Simply taking a road trip is a great way to save money on travel costs. There are additional ways to save money while you’re on the road.
Summer is the time for road trips. Sure, some folks may be heading to the airport to take a flight on vacation, but a lot of us simply hit the road when heading out of Dodge.
We know that for our family, driving is a much more economical way to travel to most of the places we want to go. Since most of our vacations are within California, we take the cheaper route and just load up the Scourge. We save on transportation to our destination as well as avoid paying car rental fees once we get there.
Besides taking your own wheels, there are a number of other things you can do to save money on road trips:
Fuel up the night before.
If you fuel up your car before you leave, you’ll have the best chance of finding a great price as opposed to paying higher in a more touristy area. You know your town, and you know which stations offer the best prices. (Around here, that’s Costco.) Check the database at Gas Buddy if you’re not sure where to get the best price in your town.
While you’re at it, make sure the gas cap is sealing properly. A loose or damaged gas cap can cause fuel to vaporize and therefore, be wasted.
Pack light.
It’s tempting to pack everything plus the kitchen sink when you’re taking your own car. But, that extra weight is more to pack and unpack, as well as extra weight to slow down your vehicle and negatively impact your gas mileage.
Take what you need and enjoy a simpler trip.
Check your tires and fluids.
Properly inflated tires can improve your gas mileage. Check them before you go. You may be able to anticipate other issues by giving your tires a thorough check.
Check fluids (water, oil, brake, transmission, clutch, and windshield wiper) to be sure that you won’t have trouble along your route. Having a smooth journey is safer and less expensive than one that might be tinged with car trouble and service calls.
No one likes to pay for a tow truck on vacation!
Leave early.
If we leave our house at 6 am, we can get to my inlaws’ in three hours. If we leave at 10, we’re stuck in traffic all. day. long. Last time we made that mistake the three hour trip took seven. It had a negative effect on our moods as well as our gas mileage, and therefore our costs.
Believe it or not, leaving early can save you money. You’ll have the road to yourself; your trip will be quick; and you’ll save money on fuel costs.
Use the Google Maps app.
Avoiding traffic can help you save money. While there’s no perfect way to predict when you’ll run into traffic, using the free Google Maps app can help. Not only does this GPS app talk to you while you’re driving, but it can also tell you how long each prospective route will take you and what kind of traffic you can expect along the way.
Maintain a constant speed.
This kind of goes along with the whole “avoid traffic” thing. If you’re going the speed limit and/or maintaining a constant speed, you’ll use your fuel more efficiently. And if that constant speed happens to be the speed limit, you’ll also avoid a speeding ticket.
Pack food and water.
If you bring snacks, drinks, and maybe even a whole meal, you can save in a multitude of ways. You’ll eat better than fast food. You’ll spend less money. And you’ll be able to eat whenever you want to. You can keep moving with the flow of traffic and stop at a rest stop later if you don’t want to eat in the car. Either way, bringing food with you gives you more options and helps you save money when on the road.
There are plenty of ways to save money on the road. Some take a little work, but they’re worth it in the long run. Plus, money saved is more enjoyment on your vacation.
How do YOU save money on road trips?
This is Frugal Friday. In an effort to make these weekly financial discussions more interactive, I’m no longer posting a link-up. Feel free to leave a link in the comments. But better yet, chat with us on today’s topic.
How to Save Money on Road Trips (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.
