i am from australia.Next year we are planning a drive from San Fran or LA thru Las Vegas the southern states terminating in NY for aproxomatly 5 weeks.What daily average $ amount should be budgeted for. We are fairly frugal and undemanding we do not expect 5*.We have travelled extensivlly in europe and asia for what that is worth thanks

Approximately $110.63 per person for food and lodging for this itinerary.

How many people?
And what is "fairly frugal"?
Not expecting 5* lodging is a little different than sleeping in the Motel 6 you've booked through Priceline and eating from the supermarket.
How about entertainment?

Some states will be cheaper for lodging than others. California will be a little more than New Mexico. What southern states, btw?

I think Jimingso is trying to tell you we need a bit more info from you, wairoa. If not a 5*, what would you like--motel chains, 3*, camp grounds? Will you be happy to eat fast food, or adhere to a higher standard, or pack your own sandwiches as you go? Do you wish to include gas in this budget?

Now, as to geography--there's a lot of stuff between Vegas and the southern states. That's another set of questions, I think.

Just tell us more about the style in which you plan to travel, please.

Our family of four averages $250 a day on a two week vacation. We are also fairly frugal and do not expect 5*, more like 3*.

richbutnot seems to have entered the debate in the right spirit and i thank them.Iam of course only refering to food and accomodation as as sight seeing and etertainment are so subjective.

Our $250 a day includes everything: lodging, food, entertainment, gas, soveniers, gifts, laundrey, etc. Entertainment accounted for anywhere from $21 to $65 a day average. That might give you some idea.

And yes, I keep track of all expenses. Helps with keeping in budget and planning future trips.

When looking at car rentals make sure they include all the taxes and fees, the mandatory insurance (and I would go for liability as well unless you're judgement proof) and the drop off charge for leaving a CA car in NY.

Food and accommodations.

Well, you can get a McDonald's breakfast for $3, and a value meal for lunch/dinner for $5-6.

If you want a sit-down breakfast at a diner or Denny's, about $10 with tax and tips.

Dinner at a casual bar & grill like Applebee's or Chili's, about $20. And so on...

Accommodations depend on:
- Where
- Do you want to be in city center or outside
- Type of accomodations
- How you book

Say for New York City, you need to pay $250 for something decent.

But say you're arriving in Houston (my town), you can:

- Go to Hotwire and get a 4* hotel at Galleria (uptown area with nice shopping and restaurants) for $75 + tax/fees.

- Go to Priceline and probably get a 4* in Galleria or Downtown for $65 + tax/fees.

- Get a 2* motel on Hotwire for $39 + tax/fees.

- Drive up to any Hampton Inn (3* limited service, but very solid hotel), everything around Houston are listing for $100 or more.

- Drive up to a Motel 6 (very basic 2*) for about $50.

So, as you see, prices depend a lot on how you book it.

Car rental drop charges can be quite high for a one-way trip; they also can vary substantially between seasons (probably cheaper to go from CA to NY in spring rather than fall).

On such a trip, I might expect to average $75-90 per night for motels (rural areas a bit less, cities more). Many motels will have some form of breakfast included (maybe just cereal and toast). You can probably manage $30 per person per day for lunch+dinner; making sandwiches and such will stretch the food budget, nice restaurants will shrink it.

For fuel, I might allow for 4000 miles with sidetrips; typical rental car might get 25 mpg on the highway. Who know what gas prices will be, but allow $3 per gallon, so that is ~$500.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from McDonalds, Dennys and the other chains. In California and throughout the Southwest you'll find decent fresh food at reasonable prices.