4 Best Frugal Road Trips in the South: Exploring the Open Road on a Budget in 2024

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Few adventures are more American than the summer road trip, and few regions of the country are better suited for it than the South. Depending on which direction you head and how far you want to go, you can see mountains, coastline and prairie all in a single drive. And if you’re on a budget, there are several affordable road trips in the South.

Many of the most popular drives involve coastal highways because of the numerous choices down South. It’s the only section of the country where you can drive along two major bodies of water – the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

If you prefer higher ground, another popular drive is through the Blue Ridge Mountains, which extend from southern Pennsylvania to northern Alabama.

Cheap Road Trips in the South

Although there are plenty of options for affordable road trips in the South, here are four of the best options, according to a blog from The Travel. As of January 2024, average costs are based solely on the gasoline required.

Nashville to New Orleans

This is an ideal road trip for music lovers because it takes you from the capital of country music to the birthplace of jazz. The average cost of a one-way road trip is about $61.

• Distance: 556 miles
• Starting and ending point: Nashville and New Orleans
• Approximate drive time: 8 hours and 36 minutes
• Affordable attractions: Tennessee State Museum (free), The Parthenon ($10), The French Quarter (free), Jackson Square (free)

Texas Road Trip: Dallas to San Antonio

This drive lets you see a pretty good cross-section of the Lone Star State, from the gleaming skyscrapers of Dallas to the river walk in San Antonio. The average cost of a one-way road trip is about $32.

• Distance: 296 miles
• Starting and ending point: Dallas and San Antonio
• Approximate drive time: 5 hours and 14 minutes
• Affordable attractions: Dallas Museum of Art (free), Klyde Warren Park (free), San Antonio River Walk, Canyon Park ($20 per vehicle)

Florida Keys Overseas Highway

This trip encompasses the southernmost stretch of U.S. Highway 1 and gives you an upfront view of the Florida Keys. The drive itself is not long, but The Travel recommends taking a three-day trip to soak it all in. The average cost of a one-way road trip is about $20.

• Distance: 166 miles
• Starting and ending point: Miami and Key West
• Approximate drive time: 3 hours and 11 minutes
• Affordable attractions: Bahia Honda State Park ($8 per vehicle; two to eight people), Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park ($8 per vehicle; two to eight people), Anne’s Beach (free), Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters

South Carolina Road Trip: Charleston to Myrtle Beach

Here’s another fairly short drive that packs a lot of punch between the historical charm and world-renowned cuisine of Charleston to the beautiful beaches and tourist attractions of Myrtle Beach. The average cost of a one-way road trip is about $11.

• Distance: 97.9 miles
• Starting and ending point: Charleston and Myrtle Beach
• Approximate drive time: 1 hour and 53 minutes
• Affordable attractions: Rainbow Row (free), Marshwalk (free), Broadway at the Beach (free), Myrtle Beach State Park ($8 per adult)

How to Save Even More Money

For frugal travelers, road trips are often a great option because you can save money in many ways, starting with the fact that you’re not booking a flight. If you really want to turn it into a budget trip, here are some tips:

• Couchsurf: This service, available on an app, lets you stay with locals for free. The app has seen its community shrink in recent years, but there are still plenty of hosts across the U.S., so you’ll “rarely find problems” finding someone to put you up with, according to the Nomadic Matt website.
• Camp: Here’s another cheap option that only requires a tent and camping gear. Campsites typically cost $10-$30 a night and you can find them by visiting national and state park websites or camping forums.
• Prepare your own food: Rather than dine at a restaurant and spend money, pack up your food and carry it in the car. If you are hauling perishables, you can put them in a plastic container and store them in a cooler with ice.
• Use a gasoline app: This is an especially good option if you plan to drive a long way because gas apps like GasBuddy help you find the cheapest gas in your immediate area.

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