The dream: road trip for a couple of years and visit all the national parks.
The reality: the monthly cost for how we thought we’d travel is significantly larger than we imagined.
It wasn’t long after starting work on a budget for our Big Adventure II that we began to discover our initial plans and itinerary would cost w-a-y more than we imagined, and would most likely drain our savings in short order, all without adding any extras.
Here’s the reality of what we’ve discovered so far:
- Gasoline: We love the Armada – it’s the most comfortable car we’ve ever owned – and it’s perfect for this road trip in terms of safety, comfort, space, and the amount and type of of driving we would be doing. However, the Armada is a gas guzzler. It has a large tank and can go long distances, but would still require a fill-up or top-off nearly every day with our itinerary. Brett has worked hard at increasing the MPG, but he has figured out the cost of gas would be just slightly under double what we originally assumed. Ouch.
- Lodging: This is largest monthly expense, and again, more than we initially assumed. After pricing (low cost) hotels and Airbnbs, a reasonable monthly budget amount for lodging would be about $3500/month to stay where we want to stay. Seriously. And that’s before adding in any pet fees. We could camp along the way, but neither of us is particularly interested in doing that for so long a period of time. We still do not want/plan to buy or pull a trailer.
- Dining: This is the one reasonable area of the budget – with conditions. Completely avoiding restaurants, eating breakfast and dinner at our lodgings, investing in an electric cooler to keep fruit and other perishables fresh, and eating lunch on the road would keep food costs down to around what we’re paying now. But, it still requires some sacrifice and we doubt that’s sustainable for a year. Half the fun of traveling is dining out now and again.
- Extras: There is no room in the budget for any extra side trips. We have free lifetime admission to the parks, but anything beyond that, like touring the slot canyons in northern Arizona or spending a few days in Santa Fe and Taos, NM, is out of the question.
- Fixed expenses: We currently have only three fixed expenses that we’d continue to cover: car insurance, our phone plan, and storage fees for the few items we want to keep. We know what our phone plan will be each month, but the insurance and storage are currently wild cards. If we add an internet service for travel (like Starlink), that would be another additional fixed expense.
- Unknown expenses: Thankfully medical costs are not a factor, but car maintenance is and we want to keep up a comfortable emergency fund. And of course other things can go wrong as well (an Airbnb canceling on us, for example, and having to find other lodging).
We are currently at a standstill and trying to come up with some options or ways to do things differently. One would be to rent Airbnbs for longer periods of time, say three or four months at a time, and use them as a base to visit parks in the area. This could cut our gas expenses down a bit, but wouldn’t save us all that much on lodging. Occasional overnight stays would still be required, but this plan would slow things w-a-y down and require us being able to find good, but reasonably priced Airbnbs in each place that will rent to us long term and accept a pet.
The Armada is big enough that we could sleep in the back of it but it doesn’t sound like a good option for us two oldsters for a variety of reasons. Neither does setting up and living in a tent and cooking outdoors for months on end.
We could sell the Armada, or trade it in on a more fuel efficient car, but a) we don’t want to be potentially stuck with another car payment, and b) it would just be a hassle. The overall savings wouldn’t be that much in the grand scheme of things.
It was so affordable traveling around the world back in the day, but we’ve unfortunately discovered expenses in the U.S. are much, much higher for everything (well except for gasoline, but everywhere else has trains, superb public transportation, etc.). We have a lot to think about right now. I know we can figure this out in a way that makes sense and that helps us stick to our budget, but for now we’ve arrived at a standstill.
The Occasional Nomads 
That’s disappointing but I’m sure you’ll come up with a solution.
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Disappointing beyond measure, but so far we’re only down but not out. We’ll figure it out.
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Nothing special to say but wanted to tell you I always enjoy your posts and the honest way you write them. Thank you!
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Thank you so much for your very kind words – they’re appreciated more than I can express!
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Just for fun and “research” please go look at few tow behind RV’s. RV’ing is SO much fun! You can buy a very nice used one for $8K or less and resell for close to purchase price when done with your adventures. It is your home on wheels. Go small, lightweight, pet-friendly, able to buy groceries and prepare meals, save $$$$ on lodging. Park stays are around $25 a night. Some have laundry rooms, pools, full hook-ups, libraries to trade books at. We loved the years we spent RV’ing…watch KYD (Keep Your Daydream) on YouTube as research also. Go back to the beginning of their RV lifestyle.
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We have talked again about purchasing a trailer after all, but it’s still a “no” for us because used or new, and no matter the price, it’s a big undertaking at our ages. I appreciate the resources you’ve included and will be checking them out – there’s an answer out there for us. It’s still scary though how much things cost these days.
