How much do you budget for your drive to orlando

[shortkathleen]

We are trying to decide whether or not to fly or drive. It will cost us $1400 plus bag fees to fly. I am trying to figure out about how much to budget for the drive so I can compare.

We have done both before and don't mind the 1100 drive from Tulsa,OK but because of our dates Dec. 15-23 we are considering flying so we don't have to be so rushed with getting back before Christmas Eve. It is a good two day drive and we would get home late afternoon the 24th. If we fly we will be home by noon the 23rd. Also, if we fly I will miss one less day of work and that saves me $70 for a sub. (I teach 3rd grade and have to pay for a sub if I am gone right before a holiday.)

If we drive we will need to spend 2 nights in hotels. One night each way. We like to stay at Hampton Inns or something similar. We have done the cheap hotels before and NEVER again will I subject my children to that. LOL!

So what do you budget for your drive?

 

[NoodlesMom]

We usually drive from Houston, TX and budget between $700-$800. I go here (www.fuelcostcalculator.com) to calculate my gas price and then we budget about $120 or so for each hotel to and from. We usually pack lunches for the trip to disney or just eat fast food. We usually use the dinning plan so we don't really care that we have to eat fast food because we know that we have better meals to look foward too once we get there. Part of the fun for us is the drive .

 

[mousebymarriage]

Our trip from NJ is a little over 1100 miles each way (according to mapquest) and we have driven down a few times. Our last trip was in Feb. and it cost us $300-$350 round trip for gas and tolls(gas was slightly under $3 a gal at the time). We drive a minivan.
We didn't stay overnight this time but, we have stayed over in Santee, SC at The Country Inn and Suites, the cost was around $100 for the night.
As for food, we pack a cooler with water bottles, juice boxes etc. We also pack snacks such as fresh fruit, mini cereal boxes, gold fish crackers, string cheese, m&m's(gotta have my chocolate), etc.
Depending on what time we leave we have packed sandwiches for lunch, or bagels for breakfast. We sometimes stop on the way at a fast food place so we can at least get out of the car for a bit. When the kids were little we would try to stop at a fast food place that had a "play Place" and let the kids burn off some energy for 20 min or so after they ate.

You could also pack a picnic lunch or dinner to eat at one of the rest areas (most have picnic tables). It would give you a little time out of the car and in the fresh air. If you have kids bring a ball or frisbee for them to toss around after the picnic, you'll be surprised how much better they feel about the long car ride when they can get out and run around for a little while.

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. Our round trip is 6 tanks of gas from Pennsylvania, so at today's prices, around $260. Then we spend $100 each way for food and room, so total cost around $500. If we feel like splurging, we'll spend up to $100 for the room itself, then another $50 for food, so max for one trip would be $600. For four people, we feel pretty good about that.

 

[shortkathleen]

Thanks for your replies. It helps to know that I am on track with my budgeting. I just looked back at my quicken and our trip last December we spent $262 on gas. I think gas prices were about the same back then.

Gas $300 (high estimate)
Hotel- $225
Food-$75 (We pack all of our snacks, drinks and I bring PB&J sandwiches, fruit etc. for a couple of the meals.)
Sub for school -$70 ( Since I will have to take 2 personal days if we drive I have to pay for my sub.If we fly I will get to use my one free personal day.)
Total- $670

So $670 to drive or $1400 for the 4 of us to fly??? I wish I wasn't so frugal sometimes. UGH, what should we do?