US Roadtrip suggestion/Advice!

[sat1983]

We'd love to go on a road trip in the US- but trying to work out what it would cost us.

We're not looking to stay in any fancy hotels or anything but would like to go for around 3 weeks.

Either West or East coast- what should be budget for car hire/food/hotels etc?

We spent nearly £5k last year to stay in San Fran/Chicago and that was nothing fancy, surely this road trip can be done for less?

[mike80]

Just come back from two weeks in California, with averagely priced (but decent!) hotels, economy flights, and a standard hire car it probably wasn't that far off that by the time you factor in all of the spending money!

[Matt..]

I've done a lot of US road trips and would say I average £200-£250/day all in (inc flights). That's just for me, and living very simply.

Hotel - £100
Car - £50
Food - £20
Fuel - £20

It adds up fast.


Though also depends a lot on where you go, and whether you pre-book or not.

I do a lot of national parks, but never camp, which means very limited options that are often expensive for what they are. I also like fun rental cars, which adds up

[K50 DEL]

I do a 3 week road trip around the USA every 2 years, picking a different start point each time (always circular routes to save one-way flight pricing)

2014 - http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.ph...

2012 - http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.ph...

2010 - http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.ph...

2008 - http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.ph...

As a guide, this year:

5,500 miles driven
$744 fuel
$600 car hire (Hyundai Tucson)
$79 per night average hotel cost - this varies wildly, obviously a night in New York will cost way more, some places $50 gets you a decent place.
$35 per day budget for food - we did breakfast at the hotel, lunch was a picnic created with things bought from Walmart, dinner was in a restaurant on the way to the night stop - no alcohol obviously.
$100 per day sightseeing - we cram a lot into our days so there's a fair amount of entrance fees etc, if you're more relaxed then this cost will be less.
$100 per day incidentals, this covered souvenirs and anything else

[sat1983]

K50 DEL said:

I do a 3 week road trip around the USA every 2 years, picking a different start point each time (always circular routes to save one-way flight pricing)

2014 - http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.ph...

2012 - http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.ph...

2010 - http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.ph...

2008 - http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.ph...

As a guide, this year:

5,500 miles driven
$744 fuel
$600 car hire (Hyundai Tucson)
$79 per night average hotel cost - this varies wildly, obviously a night in New York will cost way more, some places $50 gets you a decent place.
$35 per day budget for food - we did breakfast at the hotel, lunch was a picnic created with things bought from Walmart, dinner was in a restaurant on the way to the night stop - no alcohol obviously.
$100 per day sightseeing - we cram a lot into our days so there's a fair amount of entrance fees etc, if you're more relaxed then this cost will be less.
$100 per day incidentals, this covered souvenirs and anything else

Excellent! Looking forward to reading your blogs! Love that sort of thing! We're thinking of booking this:

http://www.theamericanroadtripcompany.co.uk/roadtr...

Does it seem reasonable value for money?

[Nickyboy]

sat1983 said:

Excellent! Looking forward to reading your blogs! Love that sort of thing! We're thinking of booking this:

http://www.theamericanroadtripcompany.co.uk/roadtr...

Does it seem reasonable value for money?

I'm assuming that includes flights which isn't too bad but that's £1800 per person is it not?

You'll find it more fun sorting yourself a rental car before you go and a rough idea of where you're going then rocking into a town and staying on a local motel.

I've done 2 big RV road trips and we look up a rough route and approx distance we want to travel per day then look at towns etc around that distance away from that days start point. That way we have a target to aim for but have enough time to explore en route.

[davepoth]

I'd echo the above. Travelling in the US is so easy (and reasonably priced and clean roadside accommodation is very easily available) that it's much more fun to wing it.

Make a list of the things you want to see and do, whether there are any special places that you want to book to stay, and then attempt to work it into a round trip. That way the car rental and flights are cheaper, and you can often get a much better car.

Last time out I promised myself a Crown Victoria, as they would be going out of the rental fleets soon afterwards. A bit of fiddling around managed to get me a two week rental for $400, picking up and dropping off from Jersey City for a 3000 mile round trip to Memphis, Tennessee. I don't think we paid more than £100 a night for a hotel, and most of the "in-between" stays in motels were probably less than half that.

I've done that trip, and SF-San Diego-SF. I think if I go again I want to take a look around the Pacific Northwest.

[K50 DEL]

davepoth said:

I've done that trip, and SF-San Diego-SF. I think if I go again I want to take a look around the Pacific Northwest.

A beautiful region.... check the 2012 trip report I linked above, we started in Seattle that year.

