8 Months on the Road: What it Costs, How Far We’ve Driven

Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico

It was April 26, 2011 when we left Homer, Alaska to begin our Epic Expedition – a road trip from Alaska to Argentina.

It’s been just about eight months on the road. How much has it cost us and how far have we driven?

Here’s the breakdown:

Previous Months Expenses

• Month One – $2,276.65
• Month Two – $2,597.32
• Month Three – $2,767.80
• Month Four – $2,488.41
• Month Five – $1,514.50
• Month Six – $1,259.40
• Month Seven – $938.49

Total Miles Driven

• Mileage 4/26/11 – 98,475
• Mileage 5/27/11 – 104,345
• Mileage 6/29/11 – 106,404
• Mileage 8/3/11 – 109,286
• Mileage 9/1/11 – 110,955
• Mileage 10/4/11 – 113,663
• Mileage 11/7/11 – 115,728
• Mileage 12/1/11 – ??
• Miles this month – Dang it, the truck is not here, I’ll have to check later.
  
• Total Miles Driven -
  

We’re still driving mostly for free, thanks to GoldenFuelSystems.com!

Monthly Expenses

• Personal $1,071.61 - WHOA! What happened? Had to buy a new camera, mine was stolen in Tulum, Mexico
• Truck $601.51 – Truck broke down, and was leaking engine oil. Plus we decided to remodel.
  
• Groceries $488.12 - We splurged this month, maybe we find comfort in food…
  
• Dining Out $128.84 – Easier than cooking
• Diesel $50.00
• Travel $35.92 - Too busy dealing with problems to sight-see much
  
• Education $26.92  - Bought some books for our new Kindle
  

Total Monthly Expenses – $2,403.00

Rough month…problem after problem, and very expensive.

But we’re still alive. And we’re not going home, so all is well.

Locations Visited This Month

Because of the hellish month, I don’t have posts for these yet…

• Stranded in Sabancuy
• Stuck in Champoton
• Akuumal, Mexico
• Tulum, Mexico
• Homeless in Xcalac, Mexico
• Christmas in Bacalar, Mexico

Total Locations Visited

• Homer, Alaska
• Seward, Alaska
• Portage Glacier, Alaska
• Anchorage, Alaska
• Mt. McKinley
• Fairbanks, Alaska
• North Pole, Alaska
• Tok, Alaska
• Canada (Yukon and British Columbia)
• Route 99 to Vancouver
• Pike Place Market – Seattle, Washington
• Whidby Island (the ‘perfect’ day) – Washington
• Mt. Rainier, Washington (Don’t miss the video of Greg and the kids jumping in a lake)
• Mt. St. Helens, Washington
• Oregon Coast + More Oregon Coast
• Camping in Southern Oregon
• Sahalie & Koosah Falls, Oregon
• Crater Lake, Oregon
• California/Oregon Border
• Redwood Forest
• Redding, CA with Adam Baker from ManvsDebt.com
• Nevada (drove through)
• Utah
• Rocky Mountains (Roof Top Tent)
• Mt. Pleasant, Utah (Calf roping)
• West Yellowstone, Montana
• Yellowstone National Forest
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming
• Cedar Fort, Utah
• Salt Lake City (Utah Arts Festival)
• Morgan, Utah (4th of July)
• 5k Race, West Jordan Utah
• Santa Cruz, California
• Yosemite National Park
• Fishing in American Fork Canyon – Utah
• Josh Groban Concert – Salt Lake City, Utah
• (Catching Chickens) Natural Meat Farm – West Jordan, Utah
• Met FamilyonBikes in Boise, Idaho (lost a child at the farmers market!)
• Twin Falls, Idaho
• Base Jumped Perrine Bridge, Twin Falls
• Park City, Utah (Retreat with The Eyres)
• New family size tent from Cascadia Vehicle Tents
• Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
• Hole-in-the-Rock National Monument, Utah
• Dry Creek Slot Canyon, Utah
• Bryce Canyon, Utah
• Dixie National Forest, Utah
• Lake Powell, Arizona
• Navajo Reservation, Arizona
• Grand Canyon, Arizona
• Flagstaff, Arizona
• Prescott, Arizona
• Anthem, Arizona
• Snowflake, Arizona
• Meetups in Gilbert, Arizona
• Camping in Southeastern Arizona
• Bisbee, Arizona
• Tombstone, Arizona
• Crossed the Mexico Border – Douglas, AZ/Agua Priete
• Camped in Northern Mexico
• Chihuahua, Mexico
• Durango, Mexico
• Our truck breaks down somewhere in Mexico
• Chapala, Mexico
• Ajijic, Mexico
• Jocotepec, Mexico
• Isla Mezcala, Mexico
• Orphanage in Chapala, Mexico
• Guadalajara, Mexico (Dinner and a ‘Show’)
• Paracho, Mexico (Guitar making capital)
• Anaghuan, Mexico (indigenous village)
• Volcano Paricutin
• Tzararacua Waterfalls
• Tzintzuntzan, Mexico
• Patzcuaro, Mexico
• Morelia, Mexico
• Ananagueo, Mexico
• Monarch Butterfly Reserve (El Rosario)
• Valle Del Bravo, Mexico
• Driving through Mexico City
• Pyramids of Teotihuacan
• Touring Mexico City by Bus, Train and Foot
• Toll road to Puebla
• A week in Cholula, Mexico
• Ruins of Monte Alban
• Ornery in Oaxaca, Mexico
• Giant tree of El Tule, Mexico
• Jalapa, Mexico (posts coming soon for rest)
• Indigenous Village, Chiapas, Mexico
• Ocosingo, Mexico (car accident)
• Agua Azul (most beautiful place we’ve ever seen)
• Palenque ruins

What About Your Fuel and Accommodation Expenses?

Our vehicle runs on waste vegetable oil (veggie) thanks to Golden Fuel Systems, and has allowed us to complete the majority of our trip for almost free.

In Mexico, there is plenty of used oil to be had, but collecting it is more of a challenge, and requires more planning and patience.

We were generously sponsored by Cascadia Vehicle Tents, so most of the time we sleep in our very comfy roof top tent. CVT upgraded us to the family size Mt. Rainier tent with annex room. Thanks CVT!! – Watch the video by clicking here. Otherwise we stay with family or friends who invite us along the way.

Camping near Sabancuy, Mexico

Reflections

After an amazing November, December was really something hellish. Problem after problem. We didn’t get to do or see the things we planned on, because we were too busy trying to keep our truck running.

Then to top it off, my camera was stolen, and I had to replace it.

The year ended well though, and we got things taken care of that we needed to, and were joined by some friends who plan to spend a couple of months with us here in Mexico.

I’ll be posting about our adventures as soon as I can…  

About Rachel Denning

Mother of five amazing kids, author, family travel expert and full-time traveler. Besides writing about their family travel adventures, Rachel also shares information on The Art of Family Travel, how to Fund Your Lifestyle, and is co-author of the popular book, Living Deliberately: How to Create a Ridiculously Awesome Life.