In a tough economy, with the prospect of fuel price increases and with a desire to help the economy while reducing dependence on foreign oil, it makes sense to reduce your fuel consumption using these simple tips provided by The Alliance to Save Energy.
 Whether you are headed to the big city or the great outdoors, you can start saving money on gas even before you hit the road with some planning, basic maintenance, and your driving choices.

Planning your vacation
Get a customized vacation map with low gas prices along the route. Getting lost while driving in unfamiliar areas could lead to an expensive waste of gas. You can find such maps at drivesmarterchallenge.org

Choose the right vehicle
If your family has more than one vehicle, drive the car that gets better gas mileage. Alternatively, you might save money by renting a more economical vehicle for the journey.
When possible, drive during off-peak hours to reduce gas costs and stress by avoiding bumper-to-bumper traffic. Investigate other travel options such as trains or buses to your vacation destination when possible.  
You can also explore new ways to get around at your destination. Find information on biking, public transportation routes, walking, and renting hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicles on the drivesmarterchallenge.org website

Maintenance tips:
Inflate your tires.
Keeping your tires properly inflated improves gas mileage by around 3%.
Select the right oil.  
Using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil improves gas mileage by 1 to 2%. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol contains friction-reducing additives. Change your oil as recommended to extend the life of your vehicle.  
Tune up.  
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%.

Driving tips:
Decrease your speed.  
Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60mph. Each 5mph over 60mph is like paying an additional 20c or more per gallon for gas.  
Drive sensibly.  
Speeding, rapid acceleration, and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds.
Use cruise control and overdrive gear.  
Cruise control cuts fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving. Overdrive gear, when appropriate or where fitted, reduces engine speed, saves gas and reduces engine wear.
Avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof.
A loaded roof rack or carrier increases weight and aerodynamic drag, which can cut mileage by 5%. Place items inside the trunk when possible to improve fuel economy.
Turn down the air.  
Operating the air conditioner on "Max" can reduce mpg by 5-25%, depending on the vehicle.
Avoid idling.
Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.
Navigate with a GPS system.  
GPS systems can help you find your way and, increasingly, GPS programs can search for low-priced gas at nearby stations.
Fill up before returning rental. Rental car companies charge higher gas prices if you don't fill up the tank before returning the vehicle. Keep your gas receipts in case the company requires receipts to remove a gas surcharge.