Prep your soundtrack, find your driving glasses, and remember to stretch: The summer road trip is back. Not that it ever left. It’s just this summer, there’s a large increase in travelers opting to experience the nation’s various nooks and crannies by car. According to Bank of America’s most recent Summer Travel and Entertainment Outlook report, 70% of travelers are opting to hit the road instead of flying this summer. Numerous factors—including financial worries and air-safety concerns—account for the increased highway traffic.
The road trip is a summer tradition, but all those vehicles sure do kick up plenty of emissions. Let’s do some quick math. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average summer road trip is 284 miles one-way, or 568 miles roundtrip, which means a seasonal jaunt in a gas-powered car produces around 0.226 metric tons CO₂. OK, on an individual basis, that’s certainly not huge—especially if you have a whole family in the car—but scaled across millions of getaways, it does add up. That’s also before you account for the waste that comes along with being away from home, from junk food to motel-room disposables.
If you’re hitting the road this summer, here are some simple tips to help make your travels a bit easier on the Earth, without sacrificing the soul of the trip. Of course, the best thing you can do to reduce driving emissions is get an EV— but even if you already have one, there are small tweaks to keep in mind.
When you’re planning…
Plot out charging stops
Driving a plug-in hybrid or EV? Map your charging stops in advance with a route-planning app. PlugShare is the most robust, but ChargePoint and A Better Routeplanner are good options, too. These apps help you find chargers (look for DC fast chargers (level 3) for the best experience), show availability in real time, and include reviews from other drivers. They also highlight landmarks and attractions near the stations so you can plan fun pit stops that coincide with where you’ll need to power up. If possible, plan your charges during off-peak hours to reduce strain on the electrical grid—maybe even save some money.
Choose eco-conscious lodging
Planning to stay at motels along the route? Look for a more sustainable place to stay. In fact, full-service hotels use around three times the energy and around twice the water of multifamily buildings. Over the last decade, establishments have increasingly turned to renewables and worked to improve efficiency. You can hunt down these spots by checking for certifications like LEED, Green Seal, and GreenKeys. And no matter where you stay, remember the basics: reuse towels, turn off electronics and lights when you leave, and don’t spend eons in the shower.
Download your playlists
Download your playlists while you’re still on your home WiFi instead of streaming them from the road. The emissions associated with playing a song stored on your device drop as much as 80% after the first listen, whereas streaming tunes means you’re likely to be loading things anew with each playback.
Prep your car beforehand
A well-maintained car runs more efficiently and is less likely to break down when you’re only halfway to Half Dome. Before you hit the road, check your tire pressure, oil, air filters, and wheel alignment. One example: Properly filled tires, can improve gas mileage by up to 3%, according to the Department of Energy.
When you’re packing…
Bring less stuff
Yes, yes—who knows what the weather will be like, and the kids’ beach stuff takes up half the trunk. We understand the struggle. But try to keep it reasonable. A lighter load is easier on your L4 vertebrae—and your car’s gas mileage: An extra 100 pounds can cut your car’s fuel economy by up to 2%. Packing in soft-sided bags instead of bulky hard-shell suitcases is an easy way to save space and weight.
Use roof storage wisely
Before you go full Griswold, open your owner’s manual to the section on roof load limit and memorize the number. Most modern vehicles can safely handle anywhere 100 to 165 pounds, including the weight of a roof rack or carrier system. Overloading can affect handling and damage your roof—and all that drag is bad for fuel efficiency: According to a 2014 study, a loaded roof box can reduce fuel economy by 6% to 17% on the highway, while even an empty rack alone shaves off 2% or more. If a roof box or rack is a necessity, opt for one that’s optimized for aerodynamics, and be sure to remove it when you’re not using it.
Bring your reusables
Pack reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, straws, cutlery, and a small container set to avoid single-use plastics. The container cuts down on waste and gives you a place to store all the inevitable takeout sauce packets that will float around your car. Oh, and store snacks, toiletries, and small items in reusable silicone pouches. They’re flexible, easy to wash, and a great replacement for their single-use brethren.
Have a snack plan
We get it: Nothing hits quite like a gas station Mountain Dew and bag of Combos at hour four of an eight-hour drive. But do your best to opt for drinks in aluminum cans or glass bottles—which are more readily recyclable—and avoid the plastic-wrapped food when possible. Better yet, hit the bulk bins at the grocery store before you leave. It’s less wasteful, usually cheaper, and will also help prevent that hour five blood-sugar crash.
Throw in a few extra bags
This is obvious, but it’s easy to forget on trips. Packing a few smoosh-able, reusable bags helps cut down on shopping bag waste—and comes in handy for everything from beach days to quick grocery runs. They can serve as overflow for dirty laundry, trash bags, and help you protect and organize any souvenirs. Americans use more than 100 billion plastic bags a year; every little bit helps reduce our addiction.
When you’re driving…
Keep it consistent
Speed limits aren’t just for safety—they’re for efficiency, too. Quick bursts of speed and hard braking burn more fuel. Use cruise control when you can and keep your speed under 55 mph, which is the National Highway Institute’s recommendation for optimal gas mileage. Even a 10 mph increase in average speed can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 15%, depending on your car.