites that offer free camping. These sites offer little to no amenities - which means you won’t find any showers. Some have outhouses, picnic tables, fire pits, and if you’re lucky, you might find a shelter hut where you can keep dry and cook your food if the weather turns bad. But don’t be surprised if you find nothing more but a few flat surfaces for pitching tents.



The website FreeCampsites.net is a good place to start. You will be able to find free and cheap camping sites across Canada and the USA.



You are also allowed to camp and hike on Crown Land for free, and there are plenty of beautiful trails, forests, and mountains to explore. However, there are some rules, which will vary depending on the province. For example, in BC you are only allowed to camp on crown land for 14 consecutive days, and in Ontario, the maximum is 21 days.



Related: How to save money on a road trip



Discount camping

If you camp often, it might be worth it to join a campground chain’s discount program. For example, KOA has campsites across Canada and the United States, and for $24/year, offers a 10 per cent discount to its loyalty cardholders. Camping at KOA sites are usually a bit more expensive $25-30/night, but offers many amenities, including water, WIFI, electricity, swimming pools, showers, and more.



For an annual fee of $44, Passport America offers a 50 per cent discount on over 1,800 campgrounds across North America.



Some campgrounds might charge a small fee for having more than one tent, but most places allow it for free, and the more people you have, the cheaper the camping is.



Prepare meals ahead of time

Save money, hassle, and space in your cooler by prepping your meals before you pack and head out into the wilderness. Marinate meat, cut some vegetables, and prepare skewers at home. You can bring a few potatoes wrapped in tinfoil for the fire, as well as eggs, pancake batter, and condiments in small containers.



Used gear

If you only camp during the summer months, there’s no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on a lightweight all-weather tent, down-filled sleeping bag, and all the expensive accessories. Check out discount stores, garage sales, Craigslist, or borrow items from friends and family.



Be creative - there are plenty of things you can use around your house for making camping cheaper: laundry lint makes good tinder, dipping matches in wax makes them waterproof, and an old shower curtain can make a great tarp.



Entertainment

Entertaining yourself while camping is easy. Just bring cards, board games, a good book, walking shoes, and bicycles – if you can fit them in your car.



Save on firewood by bringing some of your own wood from home, or buy wood from your local store. It will almost always be cheaper than paying $3 to $6 per bundle for wood that they sell at campsites.



Related: Should you go on vacation if you’re in debt?



What tips do you have for a frugal camping experience?



Krystal Yee lives in Vancouver and blogs at Give Me Back My Five Bucks. You can reach her on Twitter (@krystalatwork), or by e-mail at krystalatwork@gmail.com.