Vacations For Families On A Budget: Your Family Camping Trip
- Angela Pollak, PhD
- Feb 15, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 23
If you’re seeking one of the best low-stress vacation options for families on a budget, look no further than a glamping getaway in one of our tents.
Whether you have camping equipment or not, glamping can be a surprisingly affordable way for families on a budget to enjoy an unforgettable holiday.
Complete with all the convenience of not needing to purchase your own camping equipment, our cozy group- and family-sized safari tents are designed with budget-friendly vacations for families in mind - and we’ve packed in a ton of perks like complimentary firewood and a BBQ on your site!
Continue reading to discover why glamping is one of the most affordable vacations for families on a budget and learn about everything included in your stay - plus, enjoy a FREE Algonquin Park Day pass!
Choose a budget-friendly accommodation
With Four Corners Algonquin's ready-to-camp model, there is no longer a need to invest in, own, or store various types of camping equipment that may not suit your current needs or evolve with your family dynamics and travel interests.
At Four Corners, we offer tents in various sizes, comfort levels, and price points, ensuring we have exactly what you need right now. Additionally, we provide essential gear such as sleeping bags, pillows, pots & pans, towels, and flashlights for rent, tailored to your group's requirements each time you visit.
If you’re seeking a budget-friendly stay for a couple, two couples, or a group of three, explore our options including bunkies and various tent sizes.
Wondering what our accommodations offer? Our tents are comfortably furnished with mattresses and placed on wooden platforms to ensure a dry and cozy experience, just like our other offerings.
In essence, Four Corners Algonquin provides a range of affordable options that ensure everyone can enjoy a delightful camping experience without the steep costs associated with traditional camping. Unlike traditional camping, where the expenses of purchasing or renting gear can quickly add up, our ready-to-camp model includes everything you need.
Enjoy hassle-free camping with our thoughtfully designed sites, featuring everything from cozy tents with outdoor seating areas to private fire pits for roasting marshmallows under the stars.
We take care of the setup, so you can spend your time exploring the great outdoors, swimming, hiking, or simply relaxing and reconnecting with your family. With Four Corners Algonquin, you get all the charm of camping with none of the stress or high costs of investing in camping gear you'll rarely use.
Related: Explore things to do in Madawaska Ontario that are great for a budget-friendly family trip.
Vacations for families on a budget: Pole tent Option
While we recently have updated our campground to offer two more Safari tents on sites that were originally occupied by pole tents, we do still have two pole tents available for use!
Our Hilltop pole tent is our go-to budget friendly option at $79.00 per night, and includes all the features of our safari tents: BBQ on-site, Muskoka chairs, a fire pit, a bag of firewood each night, and a day pass to Algonquin Park, valued at $21/day. We’ll even help you start the campfire at night if you need a hand!
Guests can borrow items like pillows, sleeping bags, blankets, pots and pants, etc from our Quartermaster Shack for a small fee so that you don't even have to worry about packing much, apart from the food.
Our quaint and quiet little town of Whitney, Ontario features an LCBO, grocery story, gas stations and convenience stores, in addition to some great restaurants if you want to indulge yourselves on a meal or two during your stay.
Location Value: You can’t get any closer to Algonquin Park than Four Corners Algonquin. We’re only five km from the East Gate of the park along the Highway 60 corridor, a two minute drive from the village of Whitney, and right beside Opeongo Outfitters.
Stick to your vacation budget by sharing a site with friends
If you're travelling as a group of friends or multiple families to share the costs, we have tents that accommodate up to six people!
Many of our safari tents fit four people very comfortably and are $179 per night (before tax). We also have a few six-person safari tents for larger groups and families that are $229 per night (before tax).
We have many families come as groups and book tents alongside one another so they can enjoy a shared camping experience and build forever memories as a group!
If you're travelling as a single family unit, you're covering the cost of your family in one lump sum. But, if you're travelling as a group of couples or as several families together, you might be able to split the tents and costs thereof. Add in shared gas and groceries and you've got yourself a budget vacation to remember!
Camping on a budget Check out camping in a tiny home
When we designed our tent offerings, we wanted to make sure we captured the imagination of people from across ages, abilities, and accommodate vacations for families on a budget.
Our safaris are fun and affordable (especially if you're sharing the cost as a group), but we wanted to be able to reach specific groups that the larger tents can’t. Which is why we created the tiny home options!
Solo travelers - individuals traveling alone, or those who may be looking for a private, more solitary experience
Budget travelers - students, backpackers, hostellers, and those looking for a safe, cheap place to rest their head
Backcountry campers who need or want a place to stay the night before heading into a back-country trip, or on the night they leave a back-country trip
Friends sharing a site - couples that want to camp together but sleep separately
Novice campers who want to try camping but don’t necessarily have the experience
Parents who want to camp with their kids, but prefer to keep them within arms’ reach
We currently have two tiny homes that are available. The Play Bunkie three-person and pet-free tent at $119.00 per night (before tax), and the Deacon's Landing Bunkie which fits two people and is pet friendly for $179.00 per night (before tax).
