Introduction
Road trips are fun and exciting, but they can also be expensive. If you’re planning a long-distance trip that involves renting cars, driving through unfamiliar cities, or staying in hotels along the way, it’s important to know how to save money on your next adventure.
Make a Car Camping Plan
Before you leave, make a plan. You should know the exact date of your arrival and departure, as well as where you’ll be going when you get there. Make sure that it can accommodate food and water supplies for each day, bathroom breaks (you’ll thank yourself later), entertainment (music is always good), safety concerns (make sure there’s enough fuel if necessary), weather conditions in case they’re bad (a long drive through snow or rain will become tedious quickly) and comfort issues such as heat/cold or sleeping arrangements.
Stock up on staples at home
- Stock up on food and drinks. Whether you’re taking the family or traveling solo, there are plenty of ways to save money when it comes to buying groceries.
- Stock up on toiletries. You can buy cheap singles at the store, but I prefer to stock up on my favorite brands at home so they’ll last longer while I’m away from civilization.
- Stock up on paper towels and hand soap (or body wash). These are two things that tend to go stale quickly in a car—and since most bathrooms aren’t going to have running water for several days or weeks after leaving town, having these basics ready will make life easier when those first dirty diapers come rolling out into sight!
- Stock up on batteries for your phone charger, flashlight/headlamp/flashlight combo device (if applicable), etc., plus any extra batteries needed by whatever gadget happens not working properly due to low battery strength after being left alone too long while driving around aimlessly throughout states unknown – because sometimes technology fails us all…
Choose the Best Route and Map Your Trip in Advance
Before you leave, you should take the time to map out your route. This will help you avoid highways and toll roads that can add up over time.
If possible, plan for gas stops along the way as well as rest stops when necessary. You may also want to consider eating at restaurants along the way; this is a great way to save money on food costs!
If there are any other things that might cause problems like an accident or flat tire (and let’s be honest—there will be), then it’s even more important for travelers to prepare ahead of time so they don’t have any surprises when they arrive back home after their trip has ended!
Avoid Extra Fees and Treat Yourself to a Hotel Room
You can save money by booking a room ahead of time. Hotels are expensive, so it’s important to find the best deals you can. If you’re traveling with friends or family, consider booking separate rooms and splitting the bill evenly (or splitting up the cost of one room). Or if you’re traveling alone, look into hotels that offer discounts for solo travelers and ask about other ways to save money on your stay there—the most common being using points or cash back offers at places like Booking.com and Expedia!
You shouldn’t be afraid of cooking when it comes down to eating out at restaurants either; most restaurants will allow guests who bring their own food into their establishment—even if they aren’t BYOC (bring-your-own-cookies). This means that instead of paying $30-$40 per person each meal while dining out with friends/family members outside their homes…you could have them join us inside our kitchenette instead!
Find free campsites
- Find free campsites online. If you’re looking for a place to camp, check out Reserve America and Campendium.
- Check for free sites in the park. Many parks have “free” or “no fee” listings on their websites (for example: Yellowstone National Park’s website). You’ll have to pay $10 if you want your site reserved in advance, but that’s still cheaper than paying for a full-service RV site!
- Get creative with your driving routes and find cheap camping options along the way! If there aren’t any legal campsites nearby, consider taking advantage of local public lands where camping is allowed—like national forests and state parks—and stopping when necessary so that everyone can stretch their legs before moving forward again toward home base (or wherever else they’re headed).
Consider Using Public Transportation Instead of Driving
- Public transportation is cheaper than driving.
- You can use public transportation to get around the city you are visiting, or even a larger area of your state or country.
- If you’re traveling with friends who don’t have cars, consider using public transportation as an alternative to driving so that everyone can enjoy their vacation time together (and save money).
Be prepared to keep track of it all
- Keep a notebook and pen. You’ll need this for writing down mileage, gas prices, and other expenses.
- Write down the route you took—this will help you remember where things are in case there’s an emergency (like if your car breaks down).
- Make sure to write down all stops along the way that are worth seeing or doing! If they’re not listed on Google Maps, try searching around town for recommendations from locals. You might even want to ask them how long they’ve lived there so they can give advice based on their experience living in that area of town.
- Bring along some extra cash just in case (you never know when you’ll run into an ATM machine).
Avoid holidays (if possible)
If you can, avoid holidays. They’re expensive and often crowded, difficult to get around, and difficult to get home from. The best time of year for vacation is actually summer when there’s plenty of room on the road. If you do have to go somewhere during a holiday weekend (and who doesn’t?), consider camping instead of staying in hotels or motels.
There are many ways to save money on road trips, whether you’re just driving for fun or going on a longer trip.
There are many ways to save money on road trips, whether you’re just driving for fun or going on a longer trip. Here are some of the best tips:
- Avoid holiday driving. If you know that your local roads will be busy during the holidays and everyone’s at home with family or friends, consider taking public transportation instead. You’ll save time and money this way!
- Stock up on staples at home before your trip so they’ll last longer than they would in grocery stores or gas stations along the way. This can also help cut down on costs associated with eating out while traveling (if possible).
- Choose the right route that takes advantage of existing highways/roadways – this means avoiding extra fees such as tolls if possible! Also look into alternate routes if there are any detours worth considering; sometimes these can lead to unexpected adventures!
Conclusion
That’s it! We hope you enjoyed our tips for saving money and making your journey memorable on the road. If you have any other great tips for saving money on road trips, please let us know in the comments below.
