(InvestigateTV) — The average cost of a gallon of regular grade gas is $3.03, according to AAA, meaning the cost of long holiday roads trips can quickly add up.
But Alex Gailey, an analyst with Bankrate, said gas prices aren’t the only thing that impacts travel costs.
Bankrate examined how much Americans spend on gas, and while states like California and Washington are known for high prices at the pump, Gailey pointed to another often-overlooked factor: average annual mileage.
Bankrate analyzed data from AAA and the Federal Highway Administration and found that Americans in more affordable states actually spend more on gas on average.
“The states where drivers are spending the most on gas annually are likely states like Indiana, Wyoming, Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi. These are all states that are generally considered affordable states, places to live,” Gailey pointed out. “But when it comes to gas costs, they tend to be on the higher end annually cause again, although gas prices might be lower, drivers in these states are spending a lot more time on the road.”
Gailey shared two tips to help reduce the costs of long road trips:
Shop around for good gas prices before hitting the road
“The way to do that is to take advantage of free gas apps. There’s AAA and free GasBuddy,” she suggested. “They have all the gas stations that are near you, and you can find the gas station with the lowest prices that you need to fill up on and this is sort of a way you can shop around and compare gas prices in the area that you’re in or maybe if you are traveling across state lines.”
Take advantage of free rewards programs at gas stations
“And then you could also double dip in rewards if you have a cash back credit card that allows you to earn rewards on either gas or just generally on purchases,” she suggested. “So, you could be using your cash back credit card at a pump where you earn rewards from that rewards program, and then you’re earning double rewards for the gas that you’re filling up in your tank.”
There are also many resources online to help save money on road trips:
AAA: How To Save Money on a Road Trip
NerdWallet: How to Save on Road Trips
SoFI: 25 Ways to Cut Costs on a Road Trip
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