19 Ways to Save Money on a Road Trip

Going on a road trip and you want to save money? We just  got home from a 2 week road trip. After logging almost 6,000 miles and well over 80 hours on the road, we have learned quite a bit about how to save money on a road trip.

First off, we did not skimp on food.We made a conscious decision to explore the local food scene and we were willing to make that a splurge. Enjoy our food we did. In 2 weeks we had fast food just a few times. This doesn’t mean we just bought whatever we wanted whenever. No, we still found ways to save on food while enjoying our meals, which is another post for another day.  There are many more ways to save money on a road trip but here are just a few ways we did.

• Plan ahead. 
• Set a budget then add a little extra for leeway.
• Book hotels where you can earn points – if you can, book the same chain as much as possible to maximize those points.
• Search for hotels on Hotels.com then cross-reference with any memberships you have. Booking online tends to save the most money but calling or using the chat feature on websites can sometimes get you better than advertised deals.
• Mix staying in hotels with camping if you are adventurous.
• Avoid cities at rush hour when you can – idling means you use gas without getting anywhere.
• Don’t forget to budget for fuel, tolls, laundry, and bridges.
• Get your car tuned up before you leave.
• Pack snacks and lots of drinks – water bottles and other favorite beverages. ( See more on this in the post on how to save money on food on a road trip.)
• Look for free or low cost attractions. Also, if you have any family memberships, look for reciprocal programs for discounts.
• Check out state and federal parks such as Carlsbad Caverns. They usually are low cost.
• Spend money on souvenirs in moderation. In 6 months it may just be clutter you spent way too much on.
• Avoid toll roads to save money but realize, sometimes the extra time it takes to avoid the toll is worth less than PAYING for the toll. Grumpy kids can be the proof.
• Fill your ereader or ereader app with free ebooks or borrow them through your lirary’s online program.
• Borrow books, cds, and DVDs from the library.
• See where there is a Redbox along the way and rent and return movies as you go.
• Travel in the off peak season when you are able to.
• Check out gasbuddy.com to get the best prices on fuel.
• Check out Raise.com for great deals on gift cards – from restaurants to merchants, there are many discounted gift cards.

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