The Extremely Low-Budget Road Trip (the plan)

It's been a while.
This is the perfect occasion for me to tell you about my long-awaited travel plan.
I started planning this with a friend a good 8 or so months and though the circumstances and the people have changed, it seem like I'll be undertaking a great adventure after all.
-DESTINATION: The Grand Canyon.
Never been, but my soul feels like it knows it already.
-TRAVELERS: Ina and I so far. But we'd like it to be a third person.
-DATES: Sometime in the Summer.
-TRANSPORTATION: Car
-FOOD: Grocery-bought, college-student budget/backpacking style.
-ACCOMMODATIONS: Couch Surfing, baby! and maybe camping if we feel ready. Maybe we'll stop by our friend's house in Santa Fe.
-FINAL GOAL: To enjoy either the sights from the top of the Canyons or from the bottom or both. Time will tell which route we'll take.

Yes, ladies and gents.
Looks like its a GO.
And it's only a few weeks away.
We need to get on it ASAP.
I've never been on such a long road trip, so I hope my friend and I don't end up wanting to throw each-other over the cliffs. But we are both aware of this possibility and thankfully we've been friends for such a long time that we know our weak areas.
I personally plan to have a very low budget.
Gas would probably be the largest expense:
Here's a map of my calculated route: