Southwest Part 2: 55 Days in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah (page 4 of 4)

RECAP: Just a quick reminder, this trip took place in the summer of 2022...

Today is April 8, 2026—almost four years since we left—and the memories are still so vivid. The kids still talk about this adventure all the time...

55 days!!! Looking back, it’s pretty wild we did this with the kids, cooped up as a family of four. But at no point did we feel bored, tired, or fed up. It was pure joy and a memory-making machine for life... The biggest win with a trip this long? No major incidents: no illnesses (except Oscar had a bit of a fever for two days right at the start), no injuries, no car accidents. That’s priceless!!!! Just a minor hiccup with two flat tires back-to-back that threw our chakras off for a couple of days 😄. Nothing serious, though.

The only thing that threw us off was the weather! But hey, Mother Nature calls the shots!!! Some nights in the tent, we were like, 😠, come on, Nature!!!! 😄. We had two big storms where we had to rush into the car to avoid flying away with the tent!!!! And we ended up swapping 7-8 nights of camping for last-minute motels to avoid reliving those two nights... So, the night budget took a hit. Thanks, Mother Nature!!!

Let’s talk budget—no taboos here... A trip like this doesn’t come out of two teachers’ pockets overnight 😉. We saved for five years, and we’ve been house-swapping for 12 years now, which helped us save up... Okay, here’s the budget for 55 days in the American West:

-Flights: British Airways booked at the end of October 2021: 2700 € for four, with a layover in London.

-Car rental: Hertz in Denver (not at the airport to save big): 2700 €

-Gas: Well, well, well... We left the year the exchange rate was the worst in ages 😠, on top of a "little" global crisis, and you’ve got the perfect combo for high gas prices... We managed okay with the GasBuddy app, which shows gas station prices nearby... Total: $1367, about 1350 €, with an average of $4.48 per gallon...

-Accommodations: Hotels + camping + house swaps: $3348, about 3300 € for 53 nights, so 62 € per night! And yes, about fifteen nights were free thanks to house swaps and camping!!!

-Restaurants: Sometimes lunch, more often dinner, totaling $2250, about 2200 €.

-Groceries: Mostly at Safeway, City Market, some at Natural Grocers, Albertsons, Harmons, Smiths—better fresh fruits and veggies than Walmart and not much pricier... Total: $1882, about 1850 €.

-Camping gear (excluding tent): Walmart and Bass Pro Shop: 500 € for sleeping bags, a cooler, a stove, and other camping essentials...

-Souvenirs and activities: America the Beautiful Pass, Las Vegas outlets (we splurged a little), pools, rodeo, souvenirs, etc.: 1500 €

Total budget for four people over 55 days: 16100 €

We’d budgeted 15000 € with a 1500 € safety net... We nailed it 😎. Sure, the 7-8 nights of camping turning into hotel stays because of storms and the not-so-great dollar rate bumped up the cost, but we did just fine!

I won’t do a top/flop list—it’s too personal and subjective. But southern Utah was hands-down the highlight of the trip for us. So if we had just one piece of advice, it’d be to take your time. Don’t just drive and sightsee a little each day—do lots of exploring and drive less. Don’t hesitate to hike, because beyond an hour from the parking lot, you’ll practically have the place to yourselves!!!! Check out travel journals to find hidden gems off the beaten path. Plan your trip—it’s so worth it and helps avoid surprises during your adventure... Don’t hesitate to spend time based in St. George, Kanab, or Moab... Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!!!

Thanks to so many of you who guided us toward these adventures. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate! And to all of you heading out soon, I wish you amazing adventures in this memory-making factory that is the American West... We’ll be back!!!!!!!!🙂

Hi Sylvain,

Thanks for taking the time to share your American adventure with us 🙂. Your story delighted me as much as it made me despair when I see all that’s still left for me to discover out there . And with the current situation, like many, it won’t be happening anytime soon. The American Southwest—what a gem, right up there on the podium of my most beautiful trips. It’s a feast for the eyes, and your photos really show that.

Budget-wise, ouch—but not really surprising for a 55-day trip with 4 people (except for the food part, those budget acrobatics must’ve been something else 🙂).

Thanks!

Oh awesome, Sylvain, thanks for this super detailed feedback—it really gives us a realistic idea for our own trip! For our 40 days this summer, I’ve budgeted 15,000 € for the four of us, with 19 nights of home exchanges. The rest goes toward activities that really drive up the cost. We’ll see how it goes, but it seems doable—it’s a bit of a relief!

I haven’t read your Mexico feedback yet, but I’m heading there now! I wanted to go in February 2025, but the U.S. trip pushed it back… had to start saving up again!

What’s your trip this summer?

Hi Aurélie, This summer is a transition year with some clever budget-filling 😏 Trips in the Alps are on the agenda, so hiking and swimming are in the plans!