Skip to content
CampingCalc

Shore Power Cost Calculator: What does electricity cost at the campground?

If you heat electrically in winter you quickly use 10 kWh a day – at $0.17/kWh that's $1.70 daily, and at the higher rates some campgrounds charge for metered sites, considerably more. This calculator compares metered billing and a flat rate for your stay and shows from which daily consumption the flat rate is cheaper.

Units
Consumption

Charging the battery, fridge on 120 V (about 2–4 kWh/day for absorption fridges!), coffee maker, laptop. Typically 1–3 kWh without heating.

Campground rate

Example value – US residential average about $0.17/kWh (EIA 2025); campgrounds often charge more.

Example value – many campgrounds include electricity in the site fee or charge a fixed daily amount.

Result

Electricity cost for 7 nights (metered)

$1.79

Metered billing is cheaper

Metered billing total
$1.79
$0.26 per night
Flat rate total
$35.00
Consumption per day
1.5 kWh
Flat rate pays off from
29.4 kWh/day
Show calculation
  1. 1Consumption: 1.5 kWh/day × 7 nights = 10.5 kWh
  2. 2Metered billing: 10.5 kWh × $0.17 = $1.79
  3. 3Flat rate: 7 × $5.00 = $35.00
  4. 4Break-even: $5.00 ÷ $0.17 = 29.4 kWh/day

 

How it's calculated

Consumption [kWh/day] = base consumption + heating power [kW] × heating hours Metered = consumption × nights × price per kWh Flat rate = nights × flat rate per night
Break-even [kWh/day] = flat rate per night ÷ price per kWh
At a $5 flat rate and $0.17/kWh the flat rate pays off from 29 kWh per day.

Typical consumption: recharging the battery 0.5–1 kWh, absorption fridge on 120 V 2–4 kWh, coffee/cooking 0.3–1 kWh, electric heating 1–2 kWh per operating hour.

Worked example

A week of winter camping: 1.5 kWh base consumption, electric heating at 1.8 kW for five hours a day. The campground offers $0.17/kWh or a $5 flat rate.

Inputs

  • Nights: 7 nights
  • Base consumption per day (without electric heating): 1.5 kWh
  • Electric heating (heating element, space heater, electric furnace): yes
  • Electric heating power: 1.8 kW
  • Heating operation per day (running time): 5 h
  • Price per kWh (metered billing): 0.17 $
  • Electric flat rate per night: 5 $

Result

$12.50

Electricity cost for 7 nights (metered)

Metered billing total
$12.50
Flat rate total
$35.00
Consumption per day
10.5 kWh
Flat rate pays off from
29.4 kWh/day

Calculation

  1. Heating: 1.8 kW × 5 h = 9 kWh/day
  2. Consumption: 10.5 kWh/day × 7 nights = 73.5 kWh
  3. Metered billing: 73.5 kWh × $0.17 = $12.50
  4. Flat rate: 7 × $5.00 = $35.00
  5. Break-even: $5.00 ÷ $0.17 = 29.4 kWh/day

The variables explained

Base consumption (kWh/day)
Everything except electric heating. Absorption fridges on 120 V are big consumers.
Electric heating power (kW)
Power of the heating element or space heater; the pedestal breaker (30 A or 50 A) limits it.
Heating operation (h/day)
Actual running time at this power – thermostat-controlled heaters only run part of the time.
Price per kWh / flat rate
Per the campground's rate sheet. The example values in the calculator must be replaced.

Common mistakes

  • Taking the flat rate without thinking: with low consumption (only charging the battery) the meter is often cheaper.
  • Underestimating the absorption fridge on 120 V: it runs almost continuously and needs 2–4 kWh a day.
  • Overlooking the pedestal breaker: space heater plus electric kettle trips a 30 A circuit together with other loads.

Assumptions and limits

  • Prices are example values; taxes and site fees are not included (see the campground cost calculator).