Cheap Road Trip Hacks: Cut Gas, Lodging and Food Costs

The biggest savings on a long road trip come from three places: driving a little slower and keeping the car in good shape to burn less gas, choosing lodging with free breakfast or a kitchen, and eating from a cooler for at least one meal a day. Gas, a bed and food make up most of the bill, so a small cut in each adds up over several days.

Start by estimating the total. The road trip gas cost calculator turns your distance and your car’s fuel economy into a fuel budget, which tells you how much room is left for hotels and meals.

How can you spend less on gas during a long drive?

Drive at a steady, moderate speed, because fuel economy drops as speed climbs on the highway. The U.S. Department of Energy’s fueleconomy.gov publishes tips on this and on how aggressive driving wastes fuel.

Use cruise control on flat highways to hold an even speed.
Accelerate gently and look ahead so you brake less.
Avoid long idling. Turn the engine off if you will be stopped for more than a minute or two.
Take the roof box or bike rack off when you are not using it, since anything on the roof adds wind drag.
Pack light. Extra weight in the trunk costs fuel on every mile.
Use the air conditioner sensibly. At low speeds an open window is cheaper, and at highway speeds the air conditioner is usually the better choice.

Does tire pressure and car maintenance really matter?

Yes. Underinflated tires create more rolling resistance and make the engine work harder, and they wear faster and are less safe on a loaded car.

Check pressure when the tires are cold, before you drive, and set it to the figure on the sticker inside the driver’s door jamb, not the maximum printed on the tire sidewall. Also check the spare. A car that is due for an oil change, with a dirty air filter, will not run at its best, so handle routine service before you leave. Hauling a full load of people and luggage is a good reason to confirm the tire figure for a loaded vehicle in the owner’s manual.

How do you find cheaper gas along the route?

Compare prices in a gas price app before each fill-up, and plan to refuel in places where fuel is usually cheaper than at highway exits.

Stations right off the interstate tend to charge more than stations a mile or two into town.
Fuel prices differ from state to state, so topping up before crossing into a pricier state can help.
Warehouse club and grocery store stations often have lower prices if you already hold a membership or loyalty card.
Do not let the tank run close to empty in remote areas such as desert or mountain stretches. A forced fill-up at the only station for miles is the most expensive kind.
Regular unleaded is fine for most cars. Buy premium only if the owner’s manual requires it.

What is the cheapest way to sleep on a road trip?

The cheapest options are campgrounds, motels away from tourist centers, and hotels that include breakfast, and flexible dates matter more than the brand.

Stay just outside popular towns and parks. Rooms a short drive away usually cost less than rooms at the entrance.
Book refundable rates, then check again closer to the date. If the price falls, cancel and rebook.
Choose rooms with free breakfast, a refrigerator and a microwave. A kitchenette saves more than a discount does.
Travel midweek where you can. Weekend and holiday nights cost the most in most destinations.
Camp when the weather allows. Public campgrounds, including those run by the National Park Service and state parks, cost far less than a room, and many take reservations ahead of time.
Ask about parking, resort or destination fees before you book, since some hotels add them to the nightly rate.

If you are weighing a camper against hotels, RV rental versus a car and hotels sets the two side by side.

How can you eat cheaply without living on fast food?

Bring a hard-sided cooler and shop at grocery stores, because a picnic lunch costs much less than a sit-down meal and is often faster.

Pack sandwich fixings, fruit, cheese, yogurt, nuts and raw vegetables. Add shelf-stable snacks and a case of water.
Carry a refillable bottle and fill it at hotels and rest stops instead of buying drinks every stop.
Eat the hotel breakfast and take fruit or a bagel for later, where the hotel allows it.
Make lunch the cheap meal, then spend on one good dinner per day in a local restaurant.
Check lunch menus. Many restaurants charge less at midday for the same dishes served at dinner.

Keep cold food at 40°F (4°C) or below, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives as the safe limit for perishable food. Use plenty of ice or frozen packs, keep the cooler in the shaded cabin rather than the trunk, and throw out perishable food that has sat out for more than two hours. Traveling with children changes the shopping list, and road trip snacks and stops for kids covers it.

Where else do road trips quietly lose money?

Tolls, parking, attraction tickets and impulse buys at gift shops and gas station stores add up quietly.

Check your route for toll roads and decide whether a free alternative costs only a little more time.
If you plan to visit several national parks or federal recreation sites in a year, look at the annual pass on the National Park Service site and compare it with the separate entrance fees.
Look for free attractions such as scenic overlooks, state park trails, small-town museums and public beaches.
Set a daily spending limit and track it in a notes app, so one expensive day does not go unnoticed.
Keep a small emergency fund for a flat tire, a tow or an extra night.

Short, well-planned routes also save money, because fewer miles mean less fuel, and fewer nights mean less lodging. A route such as the five-day Texas Hill Country road trip keeps daily drives short, which holds fuel use and fatigue down.

Quick answers

Is it cheaper to drive or fly for a long trip?

Driving usually wins for groups of three or more, because fuel and lodging are shared, while a solo traveler going a long distance may spend less on a flight. Add up fuel, hotels, food, tolls and parking before you decide.

Does a slower speed always save gas?

Not always at very low speeds, but on the highway a moderate, steady speed uses less fuel than a fast one. Hard acceleration and braking also waste fuel at any speed.

What is the single best way to save on a road trip?

Lowering the lodging cost saves the most for many travelers, since a night in a room costs more than a day’s fuel. Camping, motels away from tourist centers and rooms with free breakfast all help.

How much should I keep in reserve?

Keep enough to cover one unexpected repair or an extra night, and decide the amount before you leave, based on your car’s age and how remote the route is.