Budget Road Trip Tips for Record-Breaking Memorial Day Travel

She watches her air-conditioning usage too. “Just try not to blast it as arctic as possible, because that just puts a strain on the engine and you end up using more gas,” she says.

The DOE recommends a tune-up as well, which could improve fuel economy up to 4 percent — more than 10 cents per gallon.

Pay less at the pump: Try one of the free apps that display prices at gas stations along your route, such as GasBuddy, Google Maps (when navigating, click on Gas at the top) and Waze. Those less comfortable with technology can print out route and gas-price info from the apps’ websites pre-trip. De Haan used this strategy on a recent Mother’s Day road trip and found a station that was a dollar per gallon cheaper than others on the route. (This price was thanks to his proximity to one of the states with a current gas tax holiday.) The lesson: Get in the habit of checking apps before you get gas, he says.

Add in even more savings by enrolling in station loyalty programs, which can net drivers 3 to 10 cents off per gallon — even more, if you add in sign-up bonuses.

Road trip food and lodging savings

Memorial Day weekend travelers would do well to look beyond fuel for savings. Being flexible when it comes to finding food and places to stay is key.

Go for groceries: Lightfield chooses prepared foods and DIY ingredients from grocery stores instead of going to convenience stores and restaurants, or packing lunches at home. She favors the lower costs and better experiences at the markets. It “gives you an opportunity to see local products, especially in the summer,” she says. “You can get local vegetables and local fruits as snacks.”

Build in breakfast: Hotels with free breakfasts are especially helpful on road trips. “Not only does it save money, but it minimizes the ‘Where do we go?’ anxiety at a time when you’ve likely already put enough miles on the car,” French says.

Splurge on lodging flexibility: Book hotels in advance, but consider the possibility that you may travel slower or faster than expected when you're on a road trip. “I recommend making hotel reservations where you pay upon check-in rather than up front. That gives you far more flexibility when plans change,” French says. “Sometimes the rate is a few bucks cheaper if you pay in full up front, but I find that the flexibility to pay later can often be worth it.”

Use member discounts: Says Lightfield: “I’m a member of AAA and AARP, and there are always additional discounts that some of these places will offer you as well.” Warehouse club memberships at places such as Costco, BJ’s and Sam’s Club often have discounts.