Attending a big fan convention is a perfect experience, but it can be a costly quest if you’re not prepared. Major events like Dragon Con and Gen Con draw tens of thousands of enthusiasts each year, with Dragon Con 2025 alone hosting more than 75,000 attendees. This demand results in increased cost, making financial planning important. Today, we’ll discuss all the major expenses and share tips to help you budget smartly for 2025’s biggest conventions.
Badge and Registration Costs of Dragoncon in 2025
One of the first expenses for any D&D convention or gaming con is the registration badge. What to expect for 2025:
- Dragon Con 2025 (Atlanta). Dragon Con offers a 5-day membership that covers the entire event, from Thursday to Monday. If purchased well in advance, these full-weekend passes cost around $110 bought by mid-September of the previous year, and then $125 through the end of 2025. However, if you wait until closer to the con or at the door, the price jumps to $175. Dragon Con also offers single-day passes for those who only want to attend on specific days, with one-day tickets ranging from $35 to $75.
- Gen Con 2025 (Indianapolis). Gen Con, famed as “The Best Four Days in Gaming,” sells badges a bit differently. A 4-day badge for Gen Con 2025 costs $155, covering Thursday through Sunday. If you can’t attend all days, single-day badges are available: $78 for Thursday or Friday, $95 for Saturday, and a budget-friendly $39 for Sunday. Gen Con’s badge prices are fixed, but they can sell out.
What’s included in the badge? A standard con badge ensures you entry to the convention venues, panels, dealer halls, performances, and most free activities. It does not cover travel, hotel, or food expenses. Some special events incur additional costs: for instance, at Dragon Con, the organized tabletop gaming sessions require a $5 fee per game, and certain workshops or tournaments may have small charges. When setting your badge budget, consider what extras you might want to include and research their prices ahead of time.
Getting to the Dungeons and Dragons Convention City
Travel costs can exceed the cost of the convention itself, so you should definitely include it in your planning. The options are:
- Flying. The price of a plane ticket can vary because of distance and timing; however, the average round-trip domestic airfare in the U.S. over recent years has been around $384. That means if you’re flying to Gen Con in Indianapolis or Dragon Con in Atlanta from a few states away, you might spend roughly $300–$400 on a ticket. To save money, book as early as possible.
- Driving. It can be wiser, especially if you split the cost with friends. Budget for gas, and don’t forget wear-and-tear or potential tolls. Gas prices in 2025 have fluctuated, but let’s estimate roughly $3.50 to $4.00 per gallon as the average. Also, factor in parking costs at the convention, which can range from $30 to $60 per day.
- Trains and buses. Depending on your region, taking an Amtrak train or a long-distance bus could be an option. For medium distances, a train ticket might be $50–$150. Just remember you’ll still need local transport upon arrival.
- Carpooling. One great way to save is to travel with friends. Splitting gas and taking turns driving makes a road trip cheaper per person. Four people in one car can divide fuel and parking four ways. If you have local friends going to the same convention, team up!
Lodging and Accommodation Costs of Dragon Con in Atlanta
For multi-day conventions, lodging is usually the single biggest expense in your budget. So, how to plan housing without breaking the bank:
Convention Host Hotels
Big events like Dragon Con and Gen Con partner with nearby hotels to serve as official “host hotels” or part of a housing block. These are extremely convenient – you’ll be staying right where the action is or within a short walking distance. However, in 2025, Dragon Con’s five host hotels (the Hyatt, Marriott Marquis, Hilton, Westin, and Courtland Grand in downtown Atlanta) offered discounted con rates that were still around $270–$300 per night before taxes for a standard room. Over a 4-night stay, you’re looking at roughly $1,200–$1,300 total for one room at a host hotel.
Overflow and Budget Hotels
If the main hotels sell out or are out of your price range, don’t panic – overflow hotels and other options are usually available. Dragon Con provides a list of partner hotels further out in the city with slightly lower rates. You might find options in the $150–$250/night range in Midtown. Gen Con’s housing list also includes hotels a few miles away or by the airport that cost a lot less; some were around $125–$180 per night in 2025’s listings. Just be sure the location is safe and practical.
