Budgeting for a road trip vacation?

[snoopy5386]

This summer I am planning to take my girls on a Little House on the Prairie Road Trip and hit all the major places where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived. We'll stop in Chicago on the way, then Lake Pepin, WI, Walnut Grove, MN, DeSmet, SD, possibly Independence, KS, Mansfield, MO and then we'll have to stop one more night somewhere along the way home. It's a little over 3000 miles/50 hours of driving. My MIL will be coming along to help out as well. This is the first time we've ever done a road trip type vacation and I'm trying to figure out a budget. We'll be gone for 10-12 days, staying in hotels each night. I've got a gas budget that I worked out with an online calculator which is $300, I scoped out hotels and with the exception of our night in Chicago they should run us about $100 a night so between $1100-1300, for food we plan to do mostly free hotel breakfasts, pack lunches and snacks in a cooler and do dinners out, but not fancy places, mostly Panera type places, fast food or diners, so about $30-40 a day, so between $360-480, budgeting about $200 for snacks and groceries. Most of the activities we are doing and places we are visiting are fairly low cost, my budget for admission prices and souvenirs is around $400. Is there anything else I am missing?

 

[KCEMOM]

I am a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan myself. I am jealous of your trip! What a wonderful adventure it will be. I live about an hour away from her Lake Pepin home. It is a beautiful area. There is a museum in town and her homestead is about 7 miles out of town. All easy to find. One of her homes that she didn't write about was in Burr Oak, Iowa. I think it is not out of your way as you travel from Pepin to Walnut Grove. It is just barely into Iowa from South Eastern MN. They also have a museum there. It looks to me like you have done a good job with your budget. Have a great trip! Makes me think I need to do this with my daughter.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Souvenirs! I am sure there will be some small things here and there.

DH and I went on a 3 week road trip honeymoon this past summer. It was awesome! We went to Costco before the trip and purchased lots of snack foods. We got breakfast bars for the mornings and to eat on our hikes. The small pringles boxes were a hit as well. We took bottled water and coconut water as well. We made sure to take laundry detergent and fabric softener packs to run a few loads of laundry on our trip too.

 

[Nayan]

I am planning a month-long road trip from Florida to the Grand Canyon and back. A couple of ideas I'll toss your way:

Try to get rooms with both a fridge and microwave. Almost all of them have a freezer compartment and you can freeze bottles of water to help things keep cool in case either the ice machine is down or it melts too fast. The microwave can be used for popcorn (bought ahead) and also making a quick meal in the room (frozen meals, cups of mac and cheese, etc.) to cut costs down a bit.

Make sure your car is in tip-top shape! Cannot stress this enough. Nothing will break a vacation faster than being stuck on the side of the road, miles from anywhere (I speak from experience). If you are unsure, rent a car (that's what I'll be doing).

Pack a few creature-comforts from home. Nothing is more comforting than using your own blanket/pillow when away in a strange place.

DO NOT BRING YOU LUGGAGE TO THE ROOM RIGHT AWAY! Always check for bedbugs before unloading. You don't want them to join you on your trip (they don't chip in for gas ).

Have fun most of all .

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Because our last such trip was in a large SUV, we didn't haul all our bags inside every night. We had a big rolling cooler & a toiletries/swimsuit bag that went everywhere. Then, we had 11 small bags, each with 1 outfit for everyone in the car. Each night, just 1 of those went inside & each day it came back out with the previous day's laundry. Really saved us time along the way.

As for budget, check to see what other attractions are along your route. Some may require admissions.

 

[happily single]

I am envious. I love Little House. Your gas budget seems a little low to me. And are there any toll roads you need to pass by?

 

[Chelley00]

I'd bump your gas budget. Gas prices are usually higher in summer and gas calculators use the current rates.

So jealous! I love LIW but no one here would ever go on a trip like that with me!

 

[PerfessorZ]

Get yourself an oil change before you leave & be sure you have roadside assistance.

If you time your trip so that you leave on a Sunday, you'll save money on hotels. Friday and Saturday nights, most hotels jack the room costs by around 20%.

 

[elgerber]

I can't really give you any more tips for price etc, but this bed and breakfast in DeSmet is wonderful! We stayed here and it's so cute and the breakfast was amazing!! Most of the rest of our group stayed in a hotel in town, and they didn't have anything nice to say.
http://www.prairiehousemanor.com/rooms.html

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I am envious. I love Little House. Your gas budget seems a little low to me. And are there any toll roads you need to pass by?

There may be tolls around Chicago, but I'm 99% sure the rest of that trip will be pretty much toll free.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! I love Little House and even named my daughter after it.

The Mansfield home/museum is pretty far off the main highway so you might want to pack a lunch that day. (Pa's fiddle is there!)
As far as other meals, when you have to eat out, you might check out Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. If you've seen the show, he highlights great local eateries. You can search the site by location to find places he's tried. I like to do this because it gets us into some unique places rather than chains.
When you are in that area stop by Bass Pro Shops in Springfield if you have the time. It's the flagship (and largest) store and worth visiting.

