Road Trip budgets ?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
Some big spenders, here. Anyone can have fun for $200/day. That's not budgeting, at all. The real trick is to find ways to stretch whatever money you do have.
My last 7-day trip (Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks) worked out to about $70/day, IIRC; slept on the ground 6 nights, 2 in a campground; showered every other day. It's not necessary to budget for bike repairs, unless you're riding a stone f'ng dog. Bike maintenance should be a separate issue. Motels are unnecessary luxuries that shorten your away time. So are fancy restaurants. Camping is free in national forests.
My last 7-day trip (Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks) worked out to about $70/day, IIRC; slept on the ground 6 nights, 2 in a campground; showered every other day. It's not necessary to budget for bike repairs, unless you're riding a stone f'ng dog. Bike maintenance should be a separate issue. Motels are unnecessary luxuries that shorten your away time. So are fancy restaurants. Camping is free in national forests.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 176
Likes: 4
Some big spenders, here. Anyone can have fun for $200/day. That's not budgeting, at all. The real trick is to find ways to stretch whatever money you do have.
My last 7-day trip (Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks) worked out to about $70/day, IIRC; slept on the ground 6 nights, 2 in a campground; showered every other day. It's not necessary to budget for bike repairs, unless you're riding a stone f'ng dog. Bike maintenance should be a separate issue. Motels are unnecessary luxuries that shorten your away time. So are fancy restaurants. Camping is free in national forests.
My last 7-day trip (Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks) worked out to about $70/day, IIRC; slept on the ground 6 nights, 2 in a campground; showered every other day. It's not necessary to budget for bike repairs, unless you're riding a stone f'ng dog. Bike maintenance should be a separate issue. Motels are unnecessary luxuries that shorten your away time. So are fancy restaurants. Camping is free in national forests.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
If you are riding long distance and fail to budget for breakdowns you are just asking for disaster. On my 6800 mile trip I burned up a stator in California...about as far from home as I can be. Luckily I had people out there to stay with and help me get the bike back to where I could work on it. Your costs can go up dramatically if you don't have that luxury where you break down.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Here's what I've been doing for the last few years:
I plan out a trip and get the rough idea of the mileage. I take that mileage, divide it by 43 (my average MPG) to get the number of gallons I'll need. Multiply the number of gallons by the average local gas price and there's how much I'll need for gas.
I plan on camping unless there's at least 2 of us. Usually I camp out or stay with friends & family. I budget $15 for camping or $40 for my share of a hotel. Also, I've been keeping notes on some really nice free camp spots in the areas that I habituate and try to use them when I'm passing through.
I give myself $35 a day to eat and drink on. Plus, when I camp, I usually bring dehydrated camp food with me. That stuff has come a long way!
Yeah, I am one OCD SOB, but this has worked out nicely for me in the last few years. I usually come home under budget, rarely over.
I plan out a trip and get the rough idea of the mileage. I take that mileage, divide it by 43 (my average MPG) to get the number of gallons I'll need. Multiply the number of gallons by the average local gas price and there's how much I'll need for gas.
I plan on camping unless there's at least 2 of us. Usually I camp out or stay with friends & family. I budget $15 for camping or $40 for my share of a hotel. Also, I've been keeping notes on some really nice free camp spots in the areas that I habituate and try to use them when I'm passing through.
I give myself $35 a day to eat and drink on. Plus, when I camp, I usually bring dehydrated camp food with me. That stuff has come a long way!
