'Gas Challenge': Follow the Fowler family

Days 1 to 3: Los Angeles to Grand Canyon to Denver
The trip: Fowler family (Midsize)

Day 1
We had a tough time packing our stuff for the trip, but now we have learned to use the deep trunk space better and we have a lot more room — there’s lots of room in the trunk of the Ford 500 even though it's a midsize.

FREE VIDEO Great gas challenge May 16: Three families driving across the country in different cars talk with "Today" hosts Matt Lauer and Katie Couric about how gas prices are affecting their vacation. Today show

Los Angeles traffic was really bad on Friday — we weren't going more than 20 mph until we were out of the L.A./Riverside basin, which was about 4 hours into the trip. It took us 5 hours just to get to Barstow.

It was stinkbug season in Kingman — the bugs were all over the parking lot of the gas station and they got in my hair. It was really gross.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon at 1 a.m.

Day 2
We did a combination bus-river raft tour of the Grand Canyon. We left at 7 a.m. and didn't get back until almost 6 p.m. It was a great trip. The kids loved the raft tour, and it was beautiful down on the Colorado River.

We got a late start out of Grand Canyon and went as far as we could before stopping at Blanding, Utah. We found out that not everything on a trip is decided by money and budgets, so we stopped at the first hotel we could on Saturday night because I couldn't drive anymore. It was more about time and convenience than the money.

Day 3
We stopped at Arches National Monument in Utah — it's one of the most beautiful places in Utah and not as well-traveled as the Grand Canyon. We spent 2 hours there. The park has a junior ranger program there with activities for kids, and they show the ranger what they accomplished. The kids earned junior ranger badges. Afterwards, we drove to Denver to stay at the the Burnsley All-Suite Hotel.

The cheapest gas we've seen so far was $2.23 per gallon in Kingman, Ariz. The most expensive gas was $2.35 per gallon in Kayenta, Ariz. — Joylyn Fowler

Total amount spent on gas
Riley Family (SUV): $194.13
Fowler Family (Midsize) $114.22
Pletcher Family (Hybrid) $60.41

Gas mileage
Riley Family (SUV): 17 mpg
Fowler Family (Midsize): 27 mpg
Pletcher Family (Hybrid): 40 mpg

MORE FROM TODAY

Today Section Front

Brazil custody dad ‘discouraged but determined’ Missing mom’s home searched again for clues Bye Kirsten: American Girl retires doll Sarah Jessica Parker ‘shocked’ at Grant’s nails Grandma is glad ‘bad boy’ who beat her is in jail Ambush! Luxurious new look for laid-off mom Court to decide value of man’s best friend Bernanke is TIME’s 2009 Person of the Year TODAY’s Moment of the Week Meredith Baxter plans to write a memoir Today Section Front   Add Today headlines to your news reader: