What You Should Expect to Spend on an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike
Planning for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike can get overwhelming fast, especially when it comes to money. To get away and hike the Appalachian Trail for six months is not easy – and I’m not just talking about the actual hike.
Here is a tough scenario: You are enjoying your thru-hike and need to get into town to buy food or to sleep, but you have already overspent. Even worse would be putting in the months and miles and running out of money before finishing your thru-hike.
We completed our northbound thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2022 and it was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of our lives. The difficulty is not only from the number of miles but also the terrain, obstacles, steep ups and downs – and the weather! We started the AT on April 13, 2022, and finished on October 6, 2022. We put this Appalachian Trail series together to get you from the start to the finish successfully.
Here is an overview of the series:
Appalachian Trail Hiking: The Ultimate Guide to Starting the Appalachian Trail
For more information on how to get to the AT and when to go.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: 10 Logistical Ideas to Help You Plan
This article will provide insights on how to make your adventure easier.
Weather on the Appalachian Trail: 10 Things to Prepare You For Your Thru-Hike
This one is essential, especially when choosing when to summit.
The Most Essential Weather Gear to Wear on the Appalachian Trail
Your gear could be the difference between completing the trail and not!
Performance Gear Essentials for the Appalachian Trail
An overview of clothes to wear.
What You Should Expect to Spend on an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike
How to budget for the Appalachian Trail and how much money we spent on our thru-hike.
How to Finish the Appalachian Trail Without Breaking a Sweat
For help getting back home. We wish you the best of luck on your journey!
Why do only one out of four people complete the trail? Injuries and the difficulty of hiking almost 2,200 miles are two reasons, but another common one is money. How much money will you need? The quick answer, if you Google it, is that the average hiker completes the trail in six months and spends around $1,000 per month (or $6,000 total). But there is more that goes into this equation.
