A great way to explore the United States is plan an epic road trip to incredible locations. Plan multiple small road trips or one, big long one that hits it all! There are so many money-saving budget road trip tips that will help you stretch your money so you can see all of the USA’s iconic locations. From famous cities to National Parks and monuments, you have so much to see.
10 Budget Road Trip Tips That’ll Slash Your Costs
Plan a beautiful road trip hitting all of your must-see locations while also staying within your travel budget.
Here are 10 proven ways to save money on your next road trip vacation. These are all strategies that allow my husband and the ability to travel as often as we do for as long as we do. If you’re willing to make a few minor adjustments to your typical travel style, you’ll be saving money in no time.
1. Rent A Camper Van
One of the best budget road trip tips is to rent a camper van! This will save money and help you stay under budget when traveling in a number of different ways.
If you’re flying to a location to road trip, your transportation costs and accommodation costs become merged when you rent a camper van. If you can combine the rental car fee with the accommodation costs, your overall travel budget will decrease and you’ll find yourself spending less time overall booking for your trip.
If you plan to road trip from home and choose to not take your own car, you’ll not only be saving money on your accommodation costs, but you’ll be saving on personal vehicle wear and tear by renting a camper van on your next road trip.
When you travel in a camper van, you can sleep just about anywhere. Paid and free camping opportunities are almost always cheaper than other accommodations such as hotels and air bnbs. Additionally, you can sleep in rest areas and Walmart parking lots while traveling from one location to another with ease!
PRO TIP: Book your adventure during shoulder season to save the most money on your camper van.
2. Stay at Free Campsites
Accommodation costs make up the bulk or a road trip budget but they don’t have to! Free camping allows you to road trip on a budget.
Free campsites might lack amenities such as plumbing, electricity, and water, but with proper preparation, you won’t need them anyway. We honestly enjoy the lack of amenities. It usually means the sites are less crowded, more aesthetically pleasing, and incredibly affordable.
We use apps and sites such as freecampsites.net and campendium to learn about new sites. It’s important to always cross-reference this information to make sure you are properly prepared for your stay. A quick Google search of the campground or area should do the trick!
If you need access to some of the amenities listed above, check out developed campgrounds in National Forests and Monuments. These campgrounds are often incredibly road trip budget-friendly as they will cost way less than hotel rooms and vacation rentals. If camping isn’t your thing, look into nearby hostels or house-sitting for budget-friendly accommodation options.
PRO TIP: This is my favorite of our 10 budget road trip tips! It save saves us the most money while providing views and memories that will last a lifetime. Pack some of your favorite comforts of home to help with the lack of amenities – a camp chair, string lights, blankets, and lots of snacks do the trick.
3. Book Rooms with Free Breakfast
If spending the night in hotel rooms is a must, make sure it has free breakfast.
Even if you’re someone who’s down to camp, book that room with free breakfast every once in a while to enjoy a little luxury. It’s always good to get off the ground and sleep in a temperature controlled space for a night; helps you to appreciate the camping even more!
Staying at hotels with free, continental breakfast can save you a ton of money over the course of your next road trip. Fill up on free food, make yourself a coffee to go, and leave with a car snack to really get your fill. Being able to take a shower, wash your clothes, and grab some mindless food will always boost your travel spirits!
Please don’t abuse the free continental breakfast. Eat your fill, snag a snack for the road and get on your way. It’s an amazing way to lower food costs and enjoy a hot shower so don’t ruin it for other travelers.
PRO TIP: Create a breakfast that is filling. Include a protein source and carbs to create a meal that leave you feeling satisfied for the days adventures. A go to for me is oats with nuts or nut butter and fruit topping or toast with peanut butter and fruit instead of jelly. A balanced breakfast typically includes protein, fiber, and a range of nutrients.
4. Learn the Gas Hacks
There are several gas apps available to help you lower gas costs and road trip on a budget. Fuel costs take up a large part of any road trip costs, but with the help of these three apps, you will find yourself spending less.
- Upside helps you save money every time you fill up. Download the app to find gas deals on regular, premium, mid-grade, and diesel. The cashback earned can be redeemed in the form of a gift card, direct deposit, or PayPal.
You can also earn on restaurant and grocery deals through Upside. They will show up in the area you’re searching. Additionally, you can also earn through their referral program.
- GasBuddy can help you save up to 25 cents per gallon! Using this app is a little more of a process though.
