Road trips are synonymous with singing along with the radio and playing car games to pass the time. They can be fun and easy on your pocketbook if you take the time to plan them. If your goal is to save money while traveling, but you don’t know where to start when it comes to planning your trip, feel free to grab a pencil and paper because this guide will help point you in the right direction.
Maps Are Your Best Friend:
Road Trip Budgeting
Mapping out your road trip is the key to unlocking your budget and keeping your expenses under control. You may have figured out your destination, but what about the roads leading to that destination? Before you pack up and get in the car, you should map out your route from start to finish, including any stops you may need to make along the way. This includes mileage and the number of days it will take you to complete your trip. Once you have taken care of distance and time, you can move on to creating a budget for your trip. In this day and age, mapping out your trip is easy thanks to web mapping services like Google Maps that show you available restaurants, gas stations and motels along your upcoming route. This will help you create a tailored trip that suits the needs of your fellow travelers. For example, a route that has a large number of gas stations and rest stops is more suitable for families with children who may need more than one bathroom break.
If you are not in the habit of embarking on long, winding journeys with your car, investing in a GPS will prevent you from getting lost and wasting time and fuel while traveling through dangerous and unfamiliar terrain. It is now possible to plan your road trip and program it into your car’s GPS thanks to a number of software applications that can help you navigate uncharted territory, especially at night.
Calculate Your Budget:
Road Trip Budgeting
Calculating your travel budget is essential and creates a solid foundation you can use to plan a successful trip. First, you should figure out how much money you are budgeting for a road trip. Then, you should take this sum and divide it into smaller portions before allocating it to the essentials of your trip. Things like food, gas and sleeping accommodations fall under the same umbrella and need a small budget of their own. This way, you will avoid overspending or wasting money on unnecessary purchases. Entertainment and souvenirs also need a fair share of the budget in case your road trip takes you to a famous monument or museum. Setting aside some money for emergencies is also a smart and proactive option. Today, you can easily calculate the estimated cost of your trip using a road trip budget calculator. All you need to do is provide it with the details of your trip and it will do the budgeting for you.
Avoid Car Hassles:
Road Trip Budgeting
Imagine having to spend all your road trip money on your car because the engine decided to break down halfway through your trip. This is the worst-case scenario and can turn into a nightmare if you are out of town or in a different state. This means having to call a tow truck to pick up your car and take it to the auto repair shop. Not having a car also means you have to spend money to stay overnight in a hotel. All of these additional expenses will negate your dreams of taking an inexpensive road trip and may even force you to return home. Now hit the rewind button and go back to the days before your road trip. What would you have done differently to avoid such a terrible situation? Giving your car a tune-up should be the first thing that comes to mind when answering this question. This includes checking your tires and making sure they are properly inflated. It also means changing your oil and inspecting your headlights, as well as keeping an eye out for any warning signs on your dashboard. All of these proactive measures will put your mind at ease and prepare your car for your next trip.
Keep an Eye on Fuel Costs:
Road Trip Budgeting
If your road trip plans involve driving a rental, be sure to choose one with good mpg or miles per gallon. Saving fuel will allow you to spend money on other things like snacks and roadside attractions. In addition, cars with better mpg are good for the environment and also help reduce your carbon footprint. There is a wide selection of high mpg cars to choose from, such as the Chevy Cruz and Jeep Renegade.
Calculating your gas costs is also important and this can be easily done using a fuel cost calculator. This handy calculator will use the information you provide to estimate the cost of fuel for the entire trip. All you need to do is provide it with the distance of your trip and the fuel efficiency of your car, plus the price of gasoline, if necessary, and it will take care of the rest for you. Fuel-saving habits can also help you spend less. Here are some tips you can follow to get the most out of your car and save money at the same time:
- Driving at a steady pace is strongly recommended and, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly when speed is above 50 mph. So, every 5 mph over this number will cost you an extra $0.19 per gallon of gas.
- Using cruise control on the highway also saves fuel because it allows you to drive at a constant speed.
- Keep idling to a minimum and be sure to turn off the engine when your car is parked. Idling is capable of draining a quart to a half gallon of fuel per hour from your tank, depending on your air conditioner usage and engine size.
- Roadside service stations generally inflate their prices, so try to fill up at official rest stops or stations that offer competitive prices.
