Q&A: What would be my daily spending if I were to travel the entire USA coast to coast for a year?

I know it sounds a bit far-fetched but I’m having like a complete year off after March and wish to use this time to explore every nook and corner of America….from Miami Beach to New York and Boston..to Mid-West, Dakotas all the way to Washington…California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, the Deep South…places like Kansas and Utah (want to meet Mormon nutcases …and of course Virginia, Washington DC.

Assuming I don’t stay in one place for too long, although would like to spend more than one week in places like New York City, Las Vegas or San Francisco…what is the best way to go about it? Is there a Lonely Planet guide?

I also want to explore alone as I hate guided tours. It’s also fun to find new company wherever you go.

I have savings of USD 10,000. Plus, there could be some loans. I can stay in cheap motels, travel discount…need suggestions on how to get around the country cheaply? Bus? Train?
discount motels usa.

thelordismyshepard:wooaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh thats A LOT!!!!

Chefao:I think 10K is a good start and hey, if you run out of money you just go home, save some more and start again where you left off.

Are you a US Citizen? If not then you have to consider how you go about obtaining a visa that will let you remain in the US for more than the normal 90-days. Not impossible but something to think about.

If this is not an issue then how to you plan to go between places? Bus? Train? Fly? Drive? Flying and Train are quite expensive but you can do much of the US by bus, especially with the time that you have. MEGABUS for example runs from DC to NYC and can be as cheap as $ 17 one-way depending on the time you go. Larger cities are going to cost you more to sleep and eat then smaller towns but then there isn’t too much to see in the small towns.

I’ve attached some links below but if you do not plan to drive then highly suggest you read the backpacker type links and take advice from those that have already done it. They will hep you save your financial resources and also suggest the “must-see” places.

EDITED NOTE – Geez Ammom – I don’t think he meant any harm in his off the cuff comment but you are obviously very defensive. I think your husband should get himself a couple more wives, like the real Mormons, and kick you to the curb. You’re as miserable as cancer you brainwashed “nut”. BTW – Salt Lake is not Mecca and you pay way too much for the privilege of calling yourself a moron, sorry, I mean mormon.

Ammon:Mormons give more money to charity according to income tax returns (even if you take away all religious contributions) more than any other group of people in the World, and no other group of people is even in the same ball park as far as that is concerned.

Nothing more nutty than that. Nothing more nutty than helping people throughout the World live a better life. Yes, lets all go out onto the internet or somewhere else and disparage Mormons…

who are the very people who are helping people.

The only people are aren’t “nutty” are the ones who are narcissistic, who are drinking copious amounts of alcohol and who are popping Prozac pills like they are M&M’s.

Because Mormons believe in living a drug free clean lifestyle, it is Latter Day Saints we must rush over and disparage every chance we get. That makes perfect sense.

Or perhaps not. Maybe just maybe keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ, and being a Good Samaritan is the right way to live. Maybe.

http://Mormon.org Chat.

God bless.

SumDude:100 hotel, 50 food, 50 transportation fees, 100 misc (laundry, entrance fees,,,,)

= 300 per day x 300 days = $ 90,000. [not counting expenses you leave behind, like either rent on a place, or storage rental for your stuff, health insurance premiums, co-pays while on the road,,,,]

or your way; 9,000+/300+ days per yr = $ 30/day

Either you need to get more money, or scale way back (to like 30 days) – and then consider a “see America” pass on greyhound or amtrak (if still available – and you can sleep in transit some nights).

{ Anything beyond 30 days will get old fast. }

Brad Hart:I would think at least $ 100 per day. So 365X100= $ 36,000 maybe you can find a sugar mama on the way LOL