Summer Travelling on a Budget

Summer is a great time to travel throughout the United States - but unfortunately, due to a struggling economy, many of our travel budgets are extremely limited; if one even exists at all for this year. Thankfully, however, there are some things you can do to cut down on your travel expenses and make your Summer travelling a little bit less expensive.

#1: Stay the night in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Many travelers don't realize this, but Wal-Mart has a policy that allows for spending one night there in your vehicle; some may even let you put up a tent on the lawn (though you might want to ask before doing this). And since Wal-Mart can be found nearly everywhere these days, and in most cases, right off the highway, you can cut down on your hotel budget like you never even imagined. Furthermore, sleeping in the well-lit, public parking lot of Wal-Mart is much safer than spending the night at a dimly lit rest area.

#2: Bring snacks, drinks, bread, and lunch meat packed in a cooler. This will save you from having to purchase these necessities at a convenience store or fast food restaurant, and can save you quite a bit of money in the end; especially on extended road trips.

#3: Travel as light as possible. In order to get the most out of your vehicle's gas mileage, bring with you only the things you will need. If you are travelling in a van or a vehicle with removable back seats, take out the ones you don't need and leave them behind. It may not seem like much, but doing this can really have an impact on the amount of gas you buy during your travels.

#4: Shop around for inexpensive or free attractions. When planning out your destinations and places to visit, try to plan in advance and look for free leisure activities in nearby cities and towns - you'd be surprised at what you might find. Moreover, you can also look at the travel brochures that can be found in rest areas, convenience stores, and hotel lobbies for inexpensive travel ideas and possibly even some coupons or discounts as well.

#5: Use your vehicle's cruise control. Finally, make sure to take full advantage of your vehicle's cruise control - it's there for a reason. Using cruise control as opposed to constantly changing the pressure on the gas pedal with your own foot will save much more gas and allow your vehicle to get its maximum highway MPG.