Thai road trip across America

[Showbags]

How much would a road trip across America cost and how long to do it with 2 thai kids, not rushed, enough time to see all the adventurous and worthwhile spots, camping etc, not luxury and not expensive cities etc.

How to travel...what would a road trip car cost to buy and can you flog it easily at the end ?

[wym]

You can get a reliable car - Honda or Toyota IMO - with not too much mileage for around $5,000, and if you do it smart and don't bang it up you should get close to what you paid, but will cost you time.

Decent insurance and running costs figure 50 cents a mile if you're lucky with the reliability side, so cross-country maybe $3,000? assuming you're not going in a straight line.

Figure $40-60 a day for food & basics, camping rough near the highways not too safe, motels are $30-60 a night.

Theme parks etc are pricey, research the ones you want online.

Don't forget health insurance!

[sdanielmcev]

How much time do you have? Probably take a couple of years just to wander around Texas. A family of four would probably run about $100 per day, minimum. Renting a car would be cheapest, or try an AMTRAK rail pass.

[bina]

ages of the kids? waht are your interests? waht is the main purpose of the trip?

if you are into animals and plants then obviously the trip will be different than someone /family that is in to amusement parks and tourist things.

if the point is to travel that is one thing. if the point is to get somewhere , then its something else.

do your kids travel well (car sickness, boredome, other issues?)

we've done roving camp trips here in israel with my kids and friends and their kids and ive learned that it is best to underorganize 'what to see', and always have two different plans for every station/stop...

kids planning helps them feel in control of what they are going to see.

are they very thai? country thai? city kids? sophisticated?

my kids are all good travellaors, we never do amusment parks, there is always one major attraciton/hilight to see that costs a bit more; we always did a lot of self entertaining and cooking etc...

america is huge... i am from the states but found that i and my kids, used to israeli travel distances, were a little daunted by long trips that took forever to arrive to anywhere (arizona to boston, etc)... but again , its also dependant on lyou. can u be in a car with kids for long hours? did u ever do a road trip ?

[maccaroni man]

I will chime in on this thread as I have done this on more than one occassion. 1st time was a 4 month trip with my 9 yr old we circled the country from SFO to San Diego to Tampa and Orlando to Maine to niagra falls to KC to yellow stone to Seattle and back to SFO. Car rental Mini Van insurance included unlimited miles. 1,400 dollars per month. Food estimated at 3 meals per day at 100.00 dollars per day. Fuel 50.00 dollars every 300 miles motels 45 to 125 a night avg 75.00 Disney land 1500 for 3 days sea world 500 dollars Kennedy space station 500 Disney world Busch garden 700 Maine lobster and Romans Jerry ice cream 200 niagra falls 150 dollars bad land national park yellow stone national park mt. Rushmore Seattle space needle Oregon sand dunes north coast of California figure min 10,000 dollars and feel free to pm me for any help

[Showbags]

^ excellent info......whats best time to travel to do that sort of thing.

A car for $5k...not bad.....campervan might be sweet.

We into roughing it and no planning...the post above somewhere about plan this and that...well that just ain't us, we just go and see what happens....kids love it and we take bare essentials, a backpack each and what each can carry and thats it.

As mentioned in op....adventurous....that does not usually translate in amusement parks and cities and such....although the odd park would not be ruled out, just not a destination in itself.

Some of those prices for parks etc....disney...and such...scary.

As for time frame, probably 2-3 months but we can be flexible.

Kids are 9 and 12

Edited April 5, 2014 by Showbags

[wym]

Summertime for the weather, school holidays from 1st week of June through August, more other families doing the same (pros and cons)

Nice mobile homes are $$$$ but same as cars can resell if you have time, figure an extra 2-3 weeks to get good prices.

Find forums to recommend stopping places, don't be paranoid but the US is inherently more dangerous than most other back homes.

Good vehicle insurance, AAA and health insurance!!!

[Showbags]

No problem with small loss on vehicle....simply equates into a chap rental fee really.....just would not want it to take forever.

In Oz there are usually a few places in certain destinations that specialise in these types of cars for travellers....buy and sell etc frequently....often even have all the camping equipment included.

[NeverSure]

I did this once to show the US to a foreign friend. We had 30 days and I rented a car for $300 a week plus gas, unlimited miles from Avis. We drove 10,000 miles, or about 300+ miles per day and I thought the rental price was a better deal than putting 10,000 miles on my own car. Breakdown? Call Avis and they'll swap you out with another car.

National parks, BTW are more like $15 per person or $25 per carload. I have a senior lifetime admission to national parks that cost me (I think) $15 to any park, any time but you have to be a citizen to get it. (double pricing 555)

30 miles per gallon = 10 gallons per day, or $35 - $40. Prices vary state to state due to state taxes.

