You can plan an amazing family road trip on any budget.
As a general rule, road trips cost $107 per person, per day. A 5 day road trip for a family of 4 would cost $2,140. Trips can be less expensive if they are closer to home, choose affordable accommodations and eat out of a cooler instead of at restaurants.
I got these numbers by interviewing hundreds of families who have taken road trips and shared their costs with me.
I think most families can take a great road trip for about $2,000. If you need to have a cheaper trip, I recommend a minimum budget of $500.
I have 4 young children and we take a lot of road trips. We have found that no matter what, we spend about $500 per leg of the trip. There are ways to keep costs down, but if we do not have at least $500, the trip will be more stressful.
How Much Will A Family Road Trip Cost?
So, when you are planning your family’s trip there are only four things to consider: gas, food, lodging, and entertainment. Each of these categories will be part of your vacation budget. Having a simple plan for each category makes vacation budgeting easy.
Gas
This is a fixed road trip expense. Use an app or the information in this article to determine how much gas will cost on your trip.
Add 15% to your total (by multiplying the cost by 1.15) to have a buffer for traffic and traveling around at your destination.
If you do not have a destination in mind, I love to use WithinHours.com for inspiration for a destination that fits your budget.
*Tip: Use grocery store gas cards to get gas discounts!
Food
Food is a variable expense, you can choose to go very lux or pack PB&Js. I think a balance between the two is best.
We love to pack a camping stove and make bacon and eggs in the morning, grilled cheese or mac and cheese for dinner.
It is a great affordable way to cook on the road, just be sure to cook outside of the car!
I love to suggest that families try local and regional chains. These places are loved by locals and they are generally more affordable.
If eating is a big part of vacation for your family, be sure to set aside some money for those great crab shacks, steakhouses and fine dining restaurants. (You can use this cool feature on Google Maps to find the hidden gems!)
Lodging
Finding somewhere to sleep can be pretty expensive for families. I have 3 ideas for you to try if you are looking to save in this category:
- Hotel Loyalty Programs
Sometimes a hotel is just the best option, and one way to save is to enroll in a hotel loyalty program.
Loyalty programs are becoming more and more popular as people are more budget conscious. These programs often offer a free night or discount when you stay for several nights.
- Camp or RV
Camping is a great way to save money for families because you can all stay in one campsite, if you are not interested in roughing it, book a cabin.
We have found Jellystone to be really affordable and very comfortable for stays.
If you have never tried it, HipCamp is another great place to find really cool deals and really cool places to stay. (Guys, they have trampoline tents in Tennessee!)
- Stay With Friends
Plan a trip to visit friends or family. This is not for everyone or for every trip, but this is a really great way to vacation on a budget.
You may even plan to house swap with a friend! Put up a social media post and see if anyone wants to visit your area.
Entertainment
Entertainment is a variable expense. You can go big or go small.
For families, I love to recommend state capitals, welcome centers and parks as great free stops that can be really fun.
We have had some great trips where we are seeing a big show or festival, but we also travel to see new places and finding free things to do is a great way to have a rich vacation.
I have to admit, we are homeschoolers and I can tend to make everything educational… so state capitals, historical displays and welcome centers can be a wonderful free alternative to traditional museums.
Tips To Save On a Family Road Trip
If you gotta trim the fat on the budget here are the best tips:
- Stay Closer to Home – use WithinHours.com to find a destination that is about 2-4 hours away. This will keep your budget low and if you want, it can even be a day trip!
- Stick To A Grocery Budget – You already spend money on food each week, if you stick within that same budget, you don’t need to count food in your “vacation budget.”
- Pack Souvenirs – if you are visiting a theme park, consider buying souvenirs ahead of time and sneaking them in your luggage. You can buy these things second hand or at discount stores close to home where they will be cheaper than in the park. Bubble guns, glow sticks and plush animals are all cheaper outside the park.
- Use Cruise Control – Get the best mileage possible with your car. Obeying the speed limit and using cruise control can help you keep gas prices as low as possible.
- Find Cheaper Gas – Along the same lines, use an app like GasBuddy to be sure you are getting the best price for gas when you are filling up.
- Eat Out At Breakfast – Breakfast is one of the cheapest meals at restaurants, so instead of eating out for lunch or dinner, enjoy a breakfast out.
- Pack Coffee – Coffee is important on any trip, using instant packets is one way to save, but you could also get a portable hot pot or kettle like the one linked and do a pour over coffee.
- Use Fast Food Rewards – Just like hotels, food chains often have reward programs. Use these programs to rack up free items and save money on fast food.
- Groupon – If you are flexible on your entertainment options try scanning Groupon for some interesting shows and experiences. This is a good place to start vacation planning.
- Memberships – KOA memberships can help save money if you travel very often. These campgrounds do also often have laundry facilities, pools and showers making them great relaxing stops.
How Much Money Should A Family Bring on Vacation
Plan to spend a few hundred dollars a day over the course of your trip, but plan to spend only about $100 a day on things like food and entertainment. If your family is larger or you are eating out multiple times a day, make it $200.
Carry your cards for gas and lodging. These costs can be planned for in advance, so you could take advantage of credit card points and pay them off at the end of the trip.
No matter your budget, you can have a great family road trip. If you are looking for some LOW BUDGET road trip inspiration you can check out my $100 trip plans in the linked post.
