Many counselors advise starting near home. Most people, even in rural areas, live within a day’s drive of a state university or at least one private college. So start with those to create a point of comparison without having to spend a night in a hotel. Visiting doesn’t mean you have to apply. It’s just a way to gauge what you’re comfortable with.

“There’s no reason to break the bank traveling for your first visit,” said Michael B. Horn, author of a new book, “Choosing College.”

Another easy first step is to take a “virtual” tour, which most schools offer on their websites. Typically narrated by an upbeat student, the tours offer a quick look at the campus and its surroundings.

Tacking on a campus visit to family vacations, or having a student piggyback on a parent’s business trip, can help keep costs down. Sharing visits with other families — having your child tag along on a friend’s trip, and returning the favor — can also save on travel costs. If your child is mature enough to travel alone, Ms. Barad said, a one-day visit might work, saving money on airfare.

Once you have a feel for what the student likes, various online tools — Naviance is one offered by some school districts — can help narrow down the choices by matching the college’s criteria like grades and test scores with the student’s preferences.

If the college has a hotel on or near campus, that’s often a good choice because you’ll get the feel of the school and its environs, Ms. Carlton said. Many colleges have recently upgraded their campus hotels. One company even specializes in building hotels in college towns.

College admissions websites typically recommend hotels. Hotels near campus often offer discounted rates for visiting students. And check Airbnb options. “Stay as close to campus as you can afford,” Ms. Carlton said.