First off, it's important to realize the scale of many of our hiking destinations. The most popular time to vacation in the United States, which means prices will be peaking. . Well, everyone, this is it: the best possible way to go backpacking the USA! Appalachia is kind of a strange place, both in the geographic and cultural sense. If you really want to go cheap, then take advantage of the many primitive sites in the US, also known as BLM land. Even legal stores often cannot accept cards due to nuanced legal issues. Few other places on Earth offer such natural diversity as the West, which consists of mountains, rainforests, deserts, an enormous coastline Need I go on? Europe is huge, and there are so many fantastic places to visit. UP YOUR PACKING GAME! Germany can be staid or mind-blowing. A visit to America isnt quite complete without Florida. 1 Mexico. Visiting Yellowstone National Park is a treat. There are a lot of options when it comes to lodging. Start your trip in Cusco, the ex-capital of the Inca Empire. Take some US dollars with you. SafetyWing is convenient, cheap, and trouble-free Insurance was never this easy! Glacier National Park may be one of the nation's most popular national parks, but thanks to its spacious 1,583 square miles of wilderness home to more than 762 lakes and 700 miles of hiking . To this day, the original spirit of pioneers and frontiersmanship still permeates the Rocky Mountain culture. Race and ethnicity are often celebrated in the USA but, although it is better than in previous decades, racism is still an issue. Four whole states are just prairie and a large portion of Texas is as well. A 10-day itinerary in the USA doesnt offer a whole lot of time to see the country, but youll still have lots of options with a larger budget. Finally, no trip to the Southwest is complete without seeing the otherworldly White Sands. I'd say that's pretty good.ALASKA. It goes without saying as well that some of the best hikes in the USA are found in the Rockies. With similar climates, outstanding wine vineyards, vast mountain ranges, and endless beautiful beaches, this trio is easily one of the best backpacking Europe routes for . Smaller but no less interesting cities, like Baltimore (MD), and Newark (NJ), also contribute greatly and are worth visiting themselves. More and more migrants arrived, and the first British colonies were formed in the early 1600s. Luckily weve got them covered! Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be. Which of the following is a comma splice? Since the 1960s, the US has been almost perpetually involved in war, most recently in the Middle East. When the leaves turn gold and red in the autumn, its sublime. But the United States is a big country, not to mention really expensive. I was confused. Youre going to hear me harp on this fact often, but the United States is fuckin huge. The South intimidates a lot of travelers because the region is unlike any other in the USA or the world for that matter. Americans party a lot and in many different ways. Things like learning a little bit of the language to get by can do wonders, and will mean you can understand more so people can't rip you off as easily. The best option for cutting down on your total backpacking through Europe cost would be to travel in the . The Rockies is one of the greatest mountains chains in North America and has become a defining feature of the Western United States. They may also let you buy or extend a policy once youve started your trip and are already abroad which is super handy. In the meantime, here are three stellar parks that should absolutely be on your backpacking USA bucket list. Located along the Sierra Mountains in California, you shouldnt miss out on staying in Yosemite while backpacking the USA. There are a lot of different climates in the USA; each one determines when and where you ought to visit. Americans also love drugs, probably a little too much. The East Coast is also home to Washington DC the federal capital of the USA. Itll save you aload of time when organising transport and youll probably nab an EPIC DISCOUNT too! A lot of foreigners couldnt name more than five cities in America and the ones they do name are always Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, and Miami. Up to 5x miles. The US is currently in an extremely contentious period where millions would literally still die for politics. The country was filled with separate restaurants, buses, and schools, and mixing of races was not allowed. In this video I go from Cape Henlopen, DE to Denton, . Each nationality will require a different set of documents to travel to the USA using this process, so be sure to check with your local embassy on what you need. She buys them regularly. Here are a couple more instances of some famous American foods, broken down by region: Native Americans have been living on what is now the USA for centuries. Learn the lingo. If you want to cover a lot of ground in the United States, flying is the best option, especially if you only have limited time. Its really hard to fault California for anything besides having too much. The Northeast, Midwest, Rockies, and Alaska are frigid and probably buried in snow. Wear a money belt or an alternative. Travel in Cuba, once off-limits to Americans, is beginning to open up and traveling in Puerto Rico is a good time as well. If youre in the countryside, youre more likely to be killed by bison in heat or a freak tornado. Check out where to stay in Zion National park if you visit. There are some cool cities here, such as Des Moines or Indianapolis for alternative reasons not to mention some very attractive outdoor areas, particularly around the Great Lakes. Backcountry permits are cheap, you can rent backpacking gear from a local outfitter and traveling to your trailhead of choice will . There are some great hostels in Boulder if youre on a budget. Whilst there are only two US visa types for tourists, it can be a little confusing sorting through the necessary qualifications and processes. From incredible eateries to summer days by the lake, dont forget to try the deep dish! We eventually set our budget for 4 weeks in Uruguay at 1800 - 450 a week - with max 30 a night on accommodation