What does your typical trip cost - out of pocket - when you account for all associated expenses when all is said and done; including any equipment rented but excluding the sunk cost of/investment in the gear and equipment you own and bring or provide for use by others?

Per person or whole group?

Does the cost of the various elements of the trip influence what you decide to do (tow vs no-tow, BWCA vs Q, night before accommodations, etc)?

We hotel or bunkhouse the night before going in and the night we come out. With dinner those nights, gas up and back, food for the trip, permit, other little odds and ends purchased for the trip, I'd estimate $500-$600.

Mike

If I had to, but only if I really had to: $38.00 permit fee and 46 gallons of gas, so less than $200.00. That means packing a lunch and road snacks, sleeping at the EP or some side road the night before, no Minn. fishing license, no after trip shower!

Realistically, about $350.00 which includes bunk house and simple meals (burger and a beer). I will pack a travel lunch this year as fast food is neither fast nor cheap and paying for heart burn is kinda silly.

The two main expenses for me last year were gas and the canoe rental. The rental was about $250 if I remember correctly, and gas was a little over 100. With other odds and ends factored in I think the total cost was between 400 and 450. Still about as cheap of a vacation as you can get these days, and it'll be even cheaper for me now that I have my own canoe.

Approximately $650 for fuel, hotel, food and permit.

Mine has been going down the last few years but will go up slightly with inflation. When i first started going i had to rent a canoe and some equipment, i've now purchased all that i need. My costs remaining are:

Gas there and back $100ish
Food there and back and packed in, $150ish
Permit $16
Bunkhouse stay night before and night after $50
Minnesota Fishing license $51 (i always get the annual in case multiple trips are made, 7 day is $43)
Replacement for lures lost post trip ($50ish)

Does the cost of the various elements of the trip influence what you decide to do (tow vs no-tow, BWCA vs Q, night before accommodations, etc)?
No, i do whatever makes sense. I've used a tow a couple years where the cost of the tow greatly reduced the risk/time involved). Cost for this trip is minimal compared to "family vacations", so another $50-$100 meh, no big deal.

Fairly cheap vacation for a week!

The gas I use to drive to the BWCA and back with the vehicle parked for 5-7 days is considerably less gas than I'd use if I were home doing my average daily activities. During the average week at home, we'll go out to eat at least once spending more in a evening than I'd spend on camping provisions for a week. (I have noticed our "Dry January" evenings cost half those with cocktails).

Over the years, I have spent dearly for gear. I got older, weaker and maybe wiser so spent again for lighter more modern versions of the same gear. So, if I exclude those significant sunk costs of owned gear, a trip to the BWCA probably saves me a few hundred dollars per week long trip.

We drive from PA so our trip cost is higher than some. I believe our trip in 2021 was about 400$ per person? That included 8 days for 4 of us with just canoe rentals from Piragris, campsite at Jeannette, beers and burger at the boathouse, and gas to and from PA. I'm planning on adding 200$ on top of that this year when we go in August.

I have all my own equipment so gas, food, bait, permit - last trip was $165 each between 5 guys for a 5 day trip. Might spend less than a hundred for food on the way up and back and misc stuff, lures I don’t need etc. Can’t beat it for the quality of vacation you get.
Great topic btw.

Under $500 per person including bunkhouse the night before, hotel on the way up and back (2-3 nights total), freeze dried food, gas, permits, and several meals on the road. We don't rent any equipment.

I am about where Scat is at. I have all my own equipment so Gas, Food, and permits. It's a five hr drive, and we do not stay at a bunk house either direction, so it's a really cheap vacation. $120 - $140 per person.

Like OC Dave I probably save money going into the wilderness. Gas has always been the big expense, about 100 gallons per trip. Sr pass permit has been $8.00. I pack food for the road and while camping, also who needs the heartburn, but get a meal on the way out and sometimes a room for the night. And a Dairy Queen. About $500 to $575 for a solo trip whether one night or a week.