Yeah, I am one OCD SOB, but this has worked out nicely for me in the last few years. I usually come home under budget, rarely over.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,112
Likes: 20
Stay flexible plan on a hundred and,come home with change.I carry a credit card for any breakdown's or flat's.Run2 lane road's and stay where you like there are many small motel's that are under 40$ there's also farmer's field's and,city park's,only in small town's of course.Small town restaurant's are cheap and,want the business besides the opportunity of getting real food.I've been woken up by farmer's,rancher's, cowboy's,cop's and,once by a genuine hobo.Rest area's I don't recomend for no other reason than traffic.I camp,stealth camp and,stay in motel's depending all most entirely on weather.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 13
From: East Tennessee
Late '70s my next door neighbor had just put together a H-D dyna type bike and I had just bought a used Honda GL1000.. no fairing or saddle bags.. what's next? road trip.. Decided to ride from south Louisiana to Daytona for Bike Week. We were thinking of motorcycle racing, had no idea all the other stuff.. only took a sleeping bag, no extras of any kind.. the bag got wet after the first rain shower and would not stay tied to the bike.. dumped it at the most convient dumpster.. Once we got to Daytona we had no place to stay but found some kind folks staying under a bridge that invited us to spend time with them.. no problem.. Next day met a guy who had his friends bail on him and he had a 2 bedroom apt paid for thru the weekend, (4 days total)by himself, but had no food.. We bought bread and bologna and stayed in his apt.. no problem.. saw some good races and some other crazy stuff and got back home for less than $65 total..miss those days..
Last edited by RutRoo; Nov 10, 2010 at 11:14 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
budget
It's not necessary to budget for bike repairs until you are sitting along the road scratching your ***** and wondering what to do, because you are 1500 miles from home with only $210 in your pocket because you budgeted exactly enough to be home in 3 days...I am not saying you have to spend the money, just saying you have to have some kind of plan...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,750
Likes: 261
From: back home in Michigan
It's not necessary to budget for bike repairs until you are sitting along the road scratching your ***** and wondering what to do, because you are 1500 miles from home with only $210 in your pocket because you budgeted exactly enough to be home in 3 days. The best maintained bike fails. Brand new ones fail before they get home from the dealership sometimes. I am not saying you have to spend the money, just saying you have to have some kind of plan for worst case, that's all. I have been lucky- only time mine has failed, it was right in front of the mechanic... But I have always been prepared.
$200/day is luxury riding. I would say $100 is plenty with some days being able to keep the cost down to $70 or so. We always check out the little motels and haggle a good price after checking the room and the beds. Might not have HBO, some no TV. But my priority is a good clean bed, a HOT shower and working AC. Its fun haggling with people and sometimes its a no , sometimes they come down a little, sometimes quite a bit. One trip around Lake Michigan we got all our rooms for either $39 or $49 per night. A couple of meals for $7 or $8, split a cold 6 pack and have change back from your $100. We ride to ride, get some sleep and ride some more.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
A little over a $100 a day usually does it for me...
$40 for 500 miles worth of gas;
$30 for food and drink; (Burgers and fries for me, Subway if I'm feeling guilty and think I need something nutritous lol. Once in a while I might splurge for a steak at the end of the day)
$30 or $40, maybe $50 for the cheapest mom-n-pop motel I can find;
A few years ago I actually found a motel for $16 a night. Can't remember exactly where I was, I'd have to look back at my trip log. There was a railroad track 25 ft from my room. I know some people couldn't handle that but it didn't bother me a bit. As long as there is A/C, hot water and a place to lay my head I'm good. Oh yeah, and a supply of old towels to wipe down the bike
Regardless of the cost, there's just something special about days on the road.
$40 for 500 miles worth of gas;
$30 for food and drink; (Burgers and fries for me, Subway if I'm feeling guilty and think I need something nutritous lol. Once in a while I might splurge for a steak at the end of the day)
$30 or $40, maybe $50 for the cheapest mom-n-pop motel I can find;
A few years ago I actually found a motel for $16 a night. Can't remember exactly where I was, I'd have to look back at my trip log. There was a railroad track 25 ft from my room. I know some people couldn't handle that but it didn't bother me a bit. As long as there is A/C, hot water and a place to lay my head I'm good. Oh yeah, and a supply of old towels to wipe down the bike
Regardless of the cost, there's just something special about days on the road.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 3
From: OC SoCal
If you are really trying to cut costs check out:
http://www.couchsurfing.org/
Basically it's a list of people that will let you crash at their place for free. You make all the arrangements beforehand, show up, crash and leave. Free is good.
http://www.couchsurfing.org/
Basically it's a list of people that will let you crash at their place for free. You make all the arrangements beforehand, show up, crash and leave. Free is good.