New research has ranked the most affordable European countries for family camping holidays in 2026, based on campsite fees and car hire costs, with Portugal, Spain and Austria offering the best value.
From beachside pitches in Spain to lakeside campsites in Austria, camping remains a popular way for families to explore Europe for less.
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Now, a new study has revealed the destinations offering the best value for money this summer across the continent.
Research from Discovercars.com, an international car rental broker, revealed the most – and least – affordable destinations, based on the combined cost of campsite stays and car hire for a family or four.
The team looked at the most affordable option under that criteria between 27 July and 2 August 2026, and then compared the prices of two to four popular campsites in different areas of the country.
They also found the cost to rent a car near each campsite and found the average price for an SUV vehicle in the same time frame, and used the two distinct findings to create the ranking.
Most affordable European countries for family camping
According to the research, these are the most affordable places for family camping trips in summer 2026.
Portugal
The study found that Portugal offers the best value in Europe for a family of four going camping. It revealed that a week’s car rental and campsite fees are just €363 in total.
Much of that is down to the lowest car rental fees across the study, with an SUV costing as little as €143 for a week. The average campsite price came to €220, which is the middle range of the research.
Despite this, there were no added costs for facilities and amenities at the campsites, meaning a Portuguese camping trip can be budget-friendly. Many also welcome pets, so furry family members can come too.
Spain
In second place is Spain, which has an average cost of just €398 for a week-long campsite stay, including car rental fees.
Campsite fees average €149 – the second most affordable in the ranking – and car rental prices are relatively low too, at an average of €249.
The Spanish campsites researched also had no extra charges listed for amenities and facilities, and they all welcome pets, too.
Spain could be a good choice for nervous drivers, too. In a previous study, the company found it to be the easiest country in all of Europe to drive in.
Austria
Up next is Austria, famous for its alpine scenery, hiking opportunities and myriad lakes. Here, a week’s trip will set you back €445.
The country has the fourth least expensive campsite costs at €187, and car rental costs came to €258, meaning it’s a fairly affordable option for families.
There are occasionally added costs at campsites, though, with additional charges for power noted. It’s typically billed per kWh, which is about €0.80 to 0.85, and warm-water showers cost around €1.50 to 1.70 each time.
United Kingdom
While the weather isn’t known to be the most reliable in the UK, it’s still a good value camping destination. It also has a wide range of beautiful landscapes to enjoy on a camping trip, from the coastlines of Suffolk and Dorset to the hills of the Peak District.
The average cost for a week’s pitch and car hire is €504. While the average campsite cost was €272 – technically the second most expensive in the research – it’s much lower than the destination with the highest cost, the Netherlands.
Car rental prices, on the other hand, are the second most affordable out of all destinations surveyed, at an average price of €232.
Sweden
Rounding out the top five for the most affordable family camping destinations is Sweden, famous for its late summer sunsets which offer more time to enjoy the stunning scenery.
In the Scandinavian nation, the average total cost of a basic campsite and car rental fees for the week is €552, with campsite fees coming to €200 and the car rental prices at around €352.
Most expensive European countries for family camping
At the other end of the scale, the research also showed the most expensive European destinations for family camping.
It revealed that the Netherlands is the continent's most expensive destination for a week-long camping break, with an average cost of €1,021. The country had by far the highest average campsite fees at €511, while car rental costs averaged €510.
Switzerland ranked second, with an average total cost of €958. While campsite fees were relatively moderate at €246, the country had the highest car rental costs of any destination analysed, averaging €712 for a week.
Norway took third place, with families facing average costs of €776. The Scandinavian destination had some of the highest campsite and car hire prices in the study, at €267 and €509 respectively.
Finland was fourth, with a total average cost of €637. Although campsite fees were among the lowest surveyed at €152, higher car rental costs of €485 pushed up the overall price. Researchers also found that some campsites charge extra for electricity, laundry facilities and sauna access.
Rounding out the top five was France, where a family camping holiday costs an average of €629. Despite having the cheapest campsite fees in the study at just €142, relatively high car rental prices of €487 made it one of Europe's pricier camping destinations overall.
