Over the years, I have found several great tools for finding cheap flights, like subscribing to Scott’s Cheap Flights and using Google Flights’ Explore feature. However, other than the tickets to Tahiti we had booked for fewer than 24 hours in December, I haven’t been booking flights. Any of my recent travel has been done by car.
This meant I needed to do some new research on traveling cheaply, including how to save money on gas. Especially when you’re planning a road trip, these tips can save you some serious cash, leaving you with more money to spend on the rest of your trip! My recommendations include:
Download the GasBuddy App
GasBuddy offers a ton of tools to help you save while driving, like their trip cost calculator and their GasBuddy debit card. However, their app is what they’re best known for, which “has saved users over $3.1 billion dollars.” Their app helps you compare local gas prices, unlock exclusive deals and even earn free gas. While Google Maps will show you the prices of gas stations nearby, they don’t offer the same perks as GasBuddy. Speaking of perks…
Take Advantage of Credit Card Perks
While I’ve already shared how I prefer to use my credit cards for travel because of the increased security and ability to dispute charges, another bonus is that you can make money when you use your credit cards on travel! Many credit cards offer increased cashback on travel and/or gas; I have a couple credit cards that offer me 3% back on all my travel expenses, though I have seen some cards go as high as 5% on gas, like the Sam’s Club Mastercard. Your credit card may also provide additional travel perks, like the $300 travel reimbursement I get from my Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Pick Your Favorite Gas Station(s)
If you have gas stations that you prefer already or use frequently, you can take advantage of their gas rewards programs. For example, since I have a RaceTrac just down the road from me, it makes sense for me to use their fuel rewards program, RaceTrac Rewards, and earn points toward free stuff. Depending on the gas station, this can include discounted or free gas. I am familiar with the gas rewards programs for Shell, Exxon Mobil and Speedway, though many gas stations offer their own fuel rewards programs.
Get Your Gas with Groceries
As a Sam’s Club member, I know that I can always get a better price on gas there than anywhere else nearby, so I make a point to fill up when I go grocery shopping. The discounted fuel is a benefit of my paid membership, which Costco also offers to its members. If you’re not a member of a warehouse club, your favorite grocery store may also offer gas benefits. For example, Kroger has a compelling Fuel Points Program that can be used across their family of brands, which includes Harris Teeter and Smith’s Food and Drug.
Carpool with Friends
The original way to save money on gas! Tyler and I split the cost of all gas purchases, but this is a great way to lighten the cost of the trip for everyone. When I took a day trip to Asheville, North Carolina, in January 2020, I was one of five girls, and we took turns purchasing gas. On our road trip around Iceland, Aaron purchased gas and then charged the rest of us for our portion on Venmo. Go with whatever works best for you! Bonus: in addition to being cheaper, carpooling is more eco-friendly, so you can feel good about lowering your impact on the environment by sharing the car and its expenses.