Cross-country road trips are a popular vacation choice for many. This is no surprise, given there’s so much to see around—from serene national parks and bustling cities to gorgeous architecture. However, this trip can quickly become expensive, given the price of gas, food, and lodging. Luckily, it’s easy to minimize these costs with planning and budgeting. While predicting every single expense is not possible, creating a rough budget for four major post-holders can help.
Food
A cheap cross-country travel tip is to avoid eating at restaurants. While this can be hard to do given the convenience factor, it is an important first step to cut costs.
Cook meals
Pack a cooler, a picnic basket, and a few utensils to set up a car camping kitchen and cook simple, affordable meals along the way. Bring some containers to store leftovers as well!
Stay in a place with a kitchen
Some motels have rooms with an attached kitchen, making it possible to cook meals. But these are not easy to find, so it’s important to research their location beforehand.
Shop cheap
While on the go, shop only at budget grocery stores to keep costs low. Also, pick generic brands and ask for discounts to enjoy a road trip on a budget.
Look for affordable restaurants
Enjoying local cuisine is a crucial part of a cross-country road trip experience. To save money, ask the locals to suggest affordable eateries that serve good food!
Fuel
Fuel is one of the biggest expenses when planning a road trip, so it is important to account for it. To estimate the gas budget, note the car’s gas mileage (MPG), the estimated distance to be covered, and the average price of gas per gallon. Once done, divide the total distance by the car’s MPG and multiply this figure by the price per gallon.
To save money on fuel, use gas apps and membership programs. Apps like GasBuddy help people find the cheapest fuel around them, saving their precious dollars for other expenses. It may also be worthwhile to sign up for gas loyalty programs.
Accommodation
Next, think about what accommodation is going to look like. There are several options here, such as sleeping in the car, looking for free campsites, or opting for budget stays.
Sleep in the car
This requires investing in things such as a car rack, a changing tent, travel cooking equipment, and other cheap road trip essentials. Camping in the car can reduce lodging costs to $0! If showering and cleaning up is a concern, visit the local travel center instead of a hotel or camping site.
Stay at a campsite
Camping is the cheapest form of accommodation to save money on long road trips. Campsite costs vary from around $60 per night (for private campsites) to $25-50 (at state parks). Certain locations may also have low-cost or free campsite options. So, look for these and make them a part of the budget-friendly road trip itinerary.
Look for cheap accommodation
Non-campers can find several options for cheap stays.
- Couchsurfing
This is an arrangement where travelers stay with locals for a low cost. Several couchsurfing websites help people find a place to crash for the night. Couchsurfing is also a great way to meet locals and learn about their culture, gain insider tips, and make new friends. If couchsurfing isn’t an option, check if any friend and family member has a home along the route and stay with them for a night or two. - Bed and breakfasts
Look for mom-and-pop establishments along the way to get a cheap rate on bed and breakfasts. These places allow travelers to interact with other guests while enjoying home-cooked meals.
- Budget hotels
Some cheap roadside hotels and motels have prices starting at as low as $50 per night. Look for them on online travel websites and pay with a credit card to earn loyalty points that can be redeemed later!
- Hostels
This is a great idea for those traveling solo and looking to meet like-minded travelers. Hostels may charge around $30 per night for a room in a dorm.
- House-sitting
Another affordable road trip hack is to look for house-sitting and pet-sitting opportunities. Being flexible about travel location and dates is important for this to be a successful possibility.
Activities
There’s a lot to do and see around the country. To keep costs low, look for free entry and entertainment options, such as museums, events, and walking tours. Investing in international park passes and city tourism cars can help.
National park passes
Get a National Parks and Federal Lands “America the Beautiful” annual pass. These can be purchased for just $80, giving people access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites nationwide.
City tourism cards
If the goal is to head out for a lot of sightseeing, invest in a city tourism card, which costs around $75-100. This card gives access to attractions like museums and even provides discounts at restaurants. Check with the tourist information center beforehand to learn how to use the card.