 

[Ress76]

I went to Mansfield in 2014 and Malone in 2015. Give yourself plenty of cushion on your souvenir money. Some of it is kitchy, and I already had a ton of books, but I still felt like I'd only seen half the books for sale. Without exaggeration, I could have dropped $200 at Rocky Ridge without a thought-ornaments, books, postcards (no pictures in the houses), keychains, magnets, plates, shirts, bags..... My biggest hint-reread the entire series including West from Home and On the Way Home, and the Donald Zochert book if you have it. I hadn't read them in years but devoured them all before I went to Missouri and I was so glad-a lot of things in the museum really touched me because I had the books fresher in my mind (the name cards and the tiny china box were two of them). It made a lot of difference to me to recall things from those sources while touring Rocky Ridge, and I found it also helped when i went to the Wilder Farm in Malone this summer.

In Mansfield, definitely take a few minutes and drive through town past the park (there's a bust of Laura) and down to the cemetery with Laura, Almanzo, Rose and Neta and Silas Seal are buried. Between RR and town, their house in town is on the left-it's a little tough to spot.

Road-trip general hint-throw a laundry bag in the trunk and, when you head out in the morning, put your dirty clothes in the laundry bag so you're not trucking dirty clothes into every hotel along the way. We did this on our NY to NC and back National Parks trip in September and it worked great.

After reading LIW since childhood, going to Rocky Ridge was a very special time for me. DeSmet is on my bucket list, but alas, I too don't have a willing LIW companion. Someday! I hope you have an absolutely fantastic time!!!!

Ress

 

[ajwolfe]

Sounds like a fun trip!! We've also meant to go to the Mansfield location, but have never made the time - might make that an adventure for this year.

Personally, I think your gas budget is a little low so I would bump that up. Are you planning on checking out other things in the areas you are visiting or are you exclusively doing Wilder stuff? If you are plan on possibly doing other things I would up your admissions budget some too.

Ditto the pp that mentioned the Diner Drive In and Dives restaurants. My kids love to check those out, but we are fans of the show.

Have fun!!!

 

[pjlla]

First of all..... so jealous! HUGE LIW fan here..... named my DD after her! I finally took my "pilgrimage" (with DD) to her home in Missouri in about 2010.... I literally cried when I got there. It was something I had wanted to do for many, many years! Then two years ago I went to the Wilder farm in New York. Next on my list would DEFINITELY be DeSmet, SD.

ENJOY every moment!! You are truly living my dream! Hope to hear a bit more about it after you return!......P

 

[pjlla]

I went to Mansfield in 2014 and Malone in 2015. Give yourself plenty of cushion on your souvenir money. Some of it is kitchy, and I already had a ton of books, but I still felt like I'd only seen half the books for sale. Without exaggeration, I could have dropped $200 at Rocky Ridge without a thought-ornaments, books, postcards (no pictures in the houses), keychains, magnets, plates, shirts, bags..... My biggest hint-reread the entire series including West from Home and On the Way Home, and the Donald Zochert book if you have it. I hadn't read them in years but devoured them all before I went to Missouri and I was so glad-a lot of things in the museum really touched me because I had the books fresher in my mind (the name cards and the tiny china box were two of them). It made a lot of difference to me to recall things from those sources while touring Rocky Ridge, and I found it also helped when i went to the Wilder Farm in Malone this summer.

In Mansfield, definitely take a few minutes and drive through town past the park (there's a bust of Laura) and down to the cemetery with Laura, Almanzo, Rose and Neta and Silas Seal are buried. Between RR and town, their house in town is on the left-it's a little tough to spot.

Road-trip general hint-throw a laundry bag in the trunk and, when you head out in the morning, put your dirty clothes in the laundry bag so you're not trucking dirty clothes into every hotel along the way. We did this on our NY to NC and back National Parks trip in September and it worked great.

After reading LIW since childhood, going to Rocky Ridge was a very special time for me. DeSmet is on my bucket list, but alas, I too don't have a willing LIW companion. Someday! I hope you have an absolutely fantastic time!!!!

Ress

I had to re-read your post to be sure that I hadn't written it! I agree with all that you said! ...........P

 

[snoopy5386]

Thank you all for your tips and advice, we are very excited! Planning to listen to the audio books on our drive and I hope to come up with some epic packing system so we aren't emptying the whole car every night. I can't wait to put my feet in Plum Creek!!

 

[pjlla]

Not sure how large your vehicle is, but I would think about plastic drawer units in the back..... maybe everyone gets a drawer? Pack outfits in ziptop baggies and one outfit for each day. Then a tote/overnight bag for nighties and cosmetics/toiletries (one per person). At each stop everyone gets out their "nightie" tote and tosses in the ziptop baggie containing the outfit for the next day (which is conveniently available in a drawer unit). In the morning the previous day's dirty clothes to into the ziptop baggie (or into a group hamper if that is easier). You are responsible for repacking your "nightie" tote in the morning. Then the tote goes into the trunk, the dirty clothes go into the group hamper (or left in the ziptop baggy, whatever you decide) and your tote is ready for the next night.

