BootsnAll Travel Community

Hello all,

This is a total 'newb' post, and I'm not necessarily looking for a million details. I have ample time to explore the web and this board for the specifics of my travels.

Some background:

- I am a 24 year-old working paraprofessional planning to attend grad school in the Fall.
- I live in Boston and will be finished with all responsibilities here on or around June 20th 2007.
- I have some flexibility but I would like to return to the East Coast in mid-August.
- I have always had a great desire to see the United States, but have never travelled seriously off of the East Coast.
- I have a 2002 Honda Civic in fairly decent condition with about 70k miles on it.
- I love small towns, abandoned areas/buildings/towns, long stretches of open roads and beautiful scenery, very good beer/breweries, meeting new people, live music.
- I have little to no camping experience and no tent but I am very open to the cheapest options (I understand that national parks provide cheap camping).
- I will be taking this journey alone, potentially meeting people along the way.
- My priority is seeing the West but I would love to see more along the way.
- My budget is ~$3500.

My questions:

- What can I reasonably expect to see on this budget and time period? Should I make a straight shot across the country and explore the West for the entire trip? Or take my time and stop along the way?
- What would you do in the United States with ~2 months and ~$3500?
- Any other tips or advice? All is appreciated and welcomed.

Thank you in advance. I'm just looking for a starting point, for some guidance. This is the VERY beginning of my planning stages - i.e. first night.

That gives you about $58 a day. If you plan it out and do some research you could stay in hostels and camp the entire way. Of course , I don't mean plan it out to the letter, that would be dull, but you can get a list of hostels/campsites along the route you wish to use. Hostels will reduce your lodging cost to somewhere between 15 and 24 dollars a night (and are excellent places to meet fellow travelers). I am less certain about camping costs, though they should be much less. I paid five dollars a night in Yosemite. On average this will leave you with 38 or so for food, petrol, park entrance fees, and whatever else you may need. Gas will be a rather large portion of you budget, esp with prices being what they are. Camping will reduce your expenses, especially if you spend a few days in one place, as will self catering. Bear in mind that while there are many hostels registered with Hosteling International, there are still others which remain independent, so some research would definitely benefit you. Also, you will be staying in a dormitory.

That said, I have no doubt you can do it. There are many ways to cut costs. I have driven from Augusta, Georgia to Monterey California, but did not have a chance to see much. Last month I drove from Monterey to San Antonio, Texas, taking my time and attempting to explore some of the beauty of the national forests. Yosemite is perhaps the most stunning natural wonder I have seen, with the possible exception of the limestone peaks in Yangshuo/Gulin, China. You could easily spend a few days there. There is a fantastic hostel ( Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort) just outside Mariposa, about 35 miles or so from Yosemite. You may wish to book ahead in the summer though, if you are looking for a campsite. Showers can be had for free at Curry Village, regardless of where you stay in the valley. If you do decide to visit a number of national forests, you might look into a pass which will allow you entry into every park, possibly cheaper than paying each entry fee separately).

The Grand Canyon is awe-inspiring, and Carlsbad is pretty impressive as well. There is a little hostel ( Red Lake Hostel ) on the way to the canyon, but it is a little creepy (or was when I was there).

Stretches of road don't come any longer than the drive through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas (though it is at times somewhat monotonous). For sheer beauty, the drive up Hwy 1 into Monterey is hard to beat. Bear in mind that California is rather expensive.

There are some old ghost towns in California and Colorado, and probably New Mexico and Arizona as well that might bear researching. One of them, Bodie , is located very near Yosemite and could be combined with a trip. I seem to recall some nice breweries in Colorado and New Mexico.

Taos, New Mexico is a wonderful little town, with stunning scenery, a really good vibe, and beautiful people. There is a little artist community called Arroyo Seco near there with a quirky, welcoming Hostel. I went to a Rainbow Gathering there back in 1995, and returned this last trip for a couple days. I wish I had spent longer. There are also some wineries scattered about. It is quite near to Santa Fe as well.

Live Music = Austin, Texas. Though it is the capital, Austin bears little resemblance to the rest of Texas. It has a very liberal atmosphere, a truly amazing music scene, as well as excellent beer. There is a very nice hostel there as well, though a bit more expensive than some ($24).