Compare the estimated cost of a week in the BW to the cost of 5 visits to a mental health professional.

I don’t really count the cost of food, you have to eat wherever you are. If anything I save money there because I’m skipping a night out or door dash order at home.

You can do it super cheap, but we’re to the point where we splurge on anything and everything. Like others have said it’s still cheap compared to pretty much any other vacation. Probably around $500/guy.

RMinMN: "Compare the estimated cost of a week in the BW to the cost of 5 visits to a mental health professional."

Boom!

Per person as best as I can recall:
Permit 16
Canoe average of 45/2= 23 per night
Tip outfitter 10
Gas from twin cities 25
The biggest variable is the night before /day after in town….

And we typically stay at a forest service campground before and drive home after

I’d never take a tow until I need it so that’s not a concern. The largest expense is the canoe(s) that take a small investment but looking at it now would pay for themselves in a few years

Cost per trip not counting the "sunk" costs:

38 permit
55 private room at outfitter lodge/bunkhouse night before entry
225 transportation by outfitter to entry point (this year is a long drive to EP14)
25 transportation by outfitter from exit point
750 mileage (1150 miles roundtrip @ $0.655 IRS mileage rate)
200 hotel in Duluth on exit day
100 food during driving
100 food for trip
??? probably some things I'm forgetting

We own our equipment so no rentals.

Call it $1600 total. $800 per person for myself and my wife.

We are cost conscious, but this is our "big trip" of the year so we are happy and willing to spend more money to have a more enjoyable trip.

10 nights in the bwca; per person in a 4-5 person group from Vt to Mn about $600-$1000 for gas motels food. We have all our own equipment and canoes.

Fully self outfitted, stay in a FS campground the night before. Food, gas, fishing license (7 day out of state), and permits are our only expenses. Generally $150-$175/person depending on gas cost. Does not count replacement cost of lost fishing lures. I always figure $25/person on that too so I always tell people roughly $200/person overall and am happy when it’s less.

When I go with my daughters, we camp for free the night before in the Superior National Forest, we bring our own canoe and kayak, so it's just license fees, gas, and food. For all three of us it's under $400 coming from central Illinois. We could and sometimes do spend more if we piddle around the North shore or eat at a nicer restaurant.

When I come up with the guys, we stay at a bunkhouse before and after the trip, we rent canoes, so the cost of the trip goes up significantly. 350 to 400 per person.

Well reading the responses, I'm a little envious of you who live so close. Though not envious of the freezing temperatures, snow, bugs, humidity, ect. I'm know I'm just spoiled out here in Nor Cal. We just have to deal with the Shake n' Bake (earthquakes and fires).
My costs are significantly more. $750 for airfare and car rental.
Usually go with a full outfitting package for equipment and food. Though I have been collecting my own equipment that I am bringing more and more. Defiantly prefer a hammock sleep system. So that is about 1,200 for a 10 day trip, including the bunkhouse the day before and the day after, fishing licenses, and other expenses.
That doesn't include the multitude of supplies and equipment that I pickup through the year used on this trip and other camping adventures.
SO it's about 2,000 to 2,500 +/-.
Keep in mind that the BWCA was a bucket list item that will never be crossed off. First it was getting there. Next was to do a PMA. This year is Quetico. Next year.... who knows, I'll think of something.
Took me 60 years to get there but will be returning every year I can.

$20-$40 in electricity for the EV depending on whether we go to Ely or Grand Marais.
$38 for permit
$20-25 for camping the night before (only about 1/2 our trips)
$75-150 for restaurant meals on the way up and back. Love eating in small towns that need the business.
The only time we rent gear is when we take a trip with 3 people, then we rent a 3-person canoe. It is more fun to all be together vs. bringing a tandem and a solo canoe.

I don't really count the cost of trail meals because I build all my own meals and they don't cost any more than my normal meals at home.

