After planning out your route on google maps, you can then figure out approximately how much you’ll be spending on fuel. To determine the cost, take the total miles and divide how many miles per gallon your vehicle gets. Next multiple the number of gallons by the price of the gas. 
 
 
For example:
     My next road trip we will be driving is 7,500 miles. My vehicle when towing gets 7.8 mpg. So, I will divide 7,500 by 7.8 mpg. I end up with 961.5 gallons. Next, I take 961.5 and multiple it by the average price I estimate the gas price might be. Let’s say this summer’s gas price is $3.10/gal. I’ll multiple 961.5 x 3.10. That gives me a total of $2,980. When I budget for my trip I will usually round up the total for cushion.

     The amount of money spent on food while traveling can vary tremendously. Some people love going out to eat while others bring their own food or some do a mixture of both. Since I have a daughter who has Celiac disease, I cook all of our meals in our camper. While this seems like a lot of work, it does save us quite a bit of money. Like everything, food costs add up. Being frugal with meals while on vacation will allow you to spend your money else where, like on a special activity.
 
     Some may think, I will be staying in hotels or a camping cabin with no kitchen. When our family only used hotels to travel, I would find hotel rooms with kitchenette’s or rooms with microwaves. An electric skillet that you plug in or an instant pot works great too. After planning our meals I would gather all my necessary ingredients, place it in a tote and carry it with us on our road trip. It does take some planning but is very doable.
 
     All in all, $200-$250/week for groceries for 6 people is what we would spend on food. For a 3 week road trip it’s between $600-$750 for food. If we go out to eat a few times, that’s easily an extra $200. Your costs will most likely differ from mine depending on if you go out to eat more often and the amount of people traveling with you. If you plan on cooking of all your meals while on the road, figure out what you normally spend on groceries while your at home. Use that amount as an estimate.

Hotels–
Once you know how many days you’ll be on vacation, you’ll have a better understanding how much money you’ll need for lodging. This price can vary greatly on what type of lodging you will be using.
When my family and I used hotels to travel, generally we stayed at Comfort Suites or Holiday Inn Express as they had pull out couches where my boys would sleep. When you are traveling with 4 kids it can be tricky finding a big enough hotel room without breaking the bank. Generally, I would budget $135/nt. (Don’t forget you’ll be getting free breakfast with your hotel room. Every bit of savings adds up.)
 
Campgrounds–
Camping costs are going to vary person to person depending on your camping preference. I try to do everything on a budget, so we tend to stay at National Parks, State Parks, County/City Parks, & BLM land (free). On average we spend $25-$30/nt. Every night adds up so we try to be very frugal with our campsites. At $30/nt. for a 3 week road trip brings my total to $630. Spending $50/nt. for 3 weeks will bring my total to just over $1,000. Spending $75/nt. for 3 weeks will be $1,500. Staying in a tent will be the most economical way to travel if you wanted your lodging costs to be at a minimal.

Cabins–
Another great option to consider is camping cabins. A lot of campgrounds have cabins which sleep 4-6 people. You can snag one of these for $50/nt. Just be prepared, the $50/nt. cabins don’t have bathrooms, so you would need to use the campgrounds public bathroom. Cabins with bathrooms are about $150/nt. more or less.

     Having fun activities to do while on vacation can enhance your vacation experience. Generally, I try to pick one or two special activities. These activities will vary depending on the location of your vacation and how many people are involved. Below is a list of fun activities to choose from:
 
-Hiking
-Biking
-Kayaking
-Snorkeling
-Rafting
-Whale Watching
-Ghost Tours
-Trolley Tours
-Amusement Parks
-Sight Seeing
-Museums
-ATV Riding
-Horseback Riding
-Boat Rides/Ferries
-Wagon Rides
-Slot Canyon Tours
-Train Rides
-Ziplining
-Mine Tours
-Cave Tours
 
     Most activities minus hiking & biking (if you bring your own bike) generally will run you $50-85/ per person. If you have a large family like mine(6 people) you’ll be paying between $300-$500 per activity. Trying to stick to mostly free attractions will help to keep your budget down on activity costs. Choosing one or two special activities is probably your best bet.