Spring break is a popular time for college students to travel. The semester has reached its mid-point, and the students know that spring break is their last chance to get some good quality fun in before the schoolwork picks up as the end of the semester and finals draw near.

Some students are able to just go wherever they want for spring break and now worry about cost. The majority of students, want to be able to go somewhere, but may not be able to pay for everything that they might want to do. Lack of funds doesn't mean spring break has to be a total wash though.  As a matter of fact, it is completely possible to have an awesome spring break and mind your budget at the same time.  Just follow the tips below, and you will be on your way to having the time of your life, without having to constantly worry about breaking the bank.

Air travel will likely get you to your destination the fastest, but it is generally the most expensive option as well. Try to take advantage of specials if you can find any available. It is also a good option to try to travel with discount airlines like Southwest and Jetblue, who often offer flight specials for less than $200 round trip. (Some flights on SouthWest have gone for as low as $98 round trip!) These discount airlines also do not charge as much for baggage check, if at all.

The next less expensive way to travel is by train.  Amtrak offers excellent seasonal deals, but only to select destinations.  However, travel by rail is often considerably less and sometimes even half the price of travel by air.  If you live outside of the United States, your options will be much greater and most likely less expensive given the more highly developed rail system in Europe, and parts of Asia.

One of the least expensive ways to travel is driving.  Driving is also the option that consumes the most travel time.  If time is really not an issue, and the destination is reachable by car - driving might be the least budget busting option.  Driving is not free though.  Be sure to consider the cost of fuel and tolls as you plan your trip.  Many websites offer real-time updated gas price statistics, making this part of the trip much easier to plan.  Because driving does take more time, also factor in some snack, drink, and meal costs if you decide not to bring your own.

Arguably the very least expensive way to travel is by bus.  Often times, it costs less to ride a bus than it would to drive - once you factor in the meal, fuel, and toll costs.  Greyhound does a great job of providing nationwide transportation service that is affordable and usually comfortable.  For more local trips, a local trailway might be even more reasonably priced.  Other bus services such as BoltBus and MegaBus offer regional city fares sometimes for as low as $2 round trip if booked far enough in advance - and with BoltBus you can also get free WiFi access!

While travel is an important part of your spring break, where you will sleep is also an important matter.  The most budget concious option is to stay with a friend (if they live in the area that you are traveling to for spring break).  If this is not an option, plenty more abound. 

Depending on your preferences you can check into cheap area motels, or try to snag a really good deal on a hotel or resort at a website like priceline.com.  The other inexpensive accomodation option you may have is finding a local campground, and making an effort to "rough it" for a few days.  Camping is a great option, and at an average price of $10 is a money smart option as well.

Using price comparison websites such as Kayak.com will also ensure that you get the best price possible on your travel tickets, and hotel reservations.  Some comparison services even let you name your own price for airline tickets and hotel reservations.  Check out the links to the right for a few more helpful comparison shopping resourcesl.