Video:How to Plan a Family Road Trip

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Transcript:How to Plan a Family Road Trip

Hi, I'm Ben Hess for About.com. It's time for the family road trip, but you're concerned about breaking what's left in the bank? I've got a few tips to help you road trip on a budget.

Expenses of a Family Road Trip

Let's consider the three core expenses – gas, food, lodging – and break each one down.

Tips for Planning a Family Road Trip

You'll get better gas mileage if you check the oil, add some if needed, and check to see if the tires are properly inflated. The correct tire pressure, measured in pounds per square inch, is usually found on a sticker inside the driver's door.

You'll also get great gas mileage if you own – or can borrow – a Hybrid. While you may lose a little power, you'll enjoy passing up gas station after station.

If you've got schedule flexibility, you could turn your road trip into a bus or train trip and leave the driving to someone else.

Food for the Family Road Trip

On the food front, when stopping for gas, avoid loading up on those snacks. Instead, plan ahead by creating your own sandwich sized bags of snacks – sandwich bags of chips and raisins work well. And of course, grab veggies and fruit – carrots, celery, oranges, apples, and bananas are perfect.

And instead of paying $2 for a water or soda at the gas mart, pack your cooler with your own waters, juices, and sodas. Even better - fill up a reusable water bottle and take it with you.

Restaurants for the Family Road Trip

When making those eating out decisions, remember that many national chains serve kids for free, under a certain age. And you can also consider having breakfast food for dinner – it's often cheaper and also alot faster.

Lodging for the Road Trip

Last is the lodging – depending on the time of year, you may be able to camp at a state or national park. Or at a Campground of America. If you've got the gear, there's nothing like sleeping in the great outdoors. And sometimes, there's nothing better than the kids sleeping while you drive.

If you do stay in hotels or motels, when booking your room be sure to ask about any discounts. Most national chains give discounts to AAA or AARP members.

Thanks for watching, Have a fun and economical but road trip! I'm Ben Hess. And there's always more online, check us out at Video.About.com