1. Figure out where you want to go
The most obvious step in the process is figuring out where you want to go. Today, it seems that every millennial’s dream is to wander aimlessly around the country in a camper van with their dog. I don’t blame them. As a millennial myself, I am in the mix of individuals that are trying to achieve this life goal. I have a gypsy soul, so taking the time to map it out seems like a waste of time, until I did. I would love to hop in my car camper today and take off across the country without an established plan, but seriously, we need to figure out where we are heading and you will see why as I break it down for you. So, figure out where you want to go. If you are driving, what are your top 3 must see destinations? If you are flying, where to? And how do you plan on making your way around once you fly into your destination? All legit questions.
2. How do you want to get there?
The second part to this crazy adventure is how do you plan on getting there? Now that we’ve established where we want to go, how do we intend on getting there? Are we going to drive, bike, walk, fly, ride a Greyhound bus, or teletransport to our destination? They all come with their benefits and different price points. You just have to figure out what makes sense for your travel experience and budget.
3. Start your budget planning
I thought my trip was going to cost waaaay less. I mean, being a hobo and car camping your way across America couldn’t be all that expensive… right? Wrong! I downloaded a very simple spreadsheet from Vertex42 that had a template ready with a generic travel plan. I started adjusting the numbers to fit my budget and travel plan. I went high on some numbers like gas mileage and the cost of gas. I get 26.6 miles to the gallon on average and gas is currently $2.53 by me in east Tennessee. I calculated my budget slightly higher stating that I get 24 miles a gallon and that gas would cost $3.00 a gallon. I want to make sure that what I am planning can calculate for some unforeseen expenses. Then I let someone with travel experience look over my budget, my mom, and the first question she asked was, “what about laundry at the laundromat? It’s expensive. And what about Keeta May’s dog food?” Keeta May is my senior pup just in case you’re wondering, but my mom has a point… What about the things that I am missing? How much do you budget for unforeseen expenses? According to my budget plan below, I’ve already blown my budget by $68 and that is not accounting for the unexpected. I shortened my original 365 days of travel to 60 days to create more realistic perspective. It will cost me slightly over $3,500 to car camp for 2 months across the U.S. if all goes well. That does not include my house payment, car payment, utilities on my house that I will Airbnb, insurance, or anything that I did not plan for (i.e. a flat tire, veterinary bills, or maybe the ramen noodles and PB&J won’t cut it for 2 months). I have to figure out a way to cover the cost of my other bills before this is going to happen in real life. A lot to think about. Even on the cheap, this trip is pretty expensive if you think about what I am actually doing, just converting my little CRV into a shelter and trekking across America. You can see a snapshot of how I set up my travel budget below:
4. Stick to the plan
I know you are a free spirit, and so am I, but don’t take all this time to create a plan and not stick to it at the very least. Know your budget, know what you’re capable of, and be prepared for someone like your mom to look at your budget and say, “Well, have you thought about this yet?” As much as I like to think I have it all figured out, I clearly do not, so a plan helps me to stay on target. No matter what happens on your journey, good, bad, or otherwise, at the very least, you will have some amazing stories to tell. Just know what you are walking into and how to prepare for a beautiful plan that does not always go accordingly. Any time you travel you’re going to have to make adjustments, but do your best to stick to your budget so you don’t find yourself treading water and barely keeping your head up by the time it’s all said and done.
Expect the best and prepare for the worst and you will be just fine. I hope you find this to be useful in planning your next adventure. I know I did.
Tennessee Wanderer 