One of the biggest costs of most summer road trips is the gas, but there are some easy ways to save money along the way.
GasBuddy is one of several apps-- like Gas Guru and Waze-- that promise consumers an easy way to find the cheapest prices for fuel, and costs are much lower this year. A gallon of gas is about a dollar less than in 2014.
Better prices at the pump mean more families are planning summer road trips, and GasBuddy's petroleum analyst Allison Mac says motorists can save even more by following a few simple rules.
1.Convenient gas is not cheap
Steer clear of stations off the highway because property taxes and real estate affect gas prices.
"Take that opportunity to even drive a couple of blocks further into town, and usually prices are about 10 cents a gallon cheaper, which is a huge difference," said Mac.
2. Pay in cash
Some stations offer cash discounts because they save money by eliminating credit card fees.
"About 10 to 15 percent of the nation's gas stations are actually doing this," said Mac.
3. Buy from Arco or Costco
"Those two companies always tend to be cheaper than the rest of the other gas stations," said Mac.
GasBuddy also recommends saving money on gas by driving with fuel conservation in mind. Avoid high speeds, keep windows closed, and use air conditioning sparingly.
