Backpacker: How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

We talked to trail-town business owners and looked at economic data to estimate how much the class of 2026 should plan on spending.

Backpacker: How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

Last updated:
March 16, 2026
|  5 min read
A graph comparing the cost of the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail

Backpacker: How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

Backpacker: How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

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We talked to trail-town business owners and looked at economic data to estimate how much the class of 2026 should plan on spending.

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Backpacker: How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

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How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

When I hiked the Appalachian Trail a million years ago (i.e, in 2015), conventional wisdom was to budget around $2 per mile. For a roughly 2,190-mile hike, the estimated cost came to just under $4,400.

My partner and I spent a little more than that average, splurging here and there on nicer accommodations and replacing a lot of our heavy gear midway through the hike. But anecdotally, that estimate seemed accurate for most hikers we ran into.

A decade later, things have gotten significantly more expensive, both on the trail and off. Prices overall have risen about 38 percent in the U.S. during that time, with the outdoor-industry rate of inflation rising slightly faster.

Continue reading to learn more about the cost of thru-hiking, written by Maggie Slepian.

Backpacker: How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

When I hiked the Appalachian Trail a million years ago (i.e, in 2015), conventional wisdom was to budget around $2 per mile. For a roughly 2,190-mile hike, the estimated cost came to just under $4,400.

My partner and I spent a little more than that average, splurging here and there on nicer accommodations and replacing a lot of our heavy gear midway through the hike. But anecdotally, that estimate seemed accurate for most hikers we ran into.

A decade later, things have gotten significantly more expensive, both on the trail and off. Prices overall have risen about 38 percent in the U.S. during that time, with the outdoor-industry rate of inflation rising slightly faster.

Continue reading to learn more about the cost of thru-hiking, written by Maggie Slepian.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Media Mentionsn from Maggie Slepian
Maggie Slepian
She has backpacked thousands of miles around the US, and is an avid bikepacker, climber, and mountain biker.
Media Mentions

Backpacker: How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

How Much Will it Cost to Thru-Hike the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in 2026? We Did the Math.

When I hiked the Appalachian Trail a million years ago (i.e, in 2015), conventional wisdom was to budget around $2 per mile. For a roughly 2,190-mile hike, the estimated cost came to just under $4,400.

My partner and I spent a little more than that average, splurging here and there on nicer accommodations and replacing a lot of our heavy gear midway through the hike. But anecdotally, that estimate seemed accurate for most hikers we ran into.

A decade later, things have gotten significantly more expensive, both on the trail and off. Prices overall have risen about 38 percent in the U.S. during that time, with the outdoor-industry rate of inflation rising slightly faster.

Continue reading to learn more about the cost of thru-hiking, written by Maggie Slepian.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Media Mentionsn from Maggie Slepian
Maggie Slepian
She has backpacked thousands of miles around the US, and is an avid bikepacker, climber, and mountain biker.
Media Mentions
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