As you may know we will be going to Orlando, Florida from Colorado Springs, Colorado in just a few short weeks. We are actually doing a road trip and we can’t wait. We recently did one to Canada, yes that country in the north in the middle of winter and had a lot of fun (mostly) on the road. When you plan your next vacation you may want to consider these reasons to drive instead of fly for your vacation. From expenses to quality family time these are great reasons to ditch the airline flight and load up the back of your family sedan, or mini van to set out on a great vacation everyone will love. Taking a family road trip can be a cross country adventure, or a simple weekend getaway. No matter what your destination these thoughts may help you rethink your travel plans.
Lower travel expenses.
While there are occasions where the cost of flying is less expensive than the hotel and gas costs of a cross country trip, most of the time you will find that driving is actually less expensive. If you are driving an economy or hyrbrid vehicle your gas mileage should be between 30-40 miles per gallon. With our vacation plan, we compared our destination trip from Colorado to Florida and found that flights would be almost twice as expensive as a road trip for a family of five.
Flights from Colorado Springs to Orlando: $448 per ticket with 5 family members = $2240
Rental car for 3 weeks in Orlando: $638
Total expense just to arrive at destination: $2878
Gas for round trip driving : $590
Lodging for road trip (not including time in Orlando): $350
Food for road trip (not including time in Orlando): $300
Vehicle Maintenance prior to trip: $250
Total expense for road trip to destination: $1530
Driving saves us a total of $1348 which can be used for souvenirs and extras.
Easier to bring what you need for your vacation.
This is one of those things that I love about driving. I don’t have to stress about packing a week of clothes into one bag, nor do I have to buy special trial sized items or worry about my luggage being lost. I can also pack a box of grocery items for easy breakfast, snack and lunches in the car that stick with our dietary needs and don’t cost an arm and a leg. Plus kids can bring more of their comfort items or electronics.
More quality memories.
One of the best reason to drive instead of fly for your vacation is the memories made along the road. Whether it is that odd diner you stop at for breakfast, or the world’s largest ball of twine those are memories that last forever. As a family that recently road-tripped to Canada we got to see a lot more than we would have had we flown. Those random side of the road attractions create memories that will last a lifetime.
Visit National landmarks.
Being able to see those famous buildings, cities or side of the road landmarks that make our country unique not only is educational but emotionally satisfying. Teaching your children about their country in real life instead of just a text book is a wonderful addition to the family road trip.
At the end of the day, the main reason to choose to drive over fly is typically going to be about finances. However, the memories and convenience of it are wonderful. Sharing new things with your family while you bond over travel songs is a great way to spend your summer.
While of course there are a few cons to driving, think traveling in a car with a toddler and a few teenagers, the pros outweigh the cons for us and we’d do it again in a heartbeat!
So let’s discuss: Have you ever taken a road trip and what was your experience?
