We all have dreams of traveling the world and seeing its wonders. But for many of us, this remains out of reach because, let’s face it, traveling will require you to put away some cash.
Ironically, many people believe you need a lot of money to travel. Interestingly, with a bit of clever thinking and planning, you can take that road trip on a budget.
Now that I have your attention, I bet you want to learn more. Well then, let’s get into it, shall we?
Prepping The Car
Now, it wouldn’t be a road trip without your trustworthy vehicle, that’s for sure. Long drives full of scenic views, yes, please! The car won’t start after parking on the side of the road to take in the views. No, thank you!
Nothing would take away the fun of being on a road trip more than a car that keeps breaking down. So here’s how to prep your car for that road trip!
The Tires
Make sure your tires aren’t worn out and can offer you the grip you need to traverse those backroads without getting stuck. This is why it’s a good idea to plan for that road trip in advance, as it gives you sufficient time to replace your tires if need be.
Top up on Fluids
Pop the hood and top off your car’s fluids where necessary. Check the antifreeze, brake fluid, power steering fluid, wiper fluid, and transmission fluid levels to ensure the car is in top shape for the trip.
Oil Change
Old used-up oil will thin and fail to provide sufficient lubrication to your car’s engine. Make sure to have your oil changed before embarking on your road trip to keep the engine running smoothly.
Car Service
Take your car in for service and have it inspected, from the brakes to the air and AC filters to the oil and transmission fluids and everything in between. Fix what needs fixing.
Now that your car is running great and ready for the trip, let's move on to the next thing.
Let’s Talk Gas
If you are going to do a road trip, there is no escaping the gas factor to the equation. Many would argue that it is right up there with the most significant expenses of the entire trip and they’d be right!
So, how do you save on gas?
Google Maps
Google Maps can be awesome for the budget road tripper. For one, it will tell you the shortest distance to a destination.
Second, by showing you where you need to go, you won’t have to drive around asking everyone you meet on the road where the nearest café, petrol station, or convenience store is, which ultimately helps you save on gas.
Gas Buddy
If you want to travel on a budget, then you simply cannot miss out on Gas Buddy. This app finds you discounts and offers and rewards you with points, which you can use not just at the filling station but also in other stores.
Now while Gas Buddy doesn’t help you save on fuel consumption directly, it does get you the best deals, meaning that you get more fuel for less money.
One last tip on saving on gas is to ensure that your tires are inflated to full. This will cause less friction with the roads, resulting in more efficient gas mileage.
Food Costs
If you think gas is expensive, wait till you get back home from your road trip and start accounting for how much you spent on takeout. Let’s face it, fast food isn’t what you’d call cheap and, if done regularly, can leave a big dent in your budget!
On the other hand, if you were to make your food, you could end up saving plenty of dough! See what I did there?
This is how to save cash on food on your next road trip.
Make enough food for the first few days at home and pack it in a cooler box.
Any leftovers from dinner can be repurposed for breakfast. The moral of the story…don’t waste.
Instead of going for the next fast-food joint, opt for a grocery store instead. You’ll spend way less on much healthier food.
Frozen water bottles are a great way to keep the food in the cooler box cold. Plus, when it melts, you have refreshing cold water to drink, which saves you from spending on drinking water.
Saving on Entertainment
Keeping your expenses down during a road trip doesn’t mean staying in the car and only getting out when you need to use the bathroom, now does it? You’ll still want to indulge in some form of entertainment, whether it’s through a fanfare, movie, or food excursion. However, this could create an opening to overspend and get outside of your budget. So, how do you save money on entertainment during a road trip?
Consider playing road-trip games like the number plate or the alphabet game instead of going out. However, if you’re just dying to get out of the car, find a place with ample space where you can take out the ball or frisbee and, you know, do something other than driving.
There's plenty for you to see and do during your budget road trip for free if you know how to look. Museums, scenic views, wild animals, zoos, lakes, hikes, you name it.
