Instructions
You and your best friend are planning an epic 4-day road trip from Naples, Florida, to Charleston, South Carolina! You've worked hard and saved a total of $2,500 for the two of you. Your job is to be the trip planner. Use the information below to calculate all your expenses, compare the cost of driving versus flying, and figure out if your budget is big enough for this adventure. Show your work for each calculation!
Part 1: The Driving Plan
In this plan, you'll be driving your own car. Let's crunch the numbers to see what it will cost.
A. Transportation: Fuel Costs
- Total Distance (one-way): 570 miles
- Your Car's Gas Mileage: 25 miles per gallon (MPG)
- Average Gas Price: $3.50 per gallon
- First, what is the total distance for the round trip (to Charleston and back)?
Your calculation here:
- How many total gallons of gas will you need for the entire trip? (Hint: Divide the total distance by your car's MPG).
Your calculation here:
- What is the total cost of fuel for the trip?
Your calculation here:
B. Accommodation: Hotel Costs
- Trip Length: 4 days and 3 nights
- Hotel Cost: $180 per night
What is the total cost for the hotel for all 3 nights?
Your calculation here:
C. Food Costs
- Food Budget: $75 per person, per day
- Number of People: 2
- Trip Length: 4 days
What is the total food budget for both of you for the entire 4-day trip?
Your calculation here:
D. Activities & Souvenirs
You've budgeted a total of $450 for things like historical tours, beach gear, and souvenirs.
E. Total Cost for the Driving Plan
Add up all your costs from sections A, B, C, and D to find the total cost of the driving trip.
- Fuel: $___________
- Hotel: $___________
- Food: $___________
- Activities: $___________
- Total Driving Cost: $___________
F. Budget Check
Your total budget is $2,500. Based on your calculation above, are you under or over budget? By how much?
Your answer here:
Part 2: The Flying Plan
What if you decide to fly instead? Flying is faster, but it comes with different costs. Let's see how it compares.
A. Transportation: Flying & Rental Car Costs
- Round-Trip Flight: $320 per person
- Rental Car: $65 per day for 4 days
- Rental Car Gas: $50 (a flat estimate for driving around the city)
- What is the total cost for flights for two people?
Your calculation here:
- What is the total cost for the rental car for 4 days?
Your calculation here:
- What is the total transportation cost for the flying plan? (Add flights, rental car, and rental car gas).
Your calculation here:
B. Other Costs (Hotel, Food, & Activities)
These costs will be the same as the driving trip.
- Hotel: $540
- Food: $600
- Activities: $450
C. Total Cost for the Flying Plan
Add up your costs from Part 2, sections A and B, to find the total cost of the flying trip.
- Transportation (Flying/Rental): $___________
- Hotel: $___________
- Food: $___________
- Activities: $___________
- Total Flying Cost: $___________
D. Budget Check
Your total budget is still $2,500. Based on your calculation above, are you under or over budget with the flying plan? By how much?
Your answer here:
Part 3: Analysis & Decision
Now that you have all the numbers, it's time to make a decision and think like a real trip planner!
- Which travel option is cheaper, driving or flying? By how much?
Your answer here:
- Money isn't everything! Besides the cost, list one "pro" (advantage) and one "con" (disadvantage) for choosing the driving option.
Pro of Driving:
Con of Driving:
- Imagine your budget was magically increased by $300. On which part of the trip would you spend the extra money and why? (e.g., nicer hotel, more activities, fancier meals, etc.)
Your answer here:
Answer Key
Part 1: The Driving Plan
A. Transportation: Fuel Costs
- Total distance: 570 miles x 2 = 1,140 miles
- Total gallons needed: 1,140 miles ÷ 25 MPG = 45.6 gallons
- Total fuel cost: 45.6 gallons x $3.50 = $159.60
B. Accommodation: Hotel Costs
$180 per night x 3 nights = $540
C. Food Costs
$75 per person x 2 people x 4 days = $600
E. Total Cost for the Driving Plan
- Fuel: $159.60
- Hotel: $540.00
- Food: $600.00
- Activities: $450.00
- Total Driving Cost: $1,749.60
F. Budget Check
$2,500 (Budget) - $1,749.60 (Total Cost) = $750.40. You are under budget!
Part 2: The Flying Plan
A. Transportation: Flying & Rental Car Costs
- Total cost for flights: $320 per person x 2 people = $640
- Total cost for rental car: $65 per day x 4 days = $260
- Total transportation cost: $640 (flights) + $260 (rental) + $50 (gas) = $950
C. Total Cost for the Flying Plan
- Transportation (Flying/Rental): $950.00
- Hotel: $540.00
- Food: $600.00
- Activities: $450.00
- Total Flying Cost: $2,540.00
D. Budget Check
$2,500 (Budget) - $2,540.00 (Total Cost) = -$40.00. You are $40 over budget.
Part 3: Analysis & Decision
- Which travel option is cheaper?
The driving option ($1,749.60) is cheaper than the flying option ($2,540.00). It is cheaper by $790.40. ($2,540 - $1,749.60 = $790.40) - Pros and Cons of Driving? (Sample Answers)
Pro of Driving: You have more freedom to stop and see sights along the way. You can also pack more luggage in a car.
Con of Driving: It takes a much longer time to get there (about 9-10 hours of driving each way), which uses up vacation time and can be tiring.
- How to spend an extra $300? (Sample Answer)
I would spend the extra money on activities because Charleston has a lot of history. We could take a ghost tour, visit a historic plantation, or take a boat trip to Fort Sumter. This would make the trip more memorable.