'Gas Challenge': Follow the Fowler family

Family log: From Cleveland to New York City (Day 7)
They opened up the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame extra early for us. My brother Juan loved it, my daughters liked the big guitars and visuals.

We took off for New York City to get a good night's sleep before the live shot.

My brother Juan and I are very well-traveled, but my daughters had never been east before. We went through 11 states on the trip. It was really neat to show the kids the different parts of the country because we've spent most of our lives in the West.

Gas prices definitely got lower as we went east, especially in the Midwest. It's annoying to think about how much more we are spending for gas in California.

The number of deer that we saw dead on the road throughout the whole trip was disturbing; I think we saw 14 — very sad.

We didn't meet very friendly people in Chicago and Cleveland, but people everywhere else were really nice. We were very disappointed in the hotel service in every city. None of the desk clerks ever know directions or how to get to other places — very disappointing.  —Joylyn Fowler

Most expensive gas between Los Angeles and New York
Ludlow, Calif.: $2.96/gallon

Cheapest gas between Los Angeles and New York
Howe, Ind.: $1.91/gallon

Total amount spent on gas
Rileys (SUV): $459.27
Fowlers (Midsize): $277.98
Pletchers (Hybrid): $172.67

Gas Mileage
Riley Family (SUV): 17 mpg  (estimate was 15 mpg)
Fowler Family (Midsize):  26 mpg  (estimate was 25 mpg)
Pletcher Family (Hybrid): 42 mpg  (estimate was 40 mpg)

Family log: From Chicago to Cleveland (Day 6)
We got to catch up on sleep at a Chicago hotel near Midway Airport, and then we packed and left.

FREE VIDEO 'Gas Challenge' in Cleveland May 19: The Riley, Fowler and Pletcher families, who are driving across the country in three different vehicles as part of the "Great American Gas Challenge," talk with "Today" show hosts Katie Couric and Matt Lauer from Cleveland. Today show

We stopped at Target to buy some clothes because all of our clothes are dirty; we also got some headphones and batteries and a few other items that we needed for the last few days.

My brother, Juan, wanted to go to the only independently owned Harley Davidson store in the country, and it was near Chicago.

We drove straight to Cleveland and passed the Pletchers driving in their Honda Civic Hybrid. We stopped and traded passengers to mix it up a little bit, so Juan and Brian Pletcher rode in the Ford 500 while Andy Pletcher and I rode for a little while in the Hybrid. The Hybrid is much smaller than our Ford 500, and I definitely value the extra size of the Ford 500.

We took some footage of the kids in the car and interviewed them about the trip.

We only bought gas once and it was $2.09 a gallon in Erie, Ind. We arrived in Cleveland at 9 p.m. —Joylyn Fowler

Total amount spent on gas
Rileys (SUV): $410.20
Fowlers (Midsize): $251.98
Pletchers (Hybrid): $154.27

Gas Mileage
Riley Family (SUV): 17 mpg  (estimate was 15 mpg)
Fowler Family (Midsize):  26 mpg  (estimate was 25 mpg)
Pletcher Family (Hybrid): 39 mpg  (estimate was 40 mpg)

Family log: Kansas City to Chicago (Day 5)
Felt a lot better about the live shot at Kansas Speedway — less nervous and we had pancakes to eat. My friend from the Kansas City area met me at the racetrack and got to hang out with us.

I've never been on a racetrack before, but we got to see behind the scenes. We ate breakfast at the hotel and the kids went swimming, and then we headed for St. Louis.

Stopped in St. Louis to see the arch. We had a nice time at the arch —the tour was very interesting but the tram that takes you up to the top, which was scary because I'm kind of claustrophobic. The kids and my brother, Juan, loved it. We ate at the Spaghetti Factory in St. Louis and then headed to Chicago.

Juan and Janine went to the Chicago White Sox game. They were playing the Rangers, and Janine had a blast.

FREE VIDEO Who's winning the 'Gas Challenge'? May 18: Three families driving from Los Angeles to N.Y. in six days, using three different vehicles, report on their progress and gas mileage in Chicago, as part of the "Great American Gas Challenge." Today show

Lexi and I went to the Sears Tower and rode the elevator up to the top of the sky deck. There was a great view of the whole Chicago area.

We bought gas only twice today, the cheapest was in Higginsville, Mo., and it cost $1.95 a gallon. That's the cheapest we've seen yet. —Joylyn Fowler

Days 1 - 5: Los Angeles to Chicago
Total amount spent on gas
Rileys (SUV): $388.80
Fowlers (Midsize): $211.98
Pletchers (Hybrid): $135.28

Gas Mileage
Riley Family (SUV): 17 mpg  (estimate was 15 mpg)
Fowler Family (Midsize):  26 mpg  (estimate was 25 mpg)
Pletcher Family (Hybrid): 39 mpg  (estimate was 40 mpg)

Family log: Denver to Kansas City
The live shot in Denver was very early but interesting; the Museum of Nature and Science was great — they opened it up early for the kids so they were able to tour it while we were waiting for the live shot to start.

FREE VIDEO Refueling in Kansas City May 17: The three families driving from Los Angeles to N.Y. in six days, using three different vehicles, report on their progress and gas mileage in Kansas City, Kan., as part of the "Great American Gas Challenge." Today show

I was more nervous than the kids during the live shot; my brother Juan was relaxed and enjoyed it. We went to the U.S. Mint in Denver and went on the 10 a.m. tour. Security was really tight — we couldn't even bring in a book with us.

We ate a late breakfast and started driving to Kansas City. The kids were sleeping in the car so we didn't make any stops along the way to see things. We just made pit stops for gas and bathroom breaks.

The cheapest gas we bought today was $1.99 a gallon in Kansas City, Kan. Our Ford 500 is getting about 28 miles per gallon which is better than the estimated 25 mpg expected by the car company. — Joylyn Fowler

Days 1 to 4: Los Angeles to Kansas City, Kan.
Total amount spent on gas
Rileys (SUV): $290.98
Fowlers (Midsize): $151.72
Pletchers (Hybrid): $99.84

Gas mileage
Rileys (SUV): 17 mpg (estimate was 15 mpg)
Fowlers (Midsize): 28 mpg (estimate was 25 mpg)
Pletchers (Hybrid): 39 mpg (estimate was 40 mpg)

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