Roadtrip! How to Economically Travel Cross Country ~ 5 Simple Tips

I've definitely gotten vibes and  flat out statements of "Someday...." 
from reader comments and emails, that my family's trips, 

while they appear adventurous  < and educational at times > 
 seem to some,  difficult to afford and even exorbitant.

Nothing could be further from the truth!  

If  you think a cross country road trip is  financially unattainable,  

or at the very least, to be put on the back burner  for

 some-day-in-the-future-when-you-can-afford-it, think again. 

These travels are very  doable.

 And by the way, check out my   list of 5 personal essentials to bring on the road

.........Maybe there's  a helpful tip or two here.

 As a stay at home, homeschooling mom who has not drawn a  salary in seventeen years,

 I can absolutely attest to the fact that a  family road trip can be in your future sooner than you think  -- - a trip that can be enjoyed  abundantly and without tremendous sacrifice....that is, unless you're aiming to hunker down in a villa at the Hilton, ordering margaritas  at your private pool.  In which case, you're reading the wrong blog! 

Now I wouldn't be too quick to call myself an expert in anything, but since necessity has dictated, I can honestly say I am adept in saving money and in traveling richly---so here are my tips  or doing both and living a family journey that is bountiful and memorable......

~ 1 ~ 

Plan your trip 

You'd think a vacation, for heaven's sake,  an opportunity for a change of pace  and maybe even relaxation, wouldn't require quite so darn much time and effort, wouldn't you? Not so.

However, you should know  that allllll the energy you put into the trip will yield you dividends in terms of money and time saved on the road...as well as a clearer picture of your family's itinerary. 

Let's face it, you're hopping into the family vehicle for a journey of several thousands of miles across many states, seeing many sites and requiring food, lodging, gas and entertainment. You'll be gone for weeks........In fact, it seems that it's taken you weeks to plan and to pack!  But this is huge and requires much preplanning, right? 

Rest easy,  the internet makes trip planning a breeze.  Check out these sites for invaluable and free info from your local library or right here on amazon so you're armed with all you need prior to setting out : AAA Motor Laws site,    National Park Guide,   Discover America

Also, Fodor's books borrowed  from your local library or acquired used on amazon are a hugely helpful resource! 
Annnnnd, I've recently become a hotels.com affiliate!
So if you're planning on booking through them, you can do so right here!

 Lodging on the Cheap

 ~ 2 ~

Let's go camping!

Sleep under the stars:

Don't think you're  up for sleeping on the ground and schlepping to a

public bathroom on your vacation...? Here's the scoop: 

Years and years ago, I didn't think I was either, 

but  under $10 per night for accommodations

at Grand Canyon National Park's Desert View Campground?

Most campgrounds do however, 

charge in the $18- $30 range for a tent site.

If this sounds

about right to you, here's what you need:

A five person tent,  cozy sleeping bags all round, a sturdy, reliable lantern, and a few flashlights plus extra batteries from your dollar store.

That's it. There's nothing fancy needed....

Throw in your own pillows and blankets from home; 

don't buy special camping gear for this.

Forget the inflatable mattress pad and all the 

paraphernalia at  that  Coleman outlet store you may 
have wandered into once upon a time.
Here are more in depth details in my post,
5 Essentials for Your Next Camping Trip or: 
All Rain Flies are Not Created Equal

I've camped across the US  numerous times and I can tell you,

 none of it is necessary. ( Sorry, Coleman!)

Hey, if you want to splurge, please go right ahead.

Maybe you saw some nifty LED lantern lights that you can't resist!

photo credit - amazon

Why not? They'll light up your campsite adorably, won't they?

But the point here  is frugality, not luxury.

(Almost seems like "camping" and "luxury"  don't belong in the same sentence, no?)

Added bonuses~~~~~~ 

you  get to spot those constellations through the skylight in your tent.....

AND....

there's no worry about bedbugs because you have your own linens!

~ 3 ~

But what if tenting it is not my thing?

If you're still not convinced that camping is for you---- don't worry.