Sorry my information is rather limited, I have never had the pleasure of traveling in the northern United States (yet).

quote:

Originally posted by dprouty:
This is a total 'newb' post,

1) It's spelled n00b.

2) Your budget is extremely tight for car travel. You'll be putting lots of miles on your car, and even if your civic gets 30-40 mpg, your biggest expense will be fuel.

Consider: can you convince a friend or relative to join you for all or part of your trip? Splitting the fuel costs would free up LOTS of extra money for fun stuff. It's hard to enjoy those Colorado cowboy bars if can't even afford a beer.

Alternatively: sell the car and buy a motorcycle? seriously.

3) Before you head out on your trip, you should try out car camping a few times. Get the hang of sleeping, cooking, and pooping in the woods in an environment that you're used to.

Washington state is not the place to learn what a rainfly is. Alaska is not the place to learn about bug spray.

4) Invest in good socks.

An extremely tight budget is putting it rather mildly. In a Honda with 70K on it one good breakdown and your trip is over. And then what? If you have a credit card that you can use for the repairs and are willing to go in to debt for it, fine.

But then, when I was 24 years old I would take the trip regardless. I never was the prudent sort.

I had forgotten about the extras like beer and such. Could you perhaps reduce the length of your trip? I would have done it as well in my youth, and probably would still attempt it, though perhaps you should err on the side of caution and be prepared to return early. You might even consider a closer destination, less time, and somewhat more lengthy stays in each place.

If you do it, do so with an open mind and be prepared to sacrifice comfort for experience.

Sounds like a really fun trip!

From experience, I can tell you that you will never know what might happen to your car, but that if you have taken good care of it and had regular oil changes, you will probably be fine for the trip that you are planning. I drove from Tucson to Chicago and then to Northern Manitoba and back in a car that had 123,000 miles when I left. The only problem that I had was being rear-ended by someone in St. Louis. Even then, after all the paperwork and police zib zab was taken care of, I wired up my trunk, ghetto- style, and went to the zoo and toured the Budweiser Brewery before the end of the day. A road trip is all about your attitude and your can-do spirit!

If it were me, I would pick out the things that interested me most and then plan the route accordingly, with a little flexibility for those hot tips that you might get along the way.

Try camping before you go, so that you have some sense of what it will be like. You don't need the most expensive gear in the world -- that is the great thing about car camping -- your car is incredibly useful as a storage device!

I would suggest the following if camping is the way you want to go:

Tent and tarp
Sleeping Bag
A camp stove
A food box that you can seal
Some kind of sleeping pad -- I use an air mattress
Flashlight with extra batteries
A cooler for cold food
Water
Toilet Paper
2 towels

National Parks are not always the cheapest places to camp -- sometimes State Parks are nicer, not as busy and have good amenities. In your travels, stop in at those blue-signed Visitor Centers to pick up accommodation guides -- they now include campgrounds, which is very helpful. Often you can find private campgrounds that are convenient and not too expensive. Also useful is knowing the rules about camping on BLM land, which can be free/very cheap and easy, too.

You'll have so much fun -- road trips are so freeing! Perpetual Motion gives some great tips on possible stops along your route.

Check out this handy brewery map of the US.

I agree with AMJ that National Parks are often not the cheapest place to camp. And your travels are during the high season when many National Park campgrounds are booked up in advance. Or operate on a first come, first serve basis and you need to be there early to ensure getting a spot.

An alternative would be to camp in National Forests which are often adjacent to National Parks, less likely to fill up and less expensive. Also, don't forget couchsuring and such.

Car camping is a great way to go, I've done it a lot on the west coast, but the costs do add up. For starters, the National and State Parks here in California charge $18 - $20 per night for a camping spot and there is really no avoiding it if you want to be near the best spots. Additionally, and this is not a cost consideration but a planning one, lots of people take off to camp on Summer weekends, and a lot of the campsites are booked out weeks in advance. So you might want to camp during the week and use the weekends to move from place to place finding cheap motels along the way.

Having said that, I strongly endorse camping as the best way to be near the best sights and appreciate the west. There's nothing like a campfire under the stars....

Which reminds me, I would add to AJV's list one lantern. You need a flashlight, too, but I find a lantern invaluable once dusk falls. I prefer one powered by liquid fuel rather than propane or batteries - more economical.

