Someone is Watching
Motorists Unite to Spot Lower Gas Prices

Saving Money on the Road

Where is all this Internet help with gas prices? The site I've been describing can be found at GasPriceWatch.com.

One of the first things you'll notice if you surf the site over time is fairly predictable variations in prices. States like Georgia and South Carolina consistently offer lower gasoline prices than Illinois and California.

There are scores of variables at work: local and state taxes, shipping and supply costs, and whatever else the oil companies wish to offer as explanation. If you'll be traveling this summer, build these differences into your travel budget.

Driving to Florida from the midwest? Try to fill up after crossing into Georgia and again before leaving the state.

Planning on $1.75/gallon for your gas budget? As this is written, that's about the U.S. national average. But you'd better budget more if you're headed to the Northeast, Canada or the Far West.

Mapping Out Deals?

GasPriceWatch offers maps for each gasoline retailer.

So if you're traveling from say, Dayton to Chicago, and you have the laptop along for the ride, you can find the deals along the way.

Proctor makes that trip frequently.

"I know in Spiceland, Indiana, it's cheap," he says. "I know Lebanon is cheap, too. So I can go right to the two cities, check the stations and bargains."

If you can spot a bargain along the way, great. But people who make multi-mile detours to save a few pennies a gallon are killing valuable time and saving very little.

It sounds like obvious advice, but many of us break this first rule of budget travel when we shop for gasoline. The same obsession with prices that makes Proctor's Web site such a success can also cause us to do crazy things.

Beyond Price: Cutting Consumption

Don't just watch the prices--keep a close eye on your vehicle.

About's Guide to Auto Repair is Vince Ciulla. He offers a common sense approach to saving on gas expenses: cut consumption.

This doesn't mean you have to cut your itinerary to the bone. It means you should look at a few other potential problems that will cost you at the pump.

Check Tire Pressure Frequently. Low tire pressure is one of the most common problems on the road. Keeping them fully-inflated could save you a mile per gallon. Vince says that's about half a gallon per tank for free.

Cut Air Conditioning Use. This is true for city-driving at your destination. On longer, high-speed runs, open windows create drag that is more costly than the A/C.

Use Cruise Control. Steady speeds make the engine happier, and your mileage will increase because of it.

Spring for a Tune-Up. Older cars need the attention before you take off. Vince writes that a car which grinds for ten seconds before starting wastes enough gas to take you two miles!

Vince offers more tips in the article than I have quoted, so pay his site a visit after you join the crowds at GasPriceWatch.com.

One parting thought: Gas prices are driven by demand. Don't be too surprised or extremely angry when they shoot upward on Thursday (just in time for the weekend) or a day before your favorite holiday. Beat the dealers at their own game and gas up before the price increase.

The money you save on gasoline might not pay for your hotel bills. But you might gain a few extra park admissions or some nice dinners. If the oil companies get it, their record profits and corporate bonuses get even bigger.