How To Save Money On Your Annual Road Trip
- Elisabeth Caraballo
- Aug 20, 2018
- 2 min read
Travelling across the country on your annual road trip can be a joy. Whether journeying alone or with friends and family, you can have a fantastic experience, seeing new sights and gaining new memories. But you do have to admit one thing. It can be expensive. From the cost of fuel to expensive accommodations, the expenses will add up. Suddenly, that fancy holiday abroad you had previously considered doesn’t seem like the most expensive option! Still, when planning your road trip, take into consideration cost-cutting measures. This way, you won’t have to work overtime for the next year to recoup the money you spent while away.
Save on fuel costs by opting for a fuel-efficient car. If your car is a gas guzzler, then use a car-rental service to get something with a better mpg. You can also save money by planning your route, finding the cheapest gas stations on your journey, and looking for shortcuts when you are travelling from point A to B. Driving sensibly and accordingly to the speed limit will also reduce your fuel costs, as well as negating the risk of an expensive accident while cruising the highways and byways.
Don’t pay for expensive lodging. By doing a little bit of research online, you may be able to find accommodations that are within your budget. Alternatively, consider packing your tent, or visit preowned RV auctions to buy something that not only gets you to where you want to be, but also substitutes as your sleeping accommodation too!
Take your own food and drinks. Even if you are substituting a hotel with a tent or an RV, you may still be tempted to buy food from roadside diners. This can be the most expensive part of your trip, as highway food business owners can make a fair dime from hungry travellers. Instead, pack your own food, so when your belly does begin to rumble, you can reach into your hamper for a top-up, rather than stopping to eat.
Travel at off-peak times. Businesses make a lot of money by hiking up their prices during tourist season, so save money (and avoid traffic jams) by travelling at off-peak periods. So, rather than loading up your car on the weekend or during the summer season, drive on a weekday or plan your trip at the tail-end of the summer to make considerable savings on your trip.
Download a few travel apps. By downloading one of these travel apps on your phone, you will be able to find the cheapest gas stations, eat at the cheapest places, and save on fuel by planning your route. Check them out before you leave on your road trip, and then remember your phone charger so you can refer back to these apps at any point of your journey while out on the road.
Do you know of any other ways to save money during a road trip? Let us know and help us all enjoy the journey without having to worry about what it is doing to our bank balance.
Thanks for reading!
