Road trip on a budget

This was our first big trip as a family! We just returned from a 3-week road trip, traveling from Northern California to Massachusetts and back. We took our mid-sized Hyundai Sonata, strapped down a Yakima rack and cargo, packed up the trunk with just the essentials, and off we went! We camped about 90% of the time with the occasional stay in an Airbnb or Cabin. We learned so much about each other as a family and about how travel is so healing for the soul.

We hadn't been on a family vacation together since... well... ever. It hadn't dawned on us that because Woody and I worked opposite shifts for years, we rarely took time off together as a family (unless one of the kids were sick). Last year was an exceptionally busy year, where we took turns spending time in California for work. We were due for a break.

This trip was much needed after months of transition and change. There is something about being on the road that helps to clear your mind, connect you to nature, and rejuvenate yourself. That's why we want to share some tips about how to save money while on the road! That way, whenever you're planning your next trip, you don't have to let money stop you from getting away.

Cook your own food

This wasn't a tough choice for us. We typically cook most of our own meals and rarely like to eat out. We'll admit that on days where we had to drive 9+ hours to our next destination, we'd sometimes forgo cooking and grab something FAST for time's sake, but this usually meant sacrificing eating healthily.

Planning to cook meant planning to bring what you need on the road. This includes but was not limited to, a camp stove, pots, and pans, cooking utensils, ingredients that won't go bad, spices, propane for the stove, dry goods, spoons, forks, paper plates to lessen washing dishes, and a variety of other things. This was maybe the hardest part about planning because we had to estimate how much we would eat each day while traveling to MA. In Massachusetts, we were able to restock for the trip back.

Camping vs. Luxury accomodations

Sure, you may not consider a private bathroom or a warm bed very "luxurious", but don't be fooled, they're for sure luxuries. For those that aren't comfortable sharing space with others, walking in the dark at night to go to the communal bathroom, anything generally dirty or stinky, this may not be the route you choose to take. We were able to save quite a bit by booking places to camp versus spending the money on hotel rooms and Airbnbs. These are great options for those not concerned about the budget, but even a cheaper $70 room adds up over 3 weeks.

Become a KOA member

KOA is a network of campgrounds that offer sites for tents, RVs, and cabins to reserve. We're surprised how many people we've met that didn't know about KOA sites. Staying at a KOA was a huge money saver! Their sites are already affordable but get an annual KOA membership for $30 and you'll save even more!

The one thing we'll say is that no two KOA sites are the same. We stayed at a variety of KOAs, some which left us wanting more and others that blew.us.away! Generally, all of our experiences at their sites were positive. Most sites allowed for after-hours check-in, which was important for us. Some nights we would get in after dark and find a key in a lock box waiting for us.

Pack minimally but effeciently

It's no lie that packing minimally is an easier way to travel. Who doesn't like having to unload fewer bags or do less laundry? We're a pretty minimalist family as it is, but when we're preparing for a 3-week road trip, it feels like we need everything. Truth is, we often bring things we don't end up using.

It's smart to be prepared for emergencies, but also be logical. We knew we would be in some remote areas and we brought a filled gas tank just in case. We also knew that accidents happen, to you, your kids, or your vehicle. So we brought a first aid kit and duct tape, both of which came in handy. The trick is to plan for packing in advance.

I cannot tell you enough how important it is to plan in advance! There's nothing worse than waiting until the last minute to pack for a trip. If you do, you're stressing out the night before trying to figure out what to bring, you're likely to forget some important things along the way, you may bring things you don't need instead of what you actually, do and so forth.

We dedicated a duffle bag for each family member, 4 in total. Each duffle held our shoes, clothes, undergarments, accessories, and so forth. The only thing we didn't fit in our duffles were heavier coats. The kids each had a kid-sized bag for some entertaining toys, books, and snacks. Then we had a shower caddy for our bathing needs so that all we needed to do was grab that caddy on our way to the shower and we knew it had everything. If it's helpful we will do a separate blog/vlog on how to pack for a road trip. Let us know in the comments below if this is something you'd be interested in.

How does this save you money you make ask? Well, it all boils down to less spending. If you can avoid purchasing things you don’t need before your trip or purchasing things you forgot while packing, it means more money in your pocket for other things.

Save money on gas

There are so many out there so we're not going to list them all here. To be honest, we didn't really use this method although we could have and it probably would've saved us some money.

Another way to save on gas is to stick to cruise control and don't speed. We will say that this probably helped us the most. It's been proven that those who stick to the 65mph range and don't constantly change their throttle save gas. We utilized cruise control when we could throughout the entire trip.

Are you a Costco member? The last tip we have is to find a Costco gas station. We've been members for years and it came in handy during our trip. Going to a Costco gas station sometimes added 10+ minutes onto our route, but it saved us quite a bit. Costco's prices are typically lower than it's surrounding competitors and you can use your membership anywhere.

We hope that this information helps you in some way! We know that it definitely helped us. We're also planning an article about planning your itinerary, what things to take into consideration, how to make the most of your time, and sharing our own itinerary for this trip! We hope you enjoyed this content. If you'd like to see more, please check us out below on our YouTube channel or subscribe for future notifications.