Budget traveling requires planning, preparation, and less of an expense than grandiose vacations. Depending on what you wish to see and how much you plan on spending, you can have an awesome time. Taking a vaction within the US does not have to be expensive, you simply need to do a little planning. There are a variety of options for vacations in which you have fun but save money at the same time. Your budget vacation can be one to remember or one to forget, it just depends on how much planning and effort you put into it.

We are lucky within the United States to live in a coutnry with such a wide range of stunning landscapes and scenery. These national parks afford families the opportunity to witness some of the earth’s most spectacular scenery. Typically there is a nominal entry fee per vehicle. Most national parks offer camping facilities at a low nightly cost which afford guests with the basic necessities, such as pay showers (around $2 for an 8 minute shower), coin laundry, clean restrooms, and supply stores nearby. One great way to see the land for cheap is to bring self-contained accommodation, such as tents, RVs, and campers. RV facilities are available at most national parks for a bit higher of a fee; these sites afford the basic hook-ups for travel trailers and motor homes.

Camping also helps save in other ways; instead of paying to eat at the hotel restaurant, you can have cook-outs every night. Cook your meals using facilities provided, in your RV or over a camp fire; having a camp fire is a big part of the fun and cooking your own food will save you compared to eating out. Holiday accommodation, including hotel rooms, camp sites and more can be found year round in many national parks.

America’s national parks such as Yosemite, the Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Zion or Yellowstone offer natures best scenery at almost no cost. Once you pay to enter the Grand Canyon, you can see the views, hike into the canyon, and see the various features and animals for free. The only costs involved are extra activities, camping, food, and gas. Extra activities include things like boating, renting canoes, fishing, renting ATVs, and horseback riding. Those things, for the most part, come at little cost; the only expensive things on the list are ATVs and renting boats. You and your entire family will amazed by the picturesque, rustic settings and the adventure of seeing some of nature’s finest.  A camping trip to a national park is one budget vacation that will be remembered forever!

Vacationing is never that inexpensive, however, there are things that can be done to keep costs down. Camping and motor homes are two ways in which travelers save on accommodations. Barbecues and sandwich/ drink coolers are two ideas to save money on food costs while traveling. Keep the activities simple by doing things like fishing, hiking, canoeing, and sight-seeing, which will keep costs down.

Richard Greenwood heads up accommodation rental website MakeMyStay.com.au which features quality holiday homes and apartments including Sydney serviced apartments and Sunshine Coast accommodation.