11 Jul 5 Tips for a Cheap Cross-Country Road Trip

Looking for information on how to plan a cheap cross-country road trip? Well, then you are in the right place. While road trips can be full of incredible experiences such as discovering national parks, hiking to waterfalls, visiting new cities, etc., they also can cost a lot of money. It is all too easy for expenses to add up in relation to gas, food, and lodging. Trust me, I know from personal experience when I road tripped around Iceland for nine days and did a 16-day cross-country road trip in the US. Take a glance through this post to find out some tips and tricks to help you craft your own personal road trip budget.

In addition to thinking about a budget, you will also need to think about a packing list. Check out my summer road trip packing list as well as my winter road trip packing list.

Contents:

1) Pack Snacks

2) Go to the Grocery Store 

3) Travel with a Group of Friends 

4) Be Flexible with your Lodging

5) Buy a National Park Annual Pass

1) Pack Snacks

My first recommendation to achieve a cheap cross-country road trip is to pack snacks.

Food is a necessary yet often overlooked expense. That being said, paying money to eat out at sit-down or even fast-food restaurants every day on a road trip can quickly become EXPENSIVE and eat into (pun intended) your wallet. A simple alternative to constantly eating out is to pack a cooler as well as bags full of snacks when you first begin your trip. Of course, being able to pack these items depends on the size of your vehicle and available space.

Example items to include in a cooler: sandwich stuff; lunchables (it turns out they are NOT just for kids), pre-made subs from the store, fruit and veggies. Example items to include in a snack bag: breakfast items (cereal, granola bars); snacks (chips, nuts, trail mix), something sweet (personal favorites are the family size bag of sour patch kids or gummy bears).

I have the ultimate sweet tooth, yet I recognize sweet snacks are not sustaining for a road trip. You might be driving for six or more hours a day, hiking to scenic viewpoints, and utilizing what energy you have left to sing along to your road trip playlist at the top of your lungs. It is thus beneficial to bring small snacks that pack a punch (aka offer some sustenance). One of my favorites is trail mix, especially when it has chocolate mixed in there. 

Walking through Garden of the Gods in Colorado

2) Go to the Grocery Store – Cheap Cross-Country Road Trip

The snacks you packed at the beginning of the trip might just run out halfway through your trip. When that happens, do not fear – find a grocery store that is near.

One. You can refill on snacks and other items such as sandwich stuff, fruits, veggies, breakfast foods, etc.

Two. You can buy a hot and ready meal. Many grocery stores are expanding their offerings to include hot meals, which you can order and pick up in a matter of minutes. Another alternative is to buy a rotisserie chicken. One of my roommates and best friends back in college would buy a rotisserie chicken and eat it right out of the carton. Turns out it could actually be an affordable meal option for a road trip.

Need some ideas for your next road trip? Then head to Glacier National Park to hike the Iceberg Lake Trail and/or the Avalanche Lake Trail.

View of Iceberg Lake from the trail

3) Travel with a Group of Friends 

A solo road trip can be a wonderful and empowering experience. However, it can also be a financially draining experience. Going solo on the road also means going solo on all expenses, of which lodging and gas are a main concern.

For example, a hotel room for one person might cost $60, yet a hotel room for four might cost $120. Splitting such a room between four people would result in each person only paying $30 for the night. That is HALF of what you would spend going solo. For another example, imagine you spend $40 to fill up your tank of gas. By yourself, that is a whopping 40 dollars. Split between four people? Well, now that is only $10. 

Another bonus? You travel with friends! You will make memories that last a lifetime, truly learn about your friends’ music preferences, and of course have blooper moments where you laugh so hard you cry. I went on a cross-country road trip with friends, and I still have vivid memories of us sledding (and sometimes crashing) down the sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Celebrating the fact I made it to the top of Angels Landing

4) Be Flexible with your Lodging

Another tip for how to plan a cheap cross-country road trip is to be flexible with your lodging. You might have one hotel chain that has captured your heart. Maybe it is because they offer waffles with their continental breakfast or the fact they shape their towels like animals. Nonetheless, I urge you to consider other options if you need to remain within a tighter budget.  Check out options on these sites:

Booking.com (which is a personal favorite)

Hotels.com

Airbnb

I understand some might have hesitations with non-chain (or even some chain) hotels, especially young women or LGBTQ+ individuals traveling alone or in small groups. I thus also recommend typing the hotel name into google and checking the reviews. One of my rules is that the hotel needs to have at least three stars. However, please ensure you book a room at a place in which you feel 100% safe and comfortable. Your safety is far more important than saving a few dollars. 

Furthermore, if you are up for it, you could sleep in your car or at a campsite. Some places, such as hotels or bed and breakfasts, allow you to park in their lot for a small fee. This fee is often a lot less than the cost of a room. Additionally, you can search for campsites along your route, pitch a tent, and curl up with a sleeping bag while enjoying a night under the stars.

Driving through Sequoia National Park

5) Buy a National Park Annual Pass – Cheap Cross-Country Road Trip

The United States has some BREATHTAKING national parks spread out all across the country (but shout out to the southwest as they win in terms of quantity). These parks can become quite expensive, especially if you plan to visit three or four over the course of your trip. With some parks costing $35 (such as Glacier and Zion), a simple visit to four parks would cost a total of $140.

However, there is hope. The National Park Service offers an annual entrance pass to national parks and federal recreation lands. Even better news – it is only $80. The pass thus pays for itself after a visit to three parks. Buy the pass online or at a national park entrance. Two people can own the pass, meaning you and one other person can utilize it. Additionally, it covers the entrance of three additional people in the car, with those under 16 able to enter for free. See these FAQs for more information.

Furthermore, there are passes available for individuals in the military and their dependents, older individuals, individuals with permanent disabilities, and individuals who have service hours with federal agencies that participate in the pass program. More information can be found on their site.

There you have it – follow these tips and you can have your own cheap cross-country road trip! 

View from Hidden Lake Overlook in Glacier National Park

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Be sure to plan a stop at the Great Smoky Mountains: Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains.

Did you know Ohio has a national park?: Blue Hen Falls in Cuyahoga National Park.