{"id":35263,"date":"2018-06-19T07:00:32","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T14:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=35263"},"modified":"2023-06-08T14:40:23","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T21:40:23","slug":"how-much-does-it-cost-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does It Cost to Hike the Appalachian Trail?"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At nearly 2,\u200b190 miles long, the Appalachian Trail (AT) passes through 14 states, eight national forests, six national park units, and countless state parks, forests and game lands, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.appalachiantrail.org\/home\/explore-the-trail\/hiking-basics\">according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy<\/a>. Thru-hiking this national scenic trail is a dream for many. And if it\u2019s a dream for you, you know the importance of planning. A key part of planning: creating and managing your Appalachian Trail budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, how much does it cost to hike the AT? Appalachian Trail costs typically net around $6,000 for thru-hikers.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;However, you can easily spend far more, usually because of a lack of budgeting, or less, if you maintain self-control and have a setback-free hike.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We reached out to a few AT thru-hike veterans and found a wide variety of answers for the total cost. REI Co-op employees say on-trail costs can range from $3,500 to $6,000\u2014and that doesn\u2019t include gear, which can cost between $700 and $5,000. According to the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.appalachiantrail.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, &nbsp;most hikers spend about $1,000 a month, and the majority take nearly six months to complete their hike.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>How to Budget for an AT Thru-Hike<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have a few categories to help you plan your Appalachian Trail budget:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Home and travel:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your recurring bills plus the cost of transport to and from the trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Gear:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Even if you\u2019re a seasoned backpacker, you\u2019ll likely have to pick up some new items or replacements along the way.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Trail time:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Food is your biggest cost, and that can be big.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Town time:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Motels, diners and beers add up quickly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Contingency fund:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The unexpected does happen\u2014like trail detours or injuries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Reentry fund:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It\u2019s tough to return to the \u201creal world.\u201d Give yourself the time and money you need to get back to work.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Home and Travel Expenses<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless you\u2019re really resourceful, you probably won\u2019t have an income on the trail. That means you\u2019ll have to pay for expenses back home while you\u2019re away. Major expenses include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House payment or rent (consider subleases) and utilities (like your cellphone).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loan payments, like car or student loans.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insurance premiums\u2014because medical insurance is something you definitely should add to your hiking the Appalachian Trail cost.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flights to and from the trail, plus meals, accommodations and ground transportation before and after.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Gear Expenses<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A new set of backpacking gear, according to the ATC, starts around $1,200 and $2,000 and up. It all depends on how much you own already and what and how you choose to upgrade. Check out our<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/appalachian-trail-backpacking-gear-list\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AT Backpacking Gear List<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for what you\u2019ll need before you hit the trail. The biggest-ticket items you\u2019ll want to spend time thinking about are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Tent:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Most one-person models range from $140 for a four-pound tent to more than $400 for a two-pound tent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Pack:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Packs are similar to tents in price\u2014ranging from $150 to $400. Make sure your pack fits you well and is large enough to carry everything you need\u2014most carry between 40- and 75-liter packs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Sleeping bag:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> For a three-season sleeping bag, costs range from $100 for four-pound synthetic models to more than $500 for two-pound water-resistant-down models. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Hiking boots or trail-running shoes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Although these might not be your most expensive single piece of gear ($50 to $400 per pair), a typical AT thru-hiker can go through four to six pairs of trail runners or boots over the course of the hike. Not sure which is right for you? We have<\/span><a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/hiking-boots-vs-trail-runners-the-great-debate.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the answers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-article_body wp-image-35268 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/06\/ATV_053118_68970.png?resize=1024%2C682\" alt=\"Appalachian Trail lake\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\"><\/p>\n<h4><b>AT Gear Tips<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Purchase the best gear you can afford (but figure out your budget first). You\u2019ll want to focus on those big-ticket items, plus quality rainwear.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your pack weight as low as possible, but know that many AT hikers carry heavier packs and make it through just fine. You don\u2019t need to break the bank on ultralight gear to make it to Katahdin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At a certain point, there\u2019s a diminishing return on your investment. \u201cThe difference between a $150 sleeping bag and a $250 sleeping bag is huge, both in quality and in weight savings. But the difference between a $350 and a $450 sleeping bag is maybe a few ounces or a small design feature,\u201d said Tim Bird, REI Co-op employee and AT thru-hiker.