From Houston lets say its a 2000 mile roundtrip to Colorado @ 20 mpg and $3a gallon gas = $300 bucks in gas alone. Toss in $100 misc expenses, $500 tag and you can do it yourself for $900-1000 by camping DIY.

Choose a national forest area, get a map and go.

If you aren't in shape, you'll be pissing $1000 away.