You might head to the coast for Spring Break.
You might tour the country this summer.
You might travel to see relatives over the holidays.
You might explore a new city this weekend.
I adore road trips. Flying is speedy, efficient and — in many ways — convenient, but hitting the road is an adventure.
It’s the whole “Life’s a journey, not a destination” vibe.
Even if scenic views don’t move you, you can’t argue with how affordable driving is right now.
Withgas prices easingand airfarenot dropping as much as we’d like, the classic American road trip is starting to look like an excellent option.
How Far Can One Tank Take You?
If you need convincing, consider this.
The cost-information site Howmuch.net made maps showing exactlyhow far $50 in gas will carry you.
Using current fuel prices, the results are striking.
The charts display how far a $50 gas budget will transport you from 35 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and many others.
From Tampa, for instance, I could reach New Orleans for Mardi Gras; Chattanooga for this complimentary bluegrass show; or Charlotte, North Carolina, to commiserate with Panthers fans. All for just $50.
I can get to Atlanta for $40 and Miami for $30.
Wow — I might slip out of the office at lunch. I could be in Miami for supper. Or Carolina by midnight.
From Kansas City, you could reach Grand Rapids, Michigan, or Colorado Springs.
From Denver,you can make it to El Paso, Texas, or Salt Lake City.
From Chicago,you can arrive in Memphis, Tennessee, or Omaha, Nebraska (which is wildly underappreciated by folks who only fly over it).
How to Plan an Affordable Road Trip
If you’re doubtful, the methodology is “based on a vehicle that gets 24 miles per gallon, and uses fuel price figures from GasBuddy.com,” Howmuch.net explains.
Of course, a one-way jaunt won’t be much use. And gas isn’t the only expense.
So what will itactuallycost to take these trips? Still pretty reasonable — if you plan wisely.
First, double your gas estimate so you can return home. So it’ll be $100 to go from Tampa to Charlotte and back.
It’s a nine-hour drive each direction, so I’d want a full day there to really hang out with despondent Panther fans. That’s two nights in a hotel or Airbnb, and I typically set aside about $50 per night.
Then I’ll eat at least six meals on the road. I’ll hit Waffle House for all of them, to up my odds of bumping into Cam Newton. That’s roughly $7 per meal (including coffee). So $42 for food.
I won’t spend much on activities, since I prefer free offerings and simple pleasures like walks and people-watching.
All together, that’s a road trip for about $242.
If you’re into camping (I’m not), you could cut costs further by sleeping under the stars and visiting national parks instead of relying on 24-hour greasy spoons.
If $200–$300 still seems steep, consider these ways to earn money quickly. You might be in Peoria by next weekend!
Your Turn: Where will your next road trip take you? Any other tips for trimming expenses on the road? Also check out road trip apps for kids for ideas to keep little travelers entertained.
Emma Reyes (@emmareyes) is a staff writer at Savinly. She writes about travel, money and everyday life for blogs and books and has had pieces appear in outlets readers enjoy.
