While the 7 hour trip home from camping in the Ozarks was a bit much with my small children, I really hope to go again next year when they are older. There is a reason they are the classic American pastime – full of exploration, discovery and bonding with friends and family.
Unfortunately, road trips are being passed up as the method of choice for vacations due to the rising gas prices. But did you know that according to the independent Car Care Council, a family of four travelling 1,000 miles round trip could save $1,000 by driving instead of flying?
Yes!
- The average cost for a family of four to drive 1,000 mile round trip is $350
- The average cost for a family of four to fly 1,000 mile round trip is $1,441
So why not save some money and make some amazing memories on the road? The family and I would not have discovered this fun park in a small town in Kansas if we would have flown!
According to the Shell Mechanics Survey*, the four best tactics to prepare your vehicle for a road trip are:
- Inspect tires for air pressure, tread depth, rotation, etc.
- Check all fluid levels
- Fill up with high quality gasoline
- Replace old parts with new quality ones like this Nippondenso injector pump
- Check / change engine oil and oil filers
*The Shell Mechanics Survey was a 7-minute online survey conducted by StrategyOne. The survey fielded from March 30 – April 2, 2012 and sampled 450 automotive mechanics across the United States. The margin of error is +/- 4.62% at 95% confidence.
WANNA WIN FREE GAS?
And you can save even more if you have a year’s worth of free gasoline. How would you like to win a year’s worth of gasoline?!?!
Yes, this is real. Shell, the no. 1 selling brand of gasoline in the U.S., is giving away a year’s worth of new Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines to eight lucky winners through its “Favorite Road Trip” Sweepstakes.
I almost freaked out too! That is the most amazing sweepstakes of the summer!
To enter, simply share your favorite road trip memory or route online at Facebook.com/Shell from June 20 – August 15 for a chance to win.
One winner will be randomly selected each week from June 20 – August 15 (eight weeks total) and awarded a year’s worth of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines.
Facebook isn’t the only way to enter! You can also share photos from your favorite road trips on Instagram, using hashtag #FavoriteRoadTrip, for a chance to have their photo featured on the Shell Facebook page!
Did you know that Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasoline delivers 20% more active cleaning agents than before? Yup! All three grades of the new formulation actively protect critical engine parts from performance-robbing gunk and tests prove that Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines clean up deposits left behind by lower quality gasoline. This allows all three grades of Shell gasoline to prevent and clean up performance-robbing gunk.
Good luck!! Go enter – what do you have to lose? And please – if you win, come back here and tell me. I want to freak out in joy with you!
Now you tell me: What is your favorite thing about road trips? Where did you go on your last one?
I received monetary compensation for this post. All opinions are my own. Road trips are fun and I hope you win free gas!
One of the many reasons we drive, too. Also, we have our car seats and all equipment when we get there!
Good point about the car seats! Oh my word, lugging car seats on the plane is a pain in the butt
Thanks Annie! We are talking about taking a road trip next summer to Walla Walla, WA (my husband’s home town). The only reason we didn’t do it this year was because flying was just too much – and then summer got packed with other fun trips!
I LOVE your cost comparison!! Thank you!
We love trips. Love them!!! We just got back from a philly trip not to long ago and are headed to delaware really soon.