Depends on thee trip. I have gone in October, leaving my house (3.5 hours from Ely) in the AM and doing the whole trip on a single tank of gas. (about 50 bucks).

I have all my own stuff , including canoes and stuff to share.

I don't count food, cuz I have to eat anyway.

I think once I got enough of my own stuff the $38 for the entry fee and a tank of gas is it.... unless I go to the Gunflint or Toft side, then it costs for a bunk night and a bite to eat in Two Harbors or GM.

I'd say I make money going.

I spend less money per day eating in the bwca as I either make the food myself or catch it. = saved money $

A 1 week round trip will be about 250 miles which divided by 7 is about 35 miles a day in the car. I do average about 35 miles a day on non work days. So free/no difference

I already have all the gear, canoe and fishing licence etc = free

The only expense would be the permit and if we took a route that had a tow.

Average around $500/person.


Fee Schedule

Item QTY. Rate Description Per person
Canoe rental 7 days $44/day per canoe $261.80 per canoe/$130.90 per person (includes 15% discount) $130.90
Lodging 2 nights $25.50/night Lodging in bunkhouse before and after trip $51.00
Tax 1 $68.15 Tax for all 6 people $11.36
Permit fees 1 $17 Permit fees per person $17.00
$210.26

Fishing License 1 1 Out of state licene for 7 days $43.00
Fuel 2 $139 Map quest fuel estimate $139x2 = $278 $46.00
Travel food 2 Food on the drive and in Ely. Depends on what you want to spend $150.00
Groceries TBD TBD Haven't shopped yet but usually around $60 each $60.00
$299.00



$509.26

Great subject!

Per person If driving and nine nights in the park:

$300 - gas
$65 - motel Atilokan
$150 - park fee
$75 - shuttle (prefer different entry and exit points)
$65 - return motel Sault St. Marie
$200 - food and alcohol

$855 - total $Cdn
$640 - $US


If flying:

Remove gas and hotel in Sault
$450 - flight
$225 - car rental
$225 - canoe rental

Total - $1,390Cdn or $1,040US

A bargain by any measure!

A week in one of the best places on the planet with my sons/grandsons runs around $500-800 depending on the price of gas and whether I splurge on a motel room each way or camp. Driving from Arkansas makes gas the biggest expense.

Cheaper by far than a week on a cruise, any vacation that involves hotels and restaurants, or a ticket to one of today's football games!!

Just finished repairing several 1980 vintage Duluth packs, cost zero. Tent, stoves sleeping bags are all over twenty years. I already have mn fishing license. Only recent gear purchase is a new rain jacket but I needed that. Only cost is gas from Duluth and permit. Cheaper than staying home

Right around $250. Expenses include food for the trip, gas to get there, permit cost, and a bunk house room either the night before, or on the way out. I own all my own gear including canoes. I have slept in my car the night before put in to save a little. I also usually eat a decent meal as soon as I get back to the nearest town. Also, not including Garmin InReach subscription.

We generally go to Quetico and enter from the Atikokan area. We split all the bills evenly and each person is responsible for their own fishing license (approx. $25 for the Ontario Conservation license).

Gas: $300
Food: $200 (for in the park)
Food along the way: $250 (Breakfast, Dinner on trip up. Dinner on way home)
Q Camping fees: $400 (four guys, five nights)
Motel in Atkokan (two rooms - $125 each): $250

Total: $1,400. Divided by four = $350 per person.

Obviously, there are incidentals that each person buys on their own.

If we bring more people, the total increases, but the cost per person remains roughly the same.

Pretty dirt cheap if you ask me.

My wife works 4 hours a month at a hotel so believe it or not, 2 hotel rooms (day before and day coming out) only costs us $100.
Gas $150?
Permit $38
Food - I dehydrate most of my stuff from leftovers so hard to quantify.
Total has to be under $400 although I've never really cared enough to budget it out.