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Since my husband and I don’t enjoy driving trips very much it is hard to know what a solution might be, for you..it sounds like being on the road a lot is VERY expensive.. your idea of staying in one place for long periods of time and just going places from there sounds most affordable.We livs in our paid off home in a suburb and we travel to many local mountain towns here in Arizona, and also in New mexico,California. Southwest airline runs great sales to other locations.We splurge here and thereon bigger trips once in a while too. My nature is homebody so I am happy to spend a lot of time on my patio by the pool with the waterfall ,reading books,having meals and happy hours with friends,playing cards, and planning the various adventures I mentioned. We have many state parks nearby for hiking and picnics,etc.. Maybe a home base for you two that is affordable, with travel every month to local places.Where I live ,without a ton of travel time, I can rent affordable airbnbs in Sedona, Jerome, Santa Fe,Taos, Tucson, Bisbee, etc.. also, you are so resourceful.. you may even circle back to your idea of San Miguel de Allende?? I love Mexico sooo much..we are headed to Bucerias, a small fishing village near Puerto Vallarta next month for 2 weeks. Will enjoy following the ideas you come up with going forward.. your intuition and experience will guide you!!
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Although both Brett and I love to travel, we’re pretty much homebodies at heart and would prefer to have a home base – the road trip was to be our last fling before “settling down.”
Both of us want to head out west again – we’ll get there but we’ve got a few things to figure out first.
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It’s good that you are discovering this now, instead of on the road. You two always do an excellent job of planning, so I’m sure you will come up an alternative that works for you. I suspect gas prices might very well double in the near future, which would be calamitous not just in terms of a road trip but life in general.
Someone suggested buying a secondhand RV, which strikes me as an idea worth exploring.
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LOL – we wouldn’t leave until I knew exactly how much the base amount for a trip like this would cost. We followed our budget closely when we traveled full time before but there were still surprises.
I agree about gas prices – our figures were based on what they are now, but any sort of increase would be a MAJOR monkey wrench in the works.
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You two are so resourceful, I look forward to seeing how you solve this dilemma. Good luck! I know this won’t help much but we save a little gas by hypermiling, if you haven’t already discovered it.
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Thank you! We will get this solved somehow. What is hypermiling? I’ve never heard of it. Brett is fantastic at squeezing the best mileage out of any car we’ve owned – he’s already gotten us ahead of what the Armada is supposed to get, but nonetheless, it would still be an expensive endeavor, with the cost of gasoline only part of the problem.
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Your diligent planning has once again been SO helpful in that you’ve discovered this now, not later. My wife and I are similar in age and have also been retired for several years. As I was reading through your post I found my anxiety level going through the roof. My ideal retirement at this stage does not involve travel–at least not the huge amount you’ve got in mind. My two cents worth of advice is to ditch this idea and head straight to Mexico. Or at least somewhere you can experience calm and just “be”. Driving is not my idea of retirement enjoyment.
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I don’t comment often because you are always so thorough in your research. However we spend quite a bit of time in Mexico ( just came home after 2 months.) It is a global problem. Mexico prices are alot more expensive and the dollar is down. Still love Mexico but certainly more expensive.
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We loved out time in Mexico and if not for having to come to Tennessee we would have stayed.
Have you seen the financial requirements to qualify now for a residential visa? We are close this year to not qualifying, and if a similar increase occurs next year we’re most likely out of the running.
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LOL – Don, if the driving were up to me I’d be right there with you. Thankfully, Brett LOVES to drive so I’m off the hook.
We still think about Mexico, but the big issue now and coming up is the required income to qualify for a residential visa. It has increased by 20% for the past three years, and if they do the same next year we probably wouldn’t qualify.
We keep looking for that perfect place to settle but are beginning to think it’s like Xanadu. It doesn’t exist. I see lots of compromises coming up.
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We decided years ago to move close to our adult son and forget thinking about the perfect place to be. Best decision ever. And, that meant moving from the South to New England. We love it. Once the decision is made then things begin to fall in place. There are reasonably priced nice living options even in so called high priced places. Life is short and relationships come before geography in my book.
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You’re reading my mind when it comes to where we should settle!
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Living life carefully watching every cent you spend is not much fun but as we know you are adaptable. We found life in the US to be expensive once we did not have at least one full time income and for that reason we sold up in Hawaii and are relocating to Europe where my husband has been offered a job. We are currently in Australia sorting out the work visas and finding even though we are living full time in a hotel and eating most meals out, our cost of living is below that of living in Hawaii.
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I told Brett the other day that sticking to our budget is like having a full-time job. It’s something we do *every day*.
I am so envious of your move to Europe! If not for being so far from our kids we go in a heartbeat. It is so much more affordable than here.
Everywhere is less than Hawaii, I think. But we still miss it there terribly and would go back if we could.
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Air travel is outrageously high, gas prices are through the roof, food is expensive, my electric rates went up, and taxes and insurance on houses have doubled! Also, I am having to pay a lot more in income taxes this year on the same amount of money earned! The only thing not going up is my money! I do understand. I keep working because of the costs of everything.
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After dealing with Hawaii prices for several years, we still mostly find prices on the mainland refreshing and affordable. But they’re still high and getting higher so we’re trying our best to stay frugal and get the most we can for our money. It’s like a full-time job though and we say no more than yes.
