It happens every summer: Just as you’re preparing for a long-awaited road trip, gas prices shoot skyward. This June, the national average price per gallon hit $3.460, according to AAA, but it was already close to $5.00 in some states. Prices are expected to continue rising as temperatures increase, as is typical every year.
Does that mean you should stay home until October? Definitely not! But before you travel, it’s a good idea to brush up on tips for reducing your gas costs. Read on to find out how to save money on gas and improve your fuel economy this summer.
5 ways to save money on gas
1. Adjust your driving habits
You’ve probably heard that certain driving habits improve your fuel economy. But everyone has different ideas about what works best. To find out what’s actually effective, Edmunds tested various so-called gas savings tips.
Here’s how much each one improved their average fuel economy:
- 31%: Slower acceleration and braking
- 19%: Less frequent idling
- 12%: Reducing highway speed from 75 to 65 MPH
- 7%: Using cruise control
- 0%: Inflating tires to the recommended pressure
Contrary to popular belief, tire inflation levels aren’t necessarily significant in your gas mileage.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, inflating them to the recommended pressure improves fuel economy by just 0.6%, while other moves like removing rooftop cargo can improve fuel economy by up to 8% in city driving, 17% on the highway and 25% at interstate speeds up to 75 MPH.
Perhaps even more surprisingly, turning off the air conditioner is unlikely to improve gas mileage in modern cars.
2. Maintain your vehicle
You can maximize your mileage by following the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations and replacing defective and faulty parts immediately.
According to Kelley Blue Book, these parts will send you back to the gas pump sooner if they’re overdue for replacement:
- Bad oxygen sensors cut your fuel economy by 40%
- Bad ignition coils eat up 20% more fuel
- Clogged air filters make older engines around 10% less efficient
3. Plan ahead
As fun as it is to make spontaneous trips, traveling is more affordable when you plan ahead. To avoid ultra-high gas prices, skip road trips on holiday weekends like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
You’ll also find that gas prices hit their peak in late summer, so May and June can be better times to plan a vacation.
For further savings, fill up your tank when prices are low. You might find that gas prices are cheaper on Mondays or Tuesdays.
4. Use price-comparison tools
Fortunately, you don’t have to drive past every gas station in town to find the cheapest prices. These days, you can use a variety of apps and services that show you the cost per gallon at multiple stations. Here are some free tools to try:
- AAA’s TripTik: Use it to plan your vacation routes and then see icons showing gas stations and prices along the way.
- Gas Buddy: Search for the best gas prices by zip code, brand and payment method.
- Gas Guru: Use the app to see a map or list of the cheapest gas prices in your area.
5. Try a gas rewards program
There’s a chance you have a store loyalty card that gives you discounts on gas. For example, Kroger (the parent company of Fred Meyer), Love’s and several wholesale clubs offer discounts for people who use their loyalty cards or have store memberships.
At Costco, which GasBuddy has recognized as the cheapest fuel station in the U.S. for five years in a row, gas can cost an average of $0.30 less per gallon than other brands.
You can buy gas from this wholesale club if you’re a Costco member or have a Costco Shop card.
Gas discount comparison for loyalty programs
| Pay with GasBuddy card | Love’s App | Kroger or Fred Meyers Shoppers Card | |
| Membership fee | Free | Free | Free |
| Discount (per gallon) | Up to $0.25 | $0.10 | $0.03 |
| Rewards | N/A | N/A | 1 fuel point per $1 spent |
| Where you can use it for gas | Most gas stations | Love’s locations in 40 states | Kroger Fuel Centers, some Shell locations |
Another option is using a rewards credit card that gives you cash back or points when you buy gas. But even if it has no annual fee, many of these cards now have APR ranges up to nearly 30%.
So unless you pay off your full credit card balance each month, the fees will far outweigh the rewards. On top of that, gas stations charge an average fee of $0.05 to $0.10 per gallon when you use a credit card to buy gas.
Why is gas more expensive during the summer?
As the heat rises, so do gas prices. Inflation hits the pump every summer for several reasons, including gas stations switching to a pricier summer blend of fuel.
However, one of the leading causes is increased travel, which means there is more gas demand.
To put it in context, the Federal Highway Administration reported that drivers traveled nearly 55 billion more highway miles in August of 2023 than in February of the same year.
Occasionally, state and national policies have a positive impact on prices. For example, a gas tax holiday or the presidential administration’s release of oil reserves can cause (mostly minor) price drops.
Still, international conflicts have been a stronger force for high prices in recent years.
Written by Sarah Brady | Edited by Rose Wheeler
Sarah Brady is a financial writer and speaker who’s written for Forbes Advisor, Investopedia, Experian and more. She is also a former Housing Counselor (HUD) and Certified Credit Counselor (NFCC).