[Cody’s note: Yes, it seems like there are more commentaries lately than actual trips. Just a lot on my mind when it comes to travel that doesn’t involve actually traveling. This post might subliminally explain why.]

If you haven’t noticed, gas prices are up.

One of the biggest parts of road tripping is making the visit to the gas station to fill the tank up. Since the start of the new year (2026), the average price of gas is up around $2 per gallon. No, that’s not the actual price of gas – that’s how much it’s increased. For a 15-gallon vehicle, that’s an extra $30 for a fill-up from “E.”

When the pain at the pump feels like it’s draining your wallet or purse, you might start to wonder if traveling for fun is even worth it at this point. When the prices first sharply rose a few weeks ago, I had pondered whether I really wanted to go on trips, or just hibernate until the prices fall. I was encouraged by friends to keep going. One wrote to me, “Soldier on. Pack some sandwiches to divert the cost of the fuel! Go on the trip Cody. Memories are worth the little extra $’s. At the end of the day if it was going to cost you $100 in fuel it will now be $125. $25 delta. No biggie.“

Indeed I did go on some. Still working on the packing sandwiches part …

Now we’ve hit $4.99/gallon where I live. This is an all-time high. Who knows how much higher it will go. It does seem like the higher it goes, the more nervous I am to invest in a road trip – and I use the word invest a little more seriously.

If you have the money, by all means go! Don’t let money get in the way of your wants and desires. Not everyone has the money, though. There are frugal fanatics, budget-conscious travelers, and those who just can’t afford it – and this post is for you if it fits your situation. (I guess it wouldn’t really be for electric vehicle owners either, but it may in a way).

As someone who had to juggle the wallet struggle at various points in time, perhaps I can help a little. Here are some random thoughts that come to mind when I think about balancing gas prices with road trips.

• Simple things: Lighten your car’s load. Check the air pressure in your tires. Low-cost destinations.

• Explore closer places: Ask yourself if there’s anywhere in town that you haven’t visited before, either because you’ve barely heard of it, or just had no desire to visit. Maybe that home museum a couple of blocks away that you never been – or haven’t been to in a long time – has something interesting or new that could pique your interest. If there’s money involved, it doesn’t leave town. Local places have more local connections that could make your memory wander, too, with familiar names, places or even to verify local lore you’ve heard. Start close to home and spiral outward until the price pinch doesn’t hurt as much. Pick 5-10 local places and go from there.

• Explore local events: The same words above also apply to local festivals and special events, especially when kids activities are involved.

• Still stick to small businesses: Or perhaps embark on a small business shopping trip. Small businesses’ typical cash flow is figured out by regulars and whoever isn’t a regular. If the price of gas hinders travelers’ desires to go far, it does create a dent in their revenue. Support unique. Support local, even if you’re not local.

• Don’t discount the appetizers: If the pinch is a problem with your meal budget, consider appetizers. Sometimes the appetizer menu has some sort of unique creation that you haven’t heard of before, but make note of the entrees for next time. In addition, appetizers work for those who are watching their portion control. Still, tip your server fairly.

• Scout regional gas prices, make the lowest a destination: Various online resources provide updates on what the prices of gas are, and especially now on social media as the prices climb higher. This is an idea to explore states that border Illinois, whose prices tend to be higher. Do consider, however, the gas being burned getting to and from these destinations, and your miles-per-gallon figure.

• Pack your own drinks: Kind of like what my friend suggested earlier in this post, I am developing the habit of mixing flavored water packets with water at home, filling up a sanitary bottle, and taking them with me. Water is cheap. Packets are cheap. I’ve found out that it’s cheaper for me than buying pop – and the price of that has gone up since I cut back on drinking much of it. I have even bought cheap flavored sparkling water at the store for less than $1 when a pop of the same size is nearly double that.

• Learn what aerodynamic drag is: This is why you may notice your MPG or fuel needle stick moving more when you’re going over the speed limit on the highway. Yes, speed satisfies the pleasure philosophy of time being of the essence, but you’ll find that there’s not much gas burned if you stick to the speed limits. Even so, if you have plenty of time, why drive too fast?

• Explore, take note, and travel later: This one’s for those who can truly resist the urge to travel. If you can’t travel, explore unique places in the time that you usually reserve for travel. Explore online maps. Find stuff online. Write them down, and you’ve had your destination list well planned in advance when the pinch isn’t a problem.

• Bundle destinations: I do this all of the time. If you’re able to make a whole day of something, find places on your way to your “primary” destination, and take a paralleling road back to explore other places. This is especially true, for example, with the Great River Roads in Iowa and Illinois.

• Explore visitor centers: You’ll find hidden gems this way, whether it’s places or events.

• Carpool: This may not lighten your vehicle’s load for aerodynamics, but when you split the costs by sharing rides, it can make a difference.

• Make it a challenge: See how less you can spend on a trip. That might make it interesting.

• Cash/check challenge: When you’re trying to save money, sometimes bringing the credit or debit card has its negative “impulse” moments. If you can plan a budget and only bring enough money, you can be safe. Emergency situations, of course, can and will happen, but keeping the travel closer to home sort of helps relieve that worry. What has helped me in an effort to be healthier is that fast food places do not take checks; sometimes I’ll just bring my checkbook and plan meals around places like Walmart. With checks, you might only get a little extra cash out of it (such as at Walmart, where you can write up to $20 over the total).

• Be cautious about “free museum days” because rising gas costs might make more people take advantages of these days. Lines will be long. Crowds will be large.

When gas prices are up, you can find full pleasure (not worrying about money), semi-pleasure (budgeting and restricting), or no pleasure at all (just not going). Semi-pleasure is better than no pleasure at all.

Got any more tips? Can you turn this lemon into lemonade? Comment below or on the social media platforms where you saw this post. You never know if this may help in someone’s situation. They will be shared on here.