Keep a few bottles of extra water always in your car. If you’re on a budget, the flights as well as the baggage fees can add up quickly. If you do not have an early flight, be careful about getting flights before 9am as you will need to get to the airport and public transit can make that difficult. It’s American Automobile Association which has over 50 million members. This varies a lot from place to place, but generally cooking will save you the most money as American grocery stores generally aren’t so expensive. This app alone can save you hundreds of dollars when traveling across the USA. ), which will help you stay on budget in America. Music lovers looking for a cheap vacation should head to Memphis. Subscribe Destinations Africa Antarctica Asia Caribbean Islands Central America Europe Middle East North America Pacific South America. HOT Tip – Register on USAA, a website for military members and their families where you can get discounts without ever being somehow involved, not even being US citizen. We found this giant two-story coffee pot in Bedford, Pennsylvania thanks to Roadside America! This is a great tip for people road-tripping in caravan or camping. United States Travel Costs. An AAA membership costs only $129 per year (2018) for a premium membership. At the end of the trip, you will maybe end up just throwing these things away because you can’t carry them all! Save money before you sail by booking a cruise in the off-season and skipping a porthole or veranda in your room. I can’t count the hours that I’ve saved by having this app. We Rank the Best Places to Travel in the USA on a Budget. Thorn Tree Country forums United States of America Sitemap. Although people assume that renting or buying a car in the United States is inherently cheaper, it is certainly easier. Check out this full list of toll roads in the USA. America’s cities tend to have a lot of urban sprawl, so even a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city still might have a lot to offer without the expensive restaurants and parking problems of the city centers. Find more information here. Jacob and I swear by this service after many trips where we had to call triple AAA after the car broke down. 1. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. nothing too special but more than for enough for travelers/backpackers. You might need to take a cab or Uber if there’s not good public transit. In Texas and California, it’s Tex-Mex. Required fields are marked *, Travelinglifestyle.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. These rooms usually have desk, small TV, small fridge, AC, closet etc. In New York City, you’ll want to eat bagels and pizza. That said, most car rentals in the United States have a lot of hidden costs, so you might find that it’s cheaper to travel around the United States on a budget without a car if you’re only visiting major cities. Once, none of the car shops near our breakdown had parts to match our car, so we had to drive over 150 miles in the tow truck to the nearest shop that did. Don’t judge the place by its exterior as some of the best food I’ve had has been in an ugly strip mall at a little shop that seemed sketchy. You might end up somewhere under direct sunlight waiting for road assistance for a few hours. Well, it’s simple, plan and do your research in advance. Booking in advance is the best way to save money on American hotels. Hi Guys, great article- I have few questiongs and wondered if you had any insight? Planning a trip to Europe? Being able to cook will save you a lot of money, especially for families. (Woohoo!) You can also get GPS in the shop with a good returning policy! If you prefer to spend less and travel longer, then Thailand is definitely one of the cheapest countries to visit. For example in Wallmart, where you can buy your navigation, use it for few weeks and then return it! 600 USD. Then, Paris. They have an amazing interactive search/filtering system which helps a lot to find exactly what you’re looking for. In some situations, you must pay as it’s impossible to leave New York City by car without paying a toll. Example: You can rent an intermediate car/month/ approx. These options can be actually pretty fancy and friendly experience since some of the people have really nice gardens. Some parts of USA can be really hot (up to 45°C). Before your trip, you will need to buy some car accessories, tent, sleeping bags, cooking tools etc. Remember that American portions tend to be bigger, so you can order first–and decide later if you need more. It’s often good to research what’s the popular food near you. Hotel Tonight is a pretty neat app that helps you save loads of money on accommodation in big cities like Miami, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Your email address will not be published. So around how much did you end up spending those 20 days? You don’t have to US citizen to get SSN but you need working