Most Common Ways to Budget Traveling

There really are several ways that this can be accomplished with a minimum of discomfort and a maximum of adventure.

Train

If you live anywhere near a train station, one of the best ways to see the USA is with a train pass. The adult pass price for 15 days of travel is $389. This of course takes a big chunk out of your travel budget but the $111 that is left will be your dining budget and for one person this should not be too much of a challenge especially if you carry on a bag with snacks and water.  A recent check of rail prices produced the results that it you are traveling from New York City to LA the lowest fare was $197. This requires a grueling 66 hour journey with a stop for 6 hours in Chicago. The Lake Shore Limited takes 19 hours from New York’s Penn Station to Chicago’s Union Station.  You then board the Southwest Chief for the 43 hour trip to LA’s Union Station.  These particular trains don’t offer the sleeper car option so this will mean sleeping in your seat, be sure to bring along a pillow and a blanket. While this may only be something that a young person may want to try it is a way to sit back and see a lot of the country and not have to worry about driving. With this option you will have over $300 for dining on the train which should not be a problem.  

Driving

With the current price of gas, this can be a stretch especially with the real possibility that you may have some sort of a car emergency along the way on such a long trip. It goes without saying that you need to be sure that you have a spare time, fix a flat, a jug of water in case the car overheats, a battery charger and a car that has been recently checked for belts and hoses. Make sure you have AAA as well in case something does happen.

The distance from NYC to LA is 2462 miles, if your car gets 30 miles per gallon and the price of gas is $2.70 this will cost you $222. This leave $278 for food and lodging. If you average 60 miles an hour this will require 41 hours of driving time. Assuming you will drive 8 to 10 hours a day this will mean 4 overnight stays. If you plan well in advance you should be able to find a motel for $60 a night and one that serves at least a continental breakfast would be great. That will only leave you $38 for food which means it is going to be fast food most of the way or you can bring along a cooler and buy food at the local grocery stores and make sandwiches etc. Another way to save would be to camp for two nights and stay in a hotel for two nights. This would give you a much larger food budget and maybe even allow you to have a little fun along the way.

Airlines

Chances are you should be able to find a flight for under $500 if you use an airline such as Southwest Airlines. You won’t see as much of the country but you will get there fast and in one day, there is a lot to be said for that.

Bus

If you don’t mind having to share space with a lot of different types of people chances are Greyhound Bus will be able to get you from coast to coast for a lot less than $500.

Having a budget of only $500 doesn’t mean that you have to give up your plan to cross the USA you just need to have a plan and stick to it. You need to have an emergency plan as well just in case you get into a bind. There is no doubt that traveling on this limited budget is going to be an adventure but it will probably be one that you remember for a lifetime.