6 Ways To Save On Fuel In An RV This Fall

The sweet spot of fall RV travel is a leisurely driving vacation during peak foliage season in the United States and Canada. The changing leaves are always an enticement to enjoy a road trip during what is arguably the most beautiful time of year.

This year, however, peak foliage season coincides with peak diesel and gasoline prices nationwide.

The sobering side of a foliage the road trip is that the current U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel is $6.19 per gallon, about 65% to 71% higher than a year ago, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA). The national average price of gasoline is $4.35, according to the USEIA (with prices in the western US cresting $6.30 per gallon), about 41% higher than a year ago.

That doesn't mean that you should stay home The attraction of the open road looms large, especially for anyone with a shiny new Mercedes Sprinter, Airstream, Winnebago or Bowlus in their driveway or perhaps lined up as a rental.

The good news is there are ways to go further every time you fill up one of these RVs, the largest of which may take up to 150 gallons of fuel at a time. Gasoline and diesel prices may be through the roof, but here are six ways to cut the cost.

The joys of the open road in the fall in an RV.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends using its Fuel Price Finder or the AAA Mobile App to find cheaper gas. Fuel Discount Cards are also attractive options, from companies like Shell Fuel Rewards and Open Road (TSD) Cards.

Slower driving speeds can dramatically increase fuel savings. Once you go faster than 55 mph, aerodynamic drag increases and fuel economy declines, AAA says. The organization also cautions against hard acceleration and fast starts. In urban areas, easing up on the gas between traffic lights can also conserve fuel. On highways, use cruise control to maintain a steady, consistent speed.

RVs offer freedom of the road, but they also have some of the lowest fuel mileage of any vehicle. A gas-powered RV averages 6 to 10 miles per gallon, while a diesel RV averages 7 to 12 miles per gallon. You can't increase that average, but you can save money overall with a useful bit of road wisdom: stay longer in one place and enjoy an extended stay rather than constantly moving and burning more fuel.

Idling can rapidly burn up fuel. The sage wisdom is to turn off your engine after a minute.

Make sure that the vehicle is serviced and in great shape before you hit the road. That includes a fresh oil change and clean filters. Maintaining proper tire pressure also helps to maximize mileage.

Roof racks with storage boxes, canoes or kayaks, and cargo hitches loaded with bikes can create drag that can drastically reduce your mileage. Instead, consider storing gear inside the RV if possible.

Open the windows to cool down, despite the increased drag. It's still more fuel-efficient than running the air conditioning compressor all day to stay cool. The good news is that in the fall, this should be less of a problem.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com