Trip - Planning a trip to the west coast from Houston?

Planning a trip to the west coast from Houston?

I'm planning to take my sons on a trip to west coast, specially the pacific highway. However I have never undertaken a long trip and have a very limited budget. If somebody can offer me tips, I would really appreciate it.

Public Comments

You can sleep in camping grounds instead of hotels. It's a lot cheaper. Instead of eating at restaurants, just get some sandwiches at the store.

-DramaQueen
Dont worry!! Road trip is very exciting!!

We did that so many times (with 2 small kids lol :))

But, of course you need lots and lots preparation &research.

No research will make no but trouble.

1. The most important thing : Direction.

Study , don't just print and bring

I Will at least memorize the big highway, to avoid wrong turn that cost you 1 or 2 hours.

2. Bring lots of food (instant food, bread, crackers) 24 bottles of water or other drinks. It will save you a lot, dont assume you can buy. Yes you can buy but it will cost more.

3. Find an old friend. They wont mind to have you sleep over for 1-2nights

4. Eat buffet, you can skip bfast or dinner. Especially with sons, it will be worth it.
My husband and I love taking road trips. Last year we went to the west coast and had so much fun. It is absolutely beautiful. We went to 8 states, and we certainly had a limited budget. Here are some of the tips I can offer you:

1. Plan ahead: Do research on different places you want to see and get an itinerary set up. That way you can stay on track, and not end up doing extra things that aren't planned so you don't spend more than expected.

2. Camp out: If you have the option camp instead of staying in a hotel. It is A LOT cheaper and you will be able to enjoy more quality time with your sons, not to mention really take in the beauty around you.

3. Park pass: If you plan on stopping at more than 3 national parks it is cheaper to get a yearly park pass. National parks are expensive sometimes $30 just to get into and the park pass this year is $80. Which seems like a lot but it will save you money if you plan on going to more than one. You can buy them online or at the parks.

4. Pack food: Have a cooler of snacks, beverages, and food. It will save you money so you don't have to eat out a lot. It is less expensive to stop and buy a bag of ice for your cooler versus eating at a resturaunt. Even if you are just stopping at gas stations to get munchies it will add up quicker than you think, especially when you have kids.

5. Plan out your budget: Write down how much you want to allow yourself for food, lodging, souvenirs, site-seeing, and gas that way you can stay on track.

6. Expenses: The biggest expense we ran into was gas. Make sure you allow a good budget for that. We started in Minnesota and went all the way to San Fransisco and back. Gas ranged anywhere from &2.10 to $3.30 a gallon and that is based on last years gas prices. This year they are higher than normal also, so just be aware. To give you a rough estimate we spent about $800 on gas and that was with a jeep.

7. Film: Buy LOTS of film before you leave because it isn't cheap at gas stations, and other tourist destinations. They do hike up the prices. Trust me you will definately be taking a lot of pictures. We went through 16 rolls of film and 4 rolls of slide film.

8. Time of year: I recommend going in the off season. Everything is by far cheaper and you don't have to worry about roadways and site-seeing destinations to be overcrowded with people. We went at the beginning of May and we didn't regret it. We had beautiful weather and saved a lot of money. Tourist season usually starts at the end of May.

9. Don't rush: Take your time and don't overload yourself with activities. Yes, we did miss a lot of things but there is no way to see it all in one shot. Remind yourself that the west coast will always be there and you can always go back.

10. Hotel/motel stays: If you do stay at a hotel, stay at the ones that offer a continental breakfast. That way you will not only save yourself money but you don't have to waste time trying to find a place to eat.

Well, I hope I have helped in some way. I hope you have a wonderful time. My husband and I will be leaving again in May to go to the southwest states. Our destination is the Grand Canyon and back. We have already made lots of reservations at camp sites and look forward to another 2 week road trip. Traveling dosen't always have to be expensive it is actually very feesible if you are willing to make some sacrafices, and give up some of your comforts of home at times.

Places I recommend: Redwoods National Park, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge instead of driving (if you are going that far south) Lake Tahoe, driving along the Columbia river gourge in Northern Oregon and Parts of Washington. Make sure to stop at some of the overlooks along the highway it is truly breathtaking. After all the pacific highway or as some say highway 101 is one of the most beautiful drives in America

God Bless and happy traveling!