For food, if you are eating out and it will mostly just be snacks/drinks, make sure that your cooler doesn't leak! When we took a roadtrip out west a few years ago, we brought along a foldable cooler thinking that would be our best choice.... but it ended up leaky by the end of the trip and our last few days in California it had to be left in the bathtub overnight! But that being said, our car was SO loaded (we only rented a mid-size for our family of four for 10 days including formal wear for a wedding!) that I'm not sure we could have fit a hard-sided cooler!

Another small drawer unit for snacks would work..... granola bars and the like in a drawer, chips, pretzels, crackers in another, paper plate, napkins, and wet wipes in a third. I would recommend (both for the budget and for the environment) that everyone bring along a sweat-proof water bottle that can be refilled along the way. It will save you money and save space in the car AND is much greener! Places like Panera have no problem with water bottles being filled at their drink stations. My family does it often. Just be sure that they fit comfortably in your car's cup holders.

I like the idea of drawer units more than tubs with lids..... because once they are stacked it it a PITA to get to the one on the bottom!

Gee..... can you tell I'm DREAMING about taking your trip!!?? .................P

 

[yoopermom]

Think about a cooler that plugs in, as well, so you can avoid the having to refill with ice issue.

I come from the land of small towns. Yes, yelp and tripadvisor can help you pick out a good restaurant, but in most towns, you can find the one with the most cars (or pickups haha), and that will be where the locals eat! Sometimes it's fun to eat a big late breakout out at a diner, or lunch (with sandwich supper) instead of always having supper out. Bring gladware or tupperware and ziploc bags for extras, leftovers, to gos, etc.

Most people love chain hotels, but in many of the areas you're going to visit there will be "mom and pop" type motels still in existence, some of which will be quite nice for a fairly low price. Also some campgrounds will have cabins, as well.

Have the kids journal the trip just like Laura did her moves and adventures. Take pictures along the way, and scrapbook it when you get home!

My DH would say, "Turn off the technology". I wouldn't go that far, but I would limit it for EVERYONE, so that you can enjoy the wonders of just looking out the window, listening to your audiobook, talking to each other, etc.

Sounds like a great trip!

Terri

 

[crisi]

Mankato is an hour away from Walnut Grove. If you've never read the Betsy Tacy books, you should, and you should stop in there as well.

The Betsy Tacy books aren't as well known as The Little House books, but they are charming. And it would give your daughters an introduction to comparative literature to read both sets of books and think about how they are alike and different.

 

[3boymthr]

We did a 7,000 mile cross country trip, plus multiple trips to a huge variety of vacation spots - some tips.

Calculators don't factor in regional variations in gas prices nor do they allow for fluctuations in prices due to market volatility - I'd pad your gas budget by 50 cents to $1 for each gallon needed for the trip. Also allow an extra half tank for time stuck in traffic. Even in the middle of nowhere you can get stuck behind an accident or in construction.

Budget a little extra money to spend before hand to get your kids some small new in the car toys. Something that will keep them occupied for a while, as well as a couple of books and some new music. Surprise them with these gradually during the trip - I have all boys so for us it was new matchboxes, plastic soldiers, I'm sure there is something similar in size for girls. Believe it or not one of the best things I bought was one of those $2 balsa planes. The kids put it together then held it in the open window and watched the prop spin for hundreds of miles.

How many changes of clothes are you planning on bringing? If either just enough or only enough for a week plan on money and TIME for a laundromat. Some hotels have laundry service, but it gets expensive. Also make sure to map out ahead of time the distance to the laundromat and factor that in to your gas.

Budget for ice. Some hotels will allow you to put ice from the ice machine in your cooler others will not. Plus hotel ice machine ice has a ton of air in it and melts much faster than the ice you buy.

Make sure you budget time and gas for grocery trips. Lunch meat, etc doesn't hold up as well in a cooler long term as it does in a refrigerator - I would not plan on taking 10 days worth of meat in your cooler - 2 or three days at most. Make sure you know the location of the nearest grocery stores to your hotel before you go, and what type of grocery stores are in the area. One of the places we stayed the only grocery store in the area was 100% organic - the food cost twice as much as I budgeted.

Budget for taxes. Some hotel prices online don't include the local taxes. Also, some places charge local taxes on food that can get steep. I was shocked in California at one grocery store to find that I was paying a 10% tax on groceries.

Have a small emergency budget or room on your credit card for forgotten things. We got all the way to Yellowstone and realized my middle son didn't have any long pants - not such a big deal in july, right? wrong - it snowed.

Have an emergency budget or room on your credit card for car repairs. We had the van in tip top shape before we left but in the home stretch about 800 miles from home (the appalachian mts of West Virginia) we had to get an emergency brake job. The only place in the area to get an emergency brake job was the local ford dealership. It took almost all day, so we had to abandon one of the stops on our trip and it cost us $450 we weren't planning on because in addition to paying for the brake job we had to pay for a more expensive last minute hotel room and not the one we had booked ahead of time at a huge discount.