Family vacations provide an opportunity to have new experiences and create new memories. While there is always plenty of fun in the moment, the real sentiment behind the tradition of the family vacation is family bonding.
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Still, the average cost for a vacation is $1,558 per person. Many financial experts say that leisure travel expenses should not exceed 5-10% of a family's budget--leaving many middle and lower income families stuck with a small budget.
To help you plan affordable family fun, we've rounded up some of our favorite frugal family vacation tips to help you stay on top of the costs.
1. Plan Ahead
Rule number one of frugality is to make a plan. When you take time to plan your trip, right down to the dates, activities, and food options--you have more control over the budget. Why? It's simple--convenience costs more. Plus, we tend to make poor decisions in the moment like grabbing an $8 breakfast sandwich instead of a $1 yogurt cup.
Start planning your Ozarks family vacation about 6-12 months in advance to provide enough time for thoughtful comparison shopping.
Read our Family Vacation Planning Guide Today!
2. Shop Around
By now, you're probably aware that there are a dozen or more ways to book a hotel room or buy tickets to a theme park. You can always book or buy direct, but sometimes travel agents, the chamber of commerce, or other tourist groups are promoting special deals that can help you snag a better price.
Here are a few ways to get a great deal:
Download Travel Apps (Scott's Cheap Flights or TravelPerk)
Follow Travel Influencers on Social Media (try TPG_Alerts on twitter or TheBucketListFamily on IG)
Call the Property & Ask for Current Offers/Specials
Check the Local Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Bureau
3. Stay Close to Home
It seems obvious--the further you travel, the more expensive the overall price tag will be. The good news is that deep-bonding family vacation opportunities are everywhere (not just at Disney World).
Let go of the assumption that vacations only happen on the beach, and think about alternatives that are a little closer to home.
If a beach vacation is in your head, why not give a week on the lake a try? Many of the large lakes in the Ozarks like Table Rock Lake or Lake of the Ozarks feel enormous--like the ocean. They typically also have plenty of opportunities to sun yourself on sandy beaches, take a dip in the water, and float without the lingering concern of drifting out to sea.
If you're itching to go to a theme park, try Silver Dollar City in Branson. Or substitute the high thrills of a roller coaster with ziplining in the Ozarks or a guided off-road adventure in the Mark Twain National Forest.
4. Pack a Cooler
If you're traveling by car, packing a cooler is the easiest way to save on snacks. Plus, you'll get the added benefit of healthier options if you do the deed right! You'll want room for ice packs, drinks, food (in square containers), and a layer of loose ice on top.
Pro Tip: The day before your trip, freeze ice packs to provide a solid cold layer across the bottom of the cooler.
5. Cook on the Road
When we take vacations, we don't leave home without our instant pot. True story. While many rental options now include kitchens, most hotel rooms are without cooking features. The instant pot really saves the day for us, allowing a variety of cooking functions without the need for a bunch of pots and pans.
Here are some of our favorite recipes to try:
6. Take Advantage of Free Access State Parks
The cooler that you packed for road trip snacks can pull double-duty, hauling your picnic lunch to a state park. As you enjoy time outdoors, boosting your serotonin and vitamin D levels with natural sunlight exposure, you can refuel with healthy food options to keep you going.
Here are a few ideas to spend your time outdoors:
Take a Hike (most easy hikes can be completed in about 1.5 hours or less)
Rent kayaks and paddle down stream or around a lake.
Play Frisbee, Touch Football, Volleyball, or Softball
Make a Leaf Collection + Study Nature
Go Birdwatching
Take Your Camera + Photograph Nature
Go Swimming (don't forget the sunscreen)
7. Know the Best Days to Go
We'll give you a hint, the best (as in most affordable) days to go are typically not the most convenient days to go.
This might mean adjusting your dates to accommodate a weekday stay instead of a long weekend. Or, it might mean strategically traveling to take advantage of free admission days to your favorite attractions.
The point is, consider if your target dates are likely to cost more money, and if you are willing to adjust your dates to save a little more.
8. Look for Off-Season Deals
Branson, Missouri is a warm-weather affair. Most of the attractions are centered around outdoor activities like theme parks, waterparks, ziplining, boating, and much more. While most attractions are open year-round, the crowds come when the weather is warm.
The off-season is traditionally January and February. That's when we decided to book a packaged deal at the Grand Country Resort. For $338 (including taxes and fees) we enjoyed a two-night stay, free indoor waterpark access, tickets to a Branson show, free pizza, game zone credits, mini golf, go karts, and much more for a family of 5.
Read our full review of the Grand Country Resort >>
9. Try Camping [or Glamping] to Save Money
Camping is one of those things that can be economical. Or, it can add up to as much [or more] than you might spend on a reasonably priced hotel room. The key is to shop around for the best balance of budget and amenities.
There are multiple ways to 'camp', here are a few to consider:
Primitive (tent) Camping: Typically $20-$35 per night + camping supplies like tents, cots, air mattresses, etc. If you already own camping supplies, this is easily the most affordable overnight option. Note: Primitive camping is usually free on federal land like national forests and BLM land.
RV Camping: If you own an RV, you boondock for up to 10 days at a time in many national forests. If not, expect to pay between $40-$80 per night for hookup RV sites at most campgrounds.
Rent a Cabin: Upgrade your camping experience with an affordable cabin. These are often located inside parks and preserves, offering convenient access to mostly free outdoors attractions. They also come with a smaller price tag compared to full-amenity-based hotel accommodations.
10. Make the Most of Memberships with Reciprocal Benefits
Our favorite way to save on vacation is to look for ways to use our existing memberships. For example, we're members of the Scott Family Amazeum (an ASTM children's museum). When we went to Tulsa, we were able to use our membership for FREE general admission to the Discovery Lab--another children's museum with a fresh variety of play-based learning attractions.
11. Dig Up Coupons
Everybody knows what coupons are--flash deals and great ways to save a few more dollars on the things you're planning to do anyways. The ONLY question is...where do you find coupons?
Check out our deals page for current offers across the Ozarks region.
12. Balance Paid Attractions with Free Fun
If you're planning to travel for a full week of vacation, that doesn't mean that you need to book and pay for five paid attractions to keep the fun going. In fact, my family finds the very idea of that tiring.
For a full week of vacation, we might plan two big-ticket experiences. Then, we spend the rest of the time with no expectations lounging in the pool or sightseeing around town. It's often the free fun that you can find that makes the best memories anyways.
If you're headed to Tulsa, make sure that you plan a day (or two) for The Gathering Place. It's all the things that you want out of Disney (opportunities to actually play and explore) without spending thousands of dollars! We especially love the Gathering Place because it's 100% free.
The Bottom Line on Budget-Friendly Travel
Sometimes, the most expensive part of a family vacation is just the length of time that you will be paying for accommodations, food, entertainment, and miles traveled. Sure, you can get great deals on ticket prices or travel during the off-season. But one way to get all the fun without compromising too much is just to scale down. We often save a bundle by sticking with the day trip approach.
Look for entertainment options that are no more than 2 hours driving distance to pull off an enjoyable half-day of fun with a small commute to and from your destination. This radius is generally a little larger than your family might normally travel, opening the door to new opportunities and experiences.
