Cheap Vacations in the US by Road Trip

For many people the best cheap vacations in the US start in the driveway. A road trip costs roughly the same whether two people are in the car or five, it reaches the national parks and small towns that buses and trains miss, and you decide every stop. A little planning keeps it that way.

Plan the Route Before the Budget

• Choose a loop. Returning to your start avoids one-way rental fees and long empty drives home.
• Keep daily drives sensible. Long days cost more in fuel, food on the run and tired mistakes. Fewer bases, more time at each.
• Anchor the trip on free sights. National parks on fee-free days, public lands and scenic byways cost little or nothing to enjoy.
• Check the season. Mountain roads close in winter, desert heat peaks in summer, and holiday weekends fill campgrounds and motels.

Road Trip Ideas That Stay Affordable

Some of the classic American drives cost very little beyond fuel: desert loops through national parks and public lands in the Southwest, river towns along the Mississippi, the Blue Ridge and Appalachian back roads, and Great Lakes shorelines. Small towns along the way usually have cheaper rooms and food than the headline destinations.

Where you sleep matters as much as where you drive. Motels a few exits away from a national park gate or a city center are often far cheaper than those right beside it, and state park cabins and campgrounds can cost less again. Booking refundable rooms lets you adjust if a day’s drive runs long, and calling a motel directly sometimes turns up a better rate than the one online.

For towns worth building a route around, see America’s Best Small Towns. If you would rather camp than book motels, our camping and state parks page explains campgrounds, cabins and free dispersed camping.

Frequently Asked Questions