Depending on how "luxurious" we want to get (paddling vs. a tow, driving to entry vs. a shuttle, simple bunkhouse night before entry vs. nicer hotel, etc.) we plan on about $300-$400/person

bottomtothetap: "Depending on how "luxurious" we want to get (paddling vs. a tow, driving to entry vs. a shuttle, simple bunkhouse night before entry vs. nicer hotel, etc.) we plan on about $300-$400/person"

...and we drive from Central MN.

BonzSF: "Well reading the responses, I'm a little envious of you who live so close. Though not envious of the freezing temperatures, snow, bugs, humidity, ect. I'm know I'm just spoiled out here in Nor Cal. We just have to deal with the Shake n' Bake (earthquakes and fires).
My costs are significantly more. $750 for airfare and car rental.
Usually go with a full outfitting package for equipment and food. Though I have been collecting my own equipment that I am bringing more and more. Defiantly prefer a hammock sleep system. So that is about 1,200 for a 10 day trip, including the bunkhouse the day before and the day after, fishing licenses, and other expenses.
That doesn't include the multitude of supplies and equipment that I pickup through the year used on this trip and other camping adventures.
SO it's about 2,000 to 2,500 +/-.
Keep in mind that the BWCA was a bucket list item that will never be crossed off. First it was getting there. Next was to do a PMA. This year is Quetico. Next year.... who knows, I'll think of something.
Took me 60 years to get there but will be returning every year I can.
"

Make some MN friends!

Most of our cost is in gas and food. Last year our big purchase was a new Northstar canoe. We already had one canoe but wanted a lighter one. We usually end up buying a few new clothing items for the kids as they grow. I found an MSR tent on sale for $200 this past week and got that to replace one of our old tents that was heavier and leaking badly. We’ve collected quite a bit of camping gear, sleeping bags, tents, etc over the years. I’d like to buy another portage pack, but realistically we have just about everything we need. New things are really just luxuries or things we’d like to upgrade. Realistically we could get by with just some gas for the 5 hour drive, and food for the trip. And of course permit cost! I’d like to think we could go for under $500 this year (new tent, permit, gas, food), but with wanting a another pack and maybe a couple other small items, I’m sure it’ll be a little more.

Only costs for me are permit, gas, food and maybe a few new lures to re-stock those lost on previous excursions.

I leave from our cabin/summer home, which is an hour outside of Ely. So all in I'm likely less than $100.

That’s awesome speckled. Oh yeah I forgot the fishing license, but still was $165 a person last trip. I’ve had the same gear for almost 30 years, except for a new tent and sleeping pad I bought last year. Needed to upgrade the tent, the Taj 3 was a leaker.

Coming from central Illinois: if I come with one other I have about $400. Includes first night in bunkhouse, tow, gas up and back, pulling over in a rest stop on the way home for a nap, food up back and in the woods, all permits.
Last couple of years I've tried something new. I have searched and found a reasonably priced canoe to buy, used it for the week and then sold it. Last year I was alble to buy a Nova Craft for $1000 and sell it afterwards for $1500. Also done the same with a Mad River and a Wenonah Champlain. Just got to keep your eyes open

PaddleBoi: "
Make some MN friends! "

I'm working on it. Everyone I run into from the PMA trails to the Ely sidewalks are super friendly. Even people here who are from MN are friendly. Including the guy that I bought my "project" canoe from. I look forward to many more visits.
And it goes without saying that the people on this forum are awesome. I feel I already have many virtual MN friends.

preacherdave: "Coming from central Illinois: if I come with one other I have about $400. Includes first night in bunkhouse, tow, gas up and back, pulling over in a rest stop on the way home for a nap, food up back and in the woods, all permits.
Last couple of years I've tried something new. I have searched and found a reasonably priced canoe to buy, used it for the week and then sold it. Last year I was alble to buy a Nova Craft for $1000 and sell it afterwards for $1500. Also done the same with a Mad River and a Wenonah Champlain. Just got to keep your eyes open"

Clever approach! Very entrepreneurial and a great way to finance more trips!

