by Jessica Reeder

Jessica Reeder is an eco-travel writer specializing in cheap travel, voluntourism and agritourism in the United States. Follow her at Uprooted, on Facebook or on Flickr.

Hi. I'm Jessica, and I recently spent a year traveling the U.S. on $5,000. I'm here to pass on what I learned, so you can do the same.

Travel in the U.S. can be costly—so costly that most Americans just don't travel. Between tourist traps, high-priced hotels, and the massive distances to cover (the United States has an area of over 3.5 million square miles), you can wear out your wallet in no time flat.

If you've got a budget to keep, try some of these alternative methods to find lodging, food and transportation. You'll be amazed at how much money you can save—and how much longer you can stay on the road without breaking the bank.

1. Camp.

My home-away-from-home last spring, in Paonia, Colorado

The United States has vast expanses of protected lands, with beautiful scenery. Tucked away in almost every national and state park is a campground of some sort; in popular destinations such as Cape Cod, privately-owned campgrounds abound.

Camping can cost up to $40, but most are $20 or less per night. Yes, free campgrounds do exist! Always check freecampgrounds.com before you travel to a new area.

Speaking of free, some people like to just pull off the road and set up a tent (or sleep in the car). Be careful: this is almost always illegal, and if you're caught by the police or the land owner, you could end up paying more than a hotel would've cost.

To camp comfortably, you need flashlights, bedding, food and water, earplugs (to drown out any noisy redneck neighbors) and a good book. You'll also need enclosed shelter, as mosquitos are abundant throughout the warm months. Avoid the South in summer: during the hot months, head to the mountains (which are uninhabitable the rest of the year).

2. Rideshare.

Transportation can be prohibitively expensive in the U.S. The sheer distance between destinations, coupled with the price of fuel, means you can spend most of your cash just getting from place to place. One of the biggest ways to save money is to avoid standard transportation routes.

Hitchhiking is not recommended in the United States, but ridesharing is generally safe. Start looking for a ride about a week before you want to travel: consult the rideshare section of craigslist.org. You're more likely to find rides on the Craigslist site for the region you'll be leaving, but check out your destination too.

Your driver will usually ask you to chip in for gas money. As long as it's less than what you'd be paying for a bus ticket, it's reasonable! You don't want to have to ride the bus, trust me. And ridesharers tend to be very interesting and intelligent people. Some of my favorite travel acquaintances are those I met en route.

Already got a car? Cut down on your own gas costs by picking up passengers for long drives.

When ridesharing, watch out for anybody who asks you to send a photo of yourself (yuck) or who wants personal information. Trust your instincts: take the bus if you don't feel safe. Keep pepper spray (legal in the U.S.) and a cell phone handy.

3. Volunteer.

One of the most surprising sources I found for good travel food was urban farms. Yes, that's right! In almost every city you go (towns too, for that matter), you'll find a farm that accepts volunteers. Farms tend to be run by idealists and kind people; if you ask, they will often be willing to let you pick some food at the end of a day of work.

Many farms, especially in cities, have work days twice a week (often Wednesday and Saturday). Those are the days you're most likely to find work. If you find yourself in a new place with a hankering for healthy food, do a quick web search for local farms. Can't find anything? Try localharvest.org or contact the Chamber of Commerce (it's in the phone book).

Volunteering is also an excellent way to experience "real" America: working alongside other people like yourself instead of dealing with salespeople and tour guides. It's also a great way to make friends and contacts—which leads us to the next point:

4. Connect.

The very best way to save yourself money (and discomfort) on the road is to find personal hosts. Before you travel, put the word out to all your friends and family. Ask everyone to forward your name to their friends and family in the States: tell them you're looking for hosts, tour guides and places to stay for a day or two.

You'll be surprised how many people will respond to this call. I certainly was: raised to believe that most Americans were unfriendly and unhelpful, I was completely turned around by the excellent hosts I met on the road. Everyone from couchsurfers to friends' parents to folks I'd just met: they all provided for me and truly made my journey possible. This can be your experience too.

Sign up for couchsurfing.org and make some contacts. Start conversations with potential hosts long before you plan to arrive, so they know to expect you. Use every resource you've got to get in touch with Americans: if you plan well enough, you might find yourself traveling free as the eagle.

But please! If people go out of their way to take care of you (meaning: they let you sleep on their couch), be sure to reciprocate. This is very highly valued in America. Show up with a six-pack of a local microbrew, a bottle of wine, a bit of food. If you can't afford that, do the dishes and maybe some cooking. Be friendly and ready to chat as long as they want to. The better you are as a guest, the better it'll reflect on your culture and on other travelers—so represent yourself well!

5. BE FLEXIBLE.

Avoid making solid plans. Why? Because they'll end up feeling restrictive. If you're not in a rush, you'll be able to capitalize on immediate opportunities. And those opportunities might lead you to some of the best experiences you'll have.

When you meet hosts and travel companions, be available to go on adventures with them. You were headed to Albuquerque? Why not skip that town's glossy windows in favor of a trip to Chaco Mountain? Nine times out of ten, the adventure that falls into your lap will be even more exciting than the one you had planned—and in most cases, you can always come back to your original plan later.

I can't emphasize this enough: The best parts of my journey were the parts I didn't plan. After a certain point, I started letting luck and chance lead me around—and wound up parading through New Orleans, hiking in New Hampshire, meeting intellectual luminaries in Tennessee and Virginia, and being completely fulfilled every step of the way.

That's what it comes down to, in the end. The old adage holds true: you don't need money to be happy, and nowhere is that more apparent than in your travel experiences. The less you sequester yourself in hotels and bars, the more authentically awesome folks you'll meet. And when it comes down to it, America is about the people. Experience this nation from the ground up, and you'll be glad you did.

Happy travels!

Note: Don't Do This!

Hitchhiking - Nope, not safe. Unless you're a crusty punk or a strong-looking guy or a couple traveling with a dog, hitchhiking could turn out to be unpleasant. People in the States tend to be set in their ways, with preconceived notions of others. The most common problem? Nobody will stop to pick you up, except the one vehicle you really don't want to get into. Second most common? You'll be asked to provide "ass, gas or grass," a common rule-of-the-road type of exchange. If you're comfortable with that, have at it. Otherwise, stick with safer methods of transportation.

Staying in cheap motels - Okay, sometimes you'll need a break, and a motel will serve your needs. But throughout America, cheap motels and hotels are notorious for being inhabited by meth addicts. As soon as the sun goes down, you'll start worrying for your personal safety. Not a great way to get a night's sleep.

Traveling in the "off season" - For those with medium-sized budgets, off-season traveling (e.g. visiting Oregon in winter) can be a moneysaver. But if you want to travel for pennies, follow the good weather! You can sleep outdoors someplace in the U.S. throughout the year, so research weather patterns and follow the sun or risk getting stuck in a motel through a snowstorm. (Note: avoid Colorado and New Mexico until May, and make sure you experience New Orleans in October.)