Hi Folks!
Myself and 3 friends will travel from New York to LA in 6 weeks - 43 days to be exact.
Departing NY May 11th - Arriving LA June 23rd.

The following is our itin (give or take a day or two in each place):

New York - 4 days
Boston - 1 week
Montreal - 4 days
Chicago - 5 days
Yellowstone National Park (camping) - 4 days
Salt Lake City - 2 days
Grand Canyon and Vegas - 1 week
LA - 3 days

I am aware this adds up to less than 43 days but I've allowed for a few days travelling time and in-between-stops.

We will travel mainly by train and bus from city to city - except for between Chicago - Vegas, were we plan on renting a car (2 weeks ish).
We will also stay in (average cost) hostels in each city.

So have a guess on how much this will cost per person.
When calculating include travel (train, bus fares, car rental etc), accommodation, food and socialising - we like to have a couple of nights out every week).

Don't worry about additional sight-seeing costs or other activities.

All I'm looking for is a guess. I reckon if I get enough answers I can get a good idea from the average.

Thanks in advance!


OzDamo

Apologies just a quick note to clear something up. We'll arrive in New York on May 11th and stay for 4 days -

So departing NY May 15th (not 11th as originally input)

hi

i have just spent 6 months in Canada and US and easily spent £1000 a month on transport, hostels, food, beer and sightseeing. I wouldnt budget anything less than that so you would be looking at £1500 or $3000 for the 6 weeks

if you need anymore info feel free to PM me as i went to all but 2 of those places.

Michelle

At the risk of sounding alarmist, I think you will need more in the neighborhood of $5000 to $5500. More if you have not already made bookings for hostels in places like NY, Las Vegas, LA and Chicago. Same with transport. Just great to say we will jump on a bus or grab a train but Amtrak (train) can be very expensive. Greyhound (bus) has different rates the closer you book you ticket to when you travel. Prices on Everything in the US have gone up.
The sky is falling
the sky is falling
the sky is falling - Chicken Little

I went to a couple of pubs last week in Georgetown (part of Wash DC) $17 for two Guinness before tip. And they will be looking for a tip. Sure there were "nice" places but dumps will charge you at least $6.
Sit down at the computer, figure out your route, and do some math. Amtrak, Greyhound, airlines, hostels, all have websites. Even Yellowstone. Bring plenty of money.

Yeah america can be really cheap. But then its kind of like the third-world country side of America that you may or may not want to see.

Amtrak can be good, but isn't cheap for short distances. Check out http://cheapbus.wikispaces.com/North+America or take greyhound bus.

I wouldn't rule out finding a hotel in some places that can be cheaper than a hostel. Unfortunately we really don't have the hostel culture that exists in Europe and Britain, so you wont be missing out on too much there either.

I would recon that to have a great time you'll spend $4000 each, but it really depends on how you fancy traveling--it can be done for much less but also much much more.

If you're not a US citizen (I don't think they're available to locals anymore) You might be able to to decrease your price with one of the travel passes good for a curtain amount of travel over designated time period for amtrak.

If you're doing this in the summer sky's the limit far as price goes depending on the type of places you're willing to stay. I'd budget at least 100usd per day per person (if you're not too picky about cheap food and bottom budget lodging) unless you're going to do substantial research and prebook hostels/ motels online. None of the places on your list are known for being cheap so if you eat and drink out, see sights, and do vacation stuff you could spend a lot more

Note gas is going to be at record highs this summer and if you've never driven/rode across the US It's a very big place these are some seriously long rides on buses and trains. The systems can be very inefficient and ther will be delays I've done some cool rides via train across the US, definately worth it but once you get out to my part of the world there always seem to be delays.

Buy all of your trasit tickets ahead of time otherwise grayhoud(bus) and amtrak train ticket will cost ALOT more.

Note while grayhound is very flexible about when you actually take the bus you need dates for the train

Have you considered renting a car for the entire trip? Weekly rates start in the neighborhood of $250USD - split four ways + gas, that's pretty economical. Of course, there will be a pretty hefty charge for a one way rental, but I think it would still be more practical than bus/train. The U.S. isn't really set up to just hop on a bus or train - at least not like some other places, and air travel is less expensive than the train.

For Yellowstone, it is probably a good idea to make campground reservations in advance. Xanterra services runs the campground concession in the park and can be contacted via phone at +1 (307) 344-7311. Additionally there is at least one and maybe more campgrounds in the park that are still run by the park service on a first come, first served basis.

Ok. I think we're seeing too much pessimism here.

1. Hostels cost around 20 dollars a night, except for nyC and maybe boston, san fran, which might run 30 dollars a night. N Y International hostel on 103rd and Amsterdam is my chosen home when I go there for a weeks vacation from philly. Nice social area a metro ride from anywhere. NYC is definitely 30 dollars a night.

2. Transport. Car rental can be as low as 250 a week and then theres gas at 4 dollars a gallon. Cars ARE best for the western national parks where buses and trains will leave you short.

3. Train. If you have a foriegn passport, check out the Amtrak program for foreigners. 30 days for 400 dollars, or maybe even more days. All over the country any train, any time. The train is slower, but the people you meet on the train will make the day go swiftly as you see the country you are passing through from a comfortable seat. Then again I love trains. Greyhound has 99 dollar deals long distance, BUT... Ouch. See threads on buses in the states. Nuff said.

There are a network of China buses from city to city I'm not sure if it extends to Chicago or out west. They tend to be cheaper than even greyhound. ex. Philly to NYC, 20 bucks, round trip, or before 4 dollar gas, anyways. Philly boston, philly Washington dc equally cheap and just about as comfortable as greyhound. It can be a problem to find the Chinabus bus stations. In NYC its in the midst of chinatown, and hard to find. In philly, its easy.

Eating money...

1. Ramen noodles. Always cheap, always available.
50 cents each package.

2. Cheap food in hostel kitychens, 5 bucks a person a meal and you eat really well, spend your time cooking.

3. Restaurants:
Burger king, mcdonalds, 5-7 bucks a meal.
Diners 10 to 15 a person for something nice.
good food. Skies the limit.

Ok. Say you pick option 3 cheap style.
20 to 30 dollars a day for reasonable food
20 dollars a night for hostels and camping(fees can be high)
Tourist fun costs, 10 dollars, counting the odd hot dog.
60 a day x 43 days, 2600 dollars with safety margin.
Transport, 700 if you train and rent it, 500 if you bus it, planes can be as much as a train with added taxes and getting from and to airports, which is NOT often easy.

so 3300 dollars if you eat real american food, not ramen noodles, add 1000 for emergency money, such as expensive hotels you're forced to stay in, or disneyland like expenses.

That should put you on target for a non car budget.

Car budget.. You'll have a hard time with hostels, because they're often in cities and in areas where ones car isn't safe parking hassles, etc.

1200 dollars for6 weeks if your lucky not counting fuel cossa at 4 bucks a galon. Refill tank 15 gallons, at 4 bucks, 60 bucks every 350 miles. Cross country in 3000 miles. 60 times 10 600 dollars if you're getting 20mpg, the average for a rental.

Does this help?

Motels..35plus a night for one you'll want ot park your car in. Wallmart if you want to sleep in.

Winnebagos if you want to sleep in your vehicle comfortably higher rental fee.

quote:

Originally posted by Tortuga_traveller:


Motels..35plus a night for one you'll want ot park your car in.

Where?

Im going to say 500 a week including everything

Thanks a million for all the replies.
Departing this Sunday. World here we come. Yeehaa!!!