Some of you who have been around TTF for a while may remember my 3 week trip last year where we took a family of 5 out West (Yes - I'm on the East Coast)....drove roughly 7,000 miles and used 400 gallons of Gas. We had a Blast!

We thought of doing it again but for only 2 weeks still heading out West. The kids have recently stated they want to go North up the East Coast....

Back to the question.... Does Gas price effect your travels?

It might affect where we go - like we may choose to go to the East Coast instead of the West. I don't think we thought about it this year. We asked The Big Kid where he would like to go because he'll be going to college in another year. As long as it was realistic and affordable we would consider anything.

But we don't have to worry as much as we might, because we get a free condo on my parents' condo plan. So anything we would spend on lodging can go into other areas of the budget...in this case, looks like the fuel area. And now we have to add a one-way plane ticket for him because Boys' State overlaps by a day.

That's a lot of gas. I voted yes because as a new driver, I don't have enough money to be taking cross country trips, or even cross state for that matter.

Flying to DisneyWorld is no chore
But, I have to say that with a Prius hybrid (although changing to a Civic hybrid next week), the gas prices haven't made me cringe much. It still only costs $25 to fill up and that is about 350 miles or so.

I paid $94 to fill up the tank on my big van yesterday! And that was at the cheapest place in town, Sam's Club...I was in shock!!!!

I'm so tall that I can barely fit in my 97 Nissan Stanza. Anything smaller than that, I'll know the secret to how those clowns drive in those itty bitty cars. If we plan something, it has to be within reason. In order to pay off bills aggresively, we have to follow a pretty strict budget. Gas prices is a factor. But if we are determined to go somewhere, we factor it in, bite the bullet and have fun.

Hey Varmint. Get in the Land Yacht and head down this weekend You could meet a cute little peachy duck and a smelly blue mouse

Haven't taken a driving vacation in years. I miss it but flying is much faster and easier on the old(er) parents with a 6 yr old. Will do more local things around the state this summer (yeah the choices in WI are just unlimited Right Bucky)?....well the FL thingy this week and then hubby is flying to Alaska fishing next month has a lot to do with it too!

IF we were hoping for a long driving trip would we not go due to gas prices? Probably not. We'd say lots of choice words at the pump but I think we'd still go? Maybe?

Absolutely...I would rather apply that money towards the fun rather than the getting there....I'd stay East Varmint.

I have to defend my Prius! I've done many a long trip of 5-6 hours in it and I'm very comfortable. I'm certainly less beat up than when I sit at my desk at work on the computer for 8 hours a day. I will say it is a bit noisier than my last car (Buick Century), but I would say it is almost as comfortable. In addition, I've had men sit in the back and they were just fine with legroom and everything.

As to my soon-to-be new Honda Civic hybrid, it is just a Civic (4 door sedan) with hybrid technology. Certainly, a giant step up from riding in an Escort or something like that.

First I want to thank you from saving me the thinking of my answer. Those NOT questions with yes and no can be tricky. I say go up the east coast. Lots of great things around me to see and do and farther north. I mean I would not put myself in giant debt just to take a trip, but two weeks instead of three sounds like a good idea. Ummm you have a back up copy/paster. I think I have made it to your area in 8 hrs?? You could make it to Canada in those two weeks. Just have fun!

Gas prices don't have quite as big an impact on my plans as "practice runs" do. I was in the initial planning stages for a road trip with my two kids to Canada this summer (12 hr drive), but then we went by train to Seattle over spring break (8 hr trip). Changed my mind! HEH HEH!! Too many hours! Although if I'm driving, we can pull over whenever we feel like it and dink around, which I really like.

Hubby and I just finished a road trip from Long Island to North Carolina (daughter's wedding) and Virginia (house hunting and a stay in a log cabin in the woods). We went in one of these:




Our car gets great gas milage (35 mpg) but it's a little small (no room for kids) It's sort of scary riding in a tiny car surrounded by huge trucks on an interstate. We could only bring one suitcase (have a luggage rack on the back) and of course our two laptops. The other options.....the 18 mpg gas guzzler or flying. If we had to take the gas guzzler, it would have been cheaper to fly and get chauffeured around by the relatives (ugh). The cheapest gas we saw was on the NJ Tpke ($3.17) and the most expensive is on Long Island ($3.95)

If this was just a "fun vacation" I'm not sure if we would have gone. Besides the high gas prices, the tolls are ridiculous (think it was 22 bucks round trip just to cross the Verezano, Gothels, and Delaware Memorial bridges).

Don't forget to get into Canada (and Mexico) you need a passport!

Varmint- not sure where you live but... driving NORTH? The Adirondacks are beautiful, or the Acadia National Forest in Maine.
I can give you ideas if you would like? A day at Alexandria Bay and the 1,000 Islands- take a boat trip to Boldt (?) Castle. That was always a summer (day) trip for me.

Would gas prices stop me from driving? Maybe across country- but a relatively "easier" trip? Nope not at all.
I live in CA- gas prices are $4 for cheapest gas and $4.40 for diesel. Just so you are informed of that part. We live in the "cheaper" area of CA, too. I have no clue what San Fran area or LA area has to offer.

Most definitely! This weekend I am considering what I will do with my kids and yes, gas prices factor into that. I think gas in NY is at least $3.80 a gallon - for regular! Thankfully I'll be driving a tiny car that'll get good milage, but still, it's a good chunk of money to lay out for gas.

I am not sure how to post a link but I will give it a whirl. There is a web site where you click on the state or providence and then city and it will show the cheapest place to buy gas but I imagine you can also plan your trip using this. It will give you an idea what how the prices are in other parts of both countries. Gas Buddy

Travel costs for our family are heavily weighted towards venue (family vs "attractions" etc.), accomodations (tents vs 5 star resorts) and food (packin PBJ sandwhiches vs. restaraunts.)

We spend far more in almost every trip on other stuff. I'm more constrained on time vs. cost.

Fuel costs have up a bunch, but last year vs this year, airfare, energy costs, and gas are a small farction of our overall budget.

I was always shocked how much I paid for gas in Japan, Europe, and Is. so the US prices weren't a factor in our vacation plans for 2008. If anything we are traveling more this year but mostly cuz relatives are graduating, getting married and kids bands, sports etc....

We still drive if it's <500-600 miles, but fly, rent a car if it's more than a day trip.

The Kids want to do the History thing...we are in the Southeast... thinking of starting at Kitty Hawk (Wright Brothers Flight) and heading north...Jamestown, Williamsburg, DC and continuing on....

Last year we hit 17 National Parks and 17 states (plus everything inbetween)...LA / Laguana Beach gas was $3.39

We ate "out of the cooler" one meal and one in a restaurant (or take out Pizza by the pool)....Most hotels had a breakfast of some sort.

Thanks for the suggestions, thoughts and links.