When I was kid going on road trips with my parents, we would stop at a rest stop, run around the parking lot, and get back in the car. As an adult on long road trips with my kids, I would stop at a science center or a zoo to walk around for an hour or two before continuing on the road. There are memberships you can get to use all over the country during your travels to save money and get the most out of your trip.

Science centers- the ASTC has science centers all over the US. When you have a membership to one, you can get free admission into any of them. These are great to use for driving breaks to stretch out a bit instead of rest areas. They are also a great back up plan for a rainy day. My family membership to the Rochester Museum and Science Center cost $100 and we’ve used it for free admission into about 15 different science centers and museums this past year.

Zoos- Zoo memberships can be used the same way as science museums when it comes to needing a break in a long drive, or something to do when you arrive at your destination.  With a $104 family membership, we can get 50% off zoo admission to zoos and aquariums all over the country.

Costco- for $60 a year, you can take advantage of everything Costco has to offer including the low gas prices, the $10 large pizzas loaded with toppings, the pharmacy, and of course the samples! Another benefit of Costco memberships is the discount on travel related services. You can use your membership to save on renting (or even buying) a car, hotels, cruises, and admission tickets at discounted rates. I booked our cruise this past January through Costco and paid almost $1,000 less than what travel agents could offer me for the same thing.

Passport America- if you love to stay at RV parks with full hook-ups, heated pools, Wi-Fi, and cable,but prefer the price of state parks, for $44 a year, Passport America gets you into thousands of RV parks nationwide at a 50% discount. It pays for itself in one camping trip.

National Park Pass- entrance into the National Parks is about $35 a car. For just $80 a year, you can get unlimited admission into the National Parks. If you’re lucky enough to travel with a fourth grade student, a member of the military, a senior citizen, or someone with a disability, you could be eligible for a discounted or even a free pass.

Six Flags- For a thrill seeking family like mine with roller coaster addictions, Six Flags Amusement Parks season passes or memberships are an awesome deal. They have locations around the country, we happen to also have one near home that we go to weekly. Season passes can be just a couple dollars more than a single visit and include free parking, which is usually $20. They also have food plan options that can save tons of money versus buying food in the park.

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*pic- Jazmine and Joanna handing off a butterfly at the Butterfly Garden at Strong Museum, Feb 2015