The Real Cost of a USA Road Trip (And How to Save Big)

Wondering how to road trip on a budget through the US?

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – the cost of road trips. It can be an expensive endeavor, which is why I’d like to share a detailed breakdown of the expenses on my journey and how to road trip on a budget.

Gas prices vary significantly from state to state. Accommodation sucks up a pretty penny. Furthermore, the cost of food, entertainment, and other miscellaneous expenses can add up quickly.

I’ve been traveling through the entire West Coast of the USA for over two years in search of adventure, and I can attest that America is a paradise for road trippers. But let me tell you, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I’ve experienced freezing temperatures in Santa Fe, sweltering heat in Arizona, and a strange (potentially alien) happening in between.

Overall, with some planning and budgeting, road-tripping can be a cost-effective way to experience some of the country’s best sights. Read on as I’ll share some tips and tricks for how to road trip on a budget, especially through the Southwest.

How Much Does a Southwest USA Road Trip Cost?

While there are so many routes and methods to explore the states, I couldn’t imagine doing it in anything other than a version of a campervan. So even though I’ll be going through the general budget of a Southwest road trip, my budget reflects that of a rubber tramp (aka vandweller).

A Look into my Total Budget – ~4200$ in 6 weeks

I am cheating a bit because I own my own van, but the total cost of Vander was $8500. This cost includes buying the vehicle and renovating it. It did take two months to DIY him, too.

I approximately spend ~45 days on the road, which my total comes out to $3800 plus $450 in maintenance after my trip for a general tune-up and minor fixes. With this total, my average road trip cost is ~ $94/day.

Cost of Road Trip Expense Breakdown of 45 Days

How much does the average person spend on a road trip?

If you’re used to backpacking through places like Thailand or Egypt, you’ll quickly realize that road-tripping through the United States is a more expensive undertaking. However, there are ways to make your journey more affordable.

Your estimated budget for a US road trip depends on your travel style. In my case, with a daily average of ~$94, I’m definitely not living the high life. Even with the crazy inflation in recent years, this is achievable if you’re willing to prioritize saving money where possible. I totally recognize that I could further cut down food expenses while on the road.

Easiest Ways to Lower your Budget on a Road Trip

Finding cheap accommodation and lowering food costs are the two big cost categories on a road trip that you can actually do something about.

Food Budget on a Road Trip

I have a major sweet tooth, so more than 50% of my food costs are spent on dessert alone totaling $353. Of which my bubble tea obsession ended up being a whopping $195! No regrets. Well, only kinda.

Eating on a road trip can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, sampling local cuisine is one of the most enjoyable parts of any journey, while on the other hand, dining out day in and day out can take a toll on your wallet and your waist. Fortunately, I have discovered a few ways to enjoy fantastic food while keeping my expenses in check.

Firstly, research low-budget grocery stores in the areas you’re visiting. Places like Aldi, 99 Cent Store, Grocery Outlet, Lidl, and Walmart offer excellent deals on groceries. Walmart is certainly the most prevalent of them, especially in rural areas.

Secondly, prep your own food. If you’ve got a vehicle with no stove, Coleman Burners and propane are cheap and sold in Walmarts and Home Depots. The United States is not well known for having cheap food options, and in the middle of nowhere, your options are reduced to fast food joints.

👉 I used this Coleman 2 Burner Stove for two years while Vanlifing and would recommend it any day!

Accommodation Budget on a Road Trip

Whether you boondock, use campgrounds, or stay in hotels, where to sleep ends up taking a significant portion of your road trip cost and research time.

One of the most significant advantages of vanlife is that it significantly reduces accommodation expenses. By having a mobile ‘home,’ you can sleep almost anywhere, including free camping locations such as Walmart parking lots or Bureau of Land Management sites.

Boondocking

As a budget-conscious traveler, I often opt for boondocking – legally camping for free – as a cost-saving measure. Boondocking is amazing, but it usually means you won’t have access to any amenities.

Thankfully, there are plenty of places where you can legally boondock, such as BLM land and National Forests. Before setting up camp, be sure to check for any Day Use Only signs or rules posted at the park entrance.

To find the best spots to boondock, I rely on apps and websites like freecampsites.net to source user-generated locations. These resources are lifesavers and offer reliable information on potential spots.

I have also stayed at many not-so-glamorous nights in: rest stops, parking lots of Walmart’s, Casinos, Planet Fitness, Applebee’s, or city street parking. I try my best not to park illegally and will check the laws of cities about sleeping in cars overnight.

Travel Tip! Due to the West’s raging wildfire problems, many places have a strict burn ban for a few months of the year.

Campgrounds

Paid campgrounds come with the advantage of having restrooms and other amenities, but they often have camp rules, such as check-in and check-out times. Additionally, you might not get wide-open spaces with stunning views.

On the low end, campgrounds can go for as low as $15 per night, while more luxurious options with amenities like hookups and swimming pools can cost as much as $70+.

I usually only use campgrounds in National Parks, as you cannot boondock within the park boundary lines. I’ve already paid a hefty fine once and learned my lesson. These can get booked out weeks to months in advance, especially in popular national parks, so pre-book!

Motels & Hotels

For me, in rare cases of feeling too dirty, too cold, or running out of electricity, I turn to Couchsurfing or Hipcamp before turning to booking.com.

The cheapest motels in America start at around $60 per night. However, I came across Page, Arizona, which had some of the most affordable motels I’ve seen in the entire country at $35 per night. In major cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco, $60 will mostly get you a sketchy neighborhood or a long commute from attractions.

For short-term rentals for 1-2 people, Airbnb or VRBO might not be worth considering as they charge high fees. But for a family, they would give you a lot more spacious options.

