Many travelers have the fantasy of taking the historic route 66 and enjoying a cross country trip to see the United States. A common myth regarding this historic trip is that it is expensive. In fact, there are several viable ways to reduce the cost of your cross country road trip in the United States.
Before making your travel plans, consider the recommendations below on how to come in under budget when you are traveling across the United States.
Save Capital on Hotels
Currently there are plethora of options to save money on hotels. Historically, it was required to stay in expensive hotel rooms; however, now, it is possible to use Couchsurfing or Airbnb to save money on lodging. Additionally, it is absolutely possible to stay in hostels to cut out hotel costs. In the more remote area of the United States, many of these locations have complimentary parking available, which will also substantially reduce your travel costs.
Use Standard Gasoline
If you are completing a road trip, it is highly recommended that you rent a car that takes standard gasoline. Gasoline within the United States is quite expensive. By investing in a basic Honda or Toyota and using standard gasoline, you will save a considerable amount of capital and be able to enjoy other fun parts of your trip across the United States.
Stay in Places Where You Can Prepare Your Own Food
Due to the wide availability of properties on sites such as Airbnb, it is important to consider the value of renting a place where you can prepare your own food. Should you choose this option, you will be able to save a great deal of money by purchasing food from local supermarkets and then preparing it where you are staying. If you are traveling with your family, this is a great way to save capital and also enjoy quality family time together while cooking a home cooked meal.
Consider Camping
Camping is something that is very affordable to enjoy in the United States. Many of the gorgeous lookouts have campgrounds and make for a wonderful experience. Americans take a great deal of pride in their natural beauty, which is why there is such an emphasis on the preservation and the maintaining of camp grounds within the United States.
Look Into a National Parks Pass
There are many different National Park Passes available for tourists to purchase. The United States has many stunning national parks to include: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and the Grand Canyon to name a few. By investing in the National Park Pass, tourists are able to save money on the admission to these parks that are normally quite expensive. Consider this as a viable option so that you will be able to see as many of these world renown precious locales. Additionally, if you are driving, it is often easier to get to these parks by car rather than flying to the nearest airport.
Invest in City Tourism Cards
Should you visit any city in the United States, there is usually a tourism card to purchase. These tourism cards provide a great value to tourists because they will be able to enter several different museums for a fixed price. This fixed price is often far less expensive than paying for the sites separately. Lastly, this option also comes with complimentary food and drink coupons in famous spots in the city that you are visiting.
Free Events and Museum Entry
There are many museums that offer promotional events and admission. Take advantage of these events while you are traveling. Doing so will save you a great deal of capital while allowing you to enjoy the sights of the city. It is also wise to check into local festivals and events that are occurring. Many of these events are free and can make a great addition to your trip.
Final Remarks
When attempting to take a road trip across the United States, it is important to consider ways to cut down your costs. When you do so, you will be able to save money and put the money you are spending towards more meaningful sights and experiences. By merely saving on your hotels and dining out, you will be able to put that budget towards meaningful National Park Passes. If you choose a car that uses standard gasoline, you will be able to cut down your fuel costs considerably. Keeping these sort of cost effective travel planning solutions in mind will serve as a major asset to you and at the end of your cross country trip in the United States, you can and will come in under your initial projected travel budget.