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do your research beforehand. You might want to start with<\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/hike\/how-to-pack-for-an-appalachian-trail-thru-hike\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Pack for an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Trail-Time Expenses<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trail life is often cheaper than \u201creal\u201d life. But six months of food and supplies can still add up. Most people spend between $1 and $2 for every mile of trail\u2014that\u2019s anywhere from $2,\u200b190 to $4,380. And remember, pacing has a lot to do with how much you\u2019ll spend. \u201cIt seems obvious, but the longer you are going to be on the trail the more money you are going to spend,\u201d Bird said. You\u2019ll need to account for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Meals, snacks and beverages:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Prices vary, but you don\u2019t want to rely on ramen the entire time to save a few bucks. You\u2019ll want a variety of high-calorie meals and snacks to fuel your hike.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Shipping costs for resupply boxes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Depending on where you live and how much you ship from home, this could be a big factor. Most thru-hikers resupply in town, especially because tastes and needs change along the way.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Fuel, batteries and more:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These don\u2019t cost too much, but they\u2019re something to track.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Town-Time Expenses<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Town time can be amazing\u2014drinks, showers and meals that aren\u2019t dehydrated! But it\u2019s so easy to overindulge. Make sure you have a budget and stick to it. Here are the usual culprits and some ways to save:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Hotels\/hostels:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Share a room to save some costs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Restaurants:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You can save some dough by purchasing prepared food from a grocery store.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Alcohol:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Get it at a store instead of at the bar, or skip it altogether.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Donations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Consider giving at least $20 to every trail angel who hosts you. They\u2019ll appreciate you offsetting the costs of meals, beds, showers and laundry services.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you spend just one day in town a week, that adds up to 25 days on a six-month hike. You\u2019ll also want to add a few extra days in there for inclement weather or waiting to meet up with fellow hikers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Contingency Fund<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You are beyond lucky if nothing unexpected happens on your hike. So, it\u2019s best to add some pad to your Appalachian Trail budget for those unplanned moments. Maybe you have to wait for a resupply box with warmer clothes, you suffered an overuse injury and need to rest or you get a surprise wedding invite in the middle of your hike. Some people set a fixed amount ($1,500, for example) while others do a percentage (10 percent of their overall budget). <\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Reentry Fund<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be really hard to get back to your normal life after the trail. If you quit your job to hike, you\u2019ll want to set aside money for a few weeks (or months) of job hunting. Even if you have a job lined up, having a few weeks off can help with the transition. Read<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/life-after-the-pct-post-hike-depression\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life After the PCT: Post-Hike Depression<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn more about easing back into society.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>BYOB (Budget Your Own Budget)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll hear the term HYOH (Hike Your Own Hike) a lot on the trail. The phrase applies to budgeting too. Make a plan that works for you\u2014don\u2019t just take the word of someone else. In order to cover all your Appalachian Trail costs, start saving early. \u201cI started putting away money two years before hiking the trail in order to be able to take the time off and just focus on my hike. This allowed me ample time to collect gear, read blogs and speak with other hikers about their experience,\u201d said James Hank, REI Co-op employee and AT thru-hiker. And if budgeting doesn\u2019t come easily to you, practice at home first. That way, when you\u2019re on the trail, it will be easier to stay on track. If you do it right, you\u2019ll come back home with a life-changing experience <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">some extra dough in the bank.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At nearly 2,\u200b190 miles long, the Appalachian Trail (AT) passes through 14 states, eight national forests, six national park units, and countless state parks, forests and game lands, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Thru-hiking this national scenic trail is a dream for many. And if it\u2019s a dream for you, you know the importance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":35267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,387],"tags":[687,15,707,650],"internal-tag":[1678,1588],"class_list":["post-35263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camp","category-hike","tag-ask-an-expert","tag-backpacking","tag-hiking","tag-thru-hiking","internal-tag-pre-redirect-hiking","internal-tag-scenic-trails-how-to"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"How Much Does It Cost to Hike the Appalachian Trail?","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/06\/Harnois_102317_1652.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/06\/Harnois_102317_1652.jpg?fit=1500%2C900"},"articleSection":"Camp","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Aer Parris-Hoshour"}],"creator":["Aer Parris-Hoshour"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["ask an expert","backpacking","hiking","thru-hiking"],"dateCreated":"2018-06-19T14:00:32Z","datePublished":"2018-06-19T14:00:32Z","dateModified":"2023-06-08T21:40:23Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"How Much Does It Cost to Hike the Appalachian Trail?\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/hike\\\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/hike\\\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/Harnois_102317_1652.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/Harnois_102317_1652.jpg?fit=1500%2C900\"},\"articleSection\":\"Camp\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Aer Parris-Hoshour\"}],\"creator\":[\"Aer Parris-Hoshour\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"ask an expert\",\"backpacking\",\"hiking\",\"thru-hiking\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2018-06-19T14:00:32Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-06-19T14:00:32Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-06-08T21:40:23Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/06\/Harnois_102317_1652.jpg?fit=1500%2C900","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35263"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":189738,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35263\/revisions\/189738"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35263"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=35263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}