7 Camping Upgrades for $50 or Less

I grew up camping with my family in a tent trailer at New Brighton State Beach in California, where we fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Coin-operated showers and drinking water were only a short walk away. My dad would post citronella tiki torches around our site, and we’d unfurl a carpet to wipe our feet on. Looking back—now that I’ve been on multiday backpacking trips, slept in a truck on the side of the road, and skipped showers for days—I realize that it was a very luxurious way to camp.

Glamping, or glamorous camping, is a rapidly growing market that’s expected to hit a revenue of $1 billion in the United States by 2024. More people than ever before are seeking out yurts, treehouses, Airstreams, and other luxury camping amenities. But not everyone can afford to splurge when they go outside. If you want to elevate your basic campsite to a posh getaway for cheap, add a little bling with these bougie, budget-friendly products. - Amelia Arvesen

MPOWERD Luci String Lights


Brighten up your base camp by stringing 18 feet of glowy lights between the trees or around your tent. The USB- and solar-rechargeable battery powers these ten LED nodes for 20 hours while also charging your device.