How To Save Money on a Road Trip

Tips to Hit the Highway for Less

A road trip is an affordable way to travel—but the costs of gas, hotels, food and essentials still add up. Fortunately, your AAA Membership offers many ways to make your journey more economical. Here are some helpful savings tips to think about for your next road trip.

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: Pre-trip Planning

Travel can get expensive. Through careful, calculated decisions, you can stretch your dollars a few miles farther. Here are some topics to consider before you take off down the freeway.

Set a Budget - Though it can be tempting to embrace the freedom of the road with little to no plan, you will likely spend significantly more money traveling this way. Prior to your trip, establish what you are comfortable spending and plan your trip accordingly. Potential costs like rental car, gas, lodging, excursions, parking, tolls, food, souvenirs and travel supplies add up fast.

Note: If you are a solo traveler, the expenses are yours, and yours alone, but if you travel with a group you could benefit from splitting costs. However, a larger group will have a financial impact on lodging, meals, fuel consumption, travel supplies and, potentially, attraction fees. Some of these affects could be positive while others are negative so be sure to weigh the pros and cons of group vs solo travel.

Make Your Budget Realistic - You can save a lot of money if you do not eat out, camp along the way and use discount gas cards/apps. These extremes are not for everyone.

Establish what kind of trip you want to take and break your budget down to a cost per day level. By strategically planning your route you can calculate fuel and lodging costs in advance. Consider the following:

• Where will you stay?
• What attractions will you visit along the way?
• Are there tolls along your route? If so, you may need to have change on you. Plan your route to avoid tolls so you can budget for and prepay tolls, rather than digging for cash at each stop.
• What is the parking situation? Research parking availability at each of your destinations, including city and attraction parking, so that you can save time and understand how it will impact your budget.

Stick to Your Budget - Travel can be tempting, but a budget is only effective if you follow it. Prioritize it. This will help you make sure there are still dollars in the bank account upon your return. These savings tips will help you get more bang for your buck along the way. 

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: Gas

Budgeting for fuel is wise, but how do you know where to find the best gas prices along your route? Remember these three tips for your gas tank.

• Use Your AAA Membership to save. Be on the lookout for Shell stations: AAA Members save at least 5¢ per gallon after joining the Fuel Rewards Program (terms apply).
• Use the AAA Mobile app to find the lowest gas prices near you.
• Conserve gas by driving economically, try to accelerate gently, avoid high speeds, etc. 

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: Hotels & Restaurants

Having the perfect place to spend the night after a full day of driving and exploring means a lot. Some may choose more adventurous accommodations like camping. Others may opt to use an app to find a place to stay. However a little planning and being strategic could lead to big savings when finding a nice hotel room with free breakfast. Getting that hotel room with at a discounted rate is a bonus. Here are two examples:

• AAA Members save up to 10% or more at hotels across the country, including well-known brands like Marriott and Best Western.
• Discounted dining is also something you can savor. From local bistros to national chains, use the AAA Mobile app to find restaurants near you—including ones that offer AAA Discounts.

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: Tickets

Free attractions are a great way to save, but there will be times that you’ll want to see all that a city has to offer. From theme parks and zoos to shows and movies to CityPASS and Go City explorer passes, you can use your AAA Membership to get discounted admission to must-see sites across the country.

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: Guided Tours

A guided tour can take you to amazing places—and spare you the driving. AAA Travel partners offer many types of guided tours, with exclusive access to must-see sites, knowledgeable guides to lead you and many member benefits. AAA’s expert travel agents can help you find the perfect tour. (They are also pros at helping you plan and save money when planning your road trip.)

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: Rental Cars

You may want to rent a vehicle to prevent wear and tear on your car. You can avoid the expense of driving multiple vehicles and gain added space for your family or group trips with a van or SUV. Trusted AAA Partner, Hertz, offers AAA members up to 20% savings off the base rate. Plus, free use of one child, infant or booster seat–an additional savings of 13.99 per day!

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: RV

Take everything with you in an RV. Take advantage of special member pricing and up to $1,350 in bonus savings on new and used RVs, boats, motorcycles, and more at GoRollick. Or rent an RV with Outdoorsy and get an exclusive coupon for $40 off your first night. Learn more at AAA.com/Save.

How To Save Money on a Road Trip: Travel Insurance

Sometimes detours and roadblocks derail the best made plans. To avoid costly losses, due to delays, luggage issues, emergency medical events, severe weather or other unplanned expenses, consider purchasing travel insurance with AAA. Their AAA-exclusive TripProtect offers money saving benefits and 24/7 live support.

Our advice for how to save money on a road trip wouldn’t be complete without mentioning your vehicle. Getting it examined by a professional adds peace of mind to your road trip and reduces the chances of a costly breakdown.

• At AAA Owned Car Care Centers and Approved Auto Repair Facilities, members get a free vehicle maintenance inspection upon request and a 10% discount (save up to $75) on labor for regular-price services.
• Need a car battery? A new AAA battery includes a nationwide three-year free limited replacement warranty and a member discount.
• If you prefer the DIY route, AAA Members save 10% on parts and accessories at NAPA Auto Parts stores.

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: Leave Room for Spontaneity!

The beauty of a road trip is the freedom to change plans on a whim. If you learn of an amazing hidden gem from a local, chase it down. This journey is about adventure. However, spontaneity could lead to unnecessary spending, so be sure to strike a balance. Through creative planning, utilizing discounts and sticking to your established budget you can save big while still embracing all the fun and adventure that the road has to offer.  Remember, AAA has you covered. From restaurants and hotels to essentials and attractions, search for discounts online—you can use them now or save them for later.