Tune-Ups Are Essential

A well-running car burns fuel more efficiently, not to mention bringing its owner peace of mind. Get your car tuned up regularly, change your oil at recommended intervals and follow the recommendations in your owner’s manual. Make it a hobby, or do it with a pal—be accountable. Just do it.

Also, before your trip, improve your gas mileage by up to 3%, according to the Department of Energy, by making sure your tires are properly inflated. If you don’t know how to do it or don’t want to mess with it, a local tire shop will often do it for you if they’re not busy.

Plan Your Route Beforehand And Leave With Plenty Of Time

Nav systems, while an incredible tool for getting from here to there, don’t always provide the most direct route, nor are they 100% reliable, as anyone who’s ever found themselves at a deserted field after hearing “You have arrived at your destination” when looking for a Holiday Inn will attest.

As luddite as it may seem, consider, too, buying an honest-to-goodness Rand McNally map to augment your electronic one and plot out your trip beforehand. If you’ve got children of age aboard, it’s a great way to teach them geography as well.

Set Off On Time

Try to set off on time or early. In the event of a traffic jam or other delay, you’ll have a much less stressful drive and won’t feel the urge to speed, which is the worst thing you can do for mileage.

Drive Slowly And Make Cruise Control Your Buddy

Cars are powerful, alluring beasts, and it’s tempting to give in to doing 70 or even 80 mph on the highway like the other drivers so you’ll “make good time.” But get into the habit of pretending you’re a little old lady in the right lane, with cruise control set to 55 mph, and the gas savings will be significant. This is really one of the best things you can do for mileage. You just have to get over feeling like a lame-o.

Skip Premium Gas And The Bogus Additives

Unless your car pings or knocks or your owner’s manual specifically recommends premium gas, the cheap stuff is just fine. Also, skip any product that claims to deliver better mileage by dumping it into your gas tank. Such products have been proven, time and again, to have zero effect on fuel economy, and some actually have been found to decrease miles per gallon.

Pay Cash At Stations That Charge Extra For Credit Cards

It’s tempting, especially these days when almost all transactions can be done via credit or debit card, to just pay the extra cost of using plastic. But take the time to withdraw a certain amount of cash meant specifically to be used for gasoline, and the extra effort will allow you to put more of those dollars in your pocket rather than giving them to oil companies.

If Your Car Gets Terrible Mileage, Consider Renting

Face it, some vehicles, no matter how carefully you drive them or how well you keep them tuned, chug gasoline. If your ride gets under 15 miles per gallon, it might be cheaper to rent a car both because of the better mileage you can get and because you’ll save wear and tear on your main ride.

Check into rentals and try to develop relationships with local rental outlets. You may be able to negotiate a good deal and take your trip in a nice, new ride whose maintenance is someone else’s responsibility.

Buy A Locking Gas Cap And Use It

There are thieves who prowl hotel parking lots and shopping malls, siphon in hand, looking to relieve motorists of their gas, especially if a car has out-of-state plates. Stop these thefts by installing a locking gas cap.

Apps To Help Save Money

GasBuddy, AAA, Google Maps, Waze and similar tools can help locate cheaper stations nearby or along a route.

GasBuddy, for example, says its app can show station prices, map road trips and track fuel usage; its paid fuel program advertises additional per-gallon savings. I personally use Gas Buddy first.

The trick is not to chase a three-cent discount 11 miles off course. Search ahead, especially before entering expensive corridors, remote areas or tourist towns where fuel prices fatten up like raccoons behind a diner. Even if you’re driving state-to-state, prices can very widely. Any city is going to charge more for the red stuff. Sometimes a lot more.

Rewards programs can also help you save dough, but only when they match how you already drive. Major fuel chains, grocery stores, warehouse clubs and credit cards offer cents-off-per-gallon deals. The trap is buying more stuff to “save” on gas. The win is using a card or loyalty account you would already use, then taking the discount without changing your behavior.

When To Buy Gas

Unlike electric vehicles, where the time of day you charge affects price, gas savings are usually less about the clock and more about location, competition and planning. Morning fill-ups may be more pleasant and less crowded, but apps and route planning are more reliable.

Recommendation To Capture The Ride

Finally, if you’re a content creator or pro photographer or even a beginner, investing in a for-real camera is an essential part of feeling and composing shots and videos as though you’re serious, and you can use your gas-saving money for the cause.

The Nikon Zf Silver 24-70mm Lens Kit is a smart road-trip camera, its full-frame mirrorless body equipped with a 24.5-megapixel sensor and Nikon’s 24-70mm f/4 zoom lens. That lens is the sweet spot for travel because it’s wide enough for mountain roads, ocean overlooks and motel signs, but tight enough for portraits, dashboards, diners and roadside curiosities. You can even selfie with it—it’s one of the easiest-to-use units the company has ever made. The kit generally sells for about $2,600 to $2,800, depending on retailer and current discounts.