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I hear you. I apologize for not giving you ideas. Family members have needed help.
Look closely at military bases that have not privatized their hotels. Fort Tuthill AZ, Coronado Navy North Island, Wright Patterson AFB, FE Warren AFB. Less expensive/ mostly dog friendly/safe/ with commissary for foods. Not TJoes- but reasonable. We use small cabins in Kanab every time we go….
Costco is still the cheapest gas as I travel from Idaho to Maryland yearly. Totally mapped out😉
My kids got me 2023 Military Travel Guide for Christmas. It is also digital- but I am a sucker for a book.
Last, consider playing with Space A Travel – poppin Smoke.
We are still planning to drive to Alaska this August. We shall see!
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We had a few military hotels on our list but the issue becomes available rooms – many are booked solid months in advance. As retirees we get a six month window for reservations but active duty gets a year (which is as it should be). So it can be a problem when making a budget as to whether we will actually be able to get a room.
I am going to get a copy of the Military Travel Guide – I think it will make a difference.
I have followed Poppin’ Smoke for years! Such good advice. With all the kids out of the house we are finally at a stage where we can use Space A.
Alaska parks are on our list but not sure how or when we’ll fit them in.
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As a woman.who has driven the Murano over three fourths of the us affordably, usually with passengers. I’m wondering why you jumped up to tank level?
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We were going to buy a trailer, and that needed a tow vehicle. We found the Armada – one owner, (very) low mileage, well-maintained – and decided we’d never get that lucky again. We haven’t regretted the purchase for a moment, even though we decided not to buy a trailer. You’re right though – it is a tank. I’ve never felt so safe in a car, and for the amount of driving we do now, MPG isn’t a problem.
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Just a suggestion for your consideration… Have you considered staying in your apartment by your son’s family and using it as a hub? You could take several vacations throughout the year to different areas, scheduling based on when you could get the best deals. You could also utilize the budget airlines and rent cars if you wanted as in some cases this would be a significant cost savings over gas and wear and tear on your car. It would take longer to visit all the parks with this process, but it would also be more affordable prolong the “fun” in a way.
And if you make it to Ohio to visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Parks, I highly recommend checking out the Ledges Trail!
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Funny you should bring this up because we are just beginning to lean this way! Great minds think alike I guess. Still lots to figure out but the potential is there. Kaipo is the wild card right now.
And thanks for the tip about the Ledges Trail – we’re definitely planning on visiting Cuyahoga Valley NP.
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Some ideas: look into gas cards/memberships for discounted prices or rebates. Many state parks have cabins – some with kitchens! – that are far more reasonably priced than air bnb’s and allow pets. Most allow stays of at least 2 weeks. Some require you to supply your own linens, but many come fully supplied.
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Gas cards: yes! This is a great idea. We buy all our gas at Costco but I can see getting some of their gift cards to take with us as well as picking up Chevron cards every once in a while). Not needed now but perfect to tuck away for later.
Also like the state park lodging idea. It’s national park lodging that’s so expensive – not inside the parks (no pets) but even a reasonable distance away lodging is high. At some parks we would have to board Kaipo to be able to see much of anything in the park (yet another expense, but we understand the reasons why).
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What a disappointment. Have you considered one of the smaller motor homes, not one of the van type but a lot smaller than the huge ones, but you still drive it. Lodging provided, a place to cook, no worries about the dog…. Just my two cents worth.
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Disappointment is the right word. But we feel confident we will find a solution. I like the idea of a small camper but Brett doesn’t. Still, for now we’re keeping an open mind about everything, or at least almost everything.
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Another fascinating conversation. I always enjoy having everyone chime in with their ideas and suggestions. I don’t really have any, but it’s a great read. 🙃
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I appreciate all the ideas and advice and am taking it all to heart. We’re at a standstill right now but I am confident we’ll work it out.
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I’m amazed that you were able to find lodging that would only cost 3,5k per month, I figured it would be double that. We were on the road recently and found that even a simple motel room off the interstate could cost $150-$200/night. Is your SUV large enough to sleep in? They have special SUV air mattress now that range in price from $50 to the top of the line made by Luno, I think they go for around $350 and you can buy one that is tailor made to fit your SUV. They also have tents that can attach to your SUV. Maybe a good alternative in the warmer months? I’m sure you will find a solution but these days its getting harder and harder to cut corners, everything is so expensive!
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We considered sleeping in the back of our SUV – it’s certainly big enough to do that, and we did check out those Luno mattresses – but in the end decided we just didn’t want to do that at this stage of our lives. We still love to camp though and may go ahead and get one anyone for more local camping in the future.
That $3500 was the lowest we could do for one month; all other months were well over that. We have to consider pet fees as well, anywhere from $15 to $75 per night (or in a few places, per stay).
We’re working out a new plan – will have some news soon, I hope!
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