Expense of Hiking the Long Trail

Just as everyone’s experience of hiking the Long Trail is individual, so is the cost associated with hiking the trail.  The overall cost can vary quite a bit based on several factors, including the speed at which you hike the trail, the frequency of staying in towns along the trail, your resupply plan, gear that must be purhased and the number of zero days you take.

Here are some expenses you will need to consider when creating your overall budget for the trail:

1. Travel to the start of the trail and from the end of the trail.

This will obviously be different for people depending on where you are coming from.  If you have to factor in a plane ticket, this cost will be much higher than if you are just having a friend drop you off and pickup you up.  If you want to park your car at one end of the trail (the southern terminus would make the most sense), you may need to pay a daily fee for parking.

2. Food you will be carrying (either bought ahead of time and mailed, or bought in towns along the trail).

When I used maildrops for my resupply (on the AT and on the PCT), it was easier to control the cost of food, as the ingredients could be bought in larger quantities and at larger grocery stores which generally have lower prices than convenience stores.  There are a few larger grocery stores along the Long Trail which are great for resupply, as well.  These grocery stores are able to offer a variety of food, with some healthier options to chose from.  Some people are satisfied with Pop Tarts, Snickers and tuna for their resupply.  Others prefer to find food which is going to healthier and more substantial.  Of course, this will affect your over food bill for the trail.  In my experience of resupplying in stores along the trail, a good rule of thumb is to figure about $10 to $13 of trail food per day.  That allows you to get the basics and still have a few bucks to get treats for the trail.

3. Meals/Snacks bought and eaten in towns.

The simple fact is that when you get into a town, the lure of a hot meal and an ice cream cone may be too strong to deny.  As you start to total your meal, dessert, drinks and snacks your “in town” food bill can add up.  It is reasonable to figure $15 to $20 for each meal you eat in a restaurant and $5 to $10 per day for snacks (more if you are purchasing alcohol).  So, based on your timing, as well as your own personal preference, you may eat only dinner in town, or dinner plus breakfast the next morning, or if you get into town early, you may be eating lunch in town as well.  If you are taking any zero days, you will need to factor in a full day of eating out.

4. Cost of mailing packages if using mail drops for your resupply.

This cost will certainly depend on the number of maildrops you ship.  If using Priority Flat Rate boxes, you can figure about $12.40 for a Medium Flat Rate box and about $15.50 for a Large Flat Rate box.

5. Lodging if you chose to sleep in towns along the trail.

When resupplying in town, you may also want to sleep in a comfortable bed, have a hot shower, and clean your clothes.  This is another expense you will need to factor into your trip budget.  The price for lodging can vary wildly from hostels on the one end of the spectrum to B&B’s on the other end.  There are only a few hostels on the Long Trail, but they can be a great way to go…generally cheaper than motels, they can be a good place to socialize with other hikers, and often a kitchen is available if you want to cook for yourself.  Remember that if you are planning to take any zero days, you will need to include a second night of lodging.

6. Cost of adjusting your gear…this means shipping home things you decided were not necessary, or buying extra items at outfitters along the trail.

For many long distance hikers, especially those out for their first multi-day hike, the true “need” of every item in the backpack may get scrutinized after carrying a full load for several days.  Items you may have thought were going to be important to have with on the hike, no longer seem to be something you “really” need on the trail.  It is quite common for hikers to send home some extra items from their pack when they get to the first trail town.  You may also need to make a gear purchase if something breaks, wears out or runs out.  There are a few outfitters along the Long Trail where you can replace gear or supplies when needed.

To give you a more concrete idea of your costs on the trail, I’ll just go through one possible resupply plan (with two different daily mileage averages).  Of course, this is just to give you general idea of what you can expect.  These numbers are not etched in stone, and you will need to use your own judgement in planning for the expenses on your Long Trail adventure.

Possible Expenses - 10 Miles per day average

Total Trail Food Cost: $275 – $356

Total Town Food Cost: $110 – $170

Total Lodging Cost: $250

If you wish to take a zero day, you will need to add the following to your expense totals: Lodging (this will vary depending on where you take your zero day) and $50 – $70 for food in town.

Note: There is no lodging listed for the night before you start the hike and the night you finish the hike.  For those not being dropped off and picked up by a friend or family member, you may need to factor in two additional nights of lodging.  There is also no town food listed after reaching the Canadian border for the same reason.

Possible Expenses - 15 Miles per day average

Total Trail Food Cost: $185 – $239

Total Town Food Cost: $110 – $170

Total Lodging Cost: $250

If you wish to take a zero day, you will need to add the following to your expense totals: Lodging (this will vary depending on where you take your zero day) and $50 – $70 for food in town.

Note: There is no lodging listed for the night before you start the hike and the night you finish the hike.  For those not being dropped off and picked up by a friend or family member, you may need to factor in two additional nights of lodging.  There is also no town food listed after reaching the Canadian border for the same reason.