Hitting the Kansas roads for Memorial Day weekend? Here’s how to save on gas costs

As many families gear up to travel this Memorial Day, there’s one thing that they should take into account: the gas prices, which now average $4.09 per gallon in Kansas. This time last year, gas prices averaged $2.83, according to AAA’s website.

A survey conducted by the American Hotel and Lodging Association found that while 69% said they are likely to travel this summer, 90% of Americans say gas prices are a consideration when deciding to travel within the next three months.

And there are no signs of the prices going down anytime soon.

“Currently prices are trending upward, there’s different factors playing into that,” AAA Kansas Manager of Public and Government Affairs Shawn Steward said. “Obviously the global market and the situation with Russia and Ukraine has been playing a role in higher gas prices for quite a while now, we’re also getting into a busy summer travel season, as in a typical year demand goes up for gas this time of year.”

Despite the high prices, AAA predicts 329,000 Kansans will travel over the holiday, which is up 10% compared to last year.

But don’t worry, Steward said that there are ways to save both money and gas mileage.

Steward recommends drivers shop around for the best gas prices instead of just going to the first station they see. AAA has a mobile app that shows the closest gas stations and their prices. There is also the GasBuddy app, where you can search for gas prices and track rewards.

“You can also take advantage of store discounts, like in our area sometimes grocery stores or club stores have discounts, some gas retailers have discount cards, so take advantage of those where possible,” Steward said.

Tips for better gas mileage

To get better gas mileage, Steward said to:

• Get a car tune-up

• Keep tires aired up

• Stick to the speed limit

• Avoid accelerated starts

• Unload any excess weight

To avoid traffic, travelers should drive during off-peak hours. Thursday and Friday are predicted to be the busiest days on the road in Kansas this week.