Can you help me? I need road trip $$$ saving tips

[disneymyway]

I can't really tell you the details of why I need this, but someone has asked me if I know any ways to save money with a family on a road trip and I drew a blank. Then I thought of this board.

Can any of you share ways that you and your family save money on family vacations, specifically on a road trip?

Thanks in advance!

 

[shortbun]

We allot so much money per day for expenditures. I used to make up envelopes but now our son keeps track for us. So-say the per diem is $100 per day and day 1, we spend $70. We evenly disburse that $30 over the remaining vacation days. If there are six days left, each day gets $5. We are usually so focused on having money left to add later that we end up bringing home a good chunk of change on the last day because it's a travel day and rarely expensive. It's also a great math workout for children.

 

[mickey'sbud]

Save Fast Food coupons to take on the trip.
Arby's, SteaknShake, Sonic, chicken places etc

 

[disneymyway]

We allot so much money per day for expenditures. I used to make up envelopes but now our son keeps track for us. So-say the per diem is $100 per day and day 1, we spend $70. We evenly disburse that $30 over the remaining vacation days. If there are six days left, each day gets $5. We are usually so focused on having money left to add later that we end up bringing home a good chunk of change on the last day because it's a travel day and rarely expensive. It's also a great math workout for children.

That's exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for! Thanks!

 

[disneymyway]

Save Fast Food coupons to take on the trip.
Arby's, SteaknShake, Sonic, chicken places etc

Do you have a good online source for coupons? Thanks!

 

[westjones]

For the first day at least, we drive through the night (kids sleep in the van). That saves on one hotel night, and gets you there sooner.

Is this for a Disney trip? We could give you tips about saving at Disney. But in general, my other tip is to take a cooler with drinks/water and snacks and that way you just stop at rest stops for potty breaks, but eat all snacks and have drinks from the cooler.

I would also take a notebook and log all the money we spent each day for everything and keep a close eye on how we do. If we do good through the week, I allow a bit more of a splurge at the end of the week (if you do it early in the week, then there is nothing to look forward to).

DJ

 

[disneymyway]

Is this for a Disney trip? We could give you tips about saving at Disney. But in general, my other tip is to take a cooler with drinks/water and snacks and that way you just stop at rest stops for potty breaks, but eat all snacks and have drinks from the cooler.



DJ

No, and that's what is so hard for me. I feel like I know 500 WDW money saving tips but can't think of any for just a general road trip, to say, the Grand Canyon.

Thanks everyone, these are great!

 

[mickey'sbud]

Do you have a good online source for coupons? Thanks!

I just go thru all my junk mail and collect them. They are usually good for about 3 months or for the next month. Just watch the dates. We don't buy the newspaper and get plenty of coupons thru the mail.

 

[tar heel]

Pack lots of snacks, soft drinks, bottled water, etc. Include some treats and some things the rest of the family doesn't know is there and dole them out as needed. Shop for this stuff as things go on sale the weeks before your trip. Make a firm rule that absolutely no junk food is bought at gas stations, etc. Don't stop at gas stations or fast food places just to use the bathroom -- use the rest stops.

 

[crusoe2]

I don't have the urls (sorry) but I know there are some websites that can tell you where to find the cheapest gas in any given area. That might be helpful. I would also recommend making sure the car is stocked with basic meds, a small first aid kit, and things like tissues and napkins or paper towels. Having to stop off somewhere to find Tylenol or whatever can be a budget buster if it knocks your trip off schedule or you have to burn a lot of extra gas looking for a place to buy what you need. And you may end up having to pay convenience store prices for the item. Those always seem to be the sort of things that kill our budget.

 

[iheartdisney]

As a rule, truck stops will usually have the cheapest gas.
Also, larger populated areas will usually be cheaper than out in the only town for 50 miles. And usually, EVERYTHING in the middle of nowhere costs more.
Try to fill up at about half a tank, so you don't cut it close enough that you HAVE to stop at the more expensive places.
Pack lunches in the cooler and use the rest stop tables for lunch (weather permitting)
Check out some of the smaller amusements on the way, to break up the monotony. My dad is reliable at never being able to pass a highway historical marker without stopping. We spend half a day on one trip at a gator park, and was one of the best parts of the trip.

