End-of-Summer Road Trips That Won’t Break the Bank

Summer may not be completely over, but many little ones are already heading back to school, making long-haul trips for family travelers a bit tough to swing — not to mention rough on the family budget. If you want to squeeze in a last-minute family trip before the magic of summer is completely gone, consider one of these amazing road trips to give you some great family vacay memories — and go easy on your pocketbook.

If you want to explore America’s West Coast, take a trip up or down the PCH — the Pacific Coast Highway. The road runs more than 1,500 miles, all the way from Mexico to the Olympic peninsula in the state of Washington, making it easy to plan a trip that works with your time limits and interests. You can visit the majestic redwoods or Northern California, traverse the ruggedly wild coastline of Oregon or explore the untamed wilderness of Washington’s Olympic National Park.

On the country’s opposite coast, a road trip through Cayuga County takes you to New York’s Finger Lakes region, where you can enjoy a scenic road trip without fighting the traffic and crowds of a big city. Planning your route around Cayuga Lake is a great way to experience some of the best views around with Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway. While exploring the area, take in the beautiful landscape and stop to enjoy great hikes through the wilderness, along with plenty of great shops and eateries in the area’s picturesque villages.

For families who want to experience the country’s Midwest region, South Dakota has some of the most diverse landscapes in the country, making for a perfect family road trip. From Custer State Park in the west with Mount Rushmore to Badlands National Park with its incredible rock formations, the state’s parks not only have plenty of camping and lodging, but also feature scenic loops to let you take in the many memorable sites. The state also features beautiful nature areas like Lake Andes Wildlife Refuge in the southeast and classic Americana roadside attractions like Wall Drugs, where you can stop for a bite to eat, do a little souvenir shopping and take advantage of kitschy photo opportunities.