Gasoline
Gas prices are through the roof in most of the United States right now. You may be surprised to learn that gas costs less in Missouri, due to Missouri's lower sales tax rate. That being said, there are still ways to save a few bucks on gasoline.
Go to gasbuddy.com before your trip and find out which stations on your route have the best prices on gasoline. If possible, fill up your gas tank at gas stations in the larger cities on your route. There are smaller gas stations that stand alone (without any buildings near them) near interstate exits, and they charge more per gallon. The owners figure that if you wait until you almost run out of gasoline before you fill up your gas tank, you'll pay their exorbitant prices.
If you drive a SUV or a 8 cylinder gas guzzler, consider renting a car with a 4 cylinder engine to save money on gasoline. Just because a car has a 4 cylinder engine doesn't necessarily mean it's a small car. Our family's current vehicle is a 2010 Jeep Patriot, which is an SUV with a 4 cylinder engine. There is room for 5 people to ride comfortably, an area in the back for luggage, and a roof rack for even more luggage (but we usually don't need that). During our maiden voyage with the Patriot to Branson last year, we went from southwest Illinois to Branson on almost a full tank of gas. We stopped at Quik Trip in Ozark to top off the tank.
While you're driving on the interstate, follow the speed limit and keep acceleration and passing to a minimum. This will also help you save money on gasoline. Make sure your tires are filled to the proper air pressure and you have a clean air filter. This will help your gas mileage. It's not a bad idea to check all the fluid levels in your vehicle for leaving for Branson, or for any trip. It's no fun being stranded on the side of the road with an overheated radiator. If it's warm enough to roll down the windows, use the air conditioner instead - you will save money on gas. Driving with the windows open at highway speeds produces a drag that causes the vehicle to use more fuel.
Food
It is about a 4 hour drive from our house to Branson, so we always stop in either Lebanon or Rolla for lunch. All of the bigger cities along Highway 44 have the usual fast food restaurants, so bring your fast food coupons and save some money on lunch. Or you can pack a picnic lunch and eat at one of the rest areas on the way.
Rest areas
There are some very nice rest areas on Highway 44 in Missouri. The buildings are clean and modern, and one that I know of has a playground for kids to burn off some energy before hitting the road again. Most rest areas have vending machines with food, soda, etc. However, the prices are expensive. Save money by bringing your own snacks, soda, and water from home.
If you don't have room for a large cooler in your vehicle, purchase a collapsible or soft sided cooler. They are relatively inexpensive. We used one of these for the first time last year on our trip to Branson. When we got to the hotel, we emptied out the leftover water and ice in the bathtub and wiped out the inside with a towel. When we were ready to head home, we then got a bag of ice from the gas station for the cooler. Collapsible coolers also have shoulder straps, which come in handy for picnic lunches or packing up the car.
If you have any other suggestions for saving money on a road trip, please comment below. Hope this post was helpful! Until next time -
Happy travels!
Diane
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