9 Tips to Plan a Budget Friendly Family Road Trip
So often we hear about these luxurious vacations that include extravagant excursions and day trips to exotic locations or adventures only to leave you feeling like the cost was well over the budget you wanted to spend.
As a single mother and a lover of traveling, adventures, and all the random fun in between, I can tell you that budgeting for that special road trip requires more than just throwing a number at the wall and making it happen.
You can plan a budget-friendly road trip, and create more priceless memories with your kids, instead of the extravagant vacations that leave your bank account empty. It’s completely doable! It just requires a little planning on your part and an open mind!
Road trips are becoming more popular and the cost of airline tickets, rental cars, and food is only increasing. This is where planning and creating that budget-friendly road trip comes into play.
Here is how to plan a budget road trip, one your kids will talk about for years.
1. Drafting the Basics
Before creating a solid budget for a road trip, be realistic with yourself and your financial situation. You need to know where you’d like to go and set expectations for this road trip.
Here are some questions to consider when drafting the basics of your road trip: When can you afford to go? How can you earn money to help pay for the road trip? How much savings do you have that you can apply towards this road trip? How far are you willing to drive and for what time (days/weeks)?
What sounds interesting to you and your kids? What types of activities do your kids love?
Are there specific places you have in mind? Are you taking your family pet? Are you stopping along the way at different locations? Are you going to stay anywhere overnight? If so, for how many nights?
Decide some of your top priorities for this road trip – adventures, relaxation, animal encounters, random fun, unique experiences, or in/outdoor activities.
2. Research and Design
Once you’ve identified a rough budget and answered the questions above, you can research a few ideas, and allow yourself to be flexible. You will want to know what accommodations are available in different locations. You will want to consider what food options are available to you, and activities.
You may find in your research other road trip itineraries that look like something you may like but don’t quite fit your desires fully. This is where you get creative when designing your personalized road trip for you and your family, and meet your budget.
Researching these topics could completely change your road trip plans. You may find your family would enjoy more adventurous activities versus historical sightseeing.
Pivot and change your mind as much as you need to until you’ve curated the perfect road trip for you and your family. Always keep your top priorities in mind when making decisions on where you will travel.
The beauty of creating a road trip on your own is that you are designing piece by piece exactly what you want out of this adventure. This is the ultimate freedom-fulfilling feeling!
3. Creating the Budget
You have all your research completed. Here is where you start calculating costs associated with living out this road trip. I recommend creating an Excel sheet listing categories and the associated costs. Then you can see your total cost and determine what to keep, remove, or replace to fit your budget.
4. Budget for Food
You will want to consider cost estimates for food. This means determining how many meals per day you think you’d like to eat out versus what meals you plan on cooking in-house.
Be realistic with yourself on these estimates. You’re going on a road trip. Do you see yourself cooking meals every single dinner? Do you want to eat that burger from McDonald’s to save a few bucks? Or does your family enjoy a mouth-watering lobster at the restaurant off the ocean with the most stunning view?
Estimate food costs for lunch and dinner meals. Those are usually higher in costs leaving your food estimate to be more conservative.
To help save money and budget for food, I recommend packing a cooler with sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and drinks. Breakfast can usually be prepared in-house while everyone is getting ready for their day unless you are on the road. Another cost savings right there.
Lastly, don’t forget those random stops for treats like ice cream, milkshakes, or other treats.
5. Auto Preparations
Auto includes any costs associated with preparing your car for the road trip such as an oil change and a car safety inspection. It’s important to double-check and verify your vehicle is in a safe, operational condition before your journey.
You will want to estimate any tolls, parking fees, and fuel costs for the trip. Include fuel costs for the distance from point A to B to C, any off-route driving, and your return. I find this fuel estimator helpful in my road trip planning.
Mapping out most of your stops along the road trip can help save on fuel so that you’re not driving to/from in one direction for one activity, only to repeat that drive in the same direction the next day for another activity. Remember these are just estimates but it’s better to have a solid estimate than nothing.
6. Know Where to Stay
Knowing where and when you’d like to stay overnight along your road trip journey is crucial. You can consider hotels, Airbnb, cabins, or campsites depending on the route of your trip.
On my family road trip to Maine, I based my locations for overnights on sightseeing and activities available in the nearby areas. I found staying at AirBnBs more flexible, accommodating, and affordable for my family on road trips.
Typically, you are paying equal to or less than the cost of a hotel room. It also adds more interest and fun to the journey. You really can’t beat the accessibility of having an entire home with all the necessities available to you and your family right at your fingertips!
If you’re bringing a pet, many AirBnBs are pet-friendly making your stay much more comfortable for your pet. You can also save money in this category by staying in locations on the outskirts of big cities.
7. Plan Fun Activities
This is where the fun part of creating your budget takes place. You will want to be specific in what activities you want to partake in and at which locations along the road trip.
You can find estimates of ticket costs or equipment rental fees on the event’s website. Check for discounts and free events too.
Are you military/veteran, senior, or have children under 12 with you? Is there a weekday availability for an activity versus the weekend to save on ticket costs?
Consider local, state, and national parks on your road trip. In most cases, there are low-cost entry fees to parks with plenty of sightseeing, exhibits, hiking, and outdoor activities available.
8. Buying Souvenirs
I’m not a souvenir collector myself. However, my children are and like to pick out their souvenirs themselves. I recommend budgeting for at least one souvenir per person at each location even if you don’t typically collect souvenirs yourself.
You never know if you’ll see something unique that strikes a chord with you. You can consider this area of the budget for play and your kids will love that they get to pick out their souvenirs at each location. So fun!!
9. Emergency Funds
Things can happen anytime you take a road trip or vacation anywhere. But it is always wise to be prepared.
I recommend anywhere from $200-$500 for emergency funds for a road trip. You will not touch this part of your budget unless something happens to your vehicle, a sick family member, or any other emergency-related incident.
Where Will Your Family Road Trip Take You Next?
