Travel America on a Budget: Costs of a Road Trip East America

We previously wrote an article with a detailed description of the costs of a trip through the western part of the United States. Recently we took a new trip to the United States, primarily visiting cities in the eastern part of the country. We visited New York, Washington, and Chicago, and traveled to Cedar Point in a large pickup truck. With these up-to-date costs, we aim to provide a realistic overview of the costs of a trip through the United States. This way you can travel America on a budget.

Travel America on a Budget: General Costs

For the costs below, it’s important to know what type of trip we made through the eastern part of the United States. We traveled with two people during July 2025 (17 days) and stayed mainly in motels and occasionally in hostels. We regularly ate out, mainly because there were no self-catering options in the motels.

Overview Costs East America

In total, we spent around €3150 (excluding airfare), which is about €95 per person per day. Below, you can see a rough estimate of what we spent this on. This is based on the 2025 price level; we didn’t receive any discounts or other offers.

Accommodations (38%)
Food and Drinks (17%)
Transport (22%)
Activities (19%)
Other Expenses (4%)

Costs Road Trip East America

Flights

The price of a flight depends on so many factors that we don’t list prices here. Check Skyscanner for the best deals and be sure to look for options with a stopover. We booked a flight from Europe to Lisbon and the Azores. Flights to the United States depart regularly from the Azores. Curious about what you can do in the Azores? Then check out our articles about this Portuguese archipelago.

Transportation Costs

Transportation costs include the rental car, parking, fuel, taxis, and trains. We definitely recommend renting a car, as this way you can go wherever and whenever you want. However, we did have a bit of a problem with our rental car. The one-way costs were so high that we rented a car in Chicago and then ended up back in Chicago. In between, we took taxis (in New York) and the train (from New York to Washington). Our complete itinerary through Eastern America describes our route and the mode of transportation used in detail.

We almost always rent a car with Sunnycars. This way, we’re always well-insured, and a second driver is usually free. This time, we rented a larger truck because it was only slightly more expensive than a regular car. It’s definitely fun, but the bottom line is, of course, a bit more expensive. We paid around €700 for all transportation during the 17 days.

Overnight Accommodation Costs

In total, we paid around €1200 for overnight stays, almost €100 per night. For this price, you get a regular hotel/motel room, usually with a private bathroom. We were prepared for these high costs. America is definitely not a cheap destination! We opted for Airbnbs more often this time.

Hotel Tip New York: Club Quarters Hotel

Activities

We spent quite a bit of money on activities in America. These included shooting at the range (including a full-day lesson!), swimming, and two days at Cedar Point. It was definitely a lot of money, but the experience was absolutely worth it! Total cost: €600.

Food & Drinks

Grocery shopping in America is a bit more expensive than you’re used to. However, the prices at Walmart were quite reasonable. We saved a considerable amount by sharing the Subway Meal Deal: a large sandwich with a drink and two cookies for the equivalent of 9 euros.

Other Expenses

Other costs depend on the individual, but consider things like a visa, souvenirs, and the like. We also bought an eSIM through Airalo for a few tens of euros. It worked very well the entire route, with a 5G network. With the code Meike 4854, you get a 3 euro discount the first time you purchase an eSIM through Airalo.

Conclusion: Travel America on a Budget

America is certainly not a cheap destination; accommodations, food, and drinks, in particular, are expensive. Curious about the difference compared to the cost of a tour through the western United States about a year and a half ago? We’ve also created a complete overview of the costs for this.

Curious about all the places we visited during our tour of America? We made a Google Maps map of America (east).