Money Saving Road Trip Tips

A road trip is a terrific option for a family vacation – not only because it can be much less expensive than packing up the entire family and flying to Disney World, but because the journey becomes a part of the experience. Of course, road trips aren’t free, and the costs can add up if you don’t take account of your expenses along the way. To ensure that you come in under budget, put these money-saving road trip tips to use!

1. Plan Ahead

To get a general sense of your overall costs before hitting the road, plan your route in advance, put together an itinerary, and budget for attractions. Not only will you have a much better idea of what your expenses will be over the course of your trip, but you can make adjustments before you leave – rather than during your journey – that can reap huge savings. If Route A is 500 miles shorter than Route B, then you’ve just saved yourself a full tank of gas in both directions.

2. Embrace Preventive Maintenance

As a general rule of thumb, it’s always cheaper in the long run to pay for work on your vehicle before it’s needed. By this, we mean before something breaks. After all, an oil change won’t cost you any less if you get it done before the manufacturer recommends it. However, getting regular oil changes will help you avoid thousands of dollars in unnecessary repair bills stemming from a seized engine. To save money, proactively maintain your vehicle and keep it in top working order. Do so and your road trip should go off without a hitch.

3. Save on Food

Unless the purpose of your trip is gastronomic, you can save a tremendous amount of money on food simply by packing your own. Avoid restaurants and instead pack snacks and box lunches. Instead of eating at McDonald’s or Chick-Fil-A (which can be surprisingly expensive for a family of four), stop at freeway rest areas or state parks and picnic. You will spend less and likely enjoy the experience more, too. Of course, if you must eat out, bring vouchers or find deals with coupon apps like Groupon. As the old saying goes, never pay full price!

4. Save on Gas

There are a number of ways to save on gas, which is ideal, as gas will be one of the primary expenses of your trip. Though perhaps not the easiest method, one of the most effective ways to save on gas is with a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Get a hybrid car, like the Chrysler Pacifica, and you can burn less and travel farther. The less dependent you are on gasoline, the less impact the price of gasoline has on your trip. But let’s say you aren’t in the market for a new car. There are other ways you can save. You can try hypermiling, which is essentially a strategy for driving as fuel efficiently as possible, or you can shop for cheap gas using apps like GasBuddy. Put these strategies to good use and you could save hundreds of dollars on gas alone.

5. Think Alternatively for Accommodations

When it comes to finding a place to stay, you can wing it and stop in various motels along the way, or you can book ahead. Certainly roadside motels have a romantic appeal; they harken back to the era of Route 66 and the roadside diner. But the reality might not live up to your expectations (for one, they aren’t necessarily that much cheaper than normal hotels). Instead, we recommend booking your accommodations in advance, particularly if you’re traveling with children. Use Airbnb to find suitable vacation homes for rent, or search last-minute deals on HotelsTonight.

6. Seek Out Free Attractions Along Your Route

When traveling with the family, you have to be mindful that all of your expenses will occur in multiples. Multiple bottles of water, multiple bags of chips, multiple Happy Meals, multiple Slurpees… it can add up quickly. Now consider how expensive admission can be to popular attractions. Needless to say, a family of four can easily spend $1,000 in one day at Disneyland. It may be the Happiest Place on Earth, but happiness doesn’t come cheaply! To save money, consider visiting free (or inexpensive) attractions instead. For example, with “America the Beautiful” passes, you gain admission into 2,000 federal recreation sites for one low fee, and children under 15 are admitted free.

7. Travel in the Off-Season (If Possible)

If you travel in the off-season, you will likely find that accommodations (and in some cases, attractions as well) are much more affordable than during peak season. Though gas and food may not offer much in the way of savings, if you can save 50 percent on accommodations over the course of a week or more, you could save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Of course, there are considerations to be made. Will the weather cooperate? Will attractions be open? These are important questions to ask. But find that perfect window of time, and you could find the experience you’re seeking at greatly reduced cost.

Don’t Break the Bank on the Road

A family road trip can create memories that are talked about in your household for years on end. And the good thing is that road trips don’t have to cost a lot of money. There’s no need to worry about airfare or rental car fees, for example, and you’re always in control of when you arrive and depart. To help make your trip even more affordable, follow the tips and tricks outlined above. Vacation without breaking the bank!