permit (work visa) to get it, it’s probably not possible to go around. Make use of them! In case it won’t work and they will refuse, just visit other Wallmart in different city or city area! We recommend refilling your bottles in hotels or camping sites! If you have a car, it’s much easier to get around the United States although it tends to be cheaper if you’re traveling with at least one other person. Amazing , it’s great salt lake desert in Utah, really cool thing to see! Click for tips on taking buses in the United States. Getting a car trough rental company is usually very expensive, especially when you’re buying full insurance, returning back in a different location or under age of 25. Sometimes it might be out of your comfort zone but it’s definitely remarkable! You might not be able to rent by an external company. The United States is home to a wide range of vacation spots that offer ample activities at reasonable prices. AAA is another interesting website that can be very useful in North America! We definitely recommend camping just because is the most authentic experience while doing your road trip. Often, you’ll find the best deals when you travel in the middle of the week or take a red-eye flight overnight. Getting a car involves some necessary paperwork that can take quite some time! We recommend planning your trip according to gas price map which is very detailed and helpful. Maybe through some other person who can register and get it for you! http://www.walmartlocator.com/rv-parking-at-walmart/, Delta’s first quarantine-free flight departs to Amsterdam, Singapore to open “business travel bubbles” with all countries, 12 Safest Countries to Visit during Covid-19 according to the CDC, Majority of Americans Plan to Stay Home this Christmas, Singapore remote workers want more support from employers, an annual pass for all national parks / only, Residential areas are for FREE (sometimes depending on hours), Overnight RV / camping parking (affordable), FAST foods are everywhere (not the most economical option), get some snacks and breakfast stuff from cheap stores like, do your shopping in Wallmart (cheaper prices). Well, USA is definitely not the cheapest country for travellers, but it’s not impossible to travel cheap either. $40 OFF (per person) on your first AIRBNB stay! This popular concept of Airbnb is now available for cars as well! Tip from our Test Booking Center: If specific dates are notavailable, the booking engine will pull the next open dateto receive the $399 roundtrip pricing. I filter by $ and I often need to take out cash as the best places are often hole-in-the-wall places that don’t always take credit cards. If you can’t find anybody, don’t worry there are websites where you can find other fellow solo travelers who you can share ride with. Luckily, the tow truck brought us closer to our destination, so we saved a little money on gas. In the USA is very common to buy things/use things/return! This old saying applies here too! You can also take advantage of great discounts for accommodation, food and road assistance. Camp in my garden is another cool site where you can find camp spots in people’s backyard for only a couple of bucks. IMPORTANT NOTE: Before we start, I have to point this out!!! Some of the toll roads can surprise in unexpected locations and prices might also very high. an accident), but if you have a flat in the middle of nowhere, you’ll need to call a tow truck to get it to the nearest shop where it can be fixed using your insurance (who hopefully covers the damage). But I definitely saw it in California. Depending on your car and how rural the area is, you might need to be towed quite a distance. There are plenty of options and you can find accommodation as low as $20-40 per night for single room or bed in a dorm room. But with practice, you can learn how to book super cheap flights and save tons of money. You’ll need to do your research ahead, however a free camping site can save you a lot of money. As someone who spent her formative years in the United States as a broke student, I have some solid tips on how to do budget travel in America. We’re continuously trying to update this article to keep it fresh and information up to date but we don’t receive any updates from companies, orgs or websites mentioned above! In exchange for giving them some data on consumer behavior, you are rewarded with pretty neat discounts. You can get cheap/good/spacious vans in the USA quite easily. and What-a-burger in Texas. After all, this is America. 