Fixed Costs of a Road Trip

Unfortunately, many big-cost categories on a road trip are fixed, so it can be hard to save money on these categories.

Transportation Budget on a Road Trip

If you hope to use public transportation in the Wild West of America, you will surely miss almost everything super cool. Most of these attractions are located far outside towns, and even the towns are often spread out.

What is the cheapest way to travel long distance?

While driving or renting a car is an option, accommodation costs can still be pretty steep. That’s why I highly recommend exploring the US via campervan or RV.

Traveling in a campervan or RV gives you the freedom to move around and the flexibility to stay wherever you like without breaking the bank. You won’t have to worry about booking accommodation or sticking to a strict itinerary.

Renting a Campervan: The Best Way to Road Trip on a Budget

Of course, you do not need hotels and campgrounds if you have a vehicle you can sleep in. However, most rental companies tend to be on the pricey side. Here are a few of the more affordable options that I have come across in the Western states:

• Jucy Cars ($45 – $110)
• Escape Camper Vans ($37-$260)
• Travellers Autobarn ($45 – $83)
• More $$$: Cruise America RVs ($115-$180)

It’s hard to compare the apples-to-apples price because each company prices its extra services, vehicle sizes, and amenities differently. You can choose between a large RV or a compact minivan, and even your mileage per day can affect your rental fee.

All in all, you can expect prices per night to end up being between $37-$260, which I know is a world’s apart difference and can be too much money if you are planning a more extended trip.

If you prefer another option, you can rent an RV from someone on a rental platform like Outdoorsy. Or, if you are going on an extended USA road trip and have the funds, just flat out buy a van yourself. I sold my van to a European couple after just one week of trying!

Maintenance Costs

You never know what you’ll run into, whether running into a deer in headlights or encountering a thief sawing off your catalytic converter, both of which have happened to me! Unfortunately, in these moments, you just have to eat the cost and hope for the best.

In case of any mishaps on the road, it’s always best to be prepared. Double-check your car insurance policy, pack a first-aid kit, and keep some emergency tools, like snow chains and a portable battery jump starter.

👉 Before it went kaput, I had to jump my battery at least once a week. Even in the middle of nowhere, I could with this portable jump starter and charge my phone at the same time!

While unexpected events can be stressful, taking a proactive approach can help minimize the impact.

Tip: You should get an oil change every 3k-5k miles. Some Walmart Supercenters also have automotive care, which does cheap oil changes.

Gas Cost on a Road Trip

Unless you are driving an electric car, gas is an inevitable and costly factor. Most RVs have a fuel economy of around 6-14mpg, making the gas expense one of the most significant costs of a road trip.

In some places, like California, gas prices can skyrocket, with a single 30-gallon fuel tank costing over $150 to travel just 420 miles.

Tours and Entrance Fees on a Road Trip

When budgeting a road trip, tourist activities and entrance fees can quickly add up. Instead of opting for expensive activities like a day tour to Antelope Canyon or Grand Canyon ($200), a Yellowstone wildlife tour ($250), or a Vegas food tour (120$+), try to find more affordable attractions.

The two most expensive activities I spent on this trip were $85 for backhauling service for kayaking Horseshoe Bend, and a Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas for $90.

Consider exploring free art districts in Dallas and galleries in Sedona, or checking out smaller museums and Route 66-like attractions with admission fees of just $5. If you’re interested in larger collections or museums like the Houston Space Center, expect to pay about $25-$35 per ticket. One popular art installation to check out is Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, which can be $50 per ticket.

Always check for Groupon discounts, and research and compare prices and packages on aggregate sites like Viator before booking an activity.

👉 Check for the best rates and tour availability on Viator

Save Money on National Parks with the “America the Beautiful” Pass

Planning on visiting multiple national parks within the next year? Consider purchasing America the Beautiful Interagency National Park Pass for $80.

This pass grants free entry to all National Park Service managed areas, including National Parks, National Monuments, and more. The pass is good for one year, starting the first time you use it. There are various discounts for military, disability, and senior citizens.

Note: State parks are not part of the National Park System, and fees can range from $10-$25 per vehicle for a day pass.

Save Money on City Attractions with CityPass

Are you planning to explore major U.S. cities like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago as a tourist? Buying a CityPass may save you money on entrance fees and admissions to popular attractions.

CityPass is a bundled ticket that provides access to various attractions, including museums, zoos, amusement parks, observation decks, and more. The pass is valid for a specific range of days (typically 9 days).

By purchasing a CityPass, you can save up to 50% on the cost of the admissions when compared to buying each ticket individually. Additionally, you’ll enjoy the convenience of bypassing long lines at most attractions with this pass.

Best Travel Tips for Cheap Road Trips in the US

1. Use apps to find the cheapest gas
2. Use apps to find free places to live
3. Get the National Park pass
4. Don’t illegally park (and get caught). Tickets cost a lot. Beware the signs and colored curbs
5. Use apps and websites for the best deal on things to do (ie. Groupon)
6. Pick up a gym membership to Planet Fitness for ~$26 for their showers. Two birds with one stone.
7. Pick up credit cards that are best suited for travel and/or gas (I Use Chase Freedom for Travel and Venmo card specifically for gas)

Helpful Apps & Websites to Save Time & Money on a Road Trip​

Save money and time with the following apps. I promise you; these are well-worth downloading or checking during any road trip in America.

Final Thoughts: How to Budget for a Road trip

Thanks for sticking with me through all these tips on how to budget for a road trip! I hope you gained some insight into the cost of road trips in America and some inspiration to inspire you to hit the highway on your next Southwest USA road trip.

The time has now come for me to say a bittersweet goodbye to Vander and see you later to my life and friends in LA and the West Coast. But a hello to the next chapter in Asia!

See you there, fellow Nomads!