Summer Camp Cost by State 2026

Day camp averages $275–$900/week depending on your state. Overnight camp runs $850–$2,600/week nationally. Specialty camps (STEM, sports, arts) cost more. Here's what parents actually pay, broken down by state, camp type, and age group.

Summer Camp Cost Calculator

Pick your camp type, how many weeks, and your state.

Camp type

Day Camp

STEM / Sports / Arts

Overnight

YMCA / Community

Weeks of camp

State

Number of kids

Day Camp · 8 weeks · National Average · 1 child

$3,840

$480/week

FSA savings (22% bracket)

$845

Net after FSA

$2,995

Day Camp vs. Overnight Camp Costs

Day Camp

$275–$900/week

Drop-off in the morning, pick-up in the evening
YMCA and community programs at the low end
Specialty camps (robotics, sports, arts) at the high end
FSA and dependent care tax credit eligible
Sessions typically 1–2 weeks each

Overnight Camp

$850–$2,600/week

Child stays at camp full-time (1–8 weeks typically)
Sleepaway camps in the Northeast run highest
Includes room, board, and activities
NOT eligible for FSA or dependent care credit
Financial aid available at many nonprofit camps

National averages based on ACA (American Camp Association) member camps. Regional variation is significant — see state table below.

Cost by Camp Type

Weekly day camp rates. Overnight camps typically run 2–3x these rates.

Camp Type	Weekly Range	10-Wk Summer	FSA Eligible
General / YMCA day camp	$200–$500	$2,000–$5,000	Yes
Sports camp (single sport)	$300–$800	$3,000–$8,000	Yes
Multi-sport / outdoor adventure	$350–$700	$3,500–$7,000	Yes
STEM / tech / coding camp	$500–$1,200	$5,000–$12,000	Yes
Arts / performing arts camp	$400–$1,000	$4,000–$10,000	Yes
Academic / tutoring camp	$300–$900	$3,000–$9,000	Yes
Religious / faith-based camp	$200–$500	$2,000–$5,000	Yes
Overnight / sleepaway camp	$850–$2,600	varies by weeks	No

Summer Camp Cost by Age Group

Day camp weekly rates. Younger children have fewer options; infant/toddler camps are rare.

Age Group	Typical Weekly Cost	What's Available
Toddler (2–3)	$150–$350/wk	Childcare centers only — summer programs at daycares, not camps
Preschool (3–5)	$200–$500/wk	Preschool summer programs, YMCA Jr. camps, nature play camps
Early Elem (5–7)	$250–$650/wk	Full range: general day camps, intro sports, arts, swimming camps
Elementary (8–12)	$300–$1,200/wk	Widest selection — specialty camps, sports academies, STEM camps
Teen (13–17)	$350–$1,400/wk	Leadership camps, pre-college programs, elite sports camps

Summer Camp Cost by State (2026)

Average weekly cost for standard day camp and 2-week overnight camp session. Specialty camps (STEM, elite sports) run higher.

State	Day Camp / Week	2-Wk Overnight
Alabama	$325	$1,900
Alaska	$675	$3,600
Arizona	$475	$2,700
Arkansas	$275	$1,700
California	$850	$4,800
Colorado	$700	$4,000
Connecticut	$850	$4,600
Delaware	$600	$3,400
Florida	$500	$2,900
Georgia	$450	$2,600
Hawaii	$750	$4,000
Idaho	$350	$2,100
Illinois	$600	$3,400
Indiana	$400	$2,300
Iowa	$350	$2,100
Kansas	$350	$2,100
Kentucky	$350	$2,100
Louisiana	$350	$2,100
Maine	$450	$3,200
Maryland	$725	$4,000
Massachusetts	$875	$5,000
Michigan	$450	$2,600
Minnesota	$575	$3,200
Mississippi	$275	$1,700
Missouri	$425	$2,400
Montana	$325	$2,200
Nebraska	$400	$2,300
Nevada	$450	$2,600
New Hampshire	$625	$3,800
New Jersey	$825	$4,600
New Mexico	$350	$2,100
New York	$900	$5,200
North Carolina	$450	$2,600
North Dakota	$300	$1,900
Ohio	$425	$2,400
Oklahoma	$325	$2,000
Oregon	$625	$3,600
Pennsylvania	$575	$3,400
Rhode Island	$600	$3,400
South Carolina	$425	$2,400
South Dakota	$300	$1,900
Tennessee	$425	$2,400
Texas	$475	$2,700
Utah	$475	$2,700
Vermont	$650	$3,800
Virginia	$650	$3,700
Washington	$750	$4,200
Washington DC	$875	$4,800
West Virginia	$300	$1,900
Wisconsin	$475	$2,700
Wyoming	$300	$2,000

Sources: American Camp Association cost data, state childcare cost indices, regional camp operator surveys. Day camp rates reflect YMCA/community programs; specialty camps cost more.

