Transamerica Route COST $$$

[Doug]

Hello again!

I've been saving up my money, counting the days till I leave, but I've a question for those out there who've done the transamerica route:

how much on average did you spend a day?
how much did you spend during the entire trip (excluding buying pre-trip accessories such as bike, panniers, camp equipment etc)?

I'm trying to get a good estimate.
I plan on camping whenever possible, typically cooking dinner for myself, with 1 cafe meal and snacks per day.
Planning on anywhere between 70-90 days for the trip.


thanks for all your help

[raybo]

This page from www.biketouringtips.com has 7 links to information dealing with money on tour.  Some provide estimates on costs, some suggest ways to make money on tour, some discuss getting sponsorship.

Ray

Visit the on-line bike touring archive at www.biketouringtips.com

[Cupocoffee]

Hi Doug.  I did the TransAm last year at a fairly leisure pace. It was around 75 riding days. I can only guess that I averaged around $60 per day. I met one young man who averaged $8 per day. I camped and stayed in motels. Food was a pretty good part of that cost. I never scrimped on my meals. I think eating at local establishments was one of the really fun parts of the trip. I ate a lot of hamburgers, tons of ice cream, and I drank a lot of Mountain Dew, in addition to tons of water. Motels weren't all that expensive but I did pay $70 per night several times. Camping would have been my choice but I was keeping an online journal and I usually did that at a motel but sometimes at libraries. I took no cooking equipment because at the end of a long day, cooking might be the last thing you will want to do. I learned towards the end of my trip that many riders carried a loaf of bread with peanut butter and jelly or honey. I hate white bread but it will last for a couple of weeks. Ha! Sometimes it is nice to just pull off the side of the road and make a PB&J sandwich. Never allow yourself to get short of food or water. I met riders who were spending more than I did but most were spending somewhat less. My observation was that older people tend to spend more. Have a safe and great trip. You will love it and you will hate it but, in the end, it will be something you will remember all your life.
Steve in Oklahoma City
www.grandpalosthismind.com

[staehpj1]

I think it was close to $15 per day for me, but I was sharing a tent with two companions so the campsite fees were split three ways where it was per site or per tent.  We camped for free where we could (city parks and churches) and cooked most of the time.  We paid for one room.

A lot obviously depends on the choices you make.  Of course the safest bet is to allow plenty of extra just in case.

The guy who spent $60 a day must have lived high on the hog by my standards.  Not that there is anything wrong with that if that is what you want and you can afford it.

If I were going alone I would like to have $30 per day available, but would probably get by with actually spending $15-20.