Cut costs on your summer road trip

Americans have loved the open road seemingly from the day that the automobile was invented. This year, the rising cost of gas could threaten one of the season's most cherished traditions: the summer road trip. Here are some fuel-saving (and cost-cutting) tips for summer's road warriors.

Plan Shorter, Smarter Trips

While you don't have to stay sequestered at home this summer, it might not be the year to plan your cross-country odyssey along Route 66. The simplest way to save money on your money road trip is to shorten the distance traveled. If your family makes an annual trek to the coast, look for lakefront vacations closer to home. If your family has a favorite camping spot, check around for similar outdoor opportunities nearer to you. Less time on the road will help you cut costs (and may help you preserve your sanity).

Car Choices
If you have more than one vehicle, of course you’ll want to choose the most fuel-efficient option whenever only one car is needed. If you need to transport a large group, however, you may save gas by packing everyone into one larger, less fuel efficient vehicle rather than splitting everyone into two smaller, more efficient cars.

In Tune

Keeping up with car maintenance is a cost effective way to improve the vehicle's fuel efficiency. By scheduling regular tune ups, checking and changing dirty air filters, using the recommend motor oil and keeping tires inflated to factory specifications, you can improve fuel economy by as much as 19% overall.

Equivalent Gas Savings: *
-Regular Tune Ups $.15 per gallon
-Clean Air Filters: $.37 per gallon
-Fully Inflated Tires: up to $.11 per gallon
-Using Correct Motor Oil: $.04 to $.07 per gallon

Fuel Smart

Only use the grade of gas required for your car (as stated in the owners manual). Putting premium fuel into a car that recommends regular won’t help your fuel efficiency and will hurt you more at the pump. If Premium is recommended but not required, fueling up with regular should not result in any significant change in engine performance.

Ideal Speed

Each vehicle reaches optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), but in general mileage decreases rapidly as you pass 60mph.

Equivalent Gas Savings: $.26-.$86 per gallon (for each 5mph over 60mph)

Avoid Traffic

While no one seeks out traffic, getting stuck in gridlock burns fuel needlessly. Idling gets 0 miles a gallon, and larger engines usually waste more gas idle than smaller models.

Cruise Control/Overdrive

Cruise control can help you avoid unnecessary acceleration and deceleration (which wastes gas), while using the overdrive gearing lowers your car’s engine speed (which both improves gas efficiency and reduces engine wear).

Packing Light

Every 100 lbs added to your vehicle’s weight reduces fuel economy by 1-2%. Extra weight affects smaller cars more drastically than larger vehicles.

Equivalent Gas Savings: $.04-$.07/gallon for each 100 lbs

Packing Right

While roof racks and roof-top bins are useful, they increase your car’s drag and can sap the fuel economy by as much as 21%. Even empty roof-rack cross bars cut fuel efficiency by around 1%. Pack only what you can fit inside your vehicle and remove empty roof-racks if possible.
Gas Prices at Your Destination

When budgeting your transportation costs, don't forget that the gas pumps at your destination may not be as forgiving (or, perhaps, as staggering) as those in your neighborhood. If you're trying to keep costs down, keep an eye on gas prices around the endpoint of your trip and along your route (should you need to refuel along the way).

*Cost savings are based on a fuel price of $3.72 per gallon. Data provided courtesy of www.fueleconomy.gov.