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Road trips are great for those who are looking for adventure, enjoy the freedom of the open road, and for those looking to travel while not spending a fortune on airline tickets or expensive/fancy hotels. Even though road trips can be expensive, if you follow these road trip budgeting tips and tricks, you will spend less, and enjoy more!
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GAS
Gas is obviously a huge expense of your road trip, and yes it is possible to cut the costs!
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Gas buddy
This is an app that can help you save money by finding the cheapest gas stations along the way, this is a road trip MUST HAVE! Gas Buddy also has an option to pay for gas within the app so you can save a few cents off each time.
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Tru Now
This is another money saving app like Gas Buddy but it gives you cash back like Ebates, my favorite money-saving browser. If you can earn money by spending, why wouldn’t you do that?!
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Drive the speed limit
When you drive the speed limit, you have a lot less of a chance getting a speeding ticket which can cost up to $500. Not only is this the safest way to drive, you will not be pushing down on the gas increasing the fuel output. This can make you run out of gas faster and cost more!
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Cruise control
Cruise control is a lifesaver out on long road trips-literally! It will save you stress when driving and will control your speed making your gas emission more efficient.
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Only pack the essentials
This one may seem obvious but sometimes we tend to over pack what we truly need for a road trip! Only bring the most important packing essentials like your suitcase, food (cooler), first aid kit, and a tent.
Another PRO-TIP is to clear your trunk of random stuff before you go. The heavier the vehicle the harder the engine has to work, making the gas output much heavier.
All of these can contribute to the cost of your trip in a way that will decrease mileage, limit speeding tickets, keep you safer, and save money on fuel.
Skip the Drive-Through
Save time AND money by bringing your own healthy snacks, pre-made meals, and drinks. Fast food places are expensive, not to mention unhealthy. So pack a good quality cooler instead! Don’t forget the ice.
We recommend packing some of the healthier alternatives:
- Water
- Sports Drinks
- Caffeinated Drinks
- Nuts
- Fruits
- Veggies
- Sandwiches
- Dips
- Protein Bars
- Energy Balls
Image & Recipe by: Choosing Chia
Overnight Accommodations
Hotel stays and overnight sleeping arrangements are another HUGE expense that, if you aren’t careful, can cost you hundreds if not thousands! You want to spend money on experiences instead so opt for something cheaper – or for something that is of zero cost!
- Sleep In Your Car ($0)
Walmart has free parking overnight if you need to catch a quick nap or sleep. Another great way is to have a buddy with you to drive when you want to sleep. Not only will this help your trip go by faster, but you are also saving tons of money by not staying at a hotel.
- Hostel ($)
Hostel options are available with a quick reliable Google search and can save you half the amount of motel costs. You can also use Airbnb but make sure you make these arrangements in advance.
- Hotel Points ($$)
If you have booked on hotels.com before or have tried other services to give you points for staying at a hotel, they can save you tons of money on hotel stay. You can also use Groupon for local deals
- Motel 6 or 8 ($)
These are great for a quick night and can range from 60-80 $, better safe than sorry! There is also an app called Hotel Tonight that can make it easier to book a hotel room last minute.
- Camping ($0)
This is such a great option (weather permitting) as it can be part of the road trip experience, save you money, and be really fun. Pack a tent and sleeping bag just in case for along the way to save money on a hotel.
Travel at the Best Times
Just your simple economics here. Traveling and accommodations can be much more expensive during busy times such as holiday’s or school breaks, and weekends. Opt for the offseasons to save hundreds on travel costs!
January is the cheapest time to go on a trip. Going to California, Florida and other warm places during this time would be perfect for a road trip!
Money Saving Apps:
- Travel Budget App
Keep up and stay ahead of your finances so you don’t overspend! Overspending can easily happen if you don’t budget properly and spend to much on food, or gas, or hotels. A great budget travel app is Trabee Pocket.
Other apps designed to help you save time and money on the road include:
- Google Maps
This will make your road trip cheaper and updated by picking the “faster” and shorter route saving you money on gas and miles!
Finds the cheapest gas station along the way
Get cash back on your gas purchases while also seeing the cheaper gas stations along the way
- Hotel Apps
Groupon, Hotel Tonight, and Hotels.com all make it a tad easier to book hotels for cheap and quick
- Airplane Mode
When roaming, most phone services charge you extra for roaming internet! Avoid this by turning airplane mode on and having a pre-downloaded playlist on Spotify for music on movies on download by Netflix
If you absolutely need to get a caffeine fix, I highly suggest downloading the app and paying through there so you can get points from it to save money on drinks later down the road (see what I did there!)
Ebates is by far the MOST MONEY SAVING app out there. It will give you cash back on sites where you are already saving money like the ones listed above. It is also FREE to sign up.
Rewards and Credit Cards
First off, whenever you are going on a lengthy trip or weekend getaway, let your bank know so they do not shut off your account for possible fraudulent activity! Nothing is worse than having your credit card not work in the middle of nowhere.
Second, get a rewards credit card if you can to save you money and give you cash back! This is one of the smartest ways to travel
Also I recommend using these cards for gas because if you are spending up to 50$ a day on gas, that can really add up and give you some good points! Everyone loves reward points and cash back opportunities!!
I hope these tips on How to Road Trip On a Budget were helpful to you and others you may know! If they were, please share with friends or family!
If you want to see my travel essentials, check out my post on ” The Best Travel Essentials You Need”and how they can make a trip less boring.
xoxo,
Dacia
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
