HOW TO AFFORD SUMMER ROAD TRIPS AMID HIGH GAS PRICES

A summer road trip used to be a cost-effective, easy getaway. This year, soaring gas prices and expensive rental cars might make you think twice about hitting the road.

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According to the American Automobile Association, a federation of motor clubs throughout North America, the average gas price was $4.60 per gallon nationally before Memorial Day weekend. Some experts believe the national average might even top $5 later in the summer.

Plus, rental car prices hit record highs during the pandemic, up 38.6% in February 2022 versus February 2020, according to a NerdWallet analysis of U.S. Consumer Price Index inflation data.

But those roadblocks don’t necessarily mean you have to put the brakes on travel completely. You might just have to shift your road trip plans. Here’s how.

CONSIDER CHANGING YOUR DESTINATION

If you’re open-minded about your vacation destination, consider driving through a region with below-average gas prices. On June 1, 10 states had average gas prices below $4.30 per gallon for regular grade gasoline, according to AAA data.

Those states, ranked from cheapest to most expensive, were:

1. Georgia

2. Arkansas

3. Kansas

4. Mississippi

5. Oklahoma

6. Missouri

7. Louisiana

8. Nebraska

9. South Carolina

10. Texas