Road Trip Planner — Budget, Packing & Timing
Plan your American road trip: budgeting, packing lists, route timing, accommodation strategies, and practical planning advice for UK travellers.
Planning Your American Road Trip
A well-planned road trip is a brilliantly-experienced road trip. This page covers the practical side: how much it'll cost, what to pack, how to time your routes, and where to stay.
Budgeting
Daily Cost Estimates (per person, sharing a car and room)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car hire (your share) | $25–35 | $35–50 | $50–75 |
| Fuel | $15–25 | $20–35 | $25–40 |
| Accommodation | $35–55 | $60–100 | $100–175 |
| Food | $25–40 | $40–70 | $70–120 |
| Activities/Parks | $5–15 | $15–30 | $30–50 |
| Daily Total | $105–170 | $170–285 | $275–460 |
For a Two-Week Trip (Two People)
| Level | Approximate Total (excl. flights) |
|---|---|
| Budget | $3,000–4,800 (~£2,400–3,800) |
| Mid-Range | $4,800–8,000 (~£3,800–6,300) |
| Comfortable | $7,700–12,900 (~£6,100–10,200) |
Budget Tips
- Cook some meals. Many motels have microwaves and mini-fridges. Supermarket deli counters do excellent prepared food for a fraction of restaurant prices
- National Parks pass. The America the Beautiful Pass ($80) covers all NPS sites for 12 months per vehicle. Pays for itself at 3 parks
- Happy hours. Many US restaurants offer discounted food and drinks from 3–6 PM. A great way to eat well cheaply
- Free activities. Hiking in National Forests (different from National Parks — free entry), scenic drives, town exploring, beach days
- Booking. Book accommodation and car hire as early as possible for the best rates
Packing List
Essentials
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| UK driving licence (photocard) | Required for car hire |
| International Driving Permit | Recommended backup |
| Passport and ESTA confirmation | Entry to the US |
| Credit card (main driver's name) | Car hire deposit |
| Travel insurance documents | Medical costs in the US are extreme |
| Phone + charger + US adapter | US uses Type A/B plugs (two flat prongs). Your UK 3-pin won't fit |
| Car phone mount | Sat nav on your phone. Holding it is illegal |
| Offline maps | Download Google Maps areas in advance for areas without signal |
Clothing (Varies by Region)
| Item | When/Where |
|---|---|
| Layers | Mountains, Pacific Northwest, New England |
| Sun hat + sunscreen (SPF 50+) | Southwest, Texas, Florida — the UV is brutal |
| Waterproof jacket | Pacific Northwest, New England, any mountain area |
| Comfortable walking shoes/boots | National Parks, city exploring |
| Sandals/flip-flops | Beaches, motels, casual dining |
| Warm fleece/hoodie | Mountain evenings cool rapidly, even in summer |
| Swimwear | More opportunities than you'd expect — springs, lakes, hotel pools |
Car Supplies
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Water bottles (refillable) | Essential in the West. Carry 2L per person |
| Snacks | Supermarket trail mix, fruit, jerky for long stretches |
| Cool bag (buy locally if needed) | Keep drinks and snacks cold |
| Paper towels | General clean-up |
| Rubbish bag | Most hire cars don't come with one |
| Sunglasses | Desert and mountain glare is intense |
| First aid kit (basic) | Plasters, antiseptic, painkillers |
| Torch (flashlight) | Campgrounds, trailhead parking, stargazing |
Route Timing
How Far Per Day?
- Motorway/interstate driving: 400–500 miles is achievable but exhausting. Not recommended daily
- Scenic/highway driving: 200–300 miles is comfortable with stops
- Mountain/coast driving: 100–200 miles allows time to enjoy the scenery
- National Park days: Plan 50–100 miles of driving plus hiking and exploring
Rule of Thumb
Budget 150–250 miles per driving day for a road trip that feels like a holiday, not a motorway marathon. Google Maps time estimates are accurate for interstates but optimistic for scenic routes — add 30–50% for stops, photos, and wrong turns.
Sample Weekly Itineraries
| Trip | Days | Miles | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast (SF → Portland) | 7 | ~900 | Relaxed |
| Southwest Circle (LV → LV) | 7 | ~1,400 | Moderate |
| New England Foliage Loop | 7 | ~1,100 | Moderate |
| Florida Keys + Everglades | 5 | ~500 | Relaxed |
| Texas Triangle (Austin → Big Bend → SA) | 7 | ~1,200 | Moderate |
Accommodation
Types
| Type | Price Range | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motels | $60–130/night | Cheap, everywhere, park at your door | Basic. Quality varies enormously |
| Hotels | $120–300+/night | Reliable quality, amenities | Pricier. City centre adds premium |
| Vacation Rentals | $80–250/night | Kitchen, space, local feel | Minimum stays, cleaning fees |
| Campgrounds | $15–50/night | Cheapest option, beautiful settings | Need gear (or an RV) |
| Hostels | $30–60/bed | Very cheap, social | Limited to cities. Rare in rural US |
Tips
- Book ahead for National Parks. Inside-the-park lodges sell out 6–12 months in advance. Campground reservations open 6 months ahead on recreation.gov
- Motels are not scary. Major chains (Motel 6, Super 8, La Quinta) are consistent and safe. Look for ones built or renovated recently
- Last-minute deals. Outside peak season and major cities, you can often find good rooms same-day. Check the usual booking sites
- Airbnb/VRBO. Best for groups and longer stays. Watch for cleaning fees ($50–150) that inflate the real nightly cost
Food Strategy
Breakfast
- Diners serve enormous American breakfasts ($8–14): eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, toast, and unlimited coffee refills
- Fast casual: Waffle House (South), IHOP, local cafés
- Self-catering: Supermarket pastries, fruit, yoghurt from the motel fridge
Lunch
- Food trucks and carts — often the best-value meal of the day ($8–15)
- Supermarket delis — sandwiches, hot food, salad bars ($6–12)
- Fast casual restaurants — Chipotle, Shake Shack, In-N-Out (California), Whataburger (Texas)
Dinner
- BBQ joints, taco stands, seafood shacks — often the most memorable meals and rarely expensive ($12–25)
- Sit-down restaurants — entrees $15–30, plus tax and tip
- Tipping: Standard tip is 15–20% of the pre-tax bill. This is not optional — servers earn a fraction of minimum wage before tips. 15% for adequate service, 18–20% for good service
Water
- Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in the US. Refill bottles freely from taps and water fountains. Don't waste money on bottled water in cities
Technology
Phone & Data
- Get a US SIM card or eSIM before or on arrival. T-Mobile and AT&T have good tourist plans ($30–50 for 2 weeks with data)
- Alternatively, check if your UK provider offers affordable US roaming (some now include it)
- Download offline maps for your route — mobile signal is non-existent in many western and rural areas
Apps Worth Having
- Google Maps — navigation, offline maps, restaurant reviews
- GasBuddy — find the cheapest fuel nearby
- Roadtrippers — route planning with points of interest
- Recreation.gov — National Park campsite and timed entry reservations
- ParkMobile — parking meter payments in many cities
- Yelp — restaurant and business reviews
When to Go
| Season | Pros | Cons | Best Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Wildflowers, mild temps, fewer crowds | Some mountain passes still closed | Southwest, Texas, Deep South, Florida |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Everything open, long days | Crowds, heat (40°C+ in deserts), higher prices | Mountain West, Great Lakes, Pacific NW |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Foliage, perfect temps, thinner crowds | Some parks begin closing | Northeast, Southwest, Deep South |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Lowest prices, no crowds | Many parks/roads closed, cold/snow | Florida, Southern California, Deep South |
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