for both of us. These enormous freshwater bodies actually mimic the sea in a lot of ways you can surf here sometimes and there are portions that may even resemble the Caribbean. One response to "United States of America (USA) Travel and Backpacking Guide" More information. A GREAT misconception about America is that every resident falls under the same category. Traveling without insurance would be risky so do consider getting good backpacker insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure. trekking gear), or find a cheap temporary fix instead of carrying something for one-time use. With some of the best hikes in the country, and some of the best weed, it doesnt get much chiller than Denver. We mentioned before that you can reach out to vehicle relocation services, like immova and Cruise America, as a way of saving heaps of cash on rentals. Prices vary a lot by region, but here's a rough guide of what to expect for the average cost of a meal in the US for one (without drinks): Cooked meal in a hostel kitchen: $4 to $8. Random violence can occur any time, even in safe areas, even comparable to the likes of South America. Its largest city, Portland, is regularly mocked for being a mecca for hipsters and beer snobs but its becoming more these days. Theyve got broke backpackers in mind, as they offer the chance to pay in interest free instalments. The first step in quickly getting money to be able to travel, is selling your stuff. Americans cant get enough of their sports; some are diehard fanatics. Overall, the best time to visit the USA as the weather is good almost everywhere and there are fewer tourists. For all matters of finance and accounting on the road, I strongly recommend Wise the platform formerly known as Transferwise! Having a filtered water bottle means you can drink from just about any source. This was once the edge of the map for American pioneers. Start out with these holidays and festivals in the USA next time youre there: On every adventure, there are 6 things I never go traveling without. 07/11/2022. ) New York is one of the most culturally diverse places in the world and is an anthropological wonder. Bonus points if you visit Big Bend National Park or the Texas Hill Country. Close, Backpacking USA Travel Guide Budgets, Tips, Itineraries + More (2023). For all their desolation, Southwest deserts are indescribably beautiful and incomparable to anything else. Ecuador's cost of living is fairly low. I made these Sierra trips, carrying only a sackful of bread with a little tea . Or, yknow you can stick to ziplock bags. Not many people make the Midwest a part of their USA backpacking trip and its kind of a shame actually. Make sure you alsopurchase aRentalCover.com policyto cover your vehicle against any common damages such as tires, windscreens, theft, and more at a fraction of the price you would pay at the rental desk. 6. When you travel to some of the most beautiful places in the USA, you come to realize the full extent of the plastic problem. Sell Your Shit. Each region that we have covered so far in the USA travel guide has some distinct qualities. Keep in mind that ATMs will charge a fee, which can vary depending on the branch. Workers in the US face many more difficulties than those in other developed countries, so tipping can really make or break an employees shift. You don't need a storage unit to store it in. Avoid acting like a tourist. Start your jet-setting itinerary by spending 3 days visiting New York City, the so-called Capital of the World. Dont miss out on the artsy vibes of Williamsburg and Central Park, which might just be one of the only times the US has succeeded in creating a free, public green space. To put it simply, backpacking the USA is going to be a long, sometimes crazy experience. Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky are all exciting cities that offer enough entertainment (often in the form of music and drink) to keep you busy for a long while. Visit Miami and be ready for mega nightclubs, dance bars, and copious amounts of cocaine. Seattle is a great place to either headway north to Alaska, or thousands of miles southwest to the true highlight of the USAbackpacking Hawaii. The small town of Taos is part spiritual enclave, part ski resort. Coins are also still commonly used in the US and people will often give you exact change. 2. After some marijuana and mountain action, get ready for even more epic landscapes by staying in Moab, Utah for a few days. If you want to go backpacking in the USA on a budget, consider investing in a special annual pass. Ralph is a former manager in the hospitality industry turned wild child. Plus, get3 free months on your membership during their summer promo! Those on a coast-to-coast USA road trip often speed through this part because there is supposedly nothing to do, but theres definitely something to see everywhere. Many will say that the most beautiful places in the USA are not found in cities or towns, but in nature. Ah, perhaps the most popular gambling city on Earth? 1 / 10. South of the border lies tropical shores and the mystical cultures of Mexico. . While some people are living like royalty, some are getting by on less than $2/day thats comparable to living in Nicaragua. Furthermore although this sounds very anti-feminist I would only recommend hitchhiking to males, and only to those who would know how to handle a worst case scenario: it has been associated with hundreds of murders and kidnappings. Americans drink all kinds of booze. Hawaii is wrapping up its rainy own season. Use the discount code BROKEBACKPACKER. Might be that weed. US tourist visa requirements do change regularly so please be sure to always check with the official government website. Cheryl Strayed (Goodreads Author) (shelved 101 times as backpacking) avg rating 4.04 739,513 ratings published 2012. To say that Americans, as a whole, are cowboys or business sharks or talk like theyre from The OC is a gross misrepresentation. You will meet many like-minded people. Theyve been doing it since 2002 protecting, connecting, and inspiring independent travellers just like you. When I graduated university back in 2015, there was only one thing I wanted to do, and that was see the world!