Frugal US Road Trip Ideas
Let’s face it, I'm probably not sleeping in cars anymore to save money on road trips. I have long loved planning and completing epic and affordable journeys across the US; in the past, it was in roller painted jalopies or by Greyhound bus. A sturdy set of wheels and good attitude, along with the right itinerary and planning, can make for frugal and enjoyable travel. Here are a few hard earned tips from years on the road:
Book in advance — everything, but especially bus, plane and rail tickets. At least in the US; in Europe and Mexico, I have benefitted on occasion from last minute flight bookings, walking up to the ticket counter.
If renting a car, rent round-trip (and do some homework). One-way rentals are typically more costly, and some markets are much more expensive than others. Choose a gas sipper like a Mitsubishi Mirage with unlimited mileage. Rent from non-airport locations to avoid some daily fees. By all means pay extra for the damage waiver, if just for the peace of mind.
Consider flights, bus or train for some legs of your journey. Sometimes it’s cheaper and more enjoyable to fly or ride rather than drive certain segments, and especially if it reduces the number of hotel nights or car rental days or costs. In-state bus and rail segments can sometimes be significantly cheaper than longer distance journeys.
Limit nights on the road in hotels, and seek value-for-money with hotel stays. The experience of an awful overnight stay can linger, and it might even send you away with itchy bed bug bites. When the costs of lower-end hotels and motels run high, consider going for quality upgrades — discounts are sometimes available by booking directly with luxury accommodations, paying in advance for their simplest rooms. Build in time to fully enjoy your most expensive hotel stays. Never pay for parking / valet service or breakfast.
Make the most of gas stations. The best road trip beverage is cold water, and a great source for good quality and affordable hot foods can often be gas station tacos and burritos — especially in the southwest, where some stations double as Greyhound bus stops. A wide-mouthed water bottle can be filled with ice and water from the gas station soda machines (look for the pull down water tab), and most stations won’t charge for water or ice, but be sure to ask; ditto hot water in a thermos for instant coffee, tea etc. (look for the red tap on the coffee machines). If driving, keep additional gallons of water in the car for emergencies.
Include grocery store stops in your itinerary. It’s worth stocking up on organic fruits, veggies, hummus, crackers etc. for road trips, as road stop food can be expensive (and depress any vegetarians in your party).
Make drug stores part of your itinerary. They can be great sources for affordable souvenirs (and also some groceries). Ask me about my Walgreens t-shirt collection,
Make secondhand shopping (antique stores, etc.) part of your itinerary. You never know what you’ll find!
Consider having a designated “music phone” or mp3 player. And be sure to unplug all auxiliary devices whenever you stop. Affordable portable FM transmitters (AAA battery powered) can allow even some of the oldest smartphones and mp3 players to connect with modern car stereos (skipping Bluetooth and USB connections), utilizing headphone jacks.
Choose the paths less driven. Get off the highways for especially longer drive days, as monotony can ruin a good drive. Secondary roads are not always that much slower. But be sure to bring paper maps or have maps downloaded.
Estimate more drive time than Google suggests — by at least an hour or. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
Hopefully, I’ll see you on the road!