Appalachian Trail thru hike cost (and 9 ways to reduce it)
Everyone who dreams of thru hiking the Appalachian Trail has heard about the physical and mental challenges that await them, but those aren’t the only things that can cut your hike short. Many people quit their hike simply because they run out of money, so an adequate budget is crucial to completing your thru hike. But how much does a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail cost?
According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, a hiker will spend $1,000 per month on average while on the Appalachian Trail. Given it takes 5 – 7 months to complete an AT thru hike, you can expect to spend between $5,000 and $7,000 during your time on the trail. You also need to consider the cost of gear before you even begin your hike, which can easily exceed $1,500 if you want quality products.
Let’s breakdown the costs of an Appalachian Trail thru hike so we can better understand where your money goes during your adventure.
What affects the cost of an Appalachian Trail thru hike?
There are several factors that will affect the cost of an Appalachian Trail thru hike. Being aware of these factors will help you plan and budget for your trip. The ones that do the most damage are:
- How long you spend on the trail
- How much time you spend in town
- Motels and hostels
- Resupplies
- Gear replacements
- Injuries
- Shuttles and transportation
Most of these will make sense as to how they affect the cost, but let’s dive in a bit further and explain why.
How long you spend on the trail
As I mentioned earlier, on average a hiker will spend $1,000 for every month they are on the trail, so it should go without saying that the longer you spend on the trail, the more money it’s going to cost. Completing the trail faster means less resupplying and likely means less time spent in towns, which is where all your money is going to be spent.
For some tips on how to shorten your Appalachian Trail thru-hike, check out my article on how long it takes to hike AT.
How much time you spend in town
Building on the above paragraph, the more time you spend in town, the more money you are likely to spend. When in town, you will eat out more in restaurants that cost more than your typical on-trail dinners and you might spend money on entertainment, such as seeing a movie or bowling or whatever you’ve been missing during your time on the trail.
Motels and hostels
Also, while in town, you may find yourself spending more money to stay at a motel or hostel. Hostels are generally cheaper than a motel, but it’s still extra money you may can get away with not spending. We’ll all want a night every now and again to sleep in a real bed, but the more you do it, the quicker your wallet is going to empty.
Resupplies
You will need to resupply every few days and this probably affects the total on-trail cost of your thru hike the most. You won’t get away from it. Even if you have supplies shipped to drop-off points, that is still money out of your pocket or your family’s. Resupplies are also usually acquired in towns, and once you get into town, the more money you are likely to spend on a few luxuries.
Gear replacements
More than likely, you are going to experience some kind of gear failure during your thru hike. Hopefully, nothing more than a simple fix you can apply yourself, but packs, tents, and sleeping pads can all tear or puncture, especially when hiking nearly 2,200 miles.
You will definitely have to replace your hiking footwear at some point, regardless of if you are using boots or trail-runners. You can expect to replace trail-runners more frequently than boots, but if they are more comfortable to you, then they may be worth the additional cost.
Injuries
If you suffer an injury while on the trail, you may end up spending extra time in town nursing your wounds. This likely means shelling out more money for a motel. Plus, if you have to see a doctor, then that can be an additional cost as well.
Shuttles and transportation
When you are looking to come off trail and get into town, hitch-hiking is available. However, it is illegal to hitchhike in Maine, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, according to HG.org. Another option is to call for a shuttle. This spares you from sticking your thumb out on the side of the road, easing the tension of grabbing a ride with a stranger, but it usually will have a cost. Some hostels offer free transportation with a stay at their facility or it may be extra. Either way, the more rides from shuttles, the more money you will spend.
Cost Prior to Starting an Appalachian Trail Thru Hike
Before you ever start your thru hike of the Appalachian Trail, you may find yourself spending thousands of dollars on top-notch gear. While there is no definite answer to the total cost, I would recommend preparing to drop nearly $2,000. You can definitely get gear for the less, but don’t expect to buy the lightest gear for much less.
For example, the lightest tents can costs over $500! Throw a $300 backpack, a $300 sleeping bag, and a $200 sleeping pad on top of that, and all of a sudden you have $1,300 already. Plus, you will want adequate attire, a cook system, rain gear, etc. It adds up quick!
If you are looking for a new tent, there are still some ultralight options that are less expensive. Check out my recommendations for ultralight 2-person tents. Most of these are actually under $500.
For a list of gear and items you may need, check out my Basic Overnight Backpacking Checklist. This list isn’t tailored for an AT thru-hike but it will give a good idea of most of the items you will need and maybe a little extra. I will be working on an AT Thru-hike Backpacking Checklist in the future.
Another cost you need to prepare for before you ever start your AT thru hike is your bills! You haven’t forgotten about those, have you? They don’t magically disappear when you’re on the trail. Perhaps you’re fresh out of school without any bills, but most of us have some kind of debt or other financial responsibilities we’ll have to cover during our hike.
You should add up your bills per month and multiply it by how many months you’re planning for your thru hike and save at least that much. At a minimum, I recommend saving an additional month’s worth to be on the safe side. On a side note, you may be able to pay some bills in advance, which may be the beneficial thing to do if the company allows this.
If you have health insurances from your employer, some offer the opportunity to pay this in advance as well. You don’t want your insurance to go away for your family and you while you’re out on the trail so get this taken care of in advance.
9 Tips for Reducing the Cost on your Appalachian Trail Thru Hike
Reducing the cost of an Appalachian Trail thru hike isn’t logistically difficult, but it does take discipline. Here are a few things you can do both on and off the trail to lower the overall cost:
Get in and out of towns
Don’t spend any more time in towns than you need to. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t ever spend a day or two in town as your body and mind may need some healing but spending less time in town will spare your wallet hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars. Get what you need and get out. If you can do this without staying at a motel or hostel, your wallet will thank you.
