Photo: nata-lunata (Shutterstock)
If you’re one of the 39 million or so Americans who plan to drive somewhere for Memorial Day weekend, I’m sure you already know that it will cost ya. The nationwide average price for a gallon of gas is $4.60 a gallon, and it’s about $6 a gallon in some states.
While your start-of-summer vacation is going to be expensive, there are some ways you can mitigate the cost that don’t involve buying an electric car or taking up long-distance bicycling. Here are some tips for cutting gasoline costs on a roadtrip:
Track down the cheapest gas in your area: Prices fluctuate from gas station to gas station. So track down the cheapest petrol prices with an app like Gasbuddy, or just search for “gas station” on Google Maps for a snapshot of local prices. “Club” stores like Costco or Sam’s Club often have the lowest gas prices, although whether it’s enough to offset the yearly membership fee depends on how often you shop at those kind of places. Tune up your car: Your car becomes gradually less efficient as you use it, so it might be worth taking your car in so a mechanic to tweak your tire pressure, alignment, onboard computer, and other changes that ensures maximum fuel efficiency. Pay in cash: It’s a pain in the ass, but paying in cash at the gas station can save you between 5 and 10 cents a gallon, and sometimes even more: Some gas stations charge up to a dollar more per gallon for card users. Sign up for a loyalty program: Big gas station chains offer customer loyalty programs that give you discounts and/or free money to spend at local stores. Sign up for one. Here’s a deeper dive into bigger gas station chains’ loyalty programs.Drive during off-peak hours: Not only is it more pleasant to not be in a traffic jam, it’s also more fuel efficient. Here are the best times to travel this holiday weekend. Be a more efficient driver: Driving efficiently can save you a surprising amount of gasoline and thus money. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, reducing your speed by 5 to 10 mph can improve fuel economy by 7%–14%; that’s saving $.64 a gallon.Keep your car more aerodynamic: Make your car more fuel efficient by keeping the windows closed, not using the roof rack, and packing as lightly as possible. Cancel your trip: Not going anywhere is the new going somewhere, and “gas prices are just too high” is a great excuse to not drive to your brother-in-law’s house in Dubuque.
