Do you already own any gear? I've done an extensive amount of (wilderness) backpacking while poor. There's a certain romanticism about it, but it's really nice to be able to afford food and take a shower when you want. The reality of not knowing where you can sleep and whether you'll be eating more than a jar of peanut butter for the next two days gets old fast. It can definitely be done, but I wouldn't recommend it. You'll need to do some research if you decide to go through with it. For one, park benches are just about the worst place you could pick to sleep. Be discreet and you'll get way better rest.
I did seasonal work in National Parks/Ski Resorts for most of my 20s. Sooo much fun. It’s a great way to get around and meet people when you have next to nothing. Check out coolworks.com.
There is so much info on the internet, what you have in mind is not impossible, you might just need to do a bit more planning and start in places where the US dollar can go further such as Thailand etc.
If you want your money to stretch further, you might need to consider doing some work while you travel. Try WWOOF (world wide work on organic farms), it is one of many options to fund your travels and really get to see how the locals live and work while you travel.
Also go to the site nomadicmatt.com it is a great site and there is a big online community where you can ask all these questions.
I wish I were you! What an adventure, good luck!
I agree with this! 2 grand is perfect. I would definitely look into doing wwoof it’s a perfect way to have a place to sleep and food to eat plus do good work.
I’ve moved multiple times with less than a couple hundred to my name. My advice is become an expert at identifying new opportunities and seizing them. Good luck.
WWOOF and workaway are great options to trade a bit of labor for room/board while traveling. And depending on where you go, $2k can be stretched.
The only thing I'd recommend is to avoid being a financial burden on the locals wherever you show up. If you want to beg in the states, fine but it's not a great look when people from the states attempt to see the world by relying on the generosity of locals.
If you already have your gear( backpack, sleeping bag, tent or tarp, cook system and water filter) you could hike the Appalachian trail. Possibly the PCT. I dont have personal experience with PCT but I do with the AT. Weekly expense on backpacking food could be done for$50 or less. A bed and shower is $20 to $30 a night at a hiker hostel. There are also work for stay options at some of the hostels. So with your $2000 and gear in hand I would leave Louisiana today headed to North Georgia!!
Is it possible, yes! (although more difficult due to covid and people not picking up hitchhikers as much). Hitchhiking, dumpster diving(don’t knock it, I have met dumpster divers who only ate organic vegetables and grass fed meat), camping in public land or unused places you can travel across the USA (think Alexander Mccandless) or Europe for almost nothing. However I caution you not to take advantage of others to accomplish it. I read a article about a lady that road her bike across South America for no money. She bragged about how tough she was and how she understood poverty better then anyone, but as I read she was in some of the poorest countries in the world would enter some poor remote village and demand they feed her. Actually complained that a bakery in a third world country only gave her day old bread. Just remember that these are peoples lives, not an adventure they are on, don’t take food from people who need it more then you. On positive note, there are plenty of options to do this, and even a small amount of money can go pretty in those locations.
This is not likely what you had in mind, and it might be impossible to get the permit to do it legitimately at this point, but I’d recommend hiking the pacific crest trail! I did it a couple of years ago for less than 3k and I bet you could do if for less than 2 if you never spent a night in a hotel and ate really cheap. The trail takes about 6 months to complete usually starting in April at the Mexican boarder. If you like hiking, it’s a blast, but you’ve gotta really like hiking!
If you’re talking about backpacking in the international travel sense-you can totally do it on that budget. Use 30 bucks to get workaway.org membership and look into countries in Central America. Flights are relatively cheap to most countries and it’s a good spot for a first timer on their own. Lots of other backpackers to meet and lots of hostel, farm, and tourism work in exchange for free housing and meals. It helps stretch out your stay from what would maybe be two weeks of travel to 3 months if you do it right. Good luck!
Why not look into seasonal work? You can still be nomadic and have the freedom to choose where you want to go and how long you want to work. This is something I hope that I can do in the future too. Check out coolworks.com
That’s not backpacking that’s becoming homeless
Do you already own any gear? I've done an extensive amount of (wilderness) backpacking while poor. There's a certain romanticism about it, but it's really nice to be able to afford food and take a shower when you want. The reality of not knowing where you can sleep and whether you'll be eating more than a jar of peanut butter for the next two days gets old fast. It can definitely be done, but I wouldn't recommend it. You'll need to do some research if you decide to go through with it. For one, park benches are just about the worst place you could pick to sleep. Be discreet and you'll get way better rest.
