[spencenasty]

I want to drive from Va to Colorado Springs, or maybe Moab.

I have websites that show your route, as well as when you need to fill up for gas and the projected cost for all the gas.

How do you guys pick a budget for food/hotels. Do you only stop for dinner and keep snacks for breakfast and lunch or is it all random?

Any input is helpful.

[CatskillsRunner]

We used to do the trip from NY to UT every year, but now it's every other year. We eat fast food for breakfast and dinner (we try to do something healthy for dinner, like Panera). Snacks instead of lunch.

We usually stay in Terre Haute the first night and Burlington CO the second night. Both are small towns and we feel safe having the raft trailer all loaded up in parking lots overnight. I try to not spend more than 100 each night on a hotel room, but if we bring our dog we usually pay more than that.

We camp almost the entire time out there, so the most expensive part of our vacation is the way out and back. We buy groceries once we get to Colorado and load the cooler up with ice then. We cook our own meals at that point and go to hotels only between river trips, which ends up being twice or three times. We usually stay for 1 1/2 to 2 weeks.

[spencenasty]

Originally Posted by CatskillsRunner

We used to do the trip from NY to UT every year, but now it's every other year. We eat fast food for breakfast and dinner (we try to do something healthy for dinner, like Panera). Snacks instead of lunch.

We usually stay in Terre Haute the first night and Burlington CO the second night. Both are small towns and we feel safe having the raft trailer all loaded up in parking lots overnight. I try to not spend more than 100 each night on a hotel room, but if we bring our dog we usually pay more than that.

We camp almost the entire time out there, so the most expensive part of our vacation is the way out and back. We buy groceries once we get to Colorado and load the cooler up with ice then. We cook our own meals at that point and go to hotels only between river trips, which ends up being twice or three times. We usually stay for 1 1/2 to 2 weeks.

This is helpful, thanks!

[CatskillsRunner]

Might want to get AAA to get discounts on rooms, too.

[Bevo]

Last trip I took to Colorado, I just did a rough guess on what it might cost me and ended up way under that number. We just kind of played it by ear. No reservations and not set routes. It was a lot of fun.

If you have kids you might want to at least make some hotel reservations.

By the way, Kansas sucks. Worst part of the drive by a mile.

[junaitari]

Originally Posted by Bevo

By the way, Kansas sucks. Worst part of the drive by a mile.

That's how I feel about Nebraska.

When we travel, we tend to have everything planned out as far as lodging is concerned and then play it by ear where we eat and all of that. I don't usually get hungry when I'm driving, so I just like to stop and get fuel and use the restroom.

[1engineer]

My wife and I just pack a cooler and replenish as needed. That is our lunches and snacks. Breakfast is usually from the hotel and for dinner we try to find a local place to eat instead of chains.

We try to make sure whatever hotel we stay includes breakfast. If not we find an Omlette Shop or something.

We don't really care how much it costs but after traveling for 30 years together we know that $200 a day (decent place) for two people will easily cover food and lodging if you pack a cooler and if you are not in a tourist destination. When our children were younger it was around $300 a day lol.

[Bevo]

Originally Posted by 1engineer

We don't really care how much it costs but after traveling for 30 years together we know that $200 a day (decent place) for two people will easily cover food and lodging if you pack a cooler and if you are not in a tourist destination.

It also has a lot to do with the time of year in Colorado. During ski season and during the summer the resort towns are much more expensive. In the off season some of the really nice places can be quite reasonable.

[spencenasty]

Originally Posted by 1engineer

My wife and I just pack a cooler and replenish as needed. That is our lunches and snacks. Breakfast is usually from the hotel and for dinner we try to find a local place to eat instead of chains.

We try to make sure whatever hotel we stay includes breakfast. If not we find an Omlette Shop or something.

We don't really care how much it costs but after traveling for 30 years together we know that $200 a day (decent place) for two people will easily cover food and lodging if you pack a cooler and if you are not in a tourist destination. When our children were younger it was around $300 a day lol.

Kinda what I'm thinking.. Appreciate it.

I'd like to take like 9 days, a weekend, the full week, and the following weekend.

I'll bank on like 1800 bucks just in case.