Our summer is ridiculously busy this year! We are so excited about everything we’re getting to do, but we realize that it’s going to be CRAZY! We are attending three weddings within five weeks, all of which are out of state (in three different states), and we’re probably going on two other out of state trips as well. Oh, and we’re taking 10 teens to youth camp for a week (yes, I will be 34 weeks pregnant at the time…) and planning a children’s VBS-type event on 6 consecutive Tuesday mornings. We also have lots of other youth and children’s events throughout the summer, and Tad is preaching a few times. I will start having my midwife appointments every two weeks pretty soon, and we’re taking three baby-related classes (child birthing, breastfeeding, and baby care). Oh yes, and we are HAVING a baby this summer!

Maybe your summer is not as busy as ours is, and maybe it is even busier, but I wanted to share some of the things that we have done and are doing in order to make our out of town traveling as easy and frugal as possible.
1) Overnight Kits
Tad and I both have overnight kits that have all of the toiletries we need for a weekend trip. You can purchase empty bottles at big-box or drug stores (and I recently snagged a set at the Dollar Tree!). I filled the bottles with our toiletries (shampoo, cleanser, hair gel, etc.) so that we can just toss the kits in our bags and go! We share a travel-size toothpaste so that we only have to take one of those. Keeping our overnight kits stocked saves us money (we don’t have to buy travel-sized shampoos) and time (we aren’t scrambling to pack our toiletries on the morning we are leaving for our trip).

2) Packed Meals
When we go on a road trip, I try to pack at least one of the meals we will be eating while we are on the road. Some good things to pack in your cooler are: deli meat sandwiches, chicken salad, BLTs, wraps, fresh veggies (baby carrots are easy!), fruit (apples and grapes are good choices), water bottles (if you really want, you can add Crystal Light packets to them), yogurt or applesauce, and crackers or chips. We’ve even packed tossed salad, but that’s not something I would recommend the driver eating. 😉 Don’t forget to pack paper plates and napkins as well.

3) Packed Snacks
I know that if I don’t pack plenty of snacks, we will be tempted to buy (unhealthy) snacks at gas stations along the way. Last time we traveled, I packed a whole bag of healthy snacks from our pantry so we had plenty for on the way and on the way back! Some ideas of good “car snacks” that don’t need to be kept in a cooler are: goldfish crackers, peanut butter crackers, mini rice cakes, apples, bananas, 100-calorie packs of cookies or crackers, raisins, dried fruit, peanuts, granola bars, and muffins (especially nice if you are traveling in the morning). I also “pack” to-go cups of coffee if it’s an early morning trip!

4) Clean Car
I think that it is ESSENTIAL to start a road trip with a clean car! No, you don’t necessarily have to go through a car wash or vacuum under every seat, but at least take out all of the items that don’t belong (frisbees, books, other random items) and throw away all of the trash! You’ll feel so much nicer traveling in a clean car.

5) Stocked Car
Make sure you have a few emergency items in case you break down on your trip. We have a car kit that has road flares, a first aid kid, a poncho, etc. It is also important to have a flashlight and extra batteries! In the winter we always keep a big blanket in the car when we travel, and in the summer it is a good idea to have a jug of water. A road map is helpful if your GPS fails!

6) Things to Listen To
Being married to a pastor, I get to hear lots of sermons while we travel! 🙂 Tad often listens to sermons on road trips as a way of redeeming the time and preparing for future lessons. We also like to have a supply of good music available to listen to as well. (We like, among others, Indelible Grace and Sovereign Grace Music.) Another good way to pass the time is by listening to audio books! There is a huge supply of free audio books here at Libravox.

7) Sheetz Rewards Program
We signed up for this free program several months ago. (You can go here to learn more.) Just for signing up you get a one-time deal of $.50 off per gallon! You just swipe your card every time you purchase gas or food at Sheetz, and you accumulate points over time. But here’s the best part: card-holders get $.59 ANY SIZE drinks all the time at participating stores! (This includes all their fountain drinks, coffee, and slushes!) So, when Tad needs a “perk-me-up” on a five-hour drive (I don’t drink soda anymore), Sheetz is the place we stop! Can’t beat $.59 for a large fountain drink or slush.

Do you have any tips for frugal and easy car trips?

For more posts in the Frugal and Fabulous series, click here.