Download the app and join the program for free. They will then send you a GasBuddy card in the mail. Link your GasBuddy card to your checking account and then start activating deals. Paying with your GasBuddy card will automatically apply your deals. - Waze will help you find the lowest gas prices along your intended route. Once you have your route, you can filter gas stations by price.
The Waze app is also one of the most-used route guidance apps available. It will provide user alerts about traffic, accidents, speed traps, and construction delays.
Being able to find the cheapest gas in an area might seem less worth it than some of these other budget road trip tips, however, when you’re road tripping you are driving for a long time and often filling your tank multiple times a day. Making sure you’re getting the best deal is a good idea for long-term savings.
PRO TIP: I’m a ‘put it on my card’ kind of gal who rarely carries cash. Just know, that when you pay with cash your gas is almost always going to be less expensive than when you pay with a card. If you aren’t going to use an app, try to carry cash for gas!
5. Travel Outside of Peak Season
Traveling off-peak isn’t an option for everyone and we get that. It isn’t something we’re able to take advantage of at this point in our lives either. If it is an option for you, I highly recommend taking advantage of shoulder season deals!
The time of year plays a huge role in how much travel to a specific location will cost. Not only are flights, car rentals, and accommodations cheaper when traveling in the off-season, but you will be fighting fewer crowds for experiences as well. Whether this means having a hike all to yourself or snagging a campsite with stunning views with ease, it’s worth it to travel off-peak.
Additionally, certain types of experiences adjust their pricing for off-peak visitation. This might even include weekday versus weekend pricing. Mid-week means less visitors, so you might find yourself a deal even when traveling in-season.
Traveling outside of peak season is a simple, yet one of our most effective budget road trip tips. It really allows you to save money without sacrificing on your activities or location!
PRO TIP: Traveling to places out of season means they might look a little different than all the popular photos and videos you see. Although this may deter some, think about the incredibly unique perspective you’re gaining while you travel off-peak. Embrace it and take advantage of all the seasonal activities that you might not otherwise get to experience.
6. Stay in Small Towns
Staying in small towns has many benefits. Small, unassuming towns are less expensive than neighboring popular destinations. They will also, undoubtedly, be less crowded and have a special charm to them that larger destinations lack.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on hotel rooms, fast food, and expensive attractions. Get off the beaten path and stay in a small town bed and breakfast. Eat breakfast at a mom-and-pop diner. Experience the not-so-little views many small towns have to offer.
Major cities might have a lot of budget options as far as restaurants and hotels are concerned, however, the cheapest way to experience high-quality stays within your budget is to ditch the big cities and enjoy the small towns.
This may seem like a silly suggestion, but you will save a lot of money and extend your travel budget by finding the small town’s hidden gems.
PRO TIP: When looking for an area to stay in, look 15 to 30 minutes outside of the major city or popular area you’re trying to explore. It’s a close enough distance to make the trip but far enough away that prices and popularity should both decrease. Bonus points if there is public transportation you can use to travel into and out of the city. If not, check out what uber prices cost ahead of time.
7. Cook your Own Food
One of the easiest budget road trip tips to implement is to cook your own food. Cut down on food costs by making meals yourself.
Pack a two-burner camp stove, one pot, one pan, and a few utensils and now you’re cooking with fire! There are so many simple, delicious, and cost-effective meals you can make when you make your own food when you travel. Find local grocery stores and snag the best road trip snacks as well as the goodies you need to cook your own meals. The total cost of your snacks and groceries will be the lowest at a grocery store as compared to a gas station.
Don’t forget about foods that don’t require a stovetop. Sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, and salads are all great ways to fuel your body on a road trip while saving money and time! Also, a reusable water bottle will help you save money and the environment. Fill it up at campsite spigots, water fountains, and free water fill stations throughout your road trip.
This strategy not only helps with your travel budget, but it also allows you to eat healthier on your trip. This often helps you to maintain appropriate energy levels for all of the adventures you have planned!
PRO TIP: When you do decide to eat out, be sure to try the local cuisine! Eat at street markets and talk to the locals. Ask someone who has spent time in that area, your cashier, tour guide, etc., for a good option for last minute eats and they’ll likely point you in the direction of an inexpensive restaurant with delicious dishes and a great atmosphere.
8. Find Free Things to Do
There are so many ways to experience a new place that cost little to no money!
Sometimes a blanket fee, such as a National parks pass, is all you need for endless fun. Pay one price for endless drive-up views, thousands of miles of hiking trails, icy lake swims, and the opportunity to experience State and/or National Parks. The initial fee for the America the Beautiful pass for National Park Service areas is worth it!
