An impromptu road trip can sound exciting and spontaneous. But if you want to know how to save money on your road trip, a little planning can go a long way.
Road trips are a low-cost way to travel, but to keep costs down, you need to decide where you want to go, what car you’ll be in, and where you’ll stop along the way. road tripand the overall budget.
Here are some quick ideas for inexpensive road trips.
1. Choose a fuel-efficient car
When choosing a vehicle to ride in, choose one that is big enough for comfort and offers the best fuel economy.
of FuelEconomy.gov trip calculator Determine which car has the lowest gas bill. This tool helps estimate fuel consumption and its cost for a specific route with a specific car.
2. Driving below the speed limit
This caveat will help you save money in two ways. For one thing, you’re less likely to get pulled over or get an expensive speeding ticket.
For another reason, adhering to speed limits can actually reduce your gas consumption.
3. Pack your car smartly
You can also save money on gas by putting things in your car or trunk instead of piling them up on your roof. Up to 25% better on the highway.
If you don’t have room in your car, using a rear-mounted cargo box or tray instead of a roof rack can improve fuel efficiency by up to 12%.
4. Setting a road trip budget
when we start talking about road tripyou can roughly plan where you want to go, how long it will take to get there, and if you need a hotel or motel.From there, you can calculate the approximate cost of gas (FuelEconomy.gov can help), tolls (try tall smart ), food, and fun.
Once you’ve set your overall travel budget, it’s time to get started. Creation of a travel fund.
5. Bring your own food and supplies.
It’s proven to pack a cooler with water bottles, drinks, snacks on hand, and sandwiches before you leave the house. frugal traveler pull the wool over eyes. You save a lot of cash by not having to buy drinks and snacks at rest stops, vending machines, or drive-thru.
It also gives you an easy solution the next time someone in your car tries to stop because they’re hungry.
6. SIGN UP FOR AN ELECTRONIC CHARGE ACCOUNT
Depending on the state you’re passing through, getting a quick pass (or transponder) appropriate for your car’s area can save you a lot of money on tolls. For example, a driver with his EZ-Pass in New York can save about 30% on tolls.
7. Avoid Tolls Completely
If you don’t have a set road trip schedule, you might want to take the scenic route and avoid the tolls entirely. To do this, set your GPS app to “avoid tolls”.
If you’re in an area with expensive bridges and highways, the savings can really add up. is needed.
8. Find a hotel that offers free breakfast
When comparing two hotels of similar price and quality, one way to save money on your trip is to choose a hotel that offers free breakfast.
Not only will it fill you up, but you can also snack on a box of fruit or cereal.
9. Pack everyone with reusable water bottles
There is no doubt that you will get thirsty while driving or sightseeing. Buying water and drinks can greatly reduce your road trip budget.
Make sure everyone in your car has a large reusable water bottle (or two) to fill with water at rest stops and restaurants so you don’t spend money on drinks and reduce plastic waste. increase.
10. Purchase a National Park Pass
If you plan to cross the United States and visit several national parks, beautiful america Passed.
This pass ($80 per year, $20 for seniors) covers admission, standard equipment, and daily use for all passengers (up to 4 adults) with driver and personal vehicle at over 2,000 federal recreation sites covers the
11. Go to the grocery store
If you run out of cold meals or snacks, consider restocking at the local grocery store along the way. That way, you won’t have to rely on rest stops or fast food for the rest of your trip.
This is also a good strategy if you are staying in a hotel for several nights. If you make good use of your hotel kitchenette and refrigerator, you can avoid eating out every meal.
12. Advance hotel reservations
Spontaneity is great, but if you want to save money on accommodation, it’s smarter to book in advance and stick to your plan. Booking in advance (and online) often guarantees a better price than showing up without an appointment or booking last minute.
13. Look beyond the hotel
Cheap hotels and motels may be the first thing you think of when looking for roadside accommodation. But you may also find a better deal (or a better option for the same price) using home rental sites like: AirbnbsVRBO, HomeAway, or FlipKey (especially for stays longer than 2 nights).