There's a happy medium between The Ritz and the KOA.

In fact, this summer, monsoons seemed to follow us across the country, making

camping downright dangerous.

In that case, we were able to go to Hotels.com to click around for the 

best prices on a hotel/motel in our  area.

I'm not being compensated for this; I've just had really good luck

finding lovely, clean, even upscale at times,  lodging  at extremely reasonable rates.

How about a gorgeous, newly renovated 
Rodeway Inn right outside the entrance 

of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

 for $59 plus tax with a full breakfast the next morning?

Great deals are out there. Just don't pull into the first hotel

off the interstate. Shop around.

~ 4 ~ 

Eating on the Cheap

How, you might ask, can you afford to reasonably and nutritiously feed your family

on the road without access to a kitchen?

Here's how:

*Load up your cooler, before you leave home, with lots of snacks and mini meals to get you through  the first couple of days. ...milk, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, sliced meat for sandwiches, bread, fruit, veggies, etc. 

*Box up tons ( yes, tons...as in 1/2 a dozen boxes) of non perishables....cereal, cans of tuna, peanut butter, jelly, pasta sauce.  You want the supply to last you so that you can inexpensively make meals at a rest area, not waste time and money whenever someone is hungry. 

*Bring food that can be cooked at your campsite for a quick and simple meal....pasta, mac n cheese, cans of soup. 

*Stop at a local grocery store or a Walmart ( they are everywhere, on every interstate all over America) for food items as you run out of them---you can pick up anything from cold cuts to salad fixings to breakfast pastry for the day....also ice to reload the cooler.

*Every once in a while, splurge on a lunch or dinner out at a quaint eatery. But don't order dessert or drinks with the meal. Stick with water. Any extra you'd like to spend...just give it ina tip to your server. Don't spend excessively on non essentials.

Just as IMPORTANT ~~~

* Be sure to make a list of all the accessories you'll need, such as paper plates, utensils, napkins, wooden spoon, colander, egg slicer, plastic cups, ice cream scooper ( ! )  etc.....

*When splurging, look at the big picture. For example, it will cost you less to indulge in frozen treats for the family by purchasing a gallon or two of your favorite ice cream, cones and syrup than it will to buy individual cones for all especially in a high end touristy town.  Yes, they're out there and they'll prey on your vacation mentality. ......

I'll never forget the time I went into a bakery on Main Street in Durango, Colorado in August of 1994 to buy bagels for the next morning's breakfast. I gave the cashier  a $10 bill for 4 bagels and Got No Change. Not kidding. I asked for the change and she said each item was $2.50. Yup. Now, I live in the bagel capital of the world. The best bagels at that time were 20 to 25 cents each depending on which corner store you frequent. Ten times that amount for a pile of dough? I think not. So watch out. They see you comin.'

~ 5 ~

Gas

The most costly of your expenses

The secret to saving is in comparison shopping, once again.

Don't wait until the car is on vapors to start looking to fill the tank.

You can easily hop on gasbuddy .com or at the very least, 
eye the prices at 

all the gas stations at an interstate's exit
 before you pull into one.

We've driven in excess of 10,000 miles on certain trips 
and here are some of our cost saving tactics:

*Use cruise control when possible

*Use the fan or open the windows instead of A/C when possible to reduce the load on the engine over long distances. Not always doable, esp when traveling in Death Valley, where it was 118 degrees the day of our visit this July.

*Choose routes that avoid steep inclines or stop-and-go traffic. This isn’t always an option (such as when driving through mountain ranges like we did), but it’s important nonetheless.

*Use gift and rewards cards at participating gas station chains. You’ll often get as much as a $0.04 discount per gallon.

Happy to link to Tune in Thursday at Debbie's blog!
as well as  the 2017 A to Z challenge!

R is for Roadtrip! How to Economically Take that Cross Country Trip:
 5 Easy Tips 

And here are all of the 2016 A to Z  Blog Challenge posts~~ ~

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Until next time,

~Chris