I thought I could spend six to eight weeks exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in my Toyota 4Runner for about $1,500.
The actual cost? $5,875. 😳
What started as a budget-friendly adventure with Blaze turned into a much more expensive lesson in trip planning, camping gear, and knowing when it’s time to change plans.
In this video, I’m breaking down what I spent preparing the 4Runner, what the trip itself cost, the gear I bought but never used, and why I eventually traded camping for hotels and an Airbnb.
The surprising part? Gas and groceries were almost exactly what I’d budgeted. It was everything else that added up.
I’m also sharing what I’d do differently next time—because I haven’t given up on long road trips, dispersed camping, or exploring with Blaze. I’m just getting smarter about how I do it.
If you’re planning an extended road trip, solo camping adventure, or 4Runner camping setup, I hope my experience helps you avoid a few expensive mistakes of your own.
Have you ever taken a trip that cost way more than you expected? I’d love to hear what happened in the comments.
Here’s the MI Trip playlist I mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDK8vnfP95VM
Thanks for being here and following along with our adventures!
Michelle & Blaze 🐾