Road Trip Tips

Planning to save money for your vacation by driving instead of flying? Road trips with family and friends can make for some great times. Beautiful scenes, shopping in the towns you pass through, car games. Driving to your destination creates opportunity for a lot of fun along the way.

But those memory making experiences can go bad quickly if you’re not prepared. Proper travel prep can help you avoid bumps in the road, including ones that may leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere waiting for a tow truck. Here are some simple ways to help you better prepare for that trek out of town:
 

Plan your trip in advance

So you have your vacation planned…but have you considered the traveling portion of your trip? If you want to break the drive up into multiple journey legs, make sure that you have planned your stops. This is important especially if you plan to stay overnight. You can often find great deals on hotels and book them in advance so you’re not having to opt for what’s available when you’re there, especially during peak season.

There are plenty of travel sites you can check out for reviews that people have written on their adventures in different cities and states. Those are great sources to find out where the best parking is, best places to eat and stay, etc.

Get your vehicle checked

Getting your vehicle in the shop for routine maintenance before a long trip can help in many ways. Seriously, do not skip this step. If your car is coming due for an oil change, many service centers will offer a multi-point checkup for free to check your battery, tires, brakes, fluid levels and more. Having a reputable service center check for issues in your car can help prevent any unexpected car problems during your trip.

Having your car checked, however, does not guarantee that you won’t have any problems driving to your destination. You will want to make sure that you pack your car with emergency essentials, like water, food, first aid kits, jump cables, tools to change a tire and emergency flares or reflectors.

Download travel apps

There’s an app for everything, including those that can be used to help you save money on a trip. Gas is a huge expense on road trips, and there’s nothing more frustrating than stopping to fill up the tank and seeing that you could have gotten it even cheaper two exits down the road.

You can also find road trip apps that will tell you of any unknown road issues or construction along your route. Not only can this help you determine if you need to take an alternate route, but it can also help you save gas that you’d waste sitting in lengthy traffic jams.

Cheap eats

Another thing that is costly on road trips is food. Planning out where you are going to stop can give you an opportunity to look at what restaurants are in the area and get an idea on pricing.

An even better idea if you’re traveling on a budget would be to pack a cooler with your own meals and snacks. Impulse purchases in the gas station convenience stores can add up without you realizing it, and so can fast food stops. Packing some easy meals, snacks and drinks to have for along the way can save you big time on travel expenses.

Enjoying a trip with your family and friends doesn’t have to break the bank, and it shouldn’t. With some planning and preparation ahead of time, you can relax and enjoy the ride!

For more financial tips, visit our blog page.