Basecamp Bound · basecampbound.com
The Real Trip Budget Template
| Line item | How to estimate it | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel, the rig | miles ÷ your real mpg × $/gal | $ | $ |
| Fuel, day trips | if you tow a vehicle or drive at the destination | $ | $ |
| Campgrounds | nights × rate; mix hookup, state park, free nights | $ | $ |
| Food | people × days × your honest per-person number | $ | $ |
| Park passes & entry fees | annual pass usually wins at 3+ parks | $ | $ |
| Attractions & activities | the budget the kids vote on | $ | $ |
| Pet fees | campground pet fees, kennel day if needed | $ | $ |
| Laundry, propane, dump fees | the small stuff that isn't small by day 10 | $ | $ |
| Contingency (10%) | not optional; something always happens | $ | $ |
| Total | planned vs. what the trip really cost | $ | $ |
The three rules that keep a trip budget honest
- Use your real numbers, not your hopeful ones. Your rig's actual mpg, your family's actual restaurant habit. The worksheet only works if it would embarrass you a little.
- The 10% contingency is a line item, not a mood. A tire, a tow, a rainy-day aquarium. In our budgets it gets spent more trips than not.
- Fill in the Actual column. The gap between Planned and Actual is the most useful number your next trip will ever get. It's the whole reason our series publishes both.
Prefer it computed? The Trip Cost Calculator is this worksheet as an interactive tool, with our current defaults filled in.
From the family behind Basecamp Bound. Free to print and share. Full episodes and guides: basecampbound.com/plan
