Instructions
You and a friend are planning an amazing 4-day trip from Naples, Florida, to Charleston, South Carolina! You have a total budget of $2,500 for the two of you. Use the information below to calculate all your potential expenses. Your job is to figure out which travel option (driving or flying) is more budget-friendly and determine if you have enough money for the trip. Show your work in the spaces provided.
Trip Information & Costs
Use these numbers for all your calculations.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Overall Trip Details | Duration: 4 Days, 3 Nights | People: 2 | Total Budget: $2,500 |
| Option 1: Driving |
Round Trip Distance: 1,100 miles Car's Gas Mileage: 25 miles per gallon (MPG) Average Gas Price: $3.50 per gallon Rental Car Cost: $65 per day |
| Option 2: Flying |
Round Trip Flight: $320 per person Airport Transport (Taxi/Uber to & from hotel): $45 each way |
| Shared Expenses (Same for both options) |
Hotel Cost: $185 per night Food Budget: $70 per person, per day |
| Activities in Charleston (Prices are per person) |
Historic Carriage Tour: $50 Fort Sumter Ferry & Tour: $35 South Carolina Aquarium: $40 |
Part 1: Calculate Your Transportation Costs
First, let's figure out the cost for each travel method.
A. The Driving Plan
- How many gallons of gas will you need for the entire trip? (Round Trip Distance ÷ MPG)
Work:
Answer: ____________________ gallons
- What is the total cost of gas? (Gallons Needed × Gas Price per Gallon)
Work:
Answer: $____________________
- What is the total cost of the rental car? (Rental Cost per Day × 4 Days)
Work:
Answer: $____________________
- TOTAL DRIVING TRANSPORTATION COST (Gas Cost + Rental Car Cost)
Work:
Total: $____________________
B. The Flying Plan
- What is the total cost for both plane tickets? (Flight Cost per Person × 2 People)
Work:
Answer: $____________________
- What is the total cost for airport transportation? (Cost per Way × 2 Ways)
Work:
Answer: $____________________
- TOTAL FLYING TRANSPORTATION COST (Ticket Cost + Airport Transport Cost)
Work:
Total: $____________________
Part 2: Calculate Your Shared & Fun Costs
These costs will be the same no matter how you get there.
- What is the total cost for the hotel? (Hotel Cost per Night × 3 Nights)
Work:
Answer: $____________________
- What is the total food budget for both of you for the whole trip? (Food per Person per Day × 2 People × 4 Days)
Work:
Answer: $____________________
- Activity Planning: You and your friend decide to do the Historic Carriage Tour and visit the South Carolina Aquarium. What is the total cost for both of you?
Work:
Answer: $____________________
- Souvenirs: You decide to budget $150 total for souvenirs.
Part 3: The Final Budget Showdown!
Now add everything up to find the grand total for each trip option.
| Expense Category | Driving Trip Cost | Flying Trip Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Cost | $____________ | $____________ |
| Hotel Cost | $____________ | $____________ |
| Food Cost | $____________ | $____________ |
| Activities Cost | $____________ | $____________ |
| Souvenir Budget | $150 | $150 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $____________ | $____________ |
Part 4: Analysis & Conclusion
- Which travel plan is cheaper, driving or flying? __________________________________
- Is your total budget of $2,500 enough for the cheaper trip option? (Yes / No)
- How much money will you have left over, or how much are you over budget? Show your work!
Work: $2,500 - [Cost of cheaper trip]
Answer: $____________________ (Left Over / Over Budget)
- Besides money, what is one good reason you might choose to drive?
____________________________________________________________________
- Besides money, what is one good reason you might choose to fly?
____________________________________________________________________
Answer Key
Part 1: Transportation Costs
A. The Driving Plan
- Gallons needed: 1,100 miles ÷ 25 MPG = 44 gallons
- Total gas cost: 44 gallons × $3.50 = $154
- Total rental car cost: $65/day × 4 days = $260
- TOTAL DRIVING TRANSPORTATION COST: $154 + $260 = $414
B. The Flying Plan
- Total ticket cost: $320/person × 2 people = $640
- Total airport transport cost: $45/way × 2 ways = $90
- TOTAL FLYING TRANSPORTATION COST: $640 + $90 = $730
Part 2: Shared & Fun Costs
- Total hotel cost: $185/night × 3 nights = $555
- Total food budget: $70 × 2 people × 4 days = $560
- Activity Cost: (Carriage Tour $50 + Aquarium $40) × 2 people = $90 × 2 = $180
- Souvenirs: $150
Part 3: Final Budget Showdown
| Expense Category | Driving Trip Cost | Flying Trip Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Cost | $414 | $730 |
| Hotel Cost | $555 | $555 |
| Food Cost | $560 | $560 |
| Activities Cost | $180 | $180 |
| Souvenir Budget | $150 | $150 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $1,859 | $2,175 |
Part 4: Analysis & Conclusion
- Which travel plan is cheaper, driving or flying? Driving
- Is your total budget of $2,500 enough for the cheaper trip option? Yes
- How much money will you have left over? $2,500 - $1,859 = $641 Left Over
- Reason to drive: (Example answers) You can see the sights along the way; you have more freedom to stop when you want; you can pack more in the car.
- Reason to fly: (Example answers) It's much faster, giving you more time in Charleston; you don't have to worry about driving for long hours.