Moab Costs '09

"It doesn't need to cost much to have a good time. If we all pinch our pennies, then nobody will feel like a cheapskate." - Benjamin Franklin

This year is going to be a "budget conscious" trip (unlike last year's "super-budget-economy" trip). Basically, we are allowing for 2, or maybe 3, meals out to eat and are willing to put up coin for a plush commercial campground (the kind with showers and such): IF there is universal interest. Obviously, you can spend what you want, but just so you have a slightly lower end benchmark to start from, OUR budget is as follows:

• Lodging = $66 ($22 per night at a luxury campground for 3 nights)
• Traveling fuel = $69 (240 miles each way, to and from Moab)
• Adventure fuel = $49 ($7 fuel per jeep excursion - potential of 7 total half-day trips - less reimbursements from passengers, SEE BELOW)
• Food = $50 (Basically, this is our dining out budget, the excess food cost over that which we would have otherwise eaten, had we been at home)
• Other = $20 (Entrance fees, firewood, other miscellaneous incidentals)
• Total = $254 (That's $16 per person per day for our family! Not bad)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

MANY of you will probably want to go on AT LEAST ONE jeep ride. SOME of you will probably want to go on MANY jeep rides. Yet, not all of you will be bringing a 4x4 that is appropriate for the terrain. Which means you'll be bumming a ride from somebody else.

For those of us bringing our own 4x4, there are significant costs as far as fuel usage. Normally, in Moab, we average about 8 miles per gallon out on the trail! Pretty expensive. As a matter of fact, the last jeep ride we took was up American Fork Canyon, our Jeep averaged 4.2 miles per gallon over 2 days! Also, there are significant costs related to wear and tear. We always need an alignment, various filters replaced, various oil and other fluids replaced, and sometimes multiple vehicle parts replaced after (or during) our Moab trips. Plus there is the fact that many parts that do survive the trip have their useful lives greatly diminished because of the abuse they are put through on the trail (tires and steering components come to mind).

For those who will be renting a 4x4, rental costs are as high as $195 per day, plus as much as $65 in optional add ons and taxes, plus another $20 or so per day in fuel. Yea, I know, that's a lot of money. It's worth it at least one time though, if necessary, to convince your wife that you need to own a Jeep.

Therefore, to be fair to everybody attending, there will be NO FREE JEEP RIDES! Unless you have your own four-wheel-drive vehicle (that you don't mind putting through some significant abuse), please plan on either renting your own Jeep (as much as $195 per day) or plan on pitching in YOUR FAIR SHARE toward somebody else's vehicle costs. Something like $1.50ish per seat, per half-day ride for owner-operated vehicles or around $35.00ish per seat, per half-day ride for rented vehicles: is probably reasonable. DO NOT ASSUME that someone will magically have an empty seat available whenever you want to go on a ride. We will personally do our best to try and make sure everyone who is interested gets as many rides as is possible, but ultimately, it is up to you to communicate with us and to make all of your own arrangements in advance. Just showing up the day of and expecting somebody to fit you in without notice is simply unreasonable.

Free Blog Counter