Traveling on a budget is a challenge for our family, and we enjoy it. We are dead set on the idea that it is more than possible to travel comfortably, as a family of 4; $100 a day budget for ThanksGiving break on 2014.Now I'm not saying it's easy, but it's possible.
We spent 11 days road tripping (ThanksGiving break, missed 2 days of school) our way to Central and East of United States. We just wanted to see how tough this $100 budget was going to be, but actually it wasn't tough at all.
We ate well, traveled well, and had a great time. Overall a family road trip.
DAY 1 - Nov 19-20: 720 MILES - $121
South Orlando, FL to Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNOur travels start of with a budget bang. Go cheap while your fresh. Started our trip around 11pm since We attend a school activity Family Fall Festival 5pm and start packing/loading our 2013 Honda Accord, great car by the way! This is our longest travel (11 hours) to visit our cousin in Vanderbilt University.
$38 Full Tank Costco Gas
$3 Florida's Turnpike Toll Orlando, FL
$40 Full Tank Gas
$40 Breakfast a Ihop with our cousin
FREE groceries from our house
FREE sleeping in our car while one of us drive
DAY 2 - Nov 20: 353 MILES GATEWAY ARCH - $118
Nashville, TN to The Gateway Arch St. Louis, MOAfter our breakfast at Ihop, We walk around Vanderbilt University and Centennial Park with our cousin, showing us around Nashville, TN and telling how is the Music City. And by the sunset We were wonder around the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial/The Gateway Arch alongside the Mississippi River.
$28 Walmart Groceries
$36 Full Tank Sam's Club Gas
$11 Sam's Club pizza
$6 Parking at Gateway Arch St. Louis, MO
$18 Souvenirs and ride to the to of the arch
$19 McDonald
FREE sleeping in our car since We just begin our trip
DAY 3 - Nov 21: 260 MILES TRAVEL FREE AND EASY - $113
St. Louis, MO to Kansas City, KSCamping next to your car seeing the clear sky with bunch of stars. Inside our car sedan We have DVD player for the kids to watch movies and 2 iPads to keep our children entertained.
$36 Full Tank Sam's Club Gas
$25 Chipotle day
$44 Winter boots at Famous Footwear
$8 Chips and drinks
FREE sleeping in our car again!
DAY 4 - Nov 22: 502 MILES - $151
Kansas City, KS to Chamberlain, SDGot a painters blue tape so the kids can play with it (marking/taping inside the car). Heading to the hotel in Chamberlain, SD so we can relax and be ready for tomorrow to see the great faces at Mount Rushmore.
$85 Costco Groceries/pizza/hot dog/drinks (including $50 winter jacket)
$21 Full Tank Costco Gas
$15 Walmart Groceries
$45 Cheap hotel with free breakfast
DAY 5 - Nov 23: 445 MILES MOUNT RUSHMORE - $81
Chamberlain, SD to Mount Rushmore, SD to Jamestown, NDWe rest like a baby in the hotel, free breakfast to get our energy ready for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. More iPads, movies and singing this time. Country roads real interesting if you like outdoors.
$11 Parking at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD
$34 Buffet at Golden Dragon Chinese Food Spearfish, SD
$36 Full Tank Sam's Club Gas
FREE Breakfast at our hotel
FREE Tonight sleeping in our Honda Accord and its cold 20°F have the car running all night
DAY 6 - Nov 24: 406 MILES - $66
Jamestown, ND to Hudson, WIA lot of driving, in a road trip try to go out as much as you can... Like doing exercise, walk, talk to people, or just get out from the car to see whats inside that small gas station, yes to the small gas station.
$19 Gas - Small gas station with some good old coffee
$3 Good coffee
$6 Chips and drinks
$33 Full Tank Caseys gas
$5 Body lotion
FREE Sleeping in car