I can do small groups for about $300-350 per person which includes nights in town at the start and end, fuel, permit, food, and other supplies. Scout trips are a little more per person because we usually have more people than I can provide canoes for. I'm taking people to the Scout base on Moose for a 10 night trip in July - that tips the scales at around 1400 per person.

Slowly acquiring gear over the years has allowed me to whittle down the cost of trips. Canoe purchases will pay for themselves in rental fees saved after a few trips depending on the age and condition of the boat.

i figure $582 in fuel at $4gal 12 mpg in my f250. it might get a bit better fuel, but thats just stop and go average mpg.

$88 a day in permits and canoe rental per day. how many days? more people and you can cut some expences/ but your at 1k for 1 canoe for pretty easy. if you can get more people to split it, i can drop the cost quickly. but your at $ 500 per person for 2 . about $400 for 4

My biggest expense has always been gas, tolls, food, and lodging for 2500-mile round trip to get there and back. The other was canoe rental until we moved a few years ago and I had a place to store a canoe. I bought a used one, which has now paid for itself. I have all the gear needed. On the 2 occasions my brother traveled up with me, there was a major reduction in the travel expenses per person. But mostly I'm solo and it's my splurge for the year, so I pay what it costs to do it and enjoy it. I usually spend 3 to 3 1/2 weeks away from home these days. Over the last few years it's probably been $1,200 +/-, which is mostly gas and lodging.

living in minnesota , my price is basically Gas money , i need to eat whether i'm in the BW or at home , and cheaper to eat in the bwca if you like fish LOL

I need to fly to get there (from Phoenix, AZ) . THe most expensive trip I have done was when I took my 2 boys up there. It was roughly $3200 round trip. Hotels, air fare, car rentals, canoe rentals for a 7 day trip on the water.

I have also managed to get up there and back for about $600 a person for a 7 day trip on the waters. This included air fare - but had just about everything else was provided for me by the friendly people of Minnesota whom I have come to know by the way of this website!

I guess we are lucky, we live in the Twin Cities and have been BWCA and other camping for 50 years. We have all the equipment and clothing we need, often in duplicate and triplicate. Yet we always seem to find that one new and interesting thing we haven't seen or used before...

We usually go up a day early and camp somewhere close to the EP. In May we are going in LIS 14 and are spending the night before at Lake Jeanette campground. Usually camp a night on the way out too. So that adds 30-40 bucks to the trip. $20 for bait, $38 for permit, $100-$120(split in half) for gas these days, $10 for food on the way up and maybe $10 on the way back. So we are at around $178 for the trip not counting food. Probably add $ 60 per person for a mix of freeze dried meals and a fresh dinner and breakfast the first day and we are at a grand total of around $240.00 per person.

Some people exclude the food cost because you would have to eat at home anyways. If we do that we are at around $180.00, ridiculously cheap for one of the best vacation experiences you can have.

Honestly, if I go for a week at a northern state park at $25 a night, tend to bring more elaborate menu and beverages it could easily cost us an extra hundred or more. But we do that and enjoy that as well.

I admire the commitment of many of you who travel much further with significant inconveniences and much more cost to do the BWCA each year. Speaks to the amazing experience and your love of the Northwoods and canoe camping. It's a good thing.

My trips vary so much that its hard to give a total cost. Below are the general factors that go into the total cost. Haven't been to Q in 4 years now, so I'm only discussing the BWCA:

Gas: 1200 miles round trip from Chicago to Ely or 700 miles round trip from my house near Antigo Wi. Either boats on the roof or towing my small trailer, I get about 24-5 mpg.

Gear: I have my own for up to 6 people. Not including whatever I spend for my annual gift to myself at Canoecopia each year.