 

[rottiemom]

But in general, my other tip is to take a cooler with drinks/water and snacks and that way you just stop at rest stops for potty breaks, but eat all snacks and have drinks from the cooler.

Definitely bring snacks, sandwiches, fruit, etc in a cooler & you'll save money that way. Also, as a space saving tip you can freeze bottles of water & juice boxes and use them instead of ice inside the cooler to keep things cold. Then, as they melt, they're nice & frosty (plus you can't drink them super fast because they melt slooooowly).

Also, infuriatingly, sticking to the posted speed truly does get you better gas mileage. Use the cruise control if you have it & keep your speed constant.

You can also check the DOT websites for whatever states you'll be travelling through to see if there's any scheduled construction for the time you'll be travelling. This can help to avoid wasting time/gas/tempers while sitting in traffic.

And I suggest a road atlas or at least grabbing a map for each state you'll be travelling through. Maps can usually be gotten for free at the state welcome centers and these places also have coupons & attraction info so they're good places to stop.

 

[pilgrimage]

Roomsaver.com is a good source for hotel savings coupons
for walk-ups. You can't reserve in advance, but you present
the coupon on arrival. You can go to exit xxx on I-95 and
show the coupon or phone on cell phone to see which
properties have openings. Discounts are as much as 40%
of advertised rates.

 

[iheartdisney]

ooh- thought of another one. Stay at hotels that offer a free hot breakfast. This saves our family at least $25 per trip. La Quinta is one of my favorites, they usually all have a waffle station.

 

[disneymyway]

You guys are great! Thanks!

 

[Kelsie]

When my daughter was younger I put together 'Fun Bags' and would give her one every 2 hours. Almost everything in the bags were purchased at $ stores so the cost was minimal. The bags consisted mostly of activities (coloring, games, etc.).

Not only does it decrease the 'buy me this' at every stop, it also keeps them occupied, less bored and looking forward to the next bag was half the fun.

 

[Siouxstone]

There is a book called The Next Exit that can be found a big bookstores. It lists everything on the interstates and what number the exit is. Its probably not worth it for a short trip, but for a big long cross country haul, it can be a life saver and money saver. It has kept me from buying more expensive gas as we could tell there was a Walmart gas station just a few miles up. Same thing with food, I always hated when we gave in for something fairly expensive, when something great and cheap was just a mile or two up the road.

 

[tw1nsmom]

The cooler is an absolute definite must have. Not only will you save money on the driving part of the trip, but you can also pack a picnic in it when you get to your destination. Besides, food on the road and at tourist sites is generally pure junk. When you get to a place you can go to a grocery store and stock up on healthy convenience items. I don't even count this food into my trip budget as I'd have to feed my family at home anyway and I'd be spending similar amounts.

I'll also second the suggestion about seeking out hotels that include breakfast. It will save both time and money.

Try using the envelope method for souvenirs for the kids too. Give them a fairly small amount each day that they can spend on whatever they want. Emphasize that they can buy junk with the small amount, or they can save up and get something special. If they have their own money from saved allowances they can supplement with that. Also, give each child a scrapbook/photo album. Make sure each has their own camera (disposable is fine), and encourage them to pick up free pamphlets/items from each place you stop. They can use those to add to the pictures and make a cheap memory book.

If they're on a super budget, camping can be fun too.

 

[GetRoadReady]

Summer vacations just seem to get more and more expensive, especially with rising fuel prices! Some helpful tips for conserving fuel on a summer road trip are contained in a helpful how-to video on YouTube under "GetRoadReady." If you want more info on preparing yourself, your family and your car for summer road trips, visit GetRoadReady.com. This site also contains free printout games to keep the kids busy on the road. Thanks, hope this helps!

 

[bluefairy13]

There is a book called The Next Exit that can be found a big bookstores. It lists everything on the interstates and what number the exit is. Its probably not worth it for a short trip, but for a big long cross country haul, it can be a life saver and money saver. It has kept me from buying more expensive gas as we could tell there was a Walmart gas station just a few miles up. Same thing with food, I always hated when we gave in for something fairly expensive, when something great and cheap was just a mile or two up the road.

I really want this book!