Thru-Hike Budget Calculator

Total cost for long-distance trail completion.

Trail distance (miles)

Daily mileage

Gear budget ($)

Trail food ($/day)

Town spend ($/day)

Transport ($)

Tab to move between fields

Total budget ($)

$6,873.00

≈ 7 smartphones

Trail days146

Town/zero days29

Total calendar days175

Food cost ($)$2,190.00

Town cost ($)$1,740.00

Cost per mile ($)$3.14

Cost per day ($)$39.00

Cost per month ($)$1,178.00

How to Use This Calculator

Enter total trail miles (e.g., AT ≈ 2,190, PCT ≈ 2,650, CDT ≈ 3,100) and your average daily mileage.
Enter your gear budget ($), trail food cost per day ($), town spend per day ($), and transportation costs ($).
Read the total budget ($), cost per mile, cost per day, and cost per month.
Review the trail days vs. town/zero days breakdown (about 1 town day per 5 trail days) that makes up total calendar days.
Note the total budget already includes a 10% miscellaneous allowance for unexpected gear replacement or medical costs, plus a flat permit fee.

How the result changes with Daily mileage

Trail distance (miles): Total trail length. AT ≈ 2,190 mi, PCT ≈ 2,650 mi, CDT ≈ 3,100 mi.
Daily mileage: Average miles hiked per trail day. Most thru-hikers average 12–20.
Gear budget ($): One-time gear purchase cost. Budget: $1,000, Mid: $2,000, Premium: $3,500+.
Trail food ($/day): Daily food cost on trail. Typical: $10–$20/day.
Town spend ($/day): Average spending on town days (lodging, restaurants, laundry, resupply).
Transport ($): Total transportation costs (flights, shuttles, rides to/from trail).

Total budget ($): Estimated total thru-hike cost including gear, food, town, and transport.
Trail days: Days spent hiking on trail.
Town/zero days: Rest days in town (~1 per 5 trail days).
Total calendar days: Total trip duration including zeros.
Food cost ($): Total on-trail food expenses.
Town cost ($): Total town stop expenses.
Cost per mile ($): Total cost divided by trail miles.
Cost per day ($): Average daily cost over the entire hike.
Cost per month ($): Monthly budget needed for savings planning.

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Trail distance (miles) = 2190, Daily mileage = 15, Gear budget ($) = 2000, Trail food ($/day) = 15 = 6 input(s) provided
Calculate Total budget
Total budget = gearBudget + trailFoodCost + townCost + transportCost + miscCost + permitCost
6873 = $6,873
Calculate Trail days
Trail days
146 = 146
Calculate Town/zero days
Town/zero days
29 = 29