Fall marks the end of the holiday season and heralds the arrival of frigid temperatures, but it can still hurt road warriors with warm sunny skies, vivid natural beauty, and great deals on perhaps the best road trip around. season road.
The road calls you, but where will it take you? It’s not romantic or spontaneous, but plan ahead for your fall road trip. Good planning is bound to save you money. Check out the internet to find great and cheap places to visit. Fall is the prime season for wine tasting tours, antiquing, local festivals, and fairs. If you’re out west, you’ll likely find a rodeo or two. In the Midwestern or Northeastern United States, the biggest draw is the landscape itself. Forested hillsides are transformed into brilliant impressionist paintings of crimson, gold, and pumpkin. Not to be outdone, the aspens of the Colorado Rocky Mountains are transformed into liquid sunshine in fall.
If there’s a special destination you’ve been putting off due to cost, now may be the time to take that trip! For many popular destinations, off-season pricing begins after Labor Day or a little later in the month. Along with off-season pricing, popular places may offer fall specials and package deals to cap off your peak travel season.
Once you know where you’re going, it’s time to think about how you’re going to get there. The condition of your vehicle is crucial to the success and overall enjoyment of your vacation. There’s nothing exciting about it, but regular maintenance on your vehicle, whether it’s a car, truck, bike, or RV, will save you money in the long run. Have a trusted mechanic do a regular tune-up, change the oil, and check the tires. If your vehicle runs efficiently, you’ll save dollars at the pump and help keep you and your passengers safe.
Find out where you are going to sleep in advance. If you plan to stay in hotels, make reservations. Try to find good deals and don’t forget to use your discount cards and credit card points if you have them. Spontaneity is fun and freeing, but most of the time it costs you money. Consider camping for part or all of your trip. A campsite costs $10-$15 per night versus $50-$75 or more per night for a cheap hotel room.
Think about what you plan to eat. Pack snacks and drinks in a cooler to cut down on expensive purchases at convenience stores. Have a picnic when and if you can. Breakfast is an easy meal to eat on the go. Cereal bars, fruit, and even the occasional donut pack up easily and can last several days. Gas station coffee is cheaper, but if you can’t live without latte, bring your own cup and maybe save a few pennies. Also pack a refillable water bottle, it’s greener for the environment and your wallet.
Have an activity plan. You can go on adventures and make memories without spending a lot of money. Enjoying a packed bottle of wine, stopped on the side of the road to watch a sunset, can be as romantic as dinner for two at an exclusive five-star restaurant. Throwing a soccer ball or playing hide-and-seek in a public park, or even at a roadside rest stop, can be great family fun at no cost. Just remember to pack your wine, folding chairs, and soccer ball, or whatever you need for your favorite activities.
And finally, spend money on the really good stuff. When you’re planning ahead to save money on your big fall road trip, maybe there’s money in the budget to do something really special. Look for once-in-a-lifetime experiences and take heart, because those moments you never get back. Set aside a little money for a chance to be spontaneous, it could turn a good vacation into the best trip of the season!