As fuel costs continue to surge, summer travel is becoming more expensive. Across the United States, pump prices have reached $4 per gallon, nearly $1 more than in summer 2025, according to AAA. Whether your plans involve a road trip across the US or flying, higher gas prices can impact every part of your travel budget, including filling up your tank, airfare, car rentals, tours, and even dining. 

To keep costs low this summer, implementing pre-trip strategies such as early planning and packing light can help minimize costs, while on-the-go tactics like minimizing drive time and using rewards programs offer further opportunities to save. Capitalizing on these options can help you stick to your travel budget this summer. 

For long-term budgeting and travel fund-building guidance, connecting with a financial advisor through Datalign Advisory can provide valuable support.

How to Save Money Before You Travel

Before you book a hotel, purchase airfare, or start packing, here are five strategies you can implement to save a little cash on your summer travel. 

1. Plan ahead and book early

The earlier you start looking for airfare, hotels, and excursions, the better your chances of landing a good deal. While you can sometimes land last-minute deals, there is no guarantee prices will go down, so it's better to book ahead. CLEAR suggests that you can find the best deals by booking domestic flights 44 days in advance and international travel 129 days before the flight. 

Another benefit to planning early is that it gives you more time to shop around and compare deals. You can also use tactics like price guarantees and refundable bookings to take advantage of price drops to save even more money. 

2. Change your destination or travel dates

As you shop around for flights, hotels, and entertainment, you may notice that tweaking your dates results in a lower price. For example, a Tuesday flight may be cheaper than a Friday flight, or a September hotel booking may be cheaper than an August one. To try to find which dates give you the best travel deals, many booking sites have a “flexible travel dates” option you can use. 

Another option is to change up your destination. For example, instead of tasting your way across Napa Valley, visit the Texas Hill Country. Or, instead of visiting historic New York City, visit historic New Orleans. For road trippers, switching destinations can be particularly beneficial, as it can allow you to minimize your drive time and mileage and avoid filling up your tank in high-gas-price states like California and Illinois.  

3. Get a tune-up before you travel

If you plan on doing any driving as part of your vacation, whether road tripping or simply traveling an hour plus to your nearest airport, getting your vehicle to peak performance can help save money. According to the US Department of Energy, something as simple as properly airing up your tires can improve your fuel efficiency by 3%. Other vehicle maintenance services that may help reduce fuel waste include: 

• Replacing spark plugs

• Using the recommended grade of oil for your vehicle

• Getting an alignment

• Replacing failing sensors

• Changing out dirty filters

• Tuning up your AC

Even a small improvement in fuel efficiency can result in tangible savings at the pump.

4. Pack light

An often overlooked remedy for reducing travel spending is to pack light. For airline travel, reducing the weight or number of suitcases you bring can help you avoid checked bag, carry-on, and overweight fees. Lighter packing could also save you on transportation costs by potentially letting you rent a smaller, more fuel-efficient car.  

Even those taking a road trip can see savings when packing light. It is estimated that just 100 pounds of extra weight can decrease fuel economy by 2%. 

5. Adjust your budget before your trip starts

Whether you’ve diligently saved up over time or are a high-earner wondering if the travel spend is too much, creating a realistic budget is key to managing your summer travel expenses. The goal is not to return from a trip with debt or spending regret. As fuel and other travel-related expenses increase, actions like shortening the trip or allocating more money for travel could help get the budget back on track. 

How to Save Money During Your Summer Travel

The savings don’t stop once your trip starts. As you travel this summer, here are some tips you can use to offset high fuel costs. 

1. Use rewards and cashback

From hotels and airlines to food and fuel, many travel-related businesses offer some type of loyalty rewards program. For example, a fuel rewards program may offer you 5 cents off per gallon or let you earn cashback, which you can redeem at the pump. 

Other ways you can save on travel with rewards and cashback include: 

• Booking airline tickets with miles

• Reserving hotels with points

• Redeeming credit card cash back on travel

• Using a travel rewards credit to earn more points

• Taking advantage of credit card travel perks like free checked bags, upgrades, and travel insurance coverage

• Earning cashback at restaurants with a dining cashback card

2. Rent a fuel-efficient vehicle

For trips that require renting a car, choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle can mean fewer fill-ups. For example, with a 15-gallon tank, a vehicle getting 25 mpg could travel 375 miles between fill-ups. A vehicle getting 30 mpg (with the same tank size) could travel 450 miles. That’s an extra 75 miles of travel between fill-ups. The more driving you plan to do, the more substantial the potential savings. 

Planning a cross-country road trip? Renting a fuel-efficient vehicle may make sense if your current vehicle is a gas hog or you want to avoid wear and tear. 

3. Find alternatives to driving

A great way to avoid the sting of rising gas prices is to drive as little as possible on your vacation. For those flying, if your destination has solid public transportation options, you may be able to avoid a rental car. Or, for those who just need to get to and from an airport, rideshare services may be a decent option. Choosing a hotel/resort that is a walkable distance from major attractions can also be a savings opportunity.

Even if you drive to your destination, keeping your car parked while you utilize buses, metros, and trains can help you reduce your fuel costs for the trip. 

4. Optimizing your drive time

When avoiding all driving just isn’t possible, you may still be able to find savings by avoiding construction and traffic, as idling is hard on fuel efficiency. This may mean leaving earlier in the morning or visiting a popular attraction later in the day when it is less busy. Using a navigation app is also a great way to avoid road closures, construction, and heavy traffic. 

5. Be flexible

During your summer travel, things may change rapidly. If gas prices suddenly spike or fall, being flexible enough to change your plans quickly could help you make the best of each situation. For instance, if gas prices start to fall, choosing the longer, scenic route may now be an option. Or if gas prices dramatically rise, shifting your plans away from drive time could be beneficial to your travel budget.

Don’t Fear Rising Gas Prices

Even as prices at the pump rise, there are still ways you can save money this summer as you travel. From planning ahead and packing light to utilizing rewards programs and taking advantage of cheaper destinations, each little bit saved adds up. Creating a travel budget you are comfortable with is also key to managing shifting travel expenses. For expert guidance on managing your savings and balancing expenses both this summer and far into the future, working with a financial advisor can give you the confidence you need to achieve your financial goals.