You guys! I love writing these posts, and I am STOKED to share some more tips and tricks with you. Before I get going, I want to clarify a few things that make cheap travel work for me. If your situation is a little different than mine you may not be able to go to certain places under $200 BUT my guess is that it wont be much more expensive. First of all, I drive a Chevy Sonic LT that gets 33 miles to the gallon. Of course if you drive an SUV or something that doesn't get as great of gas milage, you're going to be paying more than what I pay. I do have some tips to help with this and I will explain them later. The second thing is that I almost NEVER pay for somewhere to stay. The car and tent are my two best friends! Lastly, I live in Utah! Most of the places I travel to are more or less close by so if you're on the East Coast, most likely you won't be able to get to Washington with $200 ;) Common sense but just wanted to go over that. Now to the good stuff!
Okay, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FOOD. First and foremost you should know that when I am trying to make a trip under $200 I DO NOT EAT OUT. I grocery shop for everything before hand. This year I have learned some of the best things to eat while traveling cheap. I have also learned how to be able to eat GOOD food while on the road instead of feeling like I am just eating granola bars the whole time. PLUS I'm vegan so that adds a whole new fun twist on things
- Get a good sized cooler. Mine is pretty big but probably doesn't need to be. I don't usually buy a ton of things to keep cold but I guess it could depend on what I plan to eat.
- Invest in a small crate. I keep all of my dry food in a square crate. It keeps everything organized and easily accessible.
- Put your duffle bag behind the passenger or driver seat along with your sleeping stuff (sleeping bag, pad, blanket, pillow) It makes life easier when you get to where you're going and don't want to rummage through everything so that you can go to bed.
This was by far one of my favorite stops on the way up through Northern Idaho. I am actually not going to disclose this location's name, but if you are serious about trying out ID/WA with $200 or less, message me and I will tell you what it's called.
Some of you may think "ehhh Idaho.. It's not that much different from Utah. I want to go on an actual vacation! To a new place!" YOU GUYS. Don't be fooled. Idaho is by far one of my favorite states. Just because it is close to us does not make it any less of an adventure. There is SO much to see and do. This photo definitely doesn't do justice, but this canyon was unreal! If you're driving from UT up to Coeur d'alene you will not be disappointed with the drive.
Out of all the places I have been, Idaho has the best stars. HANDS DOWN
Many of you have asked, "What were your favorite places to see?" This time around I loved seeing it all. I wanted to get off of every exit and explore. If you do this route, don't make a plan. Stop when you want. Hike where you want. You will discover your own gems and that is what makes a memorable trip.
A lot of you wonder where I stay and how it is so cheap. The truth is that if you want to see the world, a tent should become your best friend! I have a small two man tent that I take everywhere. I should also mention that in order for this to work you have to chuck your shame and fear out the window. I have camped on the side of the road, at rest stops, in national forests (where it is permitted) on LDS church land etc. This is completely free and always makes for a good story.
So that's that! At the bottom of this post I have made a step by step of how I did this trip. Exactly how much I spent in gas, food, camping spots etc.
I will also make a list of places to visit (but not the hot springs. you have to be serious about going to get that info ;) )
Step by step
- North Ogden - Spokane there and back is 1380 miles. I added about 100 miles to the trip with stops and exploring. That is 4 tanks of gas which ended up being around $130.
- I grocery shopped before hand which was around $50.
- I did not spend any money on campsites or hotels so my lodging was...FREE