How Can a Road Trip Feel Special Without Spending a Ton?

Well, honestly, you could ask that about any trip. But be it a family road trip, a romantic weekend getaway, well, whatever the occasion, vacations have this reputation of being the time to splurge. Like, “It’s a trip, so it doesn’t count,” which is funny because it absolutely does count, it just counts later when the credit card bill shows up. But you probably only get to have one vacation a year if you’re lucky, so yes, by all means, you have the right to not feel so guilty when spending.

But still, that mindset is real. People want the fun meals, the cute shops, the activities, the upgrades, the little “treat yourself” moments that make the trip feel special. And again, it’s totally understandable. While yes, most road trips are already known for being somewhat budget-friendly, sometimes, you need to be even more budget-friendly. But of course, that’s going to 

feel like the trip is going to be boring, restricted, or kind of low-key disappointing. Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be boring at all; it just really depends on how you go about it (and where you’re trying to save money).

Absolutely Budget for the Fun

Alright, so the easiest way to make a budget trip feel sad is spending the whole time saying no. Sure, you shouldn’t overspend, but you shouldn’t say no too much either. No to what exactly? Well, no to that meal, no to that stop, no to that activity, no to everything. Are you really budgeting if you do this? Well, no, no, you’re not, it’s basically a giant punishment, and no one in their right mind wants that! 

So, you’re better off just picking a few “yes” moments, then planning around them. Maybe it’s one great meal every couple of days, or one paid attraction on the trip, or a cute local shop stop with a spending cap. But you owe it to yourself and your family to have a decent time, and sometimes, that includes spending a bit of money here and there. 

Be Picky with the Overnight Stops

Please keep in mind here that the overnight plan can make or break the budget. So, just go ahead and think about it; hotels every night can add up fast, and the price jumps in tourist areas can be brutal. Like, sometimes, one night in a hotel could be that of a plane ticket, that’s how expensive! 

So mixing in cheaper stops is a good idea. For example, if you’re doing an RV road trip, just look into an RV park that has the balance of being both really affordable and comfortable too. Better yet, if they have some nice amenities that make you want to stay there for an extra day. But a cheap stop will instead just lead to terrible sleep, sketchy surroundings, or a miserable morning, which of course can really ruin the trip. It’s never worth staying anywhere bad, no matter how much money you’re trying to save.

Food Becomes a Major Budget Killer

Some say silent, some say loud, but you can decide that. But for most people, it can really kill the budget. And no, it’s not because anyone is being irresponsible, but because eating out is convenient, and driving makes people hungry. Then it’s coffee stops, snacks, fast food, “just one more” convenience store run, and well, it doesn’t help that going out to eat and groceries in general are both just really expensive.