Traveling can be a fun way to experience sights and participate in activities that you are unable to do elsewhere. Though most people enjoy traveling, they are put off doing it regularly thanks to the high price tag.
If you are interested in traveling around the USA but want to keep the price as low as possible, follow these seven sensational tips.
7 Tips For Traveling Around The USA On A Budget
1. Find Budget-Friendly Accommodation
One of the most expensive costs when traveling is accommodation. Hotels can seriously bump up the price of a vacation. Thankfully, there are plenty of budget-friendly accommodation options available.
You can find a wide range of accommodations in the USA through online marketplaces like Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com.
You can often find great deals on these accommodations, which will often grant you entire homes or apartments for a reasonable price.
Alternatively, you should consider staying at a hostel. This basic form of accommodation allows you to share a room with other people.
Just bear in mind that the number of hostels will differ depending on the state. Not to mention, the social aspect of this option will not be suitable for all travelers.
To seriously reduce accommodation costs, you may want to consider camping. There are many camping sites throughout the USA, especially near national parks.
2. Obtain A National Parks Pass
There are 63 national parks in the United States, which are often some of the most popular tourist attractions in an area (see also “Awesome Volunteering Vacations“).
If you are eager to visit numerous national parks during a vacation through the States, you can save money by investing in a pass.
There are plenty of annual passes that will permit you access to these national parks.
Certain groups, such as senior citizens or members of the military, can get these passes for a discounted price or for free.
The national park entrance pass can be obtained online or through federal recreation sites.
This pass is only worth the price if you tend to visit numerous national parks in the United States throughout the year.
3. Cook Meals As Regularly As Possible
During a vacation, many people will opt to eat out in restaurants and other dining facilities. Though these restaurants and cafes can be convenient for tourists, they can also be massively expensive.
To avoid this, you should try to cook your meals as often as possible. Of course, the ease with which you can prepare your meals will depend on what type of accommodation you have opted for.
While you may not have access to cooking facilities in hotels, rented accommodations or hostels will give you some facilities.
When staying at a hotel in the USA, it can be a good idea to look for a place with meals included. This can also be much cheaper than eating at restaurants.
4. Have Picnics
Aside from cooking meals frequently, another way of reducing dining costs is to have picnics and eat outdoors.
The benefit of having picnics is that they require limited food preparation, so you won’t need to have extensive cooking facilities to prepare the food. For the most part, all you will need is access to a fridge.
Picnics are also a great way of exploring the outdoor world. Praks make phenomenal locations for your picnic. They are having whenever the sun is in the sky.
An additional benefit of having picnics during your vacation is that there is a social aspect to them. Picnics are best suited for groups of people.
Ultimately, picnics will not just save you money, but can also be super fun.
5. Choose Locations With Good Public Transportation
Alongside accommodation, transportation is one of the most expensive components of traveling. Though flights are a fast and expensive method of transportation, they are not cost-effective.
As a result, you may want to consider using cheaper forms of transportation, such as buses, for journeys in the United States.
Hitchhiking can also be a viable option, though this may not be the safest method of getting around the United States.
It is recommended that you research the public transportation options available in a state before visiting it. If public transportation is poor, you may have to use Uber or other taxi services.
This can be an expensive method of moving around a city, especially if you have to enlist them multiple times.
You should also be prepared to do plenty of walking around a destination to cut down on costs.
Alternatively, you could bring a bike so that you can explore a destination by cycling. This is both a budget-friendly and healthy mode of transportation.
6. Avoid Travel During Busy Periods
During busy periods for the travel periods, such as the summer holidays, prices for transportation and accommodations are often raised. This is particularly true when it comes to flights.
As a conscience, we advise traveling during quiet periods.
Not only will attractions and public transportation be less crowded during these periods, but you may also be able to get your hands on some unmissable deals.
Just bear in mind that the weather may not be desirable during these less popular periods. As a result, you may want to search for indoor attractions instead of spending most of your time outdoors.
7. Visit Free Tourist Attractions
Our final tip is to visit free tourist attractions. Most outdoor attractions are free, allowing you to see sites of natural beauty whilst also avoiding heavy entry fees.
You can also find free indoor attractions throughout the USA. One of the best examples is museums, which typically have free entry.
If not, many museums will provide discounted entry fees during the week.
Be sure to research free events in a specific area. This way, you can take advantage of unique events without having to pay lots of money.
Final Thoughts
Though traveling around the United States may be expensive, this should not put you off from experiencing all that the USA has to offer (see also “How To Become A Travel Writer In The United States“).
By following these seven tips, you can travel around the USA for cheap.
Hello, it’s great to have you here. My name is Julia and I am a travel blogger! I have been writing all of my life, and previously worked for a travel agency where I would recommend the best places to visit in the states.
If you are ready to take on the world, explore the sights, and see some of the most incredible places on offer, then take a look at some of my articles!