There’s also free access to beautiful trailheads and lakeside beaches that are sure to check off the beauty box. Some of the best places for free activities can be found in nature. Look into hikes at historic sites, on BLM, and within National Forest boundaries for free nature access. Although most State Parks include entrance feeds, there are also a handful of states with free admission to their state parks.
If you’re visiting a city and looking for a budget-friendly activity, there are plenty. Take a free walking tour, visit free museums and galleries, explore street markets and local festivals, and stroll the city parks. Free walking tours may sound a bit lame, but they’re an easy way to become familiar with an area and learn about its history for no additional cost.
I’ll always advocate for splurging on that once-in-a-lifetime experience (and for a few tasty meals) but you can usually get a good feel for a location and road trip on a budget by planning free excursions for a majority of your adventures.
9. Avoid Toll Roads
Use Google Maps to plan a road trip route that avoids toll roads. For obvious reasons, this will save you money.
Although tolls are a necessity for road maintenance, they can really be a pain. What seems like a few dollars here and there can really add up over the course of a long road trip. Staying off toll roads is one of those simple budget road trip tips that helps to keep costs from racking up.
Avoiding toll roads often leads you to the more scenic route which will totally enhance your road trip experience. You will find yourself stopping in smaller towns which often leads to the discovery of hidden gems and wallet-friendly pricing.
The extra cost of cross-country road trip toll fees can really add up. It is important to note that if you’re traveling in North America, those toll roads can save you a lot of time and lower overall fuel consumption. Transportation costs are part of the road tripping budget and you’ll have to decide which option is best for you!
PRO TIP: Invest in a ‘universal’ toll tag. Toll tags like the ez pass work in nearly all the east coast states, making toll road travel mindless and simple. See where you’re going and what they might offer in that area to make your toll road travel easier.
10. Credit Card Travel Points
Find yourself a credit card that provides incentives for travel activities. When executed properly, this is one of those budget road trip tips that can make a trip that seemed out of reach possible.
We have a Wells Fargo Autograph card. For zero annual fee, we receive three times the points on travel (flights, hotel stays, and rental cars), restaurants, gas, transit, and more! We use this card on all of our vacations and then pay it off after the trip.
Many travel-specific credit cards also have no foreign transaction fee. This means that if you travel abroad with your card, it won’t charge you for transactions made in a currency other than U.S. Dollars. Most debit cards have a 1%-3% foreign transaction fee which can really add up if you’re road tripping abroad.
There are a variety of cards available to travelers that have different offers. Choose a credit card that works best for your style of travel and use those points to help pay for your trip.
PRO TIP: Find a card that will give you 0 APR for _ amount of months after opening and use it to book a big trip! Then you’ll have however many months to pay the trip off without worrying about interest or breaking the bank.
Budget-Friendly Road Trips
Budget road trip tips made all of our incredible adventures below possible!
Do you see a trend here? National Parks and recreation areas are some of the best places to plan a budget-friendly road trip around. They are definitely our go to locations.
If you plan on road tripping to a few National Parks, be sure to complete the following to save money during your road trip.
- Purchase an Annual Parks Pass
- Camp in the National Forest Land outside the park
- Pack a cooler and cook at your campsite or a picnic area
- Get a National Park Passport Stamp in each park as your souvenir (it’s free!)
- Research your park and figure out what cool things you can do while you’re there
National Parks and their surrounding recreational areas are incredible destinations for a road trip that won’t break the bank.
Conclusion
Buckle up, buttercup! You’re about to embark on a journey filled with questionable gas station snacks, intriguing roadside attractions, and memories that will likely make your therapist chuckle in amusement (or horror). But hey, at least you’ll be doing it all on a budget!
So, with these Budget Road Trip Tips in your arsenal, you’ll be prepared to stretch your dollar further than ever before. Just remember, the best souvenirs aren’t always store-bought. You don’t always need that sticker or t-shirt (okay, yes you totally do!). Now get out there and make some budget-friendly memories on your next epic road trip.
Pingback: How to Plan a Cheap Road Trip: Budget Tips for 2024 - For Explore
Agreed!! We regularly maintenance our vehicles, but bring them in right before our trip to make sure everything looks good.
Pingback: How to Plan a Cheap Road Trip: Budget Tips for 2024 – For Explore
Hi there! Yes, car care is huge as is adhering to speed limits – maybe you missed it, but I actually talk about GasBuddy in this article!