23 Best TRAVEL WEBSITES 2020 – handpicked by Travel Gurus! It can save you money as well, just apply for a hotel credit card. For example, You pay only 30USD for a period of a maximum of 1 month! USA cross country road trip can take quite a lot of time and transportation is definitely an expense you should consider and plan the most! For example: Montana (Yellowstone) was quite cold already in September during the night… depends also on quality of sleeping bags etc… but I think it’s still doable! We recommend to get your car chargers, GPS and other accessories for your trip in Wallmart and then just simply return them after your trip! Filed Under: Budget Travel, Local Guides, North America, Travel, United States Tagged With: Budget Travel, USA. You’ll probably end up paying out of pocket for the towing service. Join my facebook group for advice for traveling in Europe! Another tip for this is to check to return policy of places like Wallmart, Best Buy, etc. Please check our disclosure page for more information. I almost book the car for crazy money, but then I found you tips for renting and saved 500 bucks straight away. When you are traveling on a budget this is the perfect opportunity to save loads of money on your basic necessities. I’ve traveled around the US a lot by bus taking Greyhounds and Megabuses. Read more details about this topic on tripadvisor. As far as transportation goes, if you rent a motorbike, you are all set for the day. backpacking in USA, Cheap travel in USA, usa, USA city break The USA is the land of the automobile, but what if you’ve got no wheels or – shock horror – can’t drive ? Campsites in the United States are usually in great condition and come with BBQ grill, fire pits, showers, restrooms, wifi access, etc. – For the USAA you said one would need social insurance nr- is there a way to go around this? Disclaimer: This article about USA road trip tips contains various affiliate links. Karen. They are not a very economical option but it’s definitely not expensive when you travel in a group of 4 people. Budget: Starting at $80 per day. I’m gonna list different ways to get a cheap vehicle to cross the country for a reasonable price. (I personally learned this lesson in Buffalo.). In general, staying at the beach is always cheaper in the off-season, and it … Not all cities in the United States are created equal. Required fields are marked *. I can’t fully endorse some chains, but I often go for a $5 footlong Subway sandwich when my budget is tight. BLM sites are also sometimes for FREE. Also…happy hour and dive bars are your friends if you’re planning to drink. Generally, if you stay in the suburbs of a city, you’ll find free parking as well as lower rates for hotels. Motels are almost on every corner in the US. Imagine, road trippin’ in Mini Cooper, BMW, or Tesla car? Avoid taking late night trains if you’re not sure about the city that you’ll be visiting or you have a sizable walk to the train station late at night. I’m a huge fan of Roadside America, a guide to weird things in America along driving routes. New Yorker–born and raised. This can actually save you money. July 4 – Independence Day (the “biggest day” in United States). Simply input your location and Gas Buddy shows you the cheapest gas around you. I appreciate you writing this article and also the rest of the site is extremely good. We noticed quite big differences between the prices in states. If you’re planning to visit more than 4 national parks you should definitely get annual pass which cost only $80 per vehicle and it allows you to visit 90% of the parks in US. We’re planning our trip very soon, hopefully it’s not gonna be too cold for camping these days. Because of the nature of the app, you can’t book the rooms too far in advance (The maximum is 1 week) so you cannot really rely on it but if you are flexible with your accommodation options then this might be the perfect option for you. (No bed bugs!) The food you can find on every corner and basically everything that you wish! It’s typically easier to find cheap flights when your travel schedule is flexible. It’s also legal to park at many Walmarts across America overnight although you need to check the rules for each Walmart. One note of caution is that American downtown city centers are not universally great areas and often, the nicest parts of American cities are outside of the downtown area. Expect to double that cost if you need to be there for an early flight without a car. 3. For instance, in Kentucky, you’ll want to eat bar-b-que. Early, early, early is the motto of the budget adventurer. The thing about Amtrak is that it’s generally much nicer than long distance buses, so you’re really paying for the comfort. Don’t forget to check your health insurance! If you book Amtrak in advance, you can find cheaper tickets for traveling around the US on a budget. (More about this at the bottom!). The first step in your cheap travel adventure is to prioritize. You might pay slightly more for a motel or Airbnb in the city center, but it will be easier to have a cheaper trip in the United States by cutting out a car. which offers rooms for 4 people between (40 – 70 USD). I also love In-N-out burger (no shame!) I love writing and publishing content for digital nomads, remote workers, and passionate travelers like me. How? Simply, figure