Clean & Green: Tips For Road Trips

The summer travel season is upon us.

With Memorial Day weekend in the rearview mirror, it’s time for Arkansas travelers to begin the annual pilgrimage known as the summer vacation. You may fly to a vacation destination this year – air travel is on the rise – but chances are you will get in your trusty family car and hit the road, jack.

One reason travel and tourism officials have high hopes this year is that gas prices are about the same as last year. The national average price of gasoline was $3.46 a gallon last week, just 2 cents higher than during last year’s Memorial Day weekend.

Here are some green tips for keeping your car in good condition, your trip enjoyable, and helping put some cash in your pocket:

1. Keep steady tire pressure. Performing regular maintenance on your car is the best way to keep it running in an efficient manner. One of the easiest ways to do this is to make sure the tire pressure is always consistent. Tires that wear evenly actually last longer – and can postpone the need for repair or replacement. It can also save you up to $75 each year.

2. Change your tires, if necessary. Switching to low resistance rolling tires can help you save an additional $100 a year. These type of tires provide the most fuel efficiency and the investment will prove to be a wise one over the year.

3. Take a load off. Carrying around an extra 100 pounds in your care reduces fuel economy by about 1 percent. So we’re not recommending that you go on a crash diet. Take a few moments to unload your cargo area and anything unnecessary you don’t need for your trip.

These tips could save you about $200 a year. Combined with a number of tips we shared with you a few weeks ago, you could add another $350 a year in savings. Hey, that money could help finance your next vacation.

You can listen to our weekly Sustainability Report here.