Fishing: Sometimes I buy live bait and sometimes I don't. I bring my own stuff otherwise. I buy an annual out of state license because I usually also spend a few weeks at Fall Lake in a camper with the wife and then down to Grand Marias for the music festival in September. And some years I do a spur of the moment solo.

Food: I dehydrate my own food and I usually bring venison steaks for the first night. I always estimate $10/pp/day for food. Also, I've found some good stuff at Aldi. Love their shelf stable tortillini for example. If I've had a bad year, that means buying ribeyes for the first night but that doesn't happen often. There is also the traditional burger at the boathouse the night before and the steak house the night coming out, but we don't always stay in Ely the last night. I usually just eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the ride up. On the ride home there is a traditional stop at a subway somewhere. But, depending on timing, I have a softspot for Grandma's in Virginia (the better one IMHO) or Duluth. Or burgers at the Anchor Bar in Superior.

Hotel: If there are more than two, we usually stay at voyageur north the night before and sometimes the night after. It usually is, I think, about $35/pp/night. If I'm going in at 14 or 16, or if there are 2 or less people going I will look for a forest service campsite. If a solo, I'll just sleep in the car at the entry point.

Tow service: If I'm doing a lazy fishing trip, I will get a tow service up Moose to Ensign.

Chicagored: "
Gas: 1200 miles round trip from Chicago to Ely
"

Sorry to hijack this thread, but Chicagored I'm also from the Chicago area. Are you a member of Prairie State Canoeists?

I just received my invoice for four people, 7 days, two Kevlar canoes, and a tow to Bottle portage. Total was just over $2,000 ($500 per person). $50 per person for the night before room after a 13 hour drive, some live bait, a sit down meal the night before and the lunch after along with the gas, new line for the poles, and tip for the tow driver, easily will be $750 per person with all own gear except for the canoes. This doesn't count food as was stated by several others, we cook real food so the expense isn't any different than being home.

Worth every cent.

Kendis: "

Chicagored: "
Gas: 1200 miles round trip from Chicago to Ely
"

Sorry to hijack this thread, but Chicagored I'm also from the Chicago area. Are you a member of Prairie State Canoeists?"

No. I keep my boats up in wisconsin these days, and rarely bring them back down to illinois. mitch

I appear to run more expensive trips.

The total cost for last years Iron Lake adventure was $5,578. 8 People. 5 days.

THe biggest expense were the tow's from Crane Lake to Bottle Portage.
That plus canoes, some misc. small rentals, etc, from the outfitter were $3,742.
If your trip doesn't require a tow, you can cut that number in half or more.

Dinner at the lodge for 8- $256
Breakfast next morning- $161
Permits: $110
Groceries: $310
Lodging on night #1
At Voyagaire $596
TIP $400

All in $5578- which didn't include a bunch of fishing gear (lures, bait)
$697 per man.
I'd would say we went pretty big and didn't take any shortcuts with the budget.

Perk of living in Ely is access.

For a one or two night solo trip:

Permit for Solo Trip: $22 or so
Food: $30
Gas: $15

So I guess that means $65 a solo trip plus whatever increment of past gear expenses are spread out.

We have our own gear, and dehydrate our own food, so we just pay for gas, bunkhouse for 1 night, and permit.

Of course, it really doesn’t matter how much it costs. Any trip to the BW is priceless !

It depends :)
We live 120 miles from Ely, and already have equipment. Without factoring that in, it's permit cost, gas, and a camping fee the night prior. Maybe one meal out/back. Food costs are same or less than when at home. A big expense is house sitter as we have animals at home that need care in our absence.
Once one has accumulated equipment to be self-sufficient, those costs boil down to either luxury ("wanting" something new vs needing), or repair (a ding in the canoe bottom). If we got to East side, our costs go up (time, gas, occasionally a shuttle to starting point). We do BW over Quetico because it's less expensive.