I recently returned from a 22 day trip to four sensational national parks. Click here to view my daily itinerary. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the total cost of the trip (including round trip transportation from Chicago), amounted to just over $600! Here's the cost breakdown:

Gas

($350)...the trip covered $5,500 miles. The Prius averaged 52 mpg for the trip--106 gallons. The average cost for a gallon of gas was $3.45.

Lodging

($200)...the trip covered 21 nights of Prius camping. Nine nights were free. Twelve nights averaged $16 per night.

Food

($0)...I did not allocate any cost for food as the total expense during the trip amounted to less than if I had stayed home. Most of the food for the trip was purchased in advance from Costco. While in the national parks, I ate in the cafeterias for most dinners and some breakfasts, but the cost of those meals was no more than what I would ordinarily spend at home.  No incremental cost.

Ice

($35)...keeping food cold was an ongoing expense. Ice was purchased for about 18 of the days at an average of $2 per bag.

Entertainment

($45)...my trip included three tours. 1 hour tour of the Wyoming Frontier Prison, 1 hour tour of the Chateau de Mores, and a 2 hour Many Glacier boat tour. Most of my "entertainment" was photography related--and I already own that equipment. I already own a pass for the national parks, so there were no entrance fees.

Total Cost

($630)...the total cost of the 22 day trip amount to just over $600! This excludes the cost of the 24-70 lens that now resides in a valley in Glacier National Park. The bottom line is that the trip was less expensive than if I had stayed home.

Seventeen Sunrises in Amazing Scenery...Priceless!

Click here to view the photos from the trip.