Brand new to traveling and need advice

[heartrn112]

I am a nurse from Rock Hill sc, I have been a nurse since 2007 and have decided to make the leap and take a traveling assignment. I have always been interested but never had the nerve to do it. I have a 4 year old son, and thankfully, I have a very strong support system here at home who he will be with for the 8-12 weeks that I will be away. I have signed the contract and am now thinking ahead to how to get there (the drive is 26 hours). I was, at first planning to drive it, alone, but now that I have less than 4 days before I need to leave, I am wondering if I should pay the extra and fly and then get a rental when I get there. Does anyone have any experience with this or have any suggestions? I know my mileage will be reimbursed if I drive but will it be if I fly?

[NedRN]

Your travel pay is usually a fixed sum. As it happens, mileage is often more than air fare when you consider the IRS allowed (and real costs of car ownership) of 56 cents a mile. If you itemize your tax return now, you may find an additional savings if your mileage is greater than agency travel pay (which it always is).

I think you will find taking your own car is more convenient, and considerable less costly than air fare/ car rental. It will also give you more flexibility at the end of the assignment. Car rental would also be tax deductible as an offset though.