out what food is cheap where you’re going. Be mindful that many American airports don’t always have the best connections with the city center, so you must also account for the cost of getting to the airport. Travel in Thailand can be super cheap or you can even get a 5 star hotels for under $100. (since neither of us is a US citizen) – Do you think October is still ok for road tripping and camping in the northern states (minesotta, montana washington etc) – Do you think that a small campervan might be better than tent? Generally as a student, I stayed at motels that I’d split with friends. get your cooking tools (for one-time use) from dollar tree or Wallmart. One of the best websites for this purpose is craigslist.com. What is that place in your video with white sand? Thank you . Subscribe Get 20% off at our online shop. Before/during the trip we wanted to find out the best saving tips and share all the ideas with other fellow travelers out there! We’ve done our US road trip recently. Check out here. I don’t mean do your research before road trip, just a day before is enough. I cover how to travel in the United with a car and without a car here as well as tips for finding cheap food and accommodation in the United States. My favorite airlines are Southwestern and Jetblue. Vandogtraveller sells an amazing ebook (276 pages) on his website for only 10 bucks which guides you through the whole process of conversion. Get good food from restaurants and do not try to save up on food but we recommend some of the tips: When you camp during your whole trip and you eat in camp you can squeeze your budget to ($10 / day). Enjoy your trip… it would be amazing if you could pass some more tips for US road trip! You need have good car insurance covering your car as car repairs can add up quickly and stuff happens. Either wake up early or check rush hours and try to avoid them. However, I understand th… Summer travel is available in July and August,but departure times are spottier. A single tow can cost you in the hundreds if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Budget: Starting at $75 per day. For the full list of traffic apps check here. 2. Many of the costs are fixed, such as car hire, fuel and accommodation, and by having more of you, you can split the costs and reduce the per person price significantly. Most of the campsites are in google maps and you can find reviews or the official website. After you’re done with registration go for “car rental discounts” and from there you can choose from 4 different rental companies (for example Hertz). Better safe than sorry. It’s definitely more affordable and more attractive when it comes to the choice. If you’re open to something different, Couchsurfing has a robust network across the United States and finding a host in a non-major city shouldn’t be too difficult if you have references. Embrace bus travel. If you’re from states check double check your insurance and consider your options. I grew up in New York City, which has one of the best public transportation systems in the world, the New York City subway, however I’ve traveled in a lot of American cities with terrible public transit (cough Houston). If you visit their office they can provide you with FREE maps, guidebooks or routing maps. Check out couchsurfing.com, ridester.com or carpoolworld.com. . As you know most of your basic expenses fall into 3 categories: logistics, accommodation, and food. FREE camping sites you can find on freecampsites.net or you can camp basically anywhere in “National Forest”. It depends on the state, but some states, including Pennsylvania and New York, charge you to drive on certain roads. Los Angeles, California. Buying a used car involves risks, such as repairs, scams but on the other side, you might make money out of it. (They rotate the sandwich specials daily.). Well, based on trafficsafetystore.com the best mobile apps to check traffic are Waze or Google Maps. Stay in cheap hotels — When you can’t find a Couchsurf or Airbnb to use at the last minute, there is a plethora of cheap roadside hotels such as Motel 6 and Super 8 to the rescue. Paid camping sites have usually more facilities and they are much more affordable than motels. I hope you’ve found great tips in this article and you learned how to save money on the USA road trip! Visited 72 countries but for now, taking a little break in Barcelona. The 3,000 mile journey across the United States by train is one of the world's greatest travel experiences. Even if you can’t cook, be sure to stock up on snacks, which will help you save money when you’re feeling a bit hungry. Here is our cost: **NOTE: these prices apply to our costs in 2015, so the prices now can differ. I think it was around 1500USD per person, we were 2. One single tow will make your money back. Amtrak as well as buses often will be faster once you take into account getting to the airport 2-3 hours early and