Road trips have become popular especially in the past couple of years as air travel has become problematic. It’s perfect for graduating seniors, long-time friends, and going somewhere without having to fly. All of these things include spending a lot of time with people in the same car, but the possibilities and memories are endless - the more the merrier! On the downside, it is hard to do while on a budget, so this article is here to help travelers with learning to travel while spending minimal money - like $50 per day, for example.
Note: This budget does not include the cost of lodging, which is a separate expensive from gas, attractions, food, etc.
Making A Plan For Your Road Trip Budget
The very first step is making a plan. Travelers want to decide their destination, places to stop along the way, and get at least a rough road map started. Say if someone is going from Alabama to Colorado, they want to look up cities and roads between the two states. Some of the biggest things to add to the road map plan include:
- Events
- Attractions
- Cities
- Rest stops
- Packing
All of these things added together make just the basics of the trip. Travelers need to think about what kind of car they have, making sure it’s in working condition, and then start thinking about what to pack for their destination. After that, planning out how to get to the destination and what to do along the way will save a lot of time and stress in the later parts of the trip. This is an important part to start learning how to budget for the trip.
Budgeting For The Actual Trip
The most important part of this article: how to budget while on the road all day. This can get a little difficult at times, but with the right planning and determination, travelers will easily be able to stay on budget while on the road. Some of the easiest tips for staying on budget are:
- Planning ahead for events/attractions
- Saving
- Keeping track of extra expenses
- Pack food
- Using rewards programs
When planning for the trip, it is easiest to plan ahead in order to save extra money. Keeping a close watch on when money is going towards something also helps travelers to know when they are getting close to going over their budget for the day.
Biggest Expenses While Road Tripping
There seem to be a thousand expenses while traveling. Some add up to a lot of money over the course of a whole trip. Some of the biggest expenses that travelers run into while on the road include:
- Gas
- Food
- Lodging
- Events/Attractions
- Car Maintenance
All of these are expenses and problems commonly encountered by people who decide to go on a road trip. From wanting to eat a lot of food to having a flat tire, many issues can arise hundreds of miles away from home. But the good news is that most of them have easy solutions.
Budgeting For Gas
Gas is going to be the number one expense. With how high gas prices are today, it is something travelers need to prepare for a lot of their money going towards. But there are a few ways to make this easier. The biggest one is signing up for a rewards program with one or two gas stations, where travelers earn a few cents back on the gallon. A lot of these programs will slowly add up over time, leading to free gas.
Another one of the best ways is to use an app that helps travelers find cheap gas near them. One of these apps is called GasBuddy, where once travelers give it access to their location, they are given lists of gas stations labeled by how far away they are and what the prices are at the stations. But no matter what is used, travelers must be prepared to spend a lot of money on gas.
Budgeting For Food
The other biggest expense for travelers road tripping will be food. Since there isn’t a kitchen in the car, travelers need to prepare for how much money to spend on food. The easiest way to go around this cost is to pack their own food and perhaps a small burner to cook things on. Spending money on groceries instead of fast food is a lot cheaper, and also means that on long stretches of the drive someone can just reach back and grab a sandwich instead of trying to find a restaurant.
Another way to save money while eating on the road is to sign up for fast food rewards programs. While there will be days that travelers will want to eat at a sit-down restaurant, fast food is a cheaper and easier option most days. So signing up for their rewards programs will allow travelers to save money on purchases, with things such as free food or special deals.
Budgeting For Events & Attractions
While on the road, most travelers are headed to a specific destination. This could be a national park, a monument, or an event like a concert. But what travelers must keep in mind are the expenses that come along with these attractions. There are admission fees for almost all attractions and events, so it has to be added to the budget. There are very few ways around this, mostly by national park passes if going to several parks or trying to find discounts. It is just something that has to be added to the budget.
For any traveler that is wanting to road trip, they must be careful about their budgeting. Things get very expensive while on the road and they must be prepared for anything. The tips here will help travelers stay on track, but it is up to the individual to decide what is best for them and their trip. Safe travels!