As summer approaches, parents are gearing up to make decisions about their children’s summer camp experiences. To provide insight into the financial aspects of this annual tradition, SummerCamps.com conducted an analysis of the average weekly cost of overnight summer camps in each state across the nation.
Key Findings On the Cost of Overnight Summer Camp:
- Nationwide Overview:
- The average cost for a week of overnight summer camp in the United States is $1,256.56.
- Parents can expect to invest approximately $179 per day for their child’s participation in a residential summer camp.
- Traditional overnight camps are the most expensive, followed by academic camps, sports camps, arts camps, technical camps, then religious camps.
- Religious camps were the least expensive across every state
- Most Expensive States for Overnight Summer Camp:
- California: Following closely, California stands as the most expensive state, with an average cost of $2,270 per week.
- New Hampshire: With an average weekly cost of $2,235, New Hampshire emerges as the state with the second highest expenses for overnight summer camps.
- Maine: Parents in the Northeast can anticipate spending around $2,234 for a week of overnight summer camp in Maine.
- Most Affordable States for Overnight Summer Camp:
- North Dakota: Families in North Dakota enjoy the most budget-friendly options, with an average weekly cost of $383 for overnight summer camps.
- Nebraska: Following suit, Nebraska boasts an affordable average cost of $536 per week.
- Alaska: With an average cost of $635 Alaska rounds out the top three most affordable states for overnight summer camps.
Top Five States with the Highest Costs for 1 Week of Overnight Summer Camp:
- New Hampshire
- Average Weekly Cost: $2,350
- Daily Cost: $335.71
- California
- Average Weekly Cost: $2,270
- Daily Cost: $325
- Maine
- Average Weekly Cost: $2,234
- Daily Cost: $319.14
- New York
- Average Weekly Cost: $2,200
- Daily Cost: $314.28
- Hawaii
- Average Weekly Cost: $2,029
- Daily Cost: $289.85
Top Five States with the Lowest Costs for 1 Week of Overnight Summer Camp:
- North Dakota
- Average Weekly Cost: $383
- Daily Cost: $54.71
- Nebraska
- Average Weekly Cost: $536
- Daily Cost: $76.57
- Kentucky
- Average Weekly Cost: $643
- Daily Cost: $91.85
- Louisiana
- Average Weekly Cost: $659
- Daily Cost: $145.71
- Mississippi
- Average Weekly Cost: $662
- Daily Cost: $94.57
States That Surprised Us:
- Wisconsin:ย Well known for having many summer camps, Wisconsin surprised us by having some of the lowest average costs across the Upper Midwest. Neighboring stats Minnesota ($1,500 per week) and Michigan ($1,439 per week) came in as more expensive.
- Average Weekly Cost: $1356.86
- Daily Cost: $193.83
- Utah: With its closest neighbor Colorado coming in at $1,728 per week and Arizona at $1,290, Utah looks like an absolute bargain at $1,032 per week.
- Average Weekly Cost: $1,728
- Daily Cost: $246
- Oregon: With neighboring Washington coming in at $1,758, Oregon was over half the cost at $785 per week.
- Average Weekly Cost: $785
- Daily Cost: $112
Overall Trends:
- States on the West Coast and Northeast tend to have higher average costs for overnight summer camps.
- The Midwest and Southern states generally offer more affordable options for parents seeking summer camp experiences for their children.
- Religious camps tend to cost significantly less than other types of overnight camps, which may cause the South and Midwest to have lower average costs.
Considerations for Parents: As families evaluate the financial implications of summer camp, it's essential to weigh the overall experience and benefits gained by children. Beyond costs, factors such as camp activities, safety measures, and counselor-to-camper ratios should play a crucial role in decision-making.
Conclusion: As parents navigate the choices for their children's summer experiences, understanding the financial investment required for a week of overnight summer camp allows families to make informed decisions that align with their budget and the well-being of their children.
Methodology: To determine the cost of 1 week of overnight summer camp by state, SummerCamps.com analyzed data from a representative sample of camps across the country. The average cost per week was calculated based on the offerings of various camps in each state. The data represents a snapshot of the summer camp landscape in 2024.
Sources: Proprietary SummerCamps.com Data and Public Camp Website Sources. To determine an average cost, we analyzed over 1,000 summer camp websites across each of the 50 states and compiled the data.
Fair Use:ย Feel free to use this data and research with proper attribution linking to this study.
Sources: Summer camp pricing data was gathered from a diverse selection of camp programs available on SummerCamps.com, and regional averages were calculated. For any media inquiries, please contact info@summercamps.com.