Frugal Food Options
Road Trip Budgeting
There’s no escaping hunger during your trip, but you can definitely save money in the grocery department by packing smart before your trip. This means stocking up on snacks like granola bars and nuts from the store. These snacks will come to the rescue on the road. Investing in a large cooler is a wise move in case you want to pack sandwiches and homemade drinks for your trip.
When it comes to breakfast, look for hotels that offer complimentary breakfast in case you plan to stay overnight. You can’t miss a good meal in the mornings. Free food is also available during happy hours at many bars in the United States. All you need to do is find the nearest drinking establishment with your phone and quickly head to the bar before the happy hour window closes.
Another way to save on food is to have lunch instead of dinner at restaurants. Lunch is much cheaper, especially in places less known to tourists, so don’t hesitate to ask locals about reasonably priced hidden gems in their area.
Inexpensive Accommodations
Road Trip Budgeting
Sleep is also an essential part of long overnight trips, which is why you need to make the right choice in terms of sleeping accommodations. There are many options to choose from depending on how much cash you are willing to spend.
Camping:
Camping is free in places like national forests, as long as you camp outside of established recreation areas and developed campgrounds. If sleeping outdoors is one of your hobbies, then you can stop and choose a nice area to set up camp. Travelers who own trucks can benefit greatly from a truck air mattress. Nothing screams comfort like a mattress, especially when your second choice is to spend the night cooped up inside a small sleeping bag. Truck air mattresses are an excellent alternative to tents and can give you a good night’s sleep so you can wake up the next morning fresh-faced and ready for your road trip budgeting.
Hotels:
Nowadays, finding cheap accommodation and comparing prices is easy thanks to search engines that are designed for the sole purpose of booking rooms and suites all over the world. You can use any of these aggregators to search for accommodations based on your destination and budget. You can even call hotels directly and ask for special offers that are on the table, especially during holidays or special occasions. Check your wallet in case you have a hotel chain credit card. Some hotels offer rewards and loyalty points when you use your credit card to book a room at any of their branches. These points eventually grant you a free night in addition to other perks that you can take advantage of during your future road trips.
Vacation Rental Sites:
If you are traveling with a large group of people, then renting an apartment through a vacation rental site is an economical option that allows you to kill two birds with one stone. First, staying in an apartment means you have access to a kitchen where you can save money by cooking your own meals instead of dining out. You can also do your laundry for free and split the cost of lodging with your friends or family.
Stay Away From Rush Hour
Road Trip Budgeting
Rush hours are synonymous with more expensive food, fuel and lodging. Embarking on a road trip during the holiday season or on weekends can affect your savings. Weekends give people eager to escape the city the opportunity to flood the highway in search of fresh air elsewhere. Families travel across the country during the holidays to visit loved ones, and this means more traffic on the road and less time spent on productivity. Therefore, timing is important and that’s why you should plan ahead because even driving at night can make a difference when it comes to planning a road trip. For example, traveling during the summer means more heat, so you may want to stock up on coffee and drive at night. Driving at night means less stress on the engine and better fuel efficiency. The cooler weather will also encourage you to roll down the windows and turn off the air conditioning.
Save on Sightseeing
Road trips are a great opportunity for travelers to do a little sightseeing and take a detour to visit a famous landmark or monument. Websites like Roadside America give you a comprehensive guide to unusual attractions to keep you entertained on the way to your final destination. You can search for interesting places worth visiting based on your route. If you’re a fan of national forests, you might be interested in a national park pass. This pass costs $80 and gives you year-round access to all 59 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Redwood National Park.
City sightseeing cards are another great option for people who love museums and other city-related attractions. These cards often include free public transportation and restaurant discounts so you can make the most of your detour and use the card to get VIP access to museums and other fun destinations.
Invest in an Emergency Kit
Road Trip Budgeting
Emergency kits were born out of necessity and since no one knows what kind of potholes or surprises they may encounter on the road, it’s always best to be prepared by purchasing one and placing it in the trunk of your car. Today, emergency kits include first aid supplies, food rations, survival blankets and glow sticks in case you get stranded in the dark. Road kits are also your best friend if you plan to take a long road trip. These include a flashlight, heavy-duty booster cables, extra batteries and many other essentials.
Road trips can be both frugal and fun with the right planning and the right company, of course, so make sure you’ve crossed both off your to-do list before embarking on your next trip.
