Free printable kit · 18 pages
Free Road Trip Budget Planner for 2026
Plan gas, lodging, food and park fees for your drive, with 2026 prices
- Current gas, EV charging, hotel, campground and park fee numbers, all sourced
- Three sample trips worked out line by line: weekend, family week, cross-country
- Leg-by-leg fuel planner, 14-day spending log and lodging comparison sheet
- 8-week timeline plus car prep, packing and documents checklists
- Rental car fee traps, fake booking sites and gas pump skimmers to avoid
- Money-saving moves with the size of the saving where a source gives it
Get the Road Trip Budget Planner
Enter your email and we will send the PDF right away, plus new cost guides about twice a month. Unsubscribe anytime.
What is inside
3 Cost tables2 Sample budgets3 Worksheets1 Timeline1 Checklist1 Page of questions to ask1 Page of red flags1 Page of ways to save1 Glossary25 named sources
- 3Cost tablesGas, charging and driving costs
- 4Cost tablesLodging, park fees and food
- 5Cost tablesCar prep, rental and insurance
- 6Sample budgetsThree sample road trips, line by line
- 7Sample budgetsFamily of 4, one week: three ways
- 8WorksheetsRoute and fuel planner, leg by leg
- 9WorksheetsDaily spending log
- 10WorksheetsLodging comparison
- 11TimelineTimeline: 8 weeks out to the drive home
- 12ChecklistsCar prep, money-saving packing and documents
- 13Questions to askQuestions to ask before you book
- 14Red flagsRed flags and scams to avoid
- 15Ways to saveMoney-saving moves that add up
- 16GlossaryRoad trip terms in plain English
Every number in the kit comes from a named source, listed with its date on the last page. General information only, not professional advice.
Read the full guides
TravelCalculatorHow Much Does a Road Trip Cost in 2026?Road trip cost calculator for 2026: gas at $4.28 a gallon, hotels near $162 a night and food per person. See sample trips and estimate your own total.
CarsWhat Is the True Cost of Owning a Car in 2026?The true cost of owning a car is $12,863 a year for a new vehicle in 2026, per AAA, or about $1,072 a month. See the breakdown by expense and vehicle type.
CarsElectric vs Gas Car Cost in 2026: Which Is Cheaper to Own?Electric vs gas car cost in 2026: an EV compact SUV costs about $11,888 a year to own vs $11,656 for gas, per AAA. See fuel, insurance and depreciation.