Summer Camp vs. Babysitter vs. Summer Daycare

10-week summer costs for one school-age child. Real trade-offs, not just prices.

Option	Weekly Cost	10-Wk Total	FSA?	Best For
YMCA / community day camp	$200–$400	$2,000–$4,000	Yes	Budget-conscious families who need full-day coverage
General day camp	$350–$650	$3,500–$6,500	Yes	Parents who want structured activities and socialization
Specialty day camp (STEM, etc.)	$500–$1,200	$5,000–$12,000	Yes	Enrichment-focused families (usually mixed with cheaper weeks)
Babysitter / nanny	$500–$900	$5,000–$9,000	Yes	Families with multiple kids (one rate covers all) or odd schedules
Summer daycare center	$190–$275	$1,900–$2,750	Yes	Cheapest full-day option for families already enrolled year-round
Overnight camp	$850–$2,600	$1,700–$5,200	No	Independence-building for kids 8+. Usually 2–4 weeks, not all summer

Babysitter rates assume $15–$22/hr for 8-hour days. Summer daycare rates reflect year-round center pricing for school-age children. Overnight camp total reflects a typical 2-week session, not full summer.

5 Ways to Pay Less for Summer Camp

Early bird registration

Most camps offer 10–20% discounts for registering before March 1. Some sell out too — this isn't just a savings tip.

Scholarship and financial aid

The ACA estimates that 90% of accredited camps offer some form of financial assistance. Ask directly. The application is usually simple and many families who ask receive aid.

YMCA and community programs

YMCA day camps run $200–$400/week nationally and serve kids 4–15. Quality varies by location but is generally solid. Income-based sliding scale pricing is standard.

Dependent care FSA

Day camps qualify for your FSA. The $5,000 annual limit covers 10–25 weeks of day camp depending on your state. Set this up in January during open enrollment.

Sibling discounts and multi-week rates

Most camps offer 5–15% discounts for a second child and for booking 4+ weeks. Book multiple sessions at once to lock in the discount.

What Summer Camp Actually Costs in 2026

The national average for day camp is $480/week. That number is nearly meaningless on its own. A YMCA day camp in rural Arkansas runs $200/week. A STEM coding camp in Palo Alto runs $1,200/week. Both are "average" depending on which data you look at.

Here's what actually matters: your state, the type of camp, and whether you're talking day camp or overnight. New York parents pay roughly 3x what Mississippi parents pay for the same general day camp experience. That gap is mostly labor costs and real estate.

Day Camp: The Math

Most parents use day camp as childcare. School ends in mid-June. You need coverage through late August. That's 10 weeks. At $480/week average, that's $4,800 for one child. In Massachusetts, budget $8,750. In Mississippi, $2,750.

YMCA and community center programs are the most affordable option by a lot. They run structured programming, have trained counselors, and cost $200–$400/week nationwide. If cost is your main concern, start here. The YMCA's financial assistance program covers families earning up to 300% of federal poverty level at many locations.

Specialty camps (STEM, sports academies, performing arts) start at $500/week and go well past $1,000. These are enrichment experiences, not childcare solutions. If you need 10 weeks of coverage, mixing 2–3 weeks of specialty camp with YMCA programming for the rest is the practical move.

Overnight Camp: Worth It?

Overnight camp runs $850–$2,600/week nationally, with 2-week sessions being the most common. A 2-week stay at a mid-range camp in the Northeast is $3,000–$4,000. Elite sports camps (IMG Academy, etc.) go higher.

One thing parents miss: overnight camp does NOT qualify for FSA or the dependent care tax credit. The IRS is explicit — overnight camps are excluded. Day camps qualify. That distinction can be worth $1,000+ in tax savings when you're comparing options.

Financial aid at overnight camps is more available than most people assume. Many nonprofit ACA-accredited overnight camps have scholarship funds covering 25–50% of tuition. The application requires a tax return and a short form. Most families who apply receive something.

The FSA Calculation

If your employer offers a Dependent Care FSA, use it. You can set aside up to $5,000 pre-tax per household. At a 22% marginal rate, that's $1,100 saved. At 32%, it's $1,600.

The math: if day camp costs $4,800 for the summer and you put $4,800 through your FSA, you save $1,056 at 22%. That's real. The FSA also covers the childcare tax credit overage — if you have one child and expenses exceed $5,000, you can claim the credit on up to $3,000 more.

Set the FSA during open enrollment in November or January. Most parents don't think about this until June. By then it's too late to enroll.

When to Book

Good camps fill up. March is not early. February is better. Some popular camps in high-demand areas (Boston suburbs, Bay Area, Westchester County) have waitlists by January for summer spots.

Early registration discounts typically run 10–20% off for booking before a February or March deadline. On a $5,000 summer bill, 15% off is $750. Worth spending 20 minutes to register early.