Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: United States

Accommodation

$25-60 per night

Hostels with shared dorms, budget motels, shared Airbnb rooms, or camping sites

Food & Dining

$20-45 per day

Fast food, grocery store meals, food trucks, casual diners, and cooking your own meals

Transportation

$10-30 per day

Public buses, subway systems, walking, occasional rideshares, and budget car rentals when split

Activities

$5-25 per day

Free museums, hiking trails, public beaches, free walking tours, and occasional paid attractions

Cook meals in accommodations with kitchens instead of eating out for every meal (typically saves 60-70% on food costs)

Use public transportation and city transit passes instead of taxis and rideshares (usually 70-80% cheaper)

Visit free attractions like national monuments, public beaches, and hiking trails instead of paid theme parks

Book accommodations outside city centers and tourist districts (generally 30-50% less expensive)

Travel during shoulder seasons rather than peak summer or holiday periods (typically 25-40% savings)

Buy groceries at regular supermarkets instead of convenience stores in tourist areas (usually 40-60% cheaper)

Look for happy hour specials and lunch menus at restaurants instead of dinner pricing (often 30-50% less)

Relying exclusively on rideshares and taxis instead of learning public transit systems (can cost 3-5x more daily)

Eating only in tourist districts and hotel restaurants instead of exploring local neighborhoods (typically 100-150% markup)

Booking last-minute accommodations during peak travel times (often 200-300% higher than advance bookings)

Not researching free activities and assuming all attractions require paid admission

Exchanging money at airports and tourist areas instead of using ATMs or banks (typically 5-15% worse rates)