[Rich_AR]

I did one earlier this year on a motorbike. Chicago to San Francisco, circa 4500 miles. Lots of fun, winging the hotels and finding amazing roads. Loved every minute of it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


Fuel is cheap (even more so on a bike), so didn't even think about that.
Hotels: I budgeted around $100-$130. Some were cheaper, so more expensive.
Bike rental was $2.5+ (not cheap) for 22 days
Food and stuff: $100 per day (spent alot less at times)

Edited by Rich_AR on Monday 3rd November 04:54

[sat1983]

Rich_AR said:

I did one earlier this year on a motorbike. Chicago to San Francisco, circa 4500 miles. Lots of fun, winging the hotels and finding amazing roads. Loved every minute of it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


Fuel is cheap (even more so on a bike), so didn't even think about that.
Hotels: I budgeted around $100-$130. Some were cheaper, so more expensive.
Bike rental was $2.5+ (not cheap) for 22 days
Food and stuff: $100 per day (spent alot less at times)

Edited by Rich_AR on Monday 3rd November 04:54

Those pictures looks amazing! We thought about just planning our own trip but very often I find it just ends up costing more? Would like a nice rental car though don't get me wrong!

[Stu R]

I do a couple of 4k milers a year on average. Just done a brutal run to Vegas and back (vegas to columbus in one sitting stopping only for gas - 2k miles in 27 hours!).

Honestly, as pleasant as vast swathes of the U.S. are, it's all about the Pacific Northwest, Colorado and Utah for me. I love the desert and Arizona, but unless you're into rocks and/or off roaring it might not be for everyone.

Colorado remains my favourite, very closely followed by Washington, Oregon and Arizona. I don't do planning though, much prefer to just wing it and do things as I feel. I usually have a general idea of what I'd like to see / do and just join the dots as I go. Try it, it's very liberating not being stuck to a plan.

[Matt..]

Here's my trip from last year:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=131... (http://vimeo.com/68943841 <- video)

Photos from a few of my trips:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthoulb/collection...


I seem to be trying to get through all the national parks...
I've been to 16 national parks, a couple of national monuments, state parks, and others. There are 59 national parks, so i have quite a way to go!

Hoping for Glacier NP (Montana), then Alaska and maybe Hawaii next year.


Such a huge and varied country. There is so much more to the place than California, Florida, New York, and Las Vegas.

[K50 DEL]

Matt.. said:

I seem to be trying to get through all the national parks...
I've been to 16 national parks, a couple of national monuments, state parks, and others. There are 59 national parks, so i have quite a way to go!

27 National Parks for me, not even going to begin to count the state parks and monuments, well into the hundreds now for sure.

[David Beer]

I have camped, in Motorhome or under canvas in many, around 40. Favourate in southern Utah I buy a pass and then it's usally 10$ a night. Missing this Xmas ( going to NZ) but already booked next summer and plan to do a further 3 or 4.

[David Beer]

sat1983 said:

Those pictures looks amazing! We thought about just planning our own trip but very often I find it just ends up costing more? Would like a nice rental car though don't get me wrong!

Did you decide on a route ?

[anonymous-user]

Rich_AR said:

Bike rental was $2.5+ (not cheap) for 22 days

'kin 'ell! Who was that through?
We got 14 days for $900 in July.

[Rich_AR]

Crossflow Kid said:

'kin 'ell! Who was that through?
We got 14 days for $900 in July.

$900.. what did you rent??

[anonymous-user]

Rich_AR said:

Crossflow Kid said:

'kin 'ell! Who was that through?
We got 14 days for $900 in July.

$900.. what did you rent??

We got a 2013 HD Electra Glide Classic, unlimited mileage, and no geographical limits.
Didn't need or want a tour guide, booked all our own hotels/motels without issue (and got some really good deals/rooms), no fancy logo'd van carrying our luggage...I mean....why? Bike trip, pack light etc.
All in, we did two weeks and 3500 miles for a few quid UNDER £3k for two of us all in....the bike rental, fuel, all hotels which ranged from Caesar's Palace to a log cabin, all meals, park fees, and the minimal spending money we took. Fights were on top.
For the bike I shopped around and eventually booked direct with Escape Eagles in Vegas...two blokes with a lock-up full of Harleys for hire. Nothing fancy, and no agent fees or other fluff to pay.
It meant a couple of trans-Atlantic phone calls but the saving was worth it.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 14th November 14:17

[Rich_AR]

Crossflow Kid said:

We got a 2013 HD Electra Glide Classic,

HD's are cheaper to rent in the US. But it's not my style (in fact I rather dislike HD's and their image, horses for courses an all), hence opting for a Triumph. Mine wasn't with a tour or anything, but the dealer support and one way drop off do add up the costs. Plus the fact I booked in 7 days before I arrived! But yes, I'm sure there are better deals to be had.

[RDMcG]

Here is my guide to Route 66..in the thread are links to state-by-state threads based on multiple trips. Not complete for the Ca section as I have yet to to they short part, but fairly comprehensive


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=140...