Road Tripping On A Budget

I love road tripping.  Seeing new places and experiencing new things while driving is the ultimate form of travel in my mind.  It’s not just about seeing the big sights, it’s about seeing the states, the people and our whole country.  Thankfully, my husband loves road tripping as much as I do.  We love to take a trip as often as possible.  However, we insist it has to be on the tightest of budgets.  Some days we spend less than $100 including food, has and lodging.  Here are some of our tips to make a dollar last for miles.

Here are some of our tips to make a dollar last for miles. Click To Tweet

1.  Water and soda are expensive at travel stops.  I visit Costco before leaving and buy a case of each.  Spending a little money before you leave will save you a LOT on the road.  I also pack a small cooler with ice (more on this later) and cool off a few at a time.

2.  Snacks are also expensive.  I hit Target and stock up on some of our favorites.  Crowd favorites are often things we don’t eat at home and are easy to grab and snack on in the car.  If something comes in a big bag, make sure to pack some chip clips to close it up.

3.  I use deli containers to hold ice.  Every hotel has an ice machine.  When you are leaving in the morning, fill the containers with ice.  Close them tight and make sure they stay upright.  This is a free way to keep your items cold and ready to drink.

4.  Some hotels have mini fridges and microwaves in the room.  Others have them in the lobby. Some will bring them to your room upon request.  Regardless of where they are, use them for leftovers and to cool drinks overnight.

5.  There are lots of hotel deal sites out there.  I prefer Priceline. We often get three and four start hotels for under $80 a night.  It’s a great way to try out places you have never been before and to experience new hotels.  If you’ve never used bidding website, take a peek at help sites like BetterBidding.com.  Of course, you can sleep on friend’s couches, use AirBnB to rent a home or camp to save money.

6. Check out free activities in your locations.  There are SO many free things to do out there.  Our National Park system is amazing, complex and usually, free.  The Smithsonian Museums are also free.  Start using online searches to see what’s free in the area you’re traveling in.  Check out apps like ScoutMob.com for deals in select cities. I recently used this in Nashville and saved up to 50% in some restaurants.