• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Budget Diet

The Budget Diet

Earn, Save & Live Smart.

  • Make Money
    • I Made $62,430
    • Rebate & Cashback Apps
    • Surveys That Pay
    • Side Gigs
    • Career
  • Smart Money
    • Saving Money
      • Save $400/mo
      • Budgeting
      • Coupons
    • Loans
      • Personal Loans
      • Auto
    • Bank Accounts
    • Investing
    • Debt
    • Insurance
    • Taxes
  • Smart Food
    • Meal Delivery & Subscription Services
    • Groceries
    • Recipes
    • Dining Out
  • Smart Life
    • Seasonal & Holiday
      • Summer
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Mother’s Day
      • Father’s Day
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Fourth of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Cheap Dates
    • Frugal Living
    • Cheap Thrills
    • Baby / Children
    • Utility Bills
    • Books
    • Clothing & Accessories
    • Electronics
    • Gifts
    • Health & Beauty
    • Home & Garden
    • Weddings
    • Pets
    • Back to School
    • Home Decor
    • Travel
    • Earth Friendly
  • About
  • Rebate & Cashback Apps
  • Cut Spending by $400 a Month!
  • Investing
  • Recipes
Home » Family Fun » Planning A Summer Road Trip On A Budget

Planning A Summer Road Trip On A Budget

Last Updated on November 13, 2014 by The Budget Diet Team

We are a reader supported blog and this page may contain affiliate links. When you buy something or sign-up through our links we may earn a small commission. All opinions in this article are the author's alone.

road trip on a budget Summer sunshine and heat brings thoughts of getting away from it all for a week or two, and what kind of trip is more fun than a road trip? Road trips are about the journey, not the destination–if you even have one in mind. While gas is expensive these days, you can still take that summer road trip, whether it’s a romantic getaway for two, old friends getting together, or the whole family- kids included.

1. Skip the major summer holidays. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day are going to be the busiest and most expensive times to travel. Gas and hotel prices will go up for the holidays. Schedule your road trip to avoid those holidays and save money.

2. Avoid resort-style hotels and theme parks. While tempting for an all-inclusive family vacation, these places are money-suckers and destroy the spontaneity that is the fun of a road trip. Stick to hotels with a pool and a continental breakfast. If you’re going to be traveling with Fido and Fluffy, research ahead of time to find out which hotels are pet-friendly.

3. Try camping. While not for everyone, camping out can be fun and less expensive than staying in hotels. Camping doesn’t have to mean a tent in the middle of nowhere and no facilities. There are family campgrounds with electricity, bathrooms, and showers. Camping can be great fun for the kids because it’s a break from being inside all the time and provides automatic, mostly free activities, such as hiking, canoeing, and fishing. Camping can also be a great romantic getaway for the more adventurous couple.

4. Pack non-perishable snacks and reusable water bottles. Eating on the road can be expensive and bad for the stomach, especially after one too many fast food pit stops. Bring along healthy snacks, such as fruit, granola bars, cereal, and apple sauce. Toss in a few bags of chips for tasty treats. Refill your water bottles rather than buying expensive bottled water and accumulating a car full of trash that will end up in a landfill.

5. Visit historical sites along the way. The expense is often small to visit museums, lighthouses, memorials, and battlefields. Stops like these keep the kids learning while on vacation and satisfy the adult history buff.

6. Take the scenic route. Plan your road trip to take advantage of scenic parkways, beaches, and overlooks. This is a dream vacation for the photographer in your family. If you’re using a rental car, most rental car companies can suggest scenic routes and places to visit.

With a little planning and research, you can have a fun, memorable summer vacation and still stay within your budget. You might even discover that you can afford more than one trip spread out over the course of the summer.

~~~~~~~

Written by:  Nicole Rodgers

~~~~~~~

Image courtesy of: Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tweet
Pin125
Share18
143 Shares

Related Posts

  • Budget Friendly Summer Fun At Home!

    Staying home this summer? Need ideas for summer fun? Don't let your children spend hours…

  • road trip tips
    Road Trip Roulette - A Budget Friendly Family Vacation

    Road Trip Roulette will add a fun twist to your next family vacation. It's a…

  • summer reading party
    Budget Friendly Summer Fun - Book Swap

    Beat the heat and encourage summer reading with a book swap party! It's a budget…

Filed Under: Family Fun, Summer, Travel

Must Read

7 Ways to Stow Your Stuff on a Limited Space

How I made $62,430 – Ebates

1
Leave a Reply

1 Comment threads
0 Thread replies
0 Followers
 
Most reacted comment
Hottest comment thread
0 Comment authors

  Subscribe  
Notify of
Your FREE Personal Organizer for July | The Budget Diet

[…] need some tips to save money and have fun! If you’re planning to get out of town, check out 6 tips to plan a road trip on a budget and save money. If this is a staycation summer, I’ve got 10 great ideas for summer fun, and if you just want […]

Reply
10 years ago

Primary Sidebar

Search

Popular Posts

How to Save Money – 98 Ways to Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month!How to Save Money – 98 Ways to Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month!1M Total Shares
DIY Teeth Whitening for Any BudgetDIY Teeth Whitening for Any Budget916K Total Shares
Southern Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese RecipeSouthern Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe469K Total Shares
How To Make Oreo Balls Cookie Recipe | No BakeHow To Make Oreo Balls Cookie Recipe | No Bake363K Total Shares
How Not Using Coupon Codes Makes You a Savings RookieHow Not Using Coupon Codes Makes You a Savings Rookie277K Total Shares

Footer

The Budget Diet is all about showing you budget friendly yummy recipes and life hacks that shrinks your budget and earns you money. It’s not just a diet for your wallet…but for your waistline too.

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Contributor
  • Advertise
  • Free Newsletter
  • Home Decor
  • Organize My Life
  • Parties
  • Seasonal
  • Back to School
  • Christmas
  • Father’s Day
  • Fourth of July
  • Halloween
  • Mother’s Day
  • Summer
  • Thanksgiving
  • Electronics
  • Smart Life
  • Baby / Children
  • Books
  • Cars
  • Clothing & Accessories
  • Health & Beauty
  • Home & Garden
  • Homemade Gifts
  • Pets
  • Travel
  • Utility Bills
  • Weddings
  • Weekly Challenge

Copyright © 2022 The Budget Diet · The Budget Diet LLC
Made with in Seattle

  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • CCPA Information
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contact Us
wpDiscuz