One of the cheapest road trips imaginable is possible during the slow travel period after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.
Between November 29 and December 15, Thrifty is offering mid-size rental cars at a daily rate of just a buck. There are some stipulations, of course: Rentals must be picked up at one of 13 Thrifty agencies in the Northeast, including one in Manhattan (83rd Street, specifically), or at airports such as Boston, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Hartford, Burlington, and Philadelphia. To get the $1-a-day rate, rentals must also be dropped off in no more than one week's time at a choice of 27 locations in Florida, including lots at major airports such as Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville.
If you can meet these criteria, a car can be yours for $1 a day (plus taxes, fees, and insurance if necessary). So how much will you really pay? For example, a rental in early December with a pickup in Hartford and a dropoff in Jacksonville costs just under $46 for an entire week, including taxes and fees but not insurance.
Considering that nowadays it's often difficult to get one day's rental for under $50, this is quite a deal.