Choose hostels over motels
If you do end up spending a night off-trail, choosing hostels over motels will save you money. They may not offer some of the comforts of motels, but they do have benefits such as on-site laundry and they sometimes provide opportunities to meet new friends.
Split costs, if possible
With hiking friends, or a tramily, you can split costs for motels and shuttles. Most hostels will charge you per bed while a motel will only charge you for the room, no matter how many people there are (but usually not to exceed a certain number). This can sometimes be cheaper if split two, three, or four ways. You can even split some resupplies if each party agrees to the items.
Ask about hiker discounts
Some motels offer discounts for thru hikers, so it never hurts to ask, even if it only saves you a few bucks. There may even be some restaurants that offer discounts. The only way you will know is to ask, though some people can spot a thru hiker a mile away and you might find a discount already on your bill. Don’t count on it though and don’t be upset if a place doesn’t.
Zero on trail
Almost all hikers will never spend a zero on the trail but doing so keeps you out of town and away from the temptations of burgers and brew or other offerings that come with civilization. It also still allows for your body to get some much needed rest.
Zero and nero less
When it comes to zeros and neros, the fewer you have the less money you will spend. If nothing else, this enables you to finish the trail quicker. If you apply the logic of $1,000 per month, then you can pretty much say on average you will spend $250 a week. So, for every 7 zeros not taken, you essentially can estimate you are saving $250.
Use durable gear
Be sure to have quality, durable gear. This will help you save money because you shouldn’t have to replace items as frequently. Sure, one item may be half the price, but if you need to replace it two or three times more often, you would have been better off just spending the extra cash up front.
A lot of ultralight gear may not be as durable, but sometimes you do sacrifice durability for weight. What makes it worse is that ultralight gear is usually more expensive but having lightweight gear can enable you to move faster, thus completing the trail quicker and spending less money.
Having gear made from DCF (Dyneema Composite Fabrics) offers exceptional durability and is usually ultralight, but it comes with a much higher price. Weigh your options and determine if ultralight gear is going to be in your budget.
Buy used gear
Sometimes you can find quality used gear online. I recommend checking out REI’s used gear section on their website. You can find great deals on gear that is still in great shape. You can also check out their outlet section for discounted items. Plus, if you are a member, you can earn dividends that you can use to pay for other gear, saving you money.
Ebay and Craigslist may offer a few good deals and are worth checking out from time to time, but REI is the best option, in my opinion, for used hiking gear.
Reduce your debts
If your Appalachian Trail thru hike will be a few years from now, work on reducing your debts beforehand. Having less debts to worry about means less money you need to put aside to pay for bills while you’re missing work, essentially reducing the total cost of your thru hike while also affording you a little more financial freedom.
How much money to save for an AT thru hike
The answer for how much money you need to save for your thru hike of the Appalachian Trail depends on you, but I say prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Maybe you want to complete the trail in five months but setting aside enough money for seven months isn’t a bad idea. Also, add all your bills for the time you plan to be out, then save an additional 30%. As far as your gear needs, I recommend at least having $2,000 set aside if you plan to buy it all at once, or you can work on acquiring your gear between now and your planned AT thru hike start date.
A good number to work with, excluding your bills is anywhere between $8,000 to $10,000, but this number can be drastically reduced. Some people have completed the trail having spent less than $2,000 during their hike, so I feel it is safe to say you can realistically spend less than $3,500 altogether. This isn’t the norm, but it can be done.
The bottom line is to do your math and make sure you have extra set aside to cover any extended time on the trail. Don’t be forced to quit your thru hike early because you failed to save enough money due to a lack of planning!
How to save money for an AT thru hike
Once you have a date set for when you plan to start your thru hike of the Appalachian Trail and you have figured out how much money you will need, you can start planning ways to save that money. I’m not a financial expert, so if you are looking for expert advice, talk to an actual expert! With that said, here are a few money-saving tips.
Eliminate debts
I mentioned earlier how eliminating debts can reduce the cost of your thru hike. Most debts come with an interest rate, so the longer you are paying on it, the more money you’re losing. Paying off debts early reduces the consequences of interest rates, so sometimes spending more now will save you money in the long run.
If you have multiple debts, I recommend concentrating on eliminating one debt at a time. Don’t pay a little extra on every debt and take the extra you would pay and apply it to one debt. This eliminates that debt much quicker and gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Then take what you were paying on that one debt and apply it to your next debt. The debts begin to fall like dominoes if you have the discipline to stick with this method.
Again, I am not a financial expert! This is just what I used to eliminate my debts fast. Everyone’s situation is different though, so understand what worked for me may not work for you.
Do the math
If you know how much money you need to save, and you know how long you have to do it, then simply do the math! Divide the amount of money you need by the number of months or weeks you have until your start date and then you will know how much money you need to set aside per week or month. Have your bank automatically deduct this amount from every paycheck and move it into a savings account.
Budget
Budgeting may be obvious for some, but this really is a powerful tool for saving money if you have the discipline to stick with it. Separate your bills, fun money, and whatever other expenses you have into categories and allot a certain percentage to each category per week or month. One category should be your AT savings fund. If you budget wisely and stick with it, you will reach your goal.
Conclusion
Hopefully all the information above better prepares you for the financial challenges of thru hiking the Appalachian Trail. So, start saving today and be sure that an empty wallet doesn’t stand in the way of you fulfilling your dream. After all, there are enough challenges involved with thru hiking the AT. At least this one can be nipped in the bud before you ever set foot on the trail.
