Hello /out/. Long time lurker, occasional poster. I need advice. I will be graduating from college next year and (hopefully) head to graduate school soon after in the Fall. Since I'll already be admitted to graduate school, I won't have to fill my summer with resume builders and can have 3 months to myself to do whatever I want to do.

tl;dr I'm planning a trip around the West, seeing parts of California, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. Does anyone have any experience planing large trips like these; I'm a sucker for planning ahead and would like to know how much money I need to save this year.

Also, I wouldn't mind hearing recommendations from sc/out/s who are from these areas. My friend has already recommended some great places in Northern Arizona that I should check out, and I've always wanted to visit Grand Tetons, Arches NP, Mt Hood and Yellowstone. My trip will start and end in Cali.