13 Thrifty Ideas for Your Next Roadtrip

If you’re not taking a staycation this summer, chances are you’re driving to a nearby destination. But do you know the best ways to save money when you hit the road? The Alliance to Save Energy came up with these 13 thrifty ideas that you can put to good use on your next roadtrip.

1. Get a customized vacation map with low gas prices along the route. Getting lost while driving in unfamiliar areas could lead to an expensive waste of gas and unnecessary disputes among passengers. You can use online resources to print a customized vacation map that highlights low-cost gas stations along your route.
2. Choose the right vehicle for your trip. If your family has more than one vehicle, drive the car that gets better gas mileage if possible. (OK, so I don’t 100% agree with this advice since if you’re traveling with kids, you want to choose the car that makes your trip as pleasant as possible. In our case our crossover vehicle is less fuel efficient than our sedan, but the crossover has more space and a DVD system.)
3. When possible, drive during off-peak hours. Hitting the road at the crack of dawn or late at night helps to reduce gas costs and stress by avoiding stop-and-go or bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions. Then again, if you have to drive through a major metropolitan area, like Chicago or New York, you’re likely to find rush hour traffic on the roads at all times of the day.
4. Inflate your tires. Keeping your tires properly inflated improves gas mileage by around 3%.
5. Select the right oil. Using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil improves gas mileage by 1 to 2%. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol contains friction-reducing additives. Change your oil as recommended to extend the life of your vehicle. And, those taking the Drive $marter Challenge can get a $10 coupon towards the purchase of Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy motor oil.
6. Tune up your car before you leave. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%.
7. Decrease your speed. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 mph. Each five miles per hour over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents or more per gallon for gas.
8. Drive sensibly. Speeding, rapid acceleration (jackrabbit starts), and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds.
9. Use cruise control and overdrive gear. Cruise control cuts fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving. Overdrive gear, when appropriate, reduces engine speed, saves gas, and reduces engine wear.
10. Avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof. A loaded roof rack or carrier increases weight and aerodynamic drag, which can cut mileage by 5%. Place items inside the trunk when possible to improve fuel economy.
11. Turn down the AC. Operating the air conditioner on “Max” can reduce mpg by 5-25% compared to not using it.
12. Avoid idling. You get 0 mpg when your car is idling. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.
13. Navigate with a GPS system. GPS systems can help you find your way and, increasingly, GPS programs can search for low-priced gas at nearby stations.

Don’t forget to bring plenty of snacks and drinks from home so that you don’t have to spend money on food at overpriced rest stops.