Camping with kids (on a budget)
Going camping with kids can sometimes feel overwhelming. You need to make sure you pack what you need so you don't have to buy much extra once you arrive.
We've put together a FREE guide on activities you can do with kids on a budget while camping, glamping, or adventuring! And, BONUS, there's a discount code at the end so you can take an extra 10% off when you book your next family adventure.
Vacation and eat well while on a budget
Campfire cooking is one of the best ways to eat healthy and save money on food while on vacation.
Whether you’re steak-and-potatoes all the way, or prefer vegetarian cuisine, there is something very wholesome about time spent cooking and sharing a meal together.
Many people are worried about the planning that goes into a camping trip, particularly food. We also get questions about refrigeration, and what to do about animals. Is it safe to bring food with you?
You can go all out if you want - plan five course meals and bring familiar foods from home with you if that’s what makes you happy. Or stop at our local Freshmart in Whitney to pick up just what you need.
For safety reasons, if this is how you roll, bring a cooler with ice and store the food in the trunk of your car outside of meal times. Or, if you don’t own a cooler, rent one from us here. The safety rule we live by here is do not bring food inside your tent with you.
Truthfully, and if anyone asks, we encourage people to keep in mind that healthy al fresco dining doesn’t require a lot of advanced planning or know-how. In fact, going simple on the food often makes for a happier, healthier and less stressful getaway.
Lots of fruits and vegetables can be grilled right on the propane bbqs we provide, and you would be surprised at how tasty and satisfying a simple bowl of oatmeal is in the morning.
For a happy medium alternative, bring dry goods with you (cereal, rice, granola) and shop for the fresh ingredients here. Less than half an hour you can take them right from the grocery store to your grill to your tummy. It really doesn’t get better than that.
Save money using local expertise
As soon as people arrive, the very next question is what to do next?
South Algonquin is one of those magical places where you don’t really need a massive excursion budget accounted for within your travel spend to sample the best life has on offer. In this part of the province, nature is your entertainment.
And luckily, here, nature is still free.
Whether you’re a solo traveler or exploring the province with your friends or your kids, check out some of these free and almost-free things to do nearby:
Swim at one of three amazing freshwater beaches in South Algonquin (Galeairy Lake Beach, JR Booth Memorial Park Beach, Bark Lake Beach) or one of six campground beaches in Algonquin park like the Lake of Two Rivers - all within a 20 minute drive of Four Corners Algonquin
Watch the cotton-candy skies at Galeairy Lake Beach at sunset.
Sit outside in the rain, or listen to the sound of water rolling over the rocks at the Galeairy Lake dam in downtown Whitney with a picnic lunch
Plan a trip during the Perseid meteor shower or during a time when the northern lights are at their most visible
Park downtown at Galeairy Lake Memorial Park and take a walk (or bike ride) down South Algonquin’s newly refurbished Old Rail heritage trail that starts at the MadMusher. Meandering along the famous Madawaska River headwaters, you’ll see rapids, open water and if you go far enough, a trestle bridge with spectacular views of the tree line. The trail goes on for over 40km, all the way to Barry’s Bay.
Bring, borrow or rent a fishing rod and take a crack at catching your supper. Ask us for the best spots!
Reserve your free park pass and get some exercise - visit any of the more than one dozen hiking trails in Algonquin Park.
Reserve your free park pass and visit the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre and learn about the natural and social history of Algonquin Park
Check out the interpretive event schedule for activities in Algonquin Park, including guided walks, art displays and public wolf howls
Enjoy our free Algonquin Park driving tour - created by us - and accessible on the Four Corners Algonquin app
Save money by taking advantage of travel discounts
Like any good budget shopper, the best time to book your trip is when discounts and deals are hot.
Here at Four Corners we offer discounts and giveaways both through our social media accounts and our email subscriber list.
If you’re looking for a discount with us, the best time to book your vacation here at Four Corners is in the early spring and at the end of the year for the next season - which is when we typically offer our best discounts.
Follow us on social media or get on our mailing list to be the first to hear about our promotions (we send out regular discounts to our followers!)
In conclusion: Visit four corners for your vacation for families on a budget
Algonquin Park is a world renowned attraction and a priority on international bucket lists for over a century.
It’s also a driving factor for tourism and a hallmark in the province. Despite the wide public awareness of how amazing this part of the world is - less than a 3 hour drive from the main airport hubs of Ottawa and Toronto - what often surprises visitors most when they arrive is how budget friendly vacationing here is.
Four Corners in South Algonquin is among the best value opportunities for vacationing in the province.
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