I agree with many of the others' suggestions, including camping, at least on some nights, and try to avoid national parks as they can be crowded and expensive the time of year you're going. You may not know much about camping, but I'm sure you will run into a ranger or fellow camper who would be glad to give you some tips. I also agree with perhaps trying it out before you go or at least do more research about it in some manner so you aren't totally clueless when you get out there.

I lived in Arizona for a short time and it is a beautiful state. If you go to the Grand Canyon, you could stay in Flagstaff; the largest city in Northern AZ. I believe it's slightly less than an hour to travel to the South Rim from there. There are a few hostels in Flag--I can't recall what they are, but they are very popular, so getting a room may be difficult, but definitely look into that.

While in AZ, also consider checking out the trails in Sedona, visiting Antelope Canyon, Kartchner Caverns State Park...

Great suggestions so far. I think the State Park route is the way to go too. You can register and pay online in advance with most state parks and even pick out your site. We stayed at the Badlands on the ND side in a National Park and it was great! The only thing you have to watch out for is the different camping levels. Some do not have shower facilites or electricity at the site which makes it a little rough. I need my morning shower and like to plug in an occasional electronic device. Get a good AC/DC converter to plug into your cig. lighter if for no other reason than to keep your cell phone or batteries charged. Every little bit helps.

Be sure to stop in Southern West Virginia. We have loads of rural small towns, gorgeous scenery and the nicest folk you'll meet.

Best of Luck!

check out this link
http://www.couchsurfing.com/

quote:

Alternatively: sell the car and buy a motorcycle? seriously.



4) Invest in good socks.

I would normally be very much in support of 'ditch the cage and get a bike' suggestion because motorcycle touring is my passion and one of the best ways to go. You are easy on the environment (in most cases) and getting there is more than half the fun. But I would not suggest it here because you need a lot of experience and shorter trips to feel comfortable going it for a lengthy period. Depending on your necessities setting up a proper touring rig can get pricey too.

I second the 'Invest in good socks' suggestion, true for so many situations - hiking, camping, bike touring, bicycle touring - socks are so important.

And lastly, make sure you have good road side assistance that is nationwide like AAA.

Good luck

Well, I have a LOT to say, but I'll try to keep it to a minimum...

1)I spent a few months living in my car once. I slept in truck stops almost exclusively. They're great - there are showers for sale and a place to buy coffee when you wake up. I never had a single dodgy experience doing so. I also crashed at rest areas occasionally, too, but truck stops are FAR superior. And it's free to do so.

2) In my opinion, both in order to save gas and not waste time, I'd say picking a specific region would be advantageous. I would go directly to Utah. Seriously. Wow. Lots of great stuff in one state. Buy a national parks pass and that will pay for itself quickly. I would find it impossible to believe if you told me you did everything in Utah in one summer, but there are also some other paces in the area within a short drive that have a lot to see like Arizona, Nevada, and parts of Colorado. I can't think of a better location for the kind of trip you are suggesting than those places!

Good luck!

Do you have to drive drive out to the West?
Within your budget, options could include flying out to L.A. or S.F., and start your adventure out there....

Amtrak's Coast Starlight Seattle/L.A. (a friend from Couchsurfing.com just did that, alone, & said it was one of the best trips of their life, with hop-on/hop-off & rent-a-bike options in a lot of really cool places),
OR
One of any number of group trips by organizations like Green Tortise, TrekAmerica, etc. to Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Utah, up/down the West Coast, etc.
OR
Renting a car and drive up Highway 1

As everyone has suggested - your budget might restrict how far you go, what yousee/do, or how long you go for. Infact - probably all 3!!

However, my brother and I did a 6 week road trip. It cost us about AU$ 6,000 each. That includes fuel, car rental, food, entry to wherever we went, occasional accomodation when we wanted a bed and shower (Days Inn).

As you will see if you look at our webpage below, we did alot of driving, in a short space of time. We did a lot of overnight driving.

I think my point is, it can be done, but find a friend to come with you - and that instantly halves the fuel cost.
It also will help on those long open roads through Texas or across the mid north! I was initially going it alone, but I am so glad my brother came in the end.

Steve & Michaels USA Roadtrip

Steve

Sleeping in the car at truck stops is a good idea IF you can fit comfortably in a Honda.

Personally I would economize on the gas and not venture so far afield. States like West Virginia and Kentucky have great scenery and parks, and are a lot closer and cheaper than California.