My Topic : Cost road trip from seattle to sanfrancisco
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19
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My Topic : Cost road trip from seattle to sanfrancisco
Looking for those who have taken this trip... anyone want to share the approximate cost of road trip from Seattle to San Francisco or similar.. will be renting car and taking 10-12 days.. would really appreciate as I finalize the plans for September...
#3

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,082
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You can easily do your own estimates.
Step 1 - Go to any of the Car Rental websites (Hertz, Avis, National, Budget, etc.) and put in your planned dates of travel and size of car you desire. You'll get a quote for the cost.
Step 2 - Go to Google Maps or Mapquest to plot out your intended route to get an idea of the miles you'll be driving on that trip. Divide that number by 20 to get an idea of the number of gallons of gas you'll need. Multiply that number by the average cost of a gallon of gas in your hometown. Add 15% to the number for contingency. The total will come close to your fuel costs.
Step 3 - Check out the range of daily room prices on hotel/motel websites that fit your specific needs .
Step 4 - For meals estimate how much you'd spend if you ate the same number of meals at the same type of places where you now live. Add 20% to that number for contingencies. The result will give you a workable food budget.
Step 5 - Set aside an amount for admissions and activities while you are on your trip. Since everyone's interests are different only YOU will now how much your party will need for this.
Step 1 - Go to any of the Car Rental websites (Hertz, Avis, National, Budget, etc.) and put in your planned dates of travel and size of car you desire. You'll get a quote for the cost.
Step 2 - Go to Google Maps or Mapquest to plot out your intended route to get an idea of the miles you'll be driving on that trip. Divide that number by 20 to get an idea of the number of gallons of gas you'll need. Multiply that number by the average cost of a gallon of gas in your hometown. Add 15% to the number for contingency. The total will come close to your fuel costs.
Step 3 - Check out the range of daily room prices on hotel/motel websites that fit your specific needs .
Step 4 - For meals estimate how much you'd spend if you ate the same number of meals at the same type of places where you now live. Add 20% to that number for contingencies. The result will give you a workable food budget.
Step 5 - Set aside an amount for admissions and activities while you are on your trip. Since everyone's interests are different only YOU will now how much your party will need for this.
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,176
Likes: 12
Is this in your own car?
Or you are renting a car?
If renting, are you picking it up in SF and returning it in Seattle?
What kind of places do you like to stay? Will this be in inexpensive roadside motels or high-end lodges or something in between?
What kind of meals are you planning on? Picnics from the grocery store with an ice chest in your car? Or eating out in nice restaurants?
It really doesn't matter what other people have spent on a similar trip unless their travel style is the same as yours
suze
Tell us a bit more and we can maybe help.
Or you are renting a car?
If renting, are you picking it up in SF and returning it in Seattle?
What kind of places do you like to stay? Will this be in inexpensive roadside motels or high-end lodges or something in between?
What kind of meals are you planning on? Picnics from the grocery store with an ice chest in your car? Or eating out in nice restaurants?
It really doesn't matter what other people have spent on a similar trip unless their travel style is the same as yours
suzeTell us a bit more and we can maybe help.
#5



Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 74,969
Likes: 50
You can spend very little driving your own car, camping and cooking your own meals. Gas would be expensive and camping isn't free but doing -- that would average maybe $50 a day.
Or you can spend a LOT renting an SUV, paying enormous drop off fees, gas, nice to very nice hotels, some inexpensive meals and some great meals -- that would average maybe $300 or $400 per day.
And anywhere in between (or above).
Or you can spend a LOT renting an SUV, paying enormous drop off fees, gas, nice to very nice hotels, some inexpensive meals and some great meals -- that would average maybe $300 or $400 per day.
And anywhere in between (or above).
#7
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
car rental , coming from west coast fl, starting in Seattle and driving to San Francisco... i guess the car rental will be my biggest expense Thank you for the suggestion of calling the rental companies.. we plan on doing some cabins and yurts in state parks to attempt to keep cost down.. one of those trips... we never be able to do again. I was hoping that someone would share what they spent.. Thanks.. all information is valuable toward the final plan
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#8
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,176
Likes: 12
http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cf...sp_cabinsyurts
Is a website for cabins and yurts in Oregon. When you choose one and click it takes you to a page where you see rates.
Most rustic cabins and yurts seem to be in the $45-50/night range.
Is a website for cabins and yurts in Oregon. When you choose one and click it takes you to a page where you see rates.
Most rustic cabins and yurts seem to be in the $45-50/night range.
#9
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,176
Likes: 12
http://www.travelmath.com/cost-of-dr...+Francisco,+CA
Is a calculator for gas prices estimates about $100 one-way
https://www.kayak.com/cars/San-Franc...-02/2017-09-09
Is a link using Kayak to look at the different rental car agency options and prices.
Looks like about $500-700 for a one week rental from SF pick up and Seattle drop off
Is a calculator for gas prices estimates about $100 one-way
https://www.kayak.com/cars/San-Franc...-02/2017-09-09
Is a link using Kayak to look at the different rental car agency options and prices.
Looks like about $500-700 for a one week rental from SF pick up and Seattle drop off
#10
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,176
Likes: 12
I would start with something like this below, then fill in the actual figures as I get more facts about the car rental, make lodging reservations, and so forth.
*ball park estimate*
$75 x 10 lodging in state parks = $750
$250 x 1 night hotel in SF and 1 night Seattle = $500
12 days rental car = $900
Gas = $100
Food @ $50/day x 12 = $600
$2,175 basic expenses estimate for 12 day trip
*ball park estimate*
$75 x 10 lodging in state parks = $750
$250 x 1 night hotel in SF and 1 night Seattle = $500
12 days rental car = $900
Gas = $100
Food @ $50/day x 12 = $600
$2,175 basic expenses estimate for 12 day trip
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