How Having A Costco Membership Can Level Up Your Road Trips

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Planning a road trip? If so, you probably have your route and hotels all set and a playlist of your favorite sing-along songs ready to go. However, if you're looking to level up the experience, it's a good idea to hit Costco, both before you head out on the open road and during your trip. You may know about Costco Travel as a resource for planning your next vacation, but having a membership to the big-box warehouse can come in handy for road trips as well. You can pick up snacks in bulk, fuel up for a lower price than at many other gas stations, and access other perks. At the time of this writing, a Gold Star Costco membership is $65 plus tax for a year. The Executive membership — $130 per year — has added benefits like early shopping hours and 2% cash back annually.

Before you hit the road, Costco can help out with prep for your vehicle. Whether you're crossing a few states to visit Grandma, driving through New England to see the fall foliage, or stopping at beautiful locations along the Pacific Coast Highway, making sure your car is in tip-top shape is vital. If you need new tires before (or during) your trip, Costco includes installation for tires purchased by members at the store. (It's wise to check locations here before you go, so you know which ones have tires and gas stations.) You can also find fresh windshield wiper blades and sun shades for when you're out seeing the sights, and stock up on paper towels for any in-car mishaps. And, if you're still in need of luggage, you'll find an affordable hard-shell luggage set at Costco, too.

Costco members have access to gasoline at some locations that can, according to U.S. News & World Report, be up to 10 to 30 cents cheaper per gallon than the average gas station. While you may not notice the difference while doing errands around town, it can make a big difference on a long road trip. According to CNN, one reason the warehouse can keep prices lower is that membership fees help offset costs. Plus, those stopping for gas sometimes enter the store and make additional purchases, which also boosts profits. If you're among those shoppers and you're feeling hungry during your trip, you may want to take advantage of the retailer's wildly inexpensive $1.50 hot dog and soda or water combo, or a whole 18-inch pizza, which is $9.95 at the time of this writing. 

You can stock up on some budget-friendly snacks for the car as well. The warehouse store's website has a page for "Summer Road Trip Snacks," with ideas like peanut butter pretzels, a box of apple sauce pouches, and popcorn in individual bags. There are also snack boxes packed with a variety of items if your traveling companions like different foods, though some of these options are only available online.

In a recent post on Reddit's r/Costco, commenters mention their favorite road trip snacks from the warehouse, like Sumo oranges, string cheese kept cold in a cooler (which you can also purchase at the store), beef jerky, and trail mix. You can get a box of individual bags of kid-approved spicy Takis (and baby wipes to clean up the dust afterwards), and even gluten-free snacks for gluten-sensitive passengers. Finally, unlike many stores, Costco has public restrooms for members, so you don't have to use the questionable facilities at a gas station. Speaking from experience, this may be the best perk of all.