Traveling on a Budget: Save Money Staying in a Rooftop Tent

9 Apr, 2025

Traveling brings the excitement of discovering new places, experiencing different cultures, and making unforgettable memories. Most people would agree that time and money are constraints to travel more often. The cost of lodging plays an important part of the expenses while traveling to what if we can minimize the cost of lodging. What’s the best way to stay while exploring if you are traveling on a budget? Should you opt for the freedom and adventure of rooftop tent camping, or indulge in the comfort and convenience of hotels? In this post, we’ll compare the costs of both options, looking at the long-term value, and help you decide which one is right for you.

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Basis for Comparison:

To make a fair value comparison we will assume that you can travel to a destination spot within 5 hours of driving from your home. Driving in one direction will use the same amount of gas, carry the same people, and do activities that you value equality with the only difference than in one you would sleep on a rooftop tent and the other one at a hotel. We also assume that at the hotel you would be eating at a restaurant but spending the same amount of money as buying quality ingredients to cook at the campsite. Therefore, we are only comparing the cost of lodging.

1. Upfront Costs: The Investment The first thing to consider when comparing rooftop tent camping to hotel stays is the initial investment. Rooftop Tent Camping: A good quality rooftop tent can range in price from $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the brand, features, and materials. James Baroud tents have been known to last upwards of 20 years, have a 5-year warranty, and certainly have salvage value. A typical Evolution series tent can be sold for about $2000 after 5 years of use. Therefore, the overall cost of a tent over a period of 5 years can be assumed to be about $2500 ($4500 purchase price – $2000 sold after 5 years of use). Rooftop tents must be mounted on a rack or bar load system that will be in the range of $700-$1200. There might be some additional basic gear you may have to buy such as sleeping bags, a portable power station, and camping equipment. Let’s add another $1000 to those. For purposes of this article we can assume that $5000 is a good budget to have a good quality tent, rack setup, and basic camping equipment. The tent was being sold after 5 years and the rest of the equipment was discarded. Hotel Stays: There is no initial investment for hotel stays.

James Baroud Barbecue — James Baroud Space Medium tent looks like new. Owner Felix Rainville in the picture has been traveling for ten years with this tent saving tons of money and has many stories to tell.

2. Ongoing Costs: The Big Picture This is the cost per night or cost per trip after the initial investment. Evidently it will be more significant depending on how often you decide to travel. Rooftop Tent Camping: There are many places to stay with rooftop tents that are amazing and free. However, sometimes you may have to pay to get certain items such as bathrooms, showers, power. It is easy to find campsites with amenities anywhere from $20-$40 per night. It is fair to say that you could be using those facilities 50% of the time on the trips. So, for the purpose of this article, let’s assume the average night cost to stay in a rooftop tent is $20. Hotel Stays: Hotel prices can vary greatly depending on location, time of year, and the type of accommodation you choose. On average, budget hotel rooms can cost anywhere from $50 to $150 per night, while mid-range hotels can range from $150 to $300. Luxury hotels and resorts can easily cost $400 or more per night. If you’re traveling for several weeks or even months, the cost of hotel stays can quickly add up, even if you’re staying in budget accommodations. Let’s say you can find decent hotels for $200 per night.

3. Length of Stay: Breakeven Point The Rooftop tent option with the higher initial investment has a lower ongoing cost and the hotel has no initial investment with a higher ongoing cost. Therefore, determining which one is more economical will depend on the number of stays before the 5-year deadline in which we decided the tent would be sold.

Type of Stay	Investment	Daily Cost
Rooftop Tent	$5,000	$20
Hotel	$0	$200

Days of Travel	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
Cost RTT	$5,200	$5,400	$5,600	$5,800	$6,000	$6,200	$6,400	$6,600	$6,800	$7,000
Cost Hotel	$2,000	$4,000	$6,000	$8,000	$10,000	$12,000	$14,000	$16,000	$18,000	$20,000

The tables above show that the breakeven point is at about 30 days. If you are planning to use the tent for 30 days or less in a period of 5 years, it would have been more economical to stay at hotels. After 30 uses within a period of 5 years, then it would be more economical to stay in a rooftop tent.

