Most Hikers Miss This Easy Way To Save Time and Money on the Appalachian Trail

Thru-hiking is a fascinating and lofty goal that challenges you mentally and physically. It is also quite expensive. Hikers are increasingly interested in simple strategies to save money on the Appalachian Trail (and really any long trail).

While conventional wisdom regarding AT budgeting frequently emphasizes what to spend money on — such as gear, food, and town amenities — it’s also critical to think about how those expenses will add up over time. Every additional day spent on the trail, whether actively hiking or resting, contributes to cumulative expenses.

The Appalachian Trail Is Getting More Expensive

Each year, we survey Appalachian Trail thru-hikers on a widespread variety of topics, including their budgets and expenses on trail. In 2024, hikers spent an average of $7,602 dollars total on their hikes, with almost nobody spending under $3,000. That figure includes an average of $2,212 spent on gear.

From this, and survey results from past years, we know the long-established budgetary guideline of allocating around $1,000 per month for an AT thru-hike is now largely outdated. The average thru-hiker currently allocates nearly $1,400 per month, with some individuals planning for up to $2,000 per month to comfortably manage their expenses.

There are so many temptations to spend money on the AT, with the readily available towns, food, slackpacking, and shuttle services.

Why is this? The short answer: we don’t know. A few reasons come to mind, such as the realities of inflation, older average hiker demographics, and more money being spent on gear. Perhaps most notably, there is a large correlation between the length of peoples’ hikes and the money spent along the way.

Time Is Money

In 2016, the average pace was 16 miles per day, a figure that decreased to approximately 13.8 miles per day by 2024. This seemingly minor reduction in daily mileage, when aggregated over the 2,200 miles of the trail, lengthens the duration of a hike by over three weeks. Consequently, this raises the total cost of the hike.

If we use the average cost of the hike in 2024 ($7,600), this corresponds to just under $50 per day. Stretched over the three additional weeks on trail, that accounts for over a thousand extra dollars that each current-day thru-hiker is spending.

Additional time on trail doesn’t just compound obvious expenses, like stays at hostels or food costs. Fixed, ongoing costs back home such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, loan payments, and health insurance premiums continue to add up for the entire time a hiker is away from their regular income-earning life. A longer hike directly translates to more months of these expenses accumulating without corresponding income.

Want To Save Money on the Appalachian Trail? Hike Faster.

The ballooning cost of thru-hiking is partly attributable to the 30% inflation experienced over the last eight years. Budgeting advice from even a few years ago may be severely out of date, forcing hikers to confront higher daily costs for the same level of comfort and resupply.

This makes the strategy of hiking faster even more impactful, as it directly counteracts the erosive power of inflation on a fixed budget by shortening your exposure to rising costs.

Average AT Thru-Hike Costs by Duration & Pace

Note: These figures are estimates based on various hiker reports and average monthly spending. Actual costs will vary significantly based on individual spending habits, gear choices, and frequency of town visits. Gear costs are generally a one-time upfront expense, but unexpected replacements will most likely be needed!

This table provides a quantitative view of how different average daily mileages correlate with varying total costs. By collecting data on total costs, monthly spending, and typical hike duration, a clear visual representation of potential savings emerges. 

How To Hike Faster Without Being Miserable

I can already smell the comments for this article: “Slow down and smell the orchids!”, “The thru-hike is about the town experiences!”, and “I thru-hiked in 1823, only spent $10, and was on trail for 450 days!”.

If you have the budget to support yourself, then you should hike literally as slowly as you want. However, for those desperately wanting to finish the AT while operating on a far tighter budget, the best thing you can do is speed up without cutting corners on enjoyment.

Reduce Your Days (and Nights) in Town

Town visits and zero days are widely recognized as the primary contributors to increased spending and lost time for hikers. These breaks, while often tempting and necessary for resupply and recovery, can rapidly break a budget.