Shared Rooms with Splitted Costs
A popular tactic to cut lodging costs is to share a room. Most hotel rooms can accommodate at least two to four people. By filling the room, you divide the cost. Using the earlier example of a $300/night room: one person alone pays $300, but four friends sharing brings it to $75 per person per night, which is a huge savings. If you do share, make sure everyone is clear on the plan: how many nights, the total cost to split, whose name is on the reservation, and how you’ll handle deposits.
Also, note that the hotel may temporarily place a hold on your credit card at the time of check in. Make sure you understand the hold amount and how long it lasts to avoid money issues. If time-sensitive deals or emergency expenses come up during the hotel hold, consider some practical ways to get extra funds for limited-time offers. Such last resort options will help you not to miss the benefit.
Costumes and Cosplay: Budgeting for Creativity
One of the best parts of conventions, especially something like Dragon Con in Atlanta, is the cosplay. You’ll see attendees dressed as everything from superheroes and anime characters to obscure D&D monsters. How much you spend is entirely up to you, but you can manage your cosplay budget, so:
- Plan your costumes early. Just as you budget money, budget your time. Planning ahead allows you to take advantage of sales on materials and avoid costly last-minute shopping.
- Budgeting for accessories. Don’t forget the “extras” that complete a costume: wigs, makeup, contact lenses, jewelry, shoes, props, and so on. It might be $100+, so plan for these accessory costs in your overall costume budget.
- Reuse and repurpose. There’s no rule that you must debut a brand-new cosplay every time! If you already invested in a great outfit last year, it’s perfectly fine to wear it again. You can also refresh a cosplay by adding new elements or improving parts of it.
Daily Spending at the Con
Let’s break down the typical daily expenses you should anticipate:
- Meals and snacks. You’ll need to eat and drink each day, and convention schedules can be packed from morning to midnight. Many con-goers budget about $50 per day for food. This could break down as follows: $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, $20 for dinner, plus $5 for coffees/soft drinks, or snacks.
- Merchandise and shopping. You’ll find all sorts of cool stuff, such as artwork, T-shirts, dice sets, rare game books, collectibles, you name it. It’s very, very easy to overspend here because there’s always one more shiny thing catching your eye. To avoid blowing your budget, decide in advance roughly how much you’ll allow yourself for shopping.
- Autographs. If meeting celebrities or artists is on your agenda, be sure to include the cost of autographs or photos in your budget. Prices vary by celebrity and are often posted at their table. It’s not unusual for a well-known actor’s autograph to cost $50–$100.
- Entertainment. Conventions often offer additional fun activities that may incur an extra cost – for example, arcade rooms, charity raffles, seminars or classes, or evening events. Dragon Con has late-night parties, and some are free with your badge, while others might be ticketed.
Budgeting Tips and Final Checklist for Con-Goers
Think of this as your final checklist before convention adventures:
Create a Convention Budget Plan
Actually, write down your budget. Make a simple list or spreadsheet of categories with expected costs for each. This helps you see the total you’re committing to and lets you adjust if that total is too high.
Save Up Gradually
Once you know how much you need, figure out how to save that amount over time. It’s much easier to save, say, $100 a month for 10 months than to come up with $1,000 all at once in August. Set aside money from each paycheck specifically for the con. Some people use a separate savings account for that.
Use Apps or Tools to Track Expenses
During the convention, consider tracking your expenses. You can use a notes app to jot down each purchase. It doesn’t have to be super strict, but if you notice on Day 2 that you’ve already spent 75% of your food budget, you can consciously choose a cheaper option for the remaining days.
Leverage Memberships and Rewards
Check if any of your existing memberships can help you save money. Some airlines have partnerships with discount car rental companies, among other benefits. If you’re a student or military, the convention or vendors might have discounts – always ask or look for a note on their site.
Enjoy Free and Included Activities
Make the most of what your badge provides for free. Both Dragon Con and Gen Con offer a wealth of included entertainment, including panels, concerts, costume contests, game demos, and screenings, all at no extra cost. If you fill your schedule with those, you won’t be as tempted to spend additional money.