From long weekends at the cottage to cross-province adventures, summer in Canada means road trip season. For many of us, there’s nothing quite like loading up the car and hitting the open road. It’s often one of the more affordable ways to travel, but between gas, accommodations and meals, the costs can sneak up on you. The good news is that a little planning ahead, and a CAA Membership, can make a real difference to your bottom line. Here’s how to keep more money in your pocket on your next road trip. Start with the route, not (just) the destination The route you take matters just as much as the destination. Map things out in advance, rather than relying on GPS to course-correct in real time, to avoid unnecessary detours that quietly eat into your fuel budget. Pick out your rest stops and fuel-up points ahead of time, too. Gas stations right off busy highway exits tend to charge a premium, so knowing where you’ll fill up means you can avoid paying more than you have to. The CAA Gas Price Tool is a handy way to track trends and find the best prices along your route before you ever leave the driveway. Timing is everything Gas prices and hotel rates shift with demand, and that demand spikes around long weekends and peak holiday periods. If your schedule allows for any flexibility, travelling mid-week or just outside the busiest stretches can lead to noticeably better rates on both fuel and accommodations. The same logic applies within a single day: setting out early or later means less time stuck in traffic. And once you’re moving, easing off the pace helps too. Most vehicles hit their best fuel efficiency between 40 and 90 km/h, so a slower drive is a cheaper one. In addition to using the gas price tool to save at the pump, CAA Members can save up to 10 per cent or earn CAA dollars at a full range of accommodations across the country. Get exclusive discounts and perks at Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Hampton Inn & Suites, Comfort Inns and more when you book with your CAA card. Pack like you mean it To cut down on how often you need to pull over for restaurant stops, bring a cooler full of your favourite snacks and meals. Drinks and entertainment for the kids (and your pets!) are worth packing too. It’s also smart to think ahead about small items that are easy to forget but expensive to buy on the road. Add things like sunglasses, phone chargers, and a basic emergency kit to your packing list, because buying these at a gas station will almost always cost more, and the quality won’t be the best. Don’t overlook the vehicle itself Checking tire pressure, oil levels, and fuel before you leave isn’t just good practice, it directly affects how efficiently your vehicle runs over long distances. Once temperatures are consistently above 7°C, make sure you have your summer tires on, and have them properly balanced and inflated. CAA Members can even save 10 per cent on car washes at participating Shell stations, so your car can look as good as the trip feels. If you need a bigger vehicle to travel more comfortably, renting a car with CAA Travel can give you exclusive benefits like free additional drivers and unlimited mileage with Enterprise, National, or Alamo. Let your CAA Membership do some of the work This is where a CAA Membership really pays off. Members save 3 cents per litre on fuel at participating Shell locations through the Shell app, save on accommodations, and get access to additional offers on dining, retailers, and attractions along the way. Road trips are meant to be about the journey, not the receipts. With a bit of planning and a CAA Membership in your corner, you can keep your costs down and your focus where it belongs: on the open road ahead.
