If you and some family members (or friends) are planning to take a road trip, then this article is perfect for you. The reason why is because we figure that there’s a pretty good chance that one of the reasons why you’re opting to travel in this fashion is in order to save a buck or two.
So, as you’re packing up the things that you want to take and mapping out the places that you want to see, we wanted to provide you with five of the best ways to save even more money on your road trip. This way you can spend more time having fun rather than counting pennies.
Do your research. While a part of the fun of a road trip is that you can enjoy not being on a strict schedule, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t adhere to a budget. If you are taking your car, research the places in each city/state that have some of the cheapest gas prices (Gas Buddy is great for Androids and Local Gas Prices are good for iPhones) and if you’re going to stay in a hotel, price them out via websites like Hotels and Hotwire so that you can get the best rate possible.
Rent a hybrid. As people are becoming more “green aware”, so are rental car companies. The good thing about this fact is that even if you can’t afford to buy a hybrid, you can at least rent one for your trip. Not only does this mean there will be fewer emissions in the air, but you will have to make less fuel stops on the road too.
Pack up a cooler. Aside from gas, probably the next biggest expense with road trip travel is food. Indeed, if you spend several hours in a car at a time, you’re bound to make a few fast food stops and that can really add up. That is why it’s best to make it a point to do some grocery shopping ahead of time and to pack some food up in a cooler for your journey. It’s healthier, it’s cheaper and you’ll end up with a lot more options to choose from.