Get off the freeway and drive through a town and you'll find the older motels at maybe $60 a night. newer chain on the freeway, $100.

Meals are what you make of it. Get an ice chest and buy ice at any mini-market every other day. (7-11?) Buy food to make sandwiches and drinks and stop at rest areas (free and with toilets) and eat at a picnic table. Or stop at a city park that has tables.

Say what you will, but Denny's still has the best food at the best prices of any chain. It's clean and well run but far from fancy.

If you don't do expensive things you can do it on $200 a day. If you stay in the newer chain motels, eat at nicer restaurants, and see the occasional expensive place like Disneyland and Sea World, figure $300 per day.

Traveling is always far more expensive than staying home. A $100 motel is nice but is a small studio you wouldn't pay $500 per month for except in the more expensive areas.

[wym]

Better to buy & sell privately, cars.com, autotrader and Craig's. Buy in the sticks, sell in a big city.

[NeverSure]

Better to buy & sell privately, cars.com, autotrader and Craig's. Buy in the sticks, sell in a big city.

Agreed, if you have time. But if you're flying right out, rent.

The rental includes insurance,maintenance and the car will be new or like new.

Edited April 5, 2014 by NeverSure

[californiabeachboy]

I realize that the OP was asking about cost, but I just want to add something - look at Route 66 for some of the trip. You can do it in reverse, and if you and the family want to know a bit about the history of the US along the way, it is great. You can do an internet search of the route - there are songs about it (get your kicks on Route 66) and tv shows (Route 66 TV show, but you probably will not be doing it in a corvette). Travel + history!

Cost is important, but what will you and the kids be remembering 10 years from now.

Have Fun!!!

[Showbags]

Thanks.

What would a campervan...not the big winnebago or however it is spelt type thing...cost to rent ?

[bina]

i did the lewis and clark trail with my israeli ex before we had kids. we bought a gremlin stick shift (first time i ever drove one) and drove east to west. i dehydrated in the middle of wisconsin and received treament from a mobile doctor's unit (didnt know there was such a thing) in south dakota... we camped, did cheap motels, and hooked up with otehr israelis along the way who had an airconditioned car for the rest of the way. chose a few lesser know nat'l parks to visit and camp at to avoid people in large quantities.we cancelled the southern trail from west to east due to medical issues from the dehydration but all in all a great trip...

the ages u mentioned are great ages to travel with them.

[wym]

Thanks.

What would a campervan...not the big winnebago or however it is spelt type thing...cost to rent ?

google is your friend "RV" is the US term, "camper" "trailer" also.

Here's a start:

https://www.google.com/search?q=RV+site%3Awww.yelp.com&hl=en&pws=0#hl=en&pws=0&q=RV+rent+-park+-resort+site:www.yelp.com

[phuketrichard]

if u buy on east coast u can sell higher on west coast.

You might be better renting a vw camper easy sleep 4, great gas mileage, parking easy, and you odn tneed deal with dmv.incruance ( which will be expensive as ur not american)

whatever it costs you will save in Hotels,

check out if you can rent one way

http://www.vwsurfari.com/ For example expensive $800/week and an extra $39/day for unlimted oootherwise ur limited to 120 miles/day free.

http://www.campertravelusa.com/?k=%2Bcampervan%20%2Brent%20%2Busa|b&n=g&l=14344379681&gclid=CPK3l6-5yb0CFQHKpAodiwEAAQ

Its been a while since i have done cross country camping trips but figure 2-3 weeks each way.

if u have 6 weeks you and the kids will have the time of your life.

[Hedghog]

Try going on an America based,travel info site.

[NeverSure]

One more time. If you're on a time-limited vacation, rent a car. You don't want to waste your time car shopping,buying insurance which DMV will require before they'll transfer the title to you, wondering if it will break down, finding a buyer at the end....

Rent a car and if you want to camp, buy a tent and the essentials. That stuff is all cheap in the US. You can donate your camping gear to the Salvation Army or gospel mission in any town. They have thrift store that sell it, and you can just get rid if it fast.

[BillyBobThai]

Truck stops are all across America, mostly on interstate highways. If you have a van or something to sleep in, you can stay at these truckstops. They have shower room for about $3 for 15 min. They also have washing machines and dryers for your dirty clothes. Most truckstops have a restaurents, many have buffets all you can eat.

I drove a truck for a while and stayed at many and they are safe.

Having traveled to every state except Idaho, they all have something to offer. I rented a motor home and traveled Alaska for 3 weeks 20 year ago, beautiful state.

Showbags, don't you live in Chiang Mai? PM me and we can get together.

Edited April 6, 2014 by BillyBobThai

[Showbags]

^ no, different mountains, Khao Yai.

Not my idea to travel and stay in truck stops.......but the Alaska idea sounds good, had forgotten its part of America.