The Best Ways to Save on Gas for Summer Road Trips

If you’re planning to drive to see the grandchildren, or take them on a road trip, we’ve got some tips for minimizing your fuel bills.

1. Know before you go. You can avoid sticker shock ahead of time by keeping a close eye on gas prices at home, along your route, and at your final destination. AAA offers an online Fuel Gauge Report that lets you track gas prices across the country. By plugging in your vehicle’s model and year, and your start point and destination, the Fuel Cost Calculator tallies up how much gas will cost you before you turn the key in the ignition.

2. If you have a choice of vehicles, drive the one that gets more miles per gallon. We have an SUV that holds an entire T-ball team, but it’s a gas hog. Our little sedan is far more fuel-efficient, seats five, and can hold more in its trunk than you might think possible. It helps that my husband has typical male spatial skills for figuring out the three-dimensional puzzle of how to load it. Small grandkids won’t mind the back seat. Be prepared for a few choruses of “He’s touching me!” and you’ll all arrive at your destination with a few more dollars in your wallet.

3. Pick a place to stay that pays for your gas. Scores of hotels, B&Bs and inns are offering cash rebates or free gas cards to customers who arrive by car this summer. Many other lodgings are reducing room rates to help vacationers defray fuel costs. Check out the latest gas promotions at bedandbreakfast.com and bnbfinder.com. In New Hampshire, the Radisson Hotel Nashua offers a $20-a-night gas rebate to guests. Choice Hotels International — which includes Comfort Inn and Econo Lodge — provides a $50 gas card to frequent customers after three separate stays. These are just a few examples. When you make your reservations, inquire about available promotions. Be sure to check any packages against regular room rates and nearby lodging to verify that you’re getting a real deal.

4. Drive conservatively. You’ll get better gas mileage when you drive at a steady, moderate speed, and start and stop smoothly. Cruise control can help you sustain an even rate on flat highways. Don’t race a cold engine or idle for lengthy periods.

5. Buy cheaper gas. Gas prices vary, even in the same town. No one wants to get caught having to fill up at an isolated service station that jacks up prices for captive customers. Try to buy from less expensive outlets, as long as you don’t have to drive far out of your way to get to the low-price pumps. In unfamiliar territory, gasbuddy.com can help you find the cheapest gas by Zip code.

And don’t pay for premium fuel if your car doesn’t need it. The June 2008 issue of Consumer Reports says, “Even many cars for which premium is recommended will run well on regular. We have found that the differences are imperceptible during normal driving.”

6. Check your tires. Low-rolling-resistance tires will improve your gas mileage one or two miles per gallon, according to Consumer Reports, which rates replacement tires for rolling resistance. A March 2003 report from the Green Seal environmental group recommends low-rolling-resistance tires by brand and model.

Once you’ve got the right tires, make sure they’re properly inflated. The car experts at Edmunds recently found that corporate travelers under-inflated their own tires an average 7 percent. That was costing them an estimated $112 a year in reduced mileage.

7. Check your top. Car designers put a lot of effort into shaping automobiles that slip through the wind aerodynamically. Roping a suitcase, kayak, and bicycle to your roof will cut down on your gas mileage. Try to pack everything in the car, not on top of it.

8. Review your destination. The best way to cut back on gas is to cut back on the miles you drive. If you’ve always spent a week at the seashore, consider a lakefront resort closer to home. Instead of driving all the way to see your grandchildren, ask your kids to drive halfway and meet you in the middle. You’ll have just as much fun and save a bundle by exploring parks and attractions in neighboring states, rather than across the country.

9. Consider RVing. This may seem counterintuitive to tip No. 2 (take your most fuel- efficient car), but it could pay off overall. Calculate how much more you might pay in gas for a recreational vehicle against your possible savings in food and lodging. Campground fees are generally less than staying at a hotel, resort or cottage. And an RV gives you the option of cooking less expensive meals rather than eating out every day.

10. Relax. Carol White, co-author of Live Your Road Trip Dream (RLI Press, 2008) advises, “Don’t over-psychoanalyze this whole thing. AAA says the price of gas is up 61 cents a gallon on average over last year. [Editor’s note: That was May 22, 2008.] A 500-mile road trip in a car that gets 20 miles per gallon will cost $15.25 more than last Memorial Day. So is that any reason to stay home? A Starbucks-free week will save you more than $15.”