4. How realistic is it to use an RTT more than 30 times? It is common to think of 2 types of getaways: the weekend getaway, which would be a Friday-Sunday outing and the longer stay which could be a week or so. To use a tent 30 times in a 5-year period would involve 6 days per year meaning that 3 weekend getaways or 1 longer stay trip per year in which you substitute a hotel with a rooftop tent already would make it budget neutral. Most people who own a rooftop tent use it more than 6 nights a year but also sometimes stay at hotels. It is not about completely substituting one for another but substituting at least 6 hotel nights a year will already give you savings.

traveling on a budget: real life examples

Let’s evaluate 2 distinct scenarios of popular locations in the US where you can find both hotel and campsite locations and compare the cost of the trip.
Leavenworth Hotel Stay vs RTT Camping
Leavenworth, Washington, is a charming, Bavarian-themed village nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Known for its picturesque setting along the Wenatchee River, Leavenworth is a popular destination for tourists seeking a unique blend of outdoor recreation and European-style village culture.
You can plan a trip to Leavenworth and experience the exact same activities, whether those are outdoor or indoors, but then stay at a hotel or a rooftop tent. For this scenario all of your costs for activities, food, gas would be the same.
A Hotel stay during Memorial Weekend costs $245/night at a 3-star Hilton Garden Inn by Marriott for 3 nights would put you at $832 including taxes and fees.
That same weekend renting a camping spot in the beautiful Lake Wenatchee 24 minutes from downtown Leavenworth with electricity and water hookup costs $37/night meaning $111 all in for the weekend. SAVE $721!!!

Orlando FL Disney Experience vs Wekiwa Springs
This is one of the clearest scenarios in which the cost for a vacation can be extremely different. The experience of visiting Disney World can be hard to compare to an outdoor experience, however, doesn’t mean one is more satisfying than the other and would cost more than $900 extra just for lodging and entry fees. Consider the costs of going memorial weekend in which the parks will be extremely busy, you will be exhausted by the end of the day of making lines to the 3 or 4 best rides of each park.

Entry Tickets for 2 = $450 (3-day ticket)
Lodging (3 nights standard room) = $526.95 at Disney’s budget hotel
Total = $976.95

Just a few miles from Disney you can find many beautiful state parks like Wekiwa Springs State Park. Although you won’t have the technology of the theme parks, there are lots of wonders to enjoy at the park such as swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding in the clear waters of the Florida Springs. Campsites fit 2 vehicles for the same price so if you have friends who want to travel, you can also split the cost in half.

Entry tickets for 2 = $6
Lodging (3 nights full campsite that fits 2 vehicles) = $72
Total = $78

6. Long-Term Value: Is Investment in a Rooftop Tent Worth It? In terms of long-term value, rooftop tent camping can be much more cost-effective, especially if you’re planning on traveling for several years. Once you’ve made the initial investment in the rooftop tent and necessary gear, there are very few recurring costs beyond travel expenses. Over time, rooftop tent camping offers significant savings compared to the ongoing expense of booking hotel rooms. On the other hand, if you’re only planning short trips or occasional vacations, and won’t substitute more than 6 nights per year of hotel stays with rooftop tent stays, the upfront cost of a rooftop tent may not make sense. Hotels provide comfort, convenience, and amenities that sometimes cannot be replicated when staying outdoors.

Which Option is Right for You? Ultimately, the choice between rooftop tent camping and hotel stays comes down to your priorities, budget, and travel style. • If you’re an adventurous traveler looking for flexibility, breathtaking views, and a more immersive experience in nature, a rooftop tent is an excellent investment. • If you prefer comfort, luxury, and convenience, and don’t mind paying more for the ease of hotel stays, then hotels might be the better option. Rooftop tent camping offers a more affordable, flexible, and environmentally friendly option for long-term travel, while hotel stays provide the comfort and convenience of home away from home. No matter what you choose, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey and create memories that will last a lifetime. Happy travels!

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Traveling on a Budget: Save Money Staying in a Rooftop Tent

Basis for Comparison:

traveling on a budget: real life examples

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