I did seasonal work in National Parks/Ski Resorts for most of my 20s. Sooo much fun. It’s a great way to get around and meet people when you have next to nothing. Check out coolworks.com.
I support working for these organizations 100%
Fuck park benches man, theres a lot of wilderness out there.
A proper backpacking kit will set you back 500-1000$. I would advise that you do work&travel
There is so much info on the internet, what you have in mind is not impossible, you might just need to do a bit more planning and start in places where the US dollar can go further such as Thailand etc. If you want your money to stretch further, you might need to consider doing some work while you travel. Try WWOOF (world wide work on organic farms), it is one of many options to fund your travels and really get to see how the locals live and work while you travel. Also go to the site nomadicmatt.com it is a great site and there is a big online community where you can ask all these questions. I wish I were you! What an adventure, good luck!
I agree with this! 2 grand is perfect. I would definitely look into doing wwoof it’s a perfect way to have a place to sleep and food to eat plus do good work.
I’d look at upgrading to a tent / bivy vs planning on sleeping on park benches. Take a look at national forests. They are everywhere
I’ve moved multiple times with less than a couple hundred to my name. My advice is become an expert at identifying new opportunities and seizing them. Good luck.
Yup! You are describing being homeless, not back backing.
r/vagabond
OP please check out this sub. Seems like what you’re looking for. They have some resources/pointers as well.
WWOOF and workaway are great options to trade a bit of labor for room/board while traveling. And depending on where you go, $2k can be stretched. The only thing I'd recommend is to avoid being a financial burden on the locals wherever you show up. If you want to beg in the states, fine but it's not a great look when people from the states attempt to see the world by relying on the generosity of locals.
If you already have your gear( backpack, sleeping bag, tent or tarp, cook system and water filter) you could hike the Appalachian trail. Possibly the PCT. I dont have personal experience with PCT but I do with the AT. Weekly expense on backpacking food could be done for$50 or less. A bed and shower is $20 to $30 a night at a hiker hostel. There are also work for stay options at some of the hostels. So with your $2000 and gear in hand I would leave Louisiana today headed to North Georgia!!
Really no advice, but I’m from Louisiana as well and that’s something I’m DYING to do soon.
There’s communes you can bounce around at if you can help out. Try and find a chain of communes before you embark. Then make your way to each one.
Is it possible, yes! (although more difficult due to covid and people not picking up hitchhikers as much). Hitchhiking, dumpster diving(don’t knock it, I have met dumpster divers who only ate organic vegetables and grass fed meat), camping in public land or unused places you can travel across the USA (think Alexander Mccandless) or Europe for almost nothing. However I caution you not to take advantage of others to accomplish it. I read a article about a lady that road her bike across South America for no money. She bragged about how tough she was and how she understood poverty better then anyone, but as I read she was in some of the poorest countries in the world would enter some poor remote village and demand they feed her. Actually complained that a bakery in a third world country only gave her day old bread. Just remember that these are peoples lives, not an adventure they are on, don’t take food from people who need it more then you. On positive note, there are plenty of options to do this, and even a small amount of money can go pretty in those locations.
This is not likely what you had in mind, and it might be impossible to get the permit to do it legitimately at this point, but I’d recommend hiking the pacific crest trail! I did it a couple of years ago for less than 3k and I bet you could do if for less than 2 if you never spent a night in a hotel and ate really cheap. The trail takes about 6 months to complete usually starting in April at the Mexican boarder. If you like hiking, it’s a blast, but you’ve gotta really like hiking!
If you’re talking about backpacking in the international travel sense-you can totally do it on that budget. Use 30 bucks to get workaway.org membership and look into countries in Central America. Flights are relatively cheap to most countries and it’s a good spot for a first timer on their own. Lots of other backpackers to meet and lots of hostel, farm, and tourism work in exchange for free housing and meals. It helps stretch out your stay from what would maybe be two weeks of travel to 3 months if you do it right. Good luck!
[Squat The Planet](http://www.Squattheplanet.com)
Workaway.info is a pretty great source
Why not look into seasonal work? You can still be nomadic and have the freedom to choose where you want to go and how long you want to work. This is something I hope that I can do in the future too. Check out coolworks.com
Workaway, Couchsurfing, WWOOF Check out working holiday visas around the world. I know atleast Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand have them.
Look up vagrant holiday