(The writer is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are his own.)
By Chris Taylor
NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - With four kids between the ages of 1 and 12, Loralee Leavitt is a cost-savings ninja when she hits the road.
Leavitt, who hails from Kirkland, Washington, estimates that she has gone on more than 30 road trips with her growing family, logging over 60,000 miles, to places like Utah, Colorado, Arizona and California.
From packing their own food, to staying in state parks, to scouring for last-minute hotel deals, the family has made an art of saving money. Their piece de resistance: A trip to Montana's Glacier National Park that did not cost more than $400 total.
"It is easy to spend more than you expect," says Leavitt, author of "Road Tripping". "But if you prepare it right, it can be a lot of fun, and very cheap."
More Americans are planning road trips around the United States. In fact, 65 percent of those polled report they are more likely to take a road trip this summer than they were last summer, according to a recent survey by booking site Travelocity. And when you single out parents, a whopping 81 percent said they were more likely to hit the road with the kids this year.
Be careful, though. While a domestic road trip might appear like an affordable alternative to traveling abroad, costs can easily spiral out of control.
A recent study by travel site Expedia found that Americans expect to pay an average of $898 per person for a weeklong trip within their own country, hardly chump change.
To keep a lid on summer road-trip costs, we canvassed financial planners for their best tips, culled from personal experience. Here's what they had to say.
USE APPS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Not that long ago, travelers squinted at printed maps and missed exits. These days, there is no excuse for not using smartphone apps.
Google Maps, for instance, will get you from Point A to Point B without getting lost and racking up unnecessary mileage. GasBuddy will locate the cheapest local stations where you can fill up the tank. Apps like RoadNinja and Roadtrippers can tell you about local amenities and help plan your route, and HotelTonight or Hotels.com can locate last-minute lodging discounts nearby.
GET CAMPY
Ditch the hotels, and stay in campgrounds, says financial planner Therese Nicklas of Braintree, Massachusetts.
By camping in state parks with her family of four for around $10 a night, and cooking their own food, Nicklas estimates they save about $150 every single day.
You don't have to pitch a tent every night. Consider an occasional splurge at a hotel with a pool, hot showers and free breakfasts.