Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

[staehpj1]

However, after the costs of my flight and buying the gear I'll need I'd like to keep my travelling expenses below $50 a day.  Does that sound do-able including perhaps a camp site with showers?  On that topic, how much do US campsites cost on average for cyclists.

I don't know how frugal you are or how resourceful at finding sites to camp, but $50 per days sounds like a lot of money to me.  I don't think I ever approached that even when I included several motel stays on my 10 day tour last spring and ate a lot or restaurant meals.

On the Trans America I averaged a lot less.

I don't often buy alcoholic beverages and eat mostly simple meals, but don't pinch every penny either.  My guess is that you can probably do just fine on $50 a day and not feel a financial pinch at all.

[rvklassen]

However, after the costs of my flight and buying the gear I'll need I'd like to keep my travelling expenses below $50 a day.  Does that sound do-able including perhaps a camp site with showers?  On that topic, how much do US campsites cost on average for cyclists.

$50 per day sounds tight to me - for two people 

Of course it depends on whether you buy your food served on a plate or as ingredients to cook/combine.  Cooking for yourself, you can generally (although not always) do pretty well on $10 per day.  As for campsites, $30 is at the expensive end: you might get stuck with paying that once or twice;  hiker/biker sites, are less than $20, sometimes as low as $5-ish.  Occasionally you find a place where you can stay free (ACA maps tend to indicate them).    With a $50/day budget you might be able to hole up in an inexpensive motel once in a while, and eat out from time to time.

[staehpj1]

Occasionally you find a place where you can stay free (ACA maps tend to indicate them).

Depending on where you will be you can probably stay for free more than occasionally.   On the TA we stayed free about half the time and quite often paid less than $10 when we did pay (over a 73 day period).  Last Spring I never paid for a site on my 10 day tour, but did stay in $40 motel rooms several times.

Most small town parks are fine.  In the west if there are no signs that say it is prohibited I usually set up near the picnic pavilion.  Asking around in small towns will usually result is a spot to camp.  If there are police I ask them.  If there is a store clerk available, I ask if they think I will be run off (rather than actually asking permission).  I try to set up early so if I am going to get kicked out it will be early enough to find another spot.  I have not been run off yet.

It may be harder in the east, but in much of the west it is usually pretty easy to find a free spot to pitch a tent for the night.  At least that has been the case for me so far.