Before embarking on your trip, do some online research and always stop to talk to the locals. They could point you to some cool places to check out without paying a dime.
Accommodation
Another way to blow your money away during a road trip is by where you choose to spend the night. Let’s face it: depending on your destination and time of year, hotels can be expensive. Here’s how to get around overspending on accommodation during your budget road trip.
Camping
There's no better way to save on hotel accommodation fees than to pack a tent and camp wherever you get the chance and place. You can camp for free in most national parks, and even though there are spots where you’ll need to pay for the campsite, it is still significantly cheaper than hotels.
When camping or even while on the road, remember to keep the environment clean. Carry a water bottle with you and fill it up whenever you can. Newspapers you can use to light fires at the campsite. Pack your coffee containers to dispose of at the next town or shopping center.
Stay With Friends
If you are not in the mood for camping and you have friends in the area you are passing through, then consider contacting them in advance to let them know to expect you. This is a good way to help you save on accommodation. Be sure not to intrude or show up unannounced, as this could offend some people. You don’t want that!
Try Airbnb
You can find a unique Airbnb in the area on the company website. While some may be over your budget, the high number of options means that you are likely to find an awesome yet affordable Airbnb to spend the night. More affordable than a hotel.
Parking Lots
I’ve saved the most unconventional option for last! If you’re in the middle of a city at night and need a place to rest, a well-lit, safe parking lot—such as those at Walmart—can be a convenient option. As long as overnight parking is allowed, you can park your car, fold down the seats, and catch some sleep. Just be sure to choose a secure location and stay aware of your surroundings.
Our Recommended List of Road Trip Power Supply Devices
So, when road-tripping on a budget, chances are you’ll still need to carry your cameras and laptops, perhaps even a drone, to capture those spectacular moments. And what better way to keep your devices fully charged than with a reliable power supply?
Power is something that is essential no matter where you are and will definitely make your life easier when on the road. Whether it's lighting up your campsite for the night or firing up appliances to cook your own food, a constant supply of reliable power is needed. To achieve a reliable power supply, you might need to explore more than one option.
Let’s take a look!
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station
In comes the BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 portable power station. This cool power supply allows you to charge up to 9 different gadgets simultaneously. With its 2600 watts output and 2073.06 Wh capacity, you can rest easy knowing that your devices won’t fail you when you need to capture those special moments or talk to loved ones back at home.
BLUETTI SP200L Portable Solar Panel
Now that you know how to keep your devices for the road trip fully charged, a question arises: how are we going to top up the Elite 200 V2 portable power station? Solar panels seem like a viable option. Specifically, the BLUETTI SP200L portable solar panel.
Its rugged build makes it ideal for any outdoor condition, while the foldable design makes it easy to pack and a great choice for that road trip. Plus, it offers 200 watts of power.
Oh, and did we mention that the Bluetti SP200L portable solar panel is water-resistant? You don’t have to worry about damaging it when you decide to take that trip through a national park on a wet day.
BLUETTI Charger 1
But let’s assume you are not the type to go around folding and unfolding solar panels and instead would rather utilize the power coming from your car’s mini generator, i.e., the alternator. You may want to consider the BLUETTI Charger 1. Connect it to the alternator, then use it to top up the power bank while on the go, meaning that whenever you need to charge some of your devices, you’ll always have ready power.
One of the great things about the BLUETTI Charger 1 is that it is super easy to install and comes with protection features that keep both your car battery and power station safe from damage. With the app control, you have total control over output voltage. What’s more, you can even monitor the car battery charge status.
Now, no matter how far into the wilderness you may go, you know that you have sufficient power from the power station at your disposal thanks to the BLUETTI Charger 1.
Final Thoughts
Are you planning on doing a road trip soon? If so, don’t let the idea of overspending dim your spirits. By creating a budget and sticking to it, you can make the most of your trip. You don’t have to break the bank. Make your plans as frugal as you like and enjoy.