You can check out the CouchSurfing Travel app or tell your friends on Facebook or social media that you’re traveling to your area and see if they have recommendations for affordable places to stay.
14. Planning to go to a free attraction
Part of the fun of road trips is enjoying the journey and the scenery on the way to your final destination.
During your trip (or before you leave), find out about free attractions along your route, such as hikes, beach walks, and free museums, and find out when you need a break from stretching or driving.
You can also check the online event calendar for the town you’re visiting that day to find festivals and local events.
15. Plan gas stops in advance
A tank stuck in a near-empty metropolis can be costly. To avoid high gas prices, gas apps like Gas Guru and Gas Buddy can help you compare prices and find affordable gas anywhere.
16. Setting a daily spending limit
Use your overall budget to get a rough idea of what you can spend on your road trips per day.This allows you to avoid blowing the whole travel fund before the trip ends.
A spending plan can also let you know when you can splurge a little and when you need to manage it with meals, activities, or accommodations. You can also set aside some of your budget for the unexpected, like finding a cheap hotel you planned to be a complete dump.
17. Keep the kids entertained on the cheap
Children tend to get bored, tired and frustrated on road trips. To avoid succumbing to impulse purchases, you might want to bring your favorite toy and pick up a variety of new toys at the 100-yen shop before you head out.
Choose coloring books or low-clutter games that you can play in your car. Consider spending an hour quietly borrowing an audiobook or DVD from the library.
18. Search online for local coupons and passes
At some of your scheduled stops, it’s worth checking out online coupons and discount codes for local attractions and restaurants.
Consider checking Groupon or LivingSocial for deals and steals. Booking online in advance can sometimes save you money, giving you reason to try to reach a specific destination by a specific date.
19. Conserve alcohol
A cold beer or glass of wine at a local bar at the end of a long drive can be a great way to unwind.
But the cost of alcohol can add up quickly on a road trip vacation. Consider purchasing a small bottle of local beer or region-specific wine to enjoy in your hotel room. please give me. You can also save on tips.
20. Volunteer at the Festival
Yes you read that correctly. Some festivals and special events offer discounts or free admission to volunteers. You can search for events taking place in the towns you visit and contact event organizers to see if they need help.
21. SIGN UP FOR AAA MEMBERSHIP
Auto clubs like AAA can save you time, money and hassle if you encounter car trouble while traveling. Plus, getting a membership (often around $4 to $7 a month) gives you discounts at hotels, restaurants, and many retailers nationwide.
22. Off-season travel
Visiting national parks when your kids are back in school can save you money on accommodation and activities. If you’re planning a road trip to destinations like Disney World or Disneyland, you may find better deals if it’s not during spring break or other school holidays.
You can often save money by visiting places with warmer weather during the ‘shoulder season’. It is the period between the low tourist season and the high tourist season for the destination.
23. Go camping
Outdoor travelers may enjoy pitching a tent at one of the free or low-cost public campsites (see Bureau of Land Management site. )
This can save you a lot of money on hotel bills if you don’t go out and buy a lot of expensive camping gear.
If you don’t have camping gear, rent one from an outdoor store or ask a friend who often goes camping.
24. Eat out for lunch instead of dinner
If there’s a special restaurant you want to try without breaking the bank, consider going there for lunch. You might get a little less portion than if you ordered from the dinner menu, but the price could be more affordable.
25. Loyalty Program Use
If you book as often as possible with the same hotel chain and sign up for a member loyalty (or “points”) program, you may be able to earn free nights after a few stays.
Travel booking services such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Hotels.com may offer discounted rates or free nights to their loyal customers.
Takeaway
Traveling by car may sound much more affordable than traveling by air. However, gas, food, and lodging can be added up.
One of the best ways to cut your road trip costs is to plan your trip and research deals, coupons, and discounts in advance. Packing smart and loading drinks, snacks, toys and activities can also help you save money when you’re out and about.
This article is Sophie syndicate geek wealth.