Our Guide to Doing a Road Trip on the Cheap

The great Aussie road trip is, IMO, one of our better rites of passage – a long trip with your best mates where you get to see a different side of our beautiful country. Swim spots, impromptu backyard cricket, maybe even a festival or a night out in a new town; the chances to make lifelong memories are abundant and alluring. 

But of course, at least in this lifetime, these things cost money. So, how can you squeeze the most enjoyment out of the fewest dollars? Let’s investigate:
 

The car

It’s not much of a road trip without a car, right? While most young’uns like ourselves are going to be driving with whatever car they already own (or can borrow), if you do have a choice of a car, it’s worth thinking about what each one could save or cost you. While you might crave the ‘authentic’ campervan experience, any savings you could keep by saving on a tent or by camping could be offset by the van sucking up more petrol than the average sedan or hatchback. An older car could also cost you cash by being less fuel efficient, or needing premium petrol to run. 

If you’re thinking about renting a car or van, many car hire companies charge additional fees for young drivers, which can add up quickly.
 

The petrol

Petrol’s a major cost in any road trip, and often the cause of many an argument about who’s paying this time, and for how much. So, in the interests of keeping those trip-ending arguments to a minimum, while preventing the real trip-ender (running out of petrol on the highway), let’s talk fuel. First of all, running your fuel tank as low as possible doesn’t save as much petrol as your know-it-all uncle might think. While a full tank does add a bit of weight to the car, a full tank reduces fuel evaporation, prevents condensation, and is overall more convenient in the long run.1 

If you’re looking to catch the best prices and places to fill up, there are a couple of rules of thumb you can use. The first one is that the longer the fuel has to travel, the more expensive it tends to be – meaning that you’re better off filling up the tank before you hit the road rather than once you’re out of town. The second is that according to historical data from the ACCC, the best day for buying cheaper petrol in the major cities is Wednesday – so if you’re planning a trip over a long weekend, it might be best to fuel up a couple of days beforehand to save up2 (although a recent ABC article claims that cheap Tuesdays or Wednesdays could be a thing of the past). Some chain petrol stations have loyalty programs, or provide vouchers to save on petrol if you spend a certain amount at an associated supermarket, so it could be worth stocking up on those receipts and stashing them in the glove box when it’s time to hit the road. 

Plus, plenty of map and navigation apps now have petrol prices built in to their search, so you can find and navigate to grab discounts on the go. 
 

The accommo

We don’t need to tell you that a five-star hotel is going to be more expensive than a campsite, but there are a few things you can do to snag a better rate when you look for a place to rest your head. The biggest things to keep in mind are your economics teacher’s two best friends: supply and demand. If you’re travelling during a peak season like the Christmas break, long weekends, when the weather’s the ‘best’ for wherever you’re going, or if you’re travelling for a particular event (like a music festival), you can expect fewer available bookings and higher prices. Take advantage of study breaks and your casual work arrangements and see if you can talk your mates into going on a trip in early autumn instead of summer, or over a few weekdays. 

To find better value in a place, try to think about what’s important to you. Things like hotel bars, ensuites, swimming pools, power supply (at a camp site) and air conditioning all cost the venue money to run, and they’ll pass that price on to you. If you’re only staying to get some sleep in before you hit the road the next day, you probably don’t need the private access jacuzzi or the hotel gym. 

Unlike some countries, you typically can’t legally camp anywhere you please, but there are a few free camping sites around each state. Try your state’s tourism page for more info – for example, visitnsw.com has this guide. These places can get pretty competitive during peak season, so prepare a backup if you can.
 

The locations

Hello once again to our friend supply and demand. Much like regular real estate, you can expect to pay more to stay somewhere with a bit more of a glamorous name to it, or for added convenience such as closeness to an airport, business centre or stunning local attraction. The good news is that every busy local area likely has a nearby location that could benefit from your support. If you’re looking to travel on the cheap, avoid the obvious spots and be willing to hunt around for a hidden gem or two. Either way you’ll end up with a story to tell!
 

The meals

Paying for food is one of the more silent budget killers on a road trip. Having a café breakfast, and lunch and dinner at the pub could easily run you $100 a day if you’re not careful, and that’s major experience money! Investing in some gadgets, gizmos and groceries could mean that you save some money in the long term – stuff like an Aeropress for coffee, a camp stove (be careful with this one), and a cooler for keeping perishables safe in the car means you can move from the often expensive world of ready-to-eat meals and takeout, to shopping for groceries like any other day. Heck, you could even get a fishing rod if you want to truly live life on the cheap! Just be ready to explain to your friends that you didn’t manage to catch dinner with a handline reel and stale bread. 
 

If you’re thinking about some of your upcoming big life moments, like owning your first car, or passing your drivers’ test, or you’re trying to wrap your head around the cost of car ownership in this economy, why not check out FinLit: First Gear? It’s our free fun short course about all of the above and much more. Take a look over here.