Christine Traveling as a big family adds up fast, but over the years we’ve learned a few tricks to stretch our budget and still make the most of every trip. Here’s how we save money on our road trips without sacrificing the fun 👇
🏕 Stay Smart: Airbnb or Camping Over Hotels
We usually skip traditional hotels (unless we can use points!) and go for Airbnbs or campsites. Having a kitchen to cook in and extra space for everyone makes a huge difference — both in comfort and cost.
🍽 Plan Our Meals (and Avoid the 2-Bite Dinners 😅)
We love food, but eating out with kids isn’t always worth it — especially when someone eats two bites and declares they’re full! We plan ahead for which meals we’ll eat out and which we’ll make ourselves.
We also love finding a local brewery or two — family-friendly spots with good food (or food trucks!) and something tasty for the adults.
And of course, we make sure to try the local must-haves:
- Ribs in St. Louis
- BBQ in Kentucky
- Seafood in Charleston
- Pizza… pretty much anywhere 🍕
🧺 Pack Food When We Can
If we’re driving, we pack a lot of food. Snacks, breakfast items, even dinners sometimes! Grocery prices in touristy areas can be higher — and occasionally there isn’t even a store nearby — so bringing our own stash saves both money and sanity.
🎟 Be Picky with Paid Activities
These days, everything comes with a price tag, and museum admission for a family of 7 adds up quickly! We usually choose a few trip highlights to splurge on, then fill in the rest of our itinerary with free things to do — parks, hikes, local festivals, or just exploring the area.
We even plan our destinations with this in mind — looking for places that offer plenty of free or low-cost family fun.
✨ Bottom line: Road trips don’t have to break the bank. A little planning goes a long way — and honestly, some of our best memories come from the simplest stops along the way.