The cumulative effect of town stops is considerable: even a single day spent in town per week can accumulate to 25 days over a typical six-month hike. Each of these days presents an opportunity for increased discretionary spending.

The “unholy trinity of budget busters” in town typically includes lodging, restaurant meals, and alcohol. Hostels commonly charge $20-$40 per night for a bunk, while motels can range from $50-$100 per night. Transportation to and from towns, frequently facilitated by shuttles, also adds to the overall expense.

Hiking faster reduces the frequency of these town visits and the overall number of nights spent off-trail in paid accommodations. (Increasing your pace means a three-day food carry will take you further, and it also lowers the total number of resupplies you’ll need.)

Remember, each day not spent heading towards Katahdin is another day for all cumulative expenses — including ongoing home bills and lost income — to snowball. 

Imagine hiking so fast you miss out on this view!

Hiros Over Nearos

Efficient resupply methods also help to manage one of the most controllable part of your thru-hiking budget: town time.

A staggering 70% of respondents in our 2024 AT survey spent the night in town every time or almost every time they resupplied. Keep in mind that resupply opportunities are frequent on the AT, and many hikers are restocking their food bags multiple times per week.

Even without dramatically boosting your daily mileage, you can still save money on the Appalachian Trail by intentionally avoiding some nights in town. Rather than spending the night in a hostel post-resupply, push yourself to hike a few miles outside of town and camp for the night (or camp just shy of town and hike in to resupply first thing in the morning).

Granted, spending most of one day and a single night in town — a strategy affectionately known as the “nearo” — can be an effective way to slash your accommodation budget compared to full zero days, which require two nights in town. But even so, if hikers are spending even a single night in town on almost every resupply, you can see how the cost adds up over time.

Embracing the “hiro” strategy (Hike In, Resupply, Out) for at least some of your resupplies could make a substantial dent in your overall expenditure. Save the hostel for your rest day, whether it’s a zero or a nearo, and try to camp outside of town the rest of the time.

Start the Trail in Hiking Shape

While the AT is  a test of endurance rather than speed, quickly getting up to your consistent daily mileage is important for a faster finish. To avoid injury, you should still start slow and progressively increase your mileage as your body adapts. However, pre-trail physical preparation can help raise your starting mileage without opening the door to a litany of overuse injuries. 

A balanced training regimen should be prioritized, focusing on cardiovascular endurance, strength training, and exercises for stability and balance. Training with a weighted pack, simulating actual trail conditions, is particularly beneficial for using specific muscles and tendons you’ll rely on while thru-hiking.

Additionally, refining hiking technique can improve efficiency and mitigate injury risk. This includes adopting smaller, more controlled strides, leaning slightly forward on inclines to engage larger muscle groups such as the glutes, and maintaining proper form on descents to effectively absorb impact.   

Cut Your Pack Weight for Cheap

A lighter base weight helps hikers to cover longer distances, move faster, and substantially reduces the physical strain on the body. This minimizes the risk of injuries that could slow you down or surprise you with unexpected medical bills. Enhanced mobility and speed across challenging terrain is another direct advantage.   

Although ultralight gear is more expensive than traditional equipment, we’ve put together some free tips to lower your pack weight. The weight on your back will likely have far less financial impact than your pre-trail physical training and number of days spent in a town, but it’s something to think about if you feel slowed down by a massively heavy backpack.

Little scrambles, like the Wildcats, become so much easier when your pack isn’t bulky and you don’t have to worry about the amount of space between the rocks.

Everything’s a Tradeoff

The first advice I’d give to someone planning an AT thru-hike would never be to speed up. You may struggle more with mental burnout, a harder time finding friends keeping the same pace, and a greater risk of injury.

However, for those whose primary concern is the financial side of a thru-hike, the easiest way to save money on the Appalachian Trail is probably to skip that day in town and beeline it to Katahdin. 

Featured image: Photo via Katie Jackson. Graphic design by Zack Goldmann.