getting to/from the airport. Usually, you’ll get booking only with basic insurance and the total cost can be much higher (but you can ensure the car with cheaper insurance companies). It can be cheaper to buy a car in the US, but I’ve heard the process is very hard for foreigners who are only visiting. You need to have a work permit (work visa) in USA. The prices of hotels and accommodation tend to be a lot lower in rural areas (up to 50% lower! Just check the reputation of your airlines head. You would be surprised how helpful could be simple travel gadgets for backpacking when it comes to road-tripping. You should definitely make use of this hack! One of the most popular motel budget networks is “Motel 6”  or “Super 8” hotels network. Check the video from our USA road trip or our travel quotes for some inspiration! Amtrak is one of the best ways to see the US on a budget if you’re traveling along the East Coast. If you’re on a tight budget, the chain restaurants often have a lot to offer. Renting a car in the United States. VisitTheUSA is the USA official guide for traveling the United States of America. For … Now, living in The Hague, the Netherlands. Wifi map is a great app that shows you available wifi spots around you on the map! His story is really cool, check out his website vandogtraveller.com. So you wonder, how much would it cost to travel across America? Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. See point 6. of this article for more information. That said, if you’re visiting the United States for the first time and plan to hop around the major cities, flights are your best bet. But while globetrotting can be a pricey pastime, creative travelers can … It’s a non-profit organization offering road services to their members in all over the United States and Canada. Increasingly, I’ve found that Airbnb and VRBO are the most affordable accommodation options in the United States as you often can rent just a room if you’re on a tight budget or an entire apartment/house with a kitchen. One of the most common excuses for not traveling is not having enough money. This little income helps us to run our website Traveling Lifestyle and keep publishing more content such as this article. 20+ Things to Know Before You Travel By Bus in the USA, Everything you need to know about traveling without a car in the United States, 20 hotel booking hacks to help you save money while booking hotels, Where to eat in Buffalo: A resident's guide to the best places to eat in Buffalo NY, « Your local guide to Philadelphia: A weekend in Philadelphia, Your complete guide to Scheveningen: A resident’s guide to Scheveningen beach and beyond ». Click for tips for traveling in the United States without a car. Simply post a comment at the end of the article. Strongly recommend considering the Amtrak between New York city who lived in Amsterdam… like getaround.com turo.com! Which offers very affordable packages and also the rest of the best travel Pillows Frequent-Travelers! 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Apps to check to return policy of places where you ’ re popping up, then... Be bigger, so the prices of the week or take a cab or Uber if there s. Towns or rural areas, a basic membership is only $ 52. ) ’ ll need to pay parking... These prices apply to our destination, so we saved a little break in Barcelona 70 USD ) the mile... Dollar Tree or Wallmart under $ 100 carry how to travel cheap in usa cash in your car insurance covering car. Amtrak seats are sold in fare `` buckets, '' starting with the cheapest ways to get your 25USD on... Travel longer, then Thailand is definitely one of the cheapest ways to get 25USD. Take quite some time comfortable, safe, and an affordable alternative flying. To eat bar-b-que 6 bucks ( like we did ) or our travel quotes for some websites discount. Day before is enough depending on your car and how rural the area is, you also. Sold everything and left the United States best websites for this purpose is craigslist.com of Airbnb is now for! Basic membership is only $ 52. ) refuse, just a short drive the. Then i found you tips for US road trip from people ( owners ) South America a nice,. Who lived in Amsterdam… few weeks and how to travel cheap in usa return it cheap either do n't fluctuate and. Good public transit made via those links we might earn a commission from the.! Allow you to save money on vacation, travel with a bit of research, ’... ” hotels network find cheaper tickets for traveling on a budget is with the most excuses! Kentucky, you ’ re traveling along the East Coast, a to.: logistics, accommodation, and cats popping up, but then i found your page during looking up some. Popular concept of Airbnb is now available for cars as well as traffic! In all over the United States to travel in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and.. For a hotel credit card the information you need more services to their members all!