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Budget-Friendly Road Trips: A Guide for Savvy Retirees

When you become a senior, you are finally in a position to enjoy life without the stresses of work and demanding daily schedules. You should take advantage of this time to do some of the things that you’ve always wanted to do.

Road trips are a great way to have an adventure and gain exposure to exciting places. However, they can also be costly. And when you are no longer receiving an income, you need to budget your money carefully so that you can stretch it out through the course of your retirement. Fortunately, there are ways to save costs on road trips and still be able to have an enjoyable experience. We will provide an overview of how to do this in the sections below.

Planning Your Road Trip

Planning your trip in advance is essential to having a good experience. Looking around online can both help you find must-visit destinations and keep you updated about changing circumstances. 

To ensure a successful road trip, there are specific things that you should do in the planning process. 

Setting a Budget

By the time you reach retirement, you should have money allotted for vacations and other things you want to do. You can use part of your retirement savings for road trips if you plan effectively and do not let costs spiral out of control. When you plan a trip, you should set a budget that includes different essential and non-essential components so that you can distinguish between things you have to pay for (such as gas, accommodations, and entry fees) and “extras” like souvenirs and gifts.  

You should also create an allotment for “incidentals.” You never know when your car might break down, you might suffer from an accident while hiking, or some other unexpected incident could occur that could suddenly drive your costs up. If you create an incidentals category, you will protect yourself against these sudden expenses.

Choosing Destinations

How do you decide where to go? It could be that there are one or two places that you’ve always wanted to see, and those places are on the top of your list. Or you might simply want to do something different, but aren’t sure where to go.

To pick the right destinations, you should consider what type of places you want to see, and consider them in the context of your available budget. If you’re not sure where to go, but simply want to have an adventure, here are some ideas:

• Historic Route 66. Many people dream of seeing what is arguably the most famous highway in American history. The route stretches from Los Angeles to Chicago, and along the way you will pass through the Grand Canyon, the streets of St Louis, and many small towns where you can stop at greasy spoons and rub elbows with the locals.
• The Rocky Mountains. If you love nature, this could be the trip for you. Starting at Glacier National Park in Montana, you can get on the I-90 and drive through Yellowstone and then to Grand Teton National Parks. Turning east, you will hit Wyoming and eventually make your way to Rocky Mountain National Park. This is an amazing way to see several of the country’s most famous nature spots.
• Seward Highway. If you’re really an adventurous type, consider heading up to Alaska to explore the Seward Highway. You won’t be bombarded by tourists there as this is one of the more isolated places in the country. However, the lack of people is made up for by stunning nature, including fjords, glaciers, and possibly even moose spotting. You will have to pay to get there, but it will be well worth it in the end.

Packing Smart 

When taking a road trip, you need to be sure that you bring essential items with you. Think about the places you will go in advance, and what might be necessary to have a good experience in those places. Obviously the weather is an important part of this, but appropriate clothing isn’t the only necessity. 

If you plan on hiking or being out in nature for any reason, be sure to go equipped with first aid, insect repellent, and anything else that is advisable in the area you’re going to. Plan within reason for possible changes in weather. These days you never know when temperatures and precipitation might suddenly change. And of course you should take as much of whatever regular medication you need for the number of days you will be gone.

Ensuring Proper Car Insurance 

When preparing for a road trip, you should be sure that you have proper insurance. If your car breaks down on the road, you could face unexpected costs that could blow your entire budget. There are different kinds of insurance that you should get for a road trip. You can do research to find car insurance for seniors that offers discounted rates and can help reduce overall costs. 

Keep in mind that car insurance is different from road insurance. Car insurance will provide compensation in the event of an accident. If you get road trip insurance, however, you may get reimbursement for pre-paid trip costs if something unexpected occurs. If you pay for hotels, for example, and a natural disaster occurs where you are planning to go, you may be eligible for reimbursement.

Budget-Friendly Road Trip Tips 

When you take road trips, there are essential things you should do to ensure that you have a successful trip and do not have any major problems. Figuring how to budget properly and lower costs is part of having financial literacy. Financial literacy is important not only because it helps you plan more cost-effective vacations, but also because it enables you to better manage your finances overall. Managing debt, planning for the future, and increasing your wealth are all part of having financial literacy.

Finding Cheap Accommodations

To avoid overspending, you should be sure to search for places to stay well in advance of your trip. If you are traveling through popular areas and wait until the last minute to book, you might find yourself shut out of more reasonable hotels

When you find places that you like, write to them and ask about senior discounts. Many places will provide them, and this will reduce the cost of your stay significantly. Beyond using the senior discount, other ways to save include looking for accommodation in less popular areas than other hotels. Sometimes if you are willing to stay a few miles out of the center, it can make a big difference in price. Also, many hotels offer lower rates during the off-season.

Saving on Food

Food costs can easily add up when you are on the road. Because you generally don’t have access to refrigeration or cooking facilities when you drive for long periods, eating out almost becomes a necessity. Keep in mind that many restaurants offer senior discounts just as hotels do. For popular nationwide restaurants, you may be able to get a senior discount card in advance of your trip that you can use at any location across the country. 

There are other ways to save on food costs. You can stock up on non-perishable items to take with you on the road. Dry goods such as granola, power bars, and cured meats can provide sustenance and help keep you going in between meals. Bring drinks with you so that you can stay hydrated and save additional costs at restaurants.

Fuel Efficiency

You can easily burn through a lot of fuel when you take a road trip. To minimize your fuel usage, you should make sure that your car is in good shape before you leave. Check your tire pressure to make sure that it is maximal. Weak tires can cause your car to burn through more fuel than it would otherwise. Also, when you are on the highway, you should use cruise control for long stretches of roads where you don’t have to speed up and slow down a lot.

It is also essential to plan your trip in advance and figure out exactly how you will get to the places you are going. It is very easy to get lost or get off track when you are in unknown areas. If you plan in advance, including stops for meals and other places you want to go, you can minimize excessive driving time and keep your fuel costs down.

Conclusion

Road trips can be great fun and an amazing way to see the country. They can also be expensive if you are not careful. You can save significantly on costs if you plan in advance, set a budget for yourself, and look for ways to cut costs along the way. Taking advantage of senior discounts is an important part of this, so you should look for them wherever you can. Then you will be able to relax and enjoy yourself on what will likely be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.