Are you about to embark on a long-distance road trip but don’t want to guzzle gas? A more fuel-efficient road trip is better for the environment and your wallet considering the price of gas these days! Below, we’ll show you how to make your next road trip more eco-friendly.

Give Your Vehicle a Thorough Checkup

You’ll want to bring in your vehicle for a thorough inspection and checkup before even thinking about packing for or planning your route. These long drives take their toll on vehicles, so ensuring it’s ready for the long haul is an excellent road trip safety tip. The time to get the oil and air filters changed and tires rotated is before setting out on your journey—for your and your car’s sake.

Consider New, Green Tires

While you’re getting your car checked, the tires should be a key focus in the inspection to ensure they can handle the road trip. Swap out your expiring tires proactively, and consider greener, more fuel-efficient tires when you do.

The thing to know about eco-friendly tires is they’re better for the environment in more ways than one. First, they contain sustainable and eco-friendly materials and have a lower rolling resistance, meaning they’re much more fuel-efficient over long periods.

Plan Your Route and Stops

Plan your route to the smallest detail to make your next road trip more eco-friendly. You don’t want to waste time and fuel driving around, looking for food, gas, or lodging for the night. Planning a road trip is easier than ever, thanks to mobile apps and in-car GPS systems. Plan your stops so that you can eat, fuel up, and relax, minimizing wasted detours and stops.

Pack Only the Essentials

You don’t have to be an automotive fuel-efficiency expert to understand that the lighter your car is, the less energy it needs to move and the less fuel it burns. While it may be tempting to pack as much as you can into your vehicle, you’ll want to pack as light as possible to keep your car’s weight down. Keep your luggage and packing limited to essentials, and you’ll burn much less fuel over the same distance.

Slow and Steady Wins the (Efficiency) Race

Lastly, you may feel hurried to get to your destination, but if you want to stay efficient (and safe) on the highway, you shouldn’t go over 65 mph. Your car burns fuel more inefficiently for every mph you drive going over 60 mph. Use your cruise control and keep your speed down—you’ll arrive at your destination a little later but you’ll waste less fuel.

We hope our guide helps you make your journey as green and safe as possible! Remember that half the battle is the preparation, so outfit your car accordingly and devise an eco-friendly road trip plan before you set out.