Summer rooms with a view — and a tank of gas

By Genevieve S. Brown

updated 6:14 p.m. ET May 10, 2006

Nothing says summer like a road trip, but with gas prices hovering around $3 per gallon, travelers may reconsider their summer plans to hit the open road. Is it possible that flying to your destination could actually be cheaper than taking the car?

Consider my plans to visit Washington D.C. -- from New York City, about 500 miles round-trip. I estimate I would have to fill my tank a minimum of three times at $40 per fill-up. That's $120 in gas, plus roughly $20 in tolls. I'll cross my fingers that I won't have to pay for parking.

A round-trip flight costs $149 on several carriers for a July weekend, before factoring the cost of transportation to and from the airport or airport parking. Driving, if you're concerned with costs alone and get great mpg, like I do, wins out. But when you factor in other variables like traffic, travel time, etc., the decision to drive to your destination isn't necessarily an easy one.

The fact is, there are several ways for me to get to Washington D.C. this summer that are far cheaper than driving or flying because it is a popular and oft-traveled route. If that isn't the case for your summer plans, it is still worth investigating the most affordable way to get to your destination. In other words: Don't assume driving will save you money.

Gas and money saving tips
The less gas you use, the less money you'll spend at the pump. But before you even get going, find out where the cheapest gas is near your house by visiting GasBuddy.com. Do a search by zip code and you'll see an updated list of gas prices at stations near you.

When you get on the road, use these five tactics to make your fuel go further:

• Only use the grade of fuel you need. If your car does not require premium fuel, don't get it. Check your owner's manual before the next time you fill up. If your car only requires regular fuel, stick to that.
  
  
• Use your cruise control -- especially on stretches of flat road. This will stop you from unconsciously speeding up and losing fuel.
  
  
• Ease into a stop. Slamming on your brakes wastes gas. When you see that you need to slow down, ease off the gas and onto the brakes smoothly.
  
  
• Use your air-conditioning. It is a popular myth that a car's air-conditioning wastes gas. However, having the windows open while driving on the highway will actually increase the drag on your car and force it to use more fuel to compensate.
  
  
• Keep your tires inflated. Letting the air get low will force your car to work harder and use more gas.

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