Last Updated on October 14, 2022 by Rose Morah
Is it still possible to plan a road trip on a budget in 2022?
In this article, we are going to discuss tips for planning a road trip on a budget.
1. Get a fuel-efficient car
When going on a long road trip, a fuel-efficient car can help you save money on gas.
The vehicle should be able to get you to your destination and at the same time ensure that you don’t spend too much on gas.
Alternatively, you could consider an EV because charging it is way cheaper than fueling a gas car.
See these Smart Long-distance Tesla Road Trip Tips.
See also: How To Determine The Cost Of A Tesla Road Trip.
2. Sleep in the car
If you are going on a long road trip on a budget, you could consider sleeping in your car.
It is possible to sleep comfortably in the car and still enjoy your road trip, especially if there are safe places to park and sleep along the way.
We have covered this topic in our previous articles on:
3. Couchsurfing
If sleeping in the car is not your thing, then perhaps you could try Couchsurfing.
Couchsurfing allows you to get free places to sleep.
I haven’t used it before but I’ve got friends who use it when traveling even to major cities.
4. Share costs
When planning a trip on a budget, you can cut costs by getting other travelers to join you on the trip. This will be cheaper because you will get to share the cost of hotel, gas, rental car, and so on.
I’d recommend getting friends with whom you share common interests.
For instance, I have a group of friends who I enjoy traveling with. In a year we can do more than 20 road trips that we all afford because we get to share the costs. The trip costs are normally almost 3 times cheaper compared to when I do it alone.
But before you decide to go that route, make sure you know how to plan a road trip with friends.
5. Plan your meals wisely
When going on solo road trips, this is how I manage to minimize food expenditures:
- I go for a big breakfast, then have a snack for lunch or just a small lunch, and then have the 3rd meal later in the evening.
The big breakfast could be going for $15, then lunch will be less than $10 and in the evening I get to spend about $25.
- I carry a cooler where I pack my own home-cooked meals.
This way I get to eat healthily while traveling and my stomach is happy!
See also: How To Keep Perishable Food Fresh & Frozen When Traveling For Long Hours.