How to Have a Cheaper (and Greener) Holiday Road Trip with Google Maps

Some 80 million people in the US are expected to travel for the holidays in 2024. While you may opt to avoid the crowded airports in favor of the open road, long drives can get costly if you’re not careful. The good news is that Google Maps has the tools to plan the most cost-efficient (and eco-friendly) road trip.

How to Save Gas Money Using Fuel-Efficient Routes

Google Maps will essentially always present you with the most efficient route available. However, sometimes the most time-efficient itinerary is not the same as the most fuel-efficient option. Ultimately, the route that uses the least amount of gas or energy depends on the type of car you drive. For example, while diesel vehicles are generally more fuel-efficient on highways, hybrids and electric cars are more efficient in the city or hilly areas, where braking can charge batteries.

Google Maps has a setting that considers these differences. When this setting is activated, Google Maps will suggest the most fuel-efficient route based on your vehicle as long as the estimated travel time is comparable. Here’s how to check if this feature is turned on:

1. On your device, tap the profile icon in the upper right corner of Google Maps. Then tap Settings.
2. You’ll see either Navigation (on an iPhone or iPad) or Navigation settings (Android). Tap this and scroll to Route options.
3. Toggle on the option to Prefer fuel-efficient routes.

Under this feature, you’ll see a menu for Your vehicles. Here, you can select which type of car you drive, such as a Gas, Diesel, Hybrid, or Electric vehicle. If you drive a hybrid or electric car that supports charging, you can also identify the type of adapter it uses.

Need for Speed vs. Need for Gas Money

Let’s say you’re driving from Springfield, Massachusetts, to Poughkeepsie, New York. The most fuel-efficient route looks quite different depending on your vehicle and time of day. Regardless of what car you drive, the fastest route around midday is 121 miles and will take you roughly two hours and four minutes. The itinerary that is best for your vehicle’s fuel economy varies:

Ultimately, you have to weigh your options. If you’re driving a car that runs on gas, fuel savings of 1% probably don’t justify spending twenty more minutes in the car. On the other hand, if you’re operating a diesel truck, taking the more direct, slightly slower course seems appropriate for 18% savings.

Of course, fuel-efficient routes don’t just save you money. Using less energy helps the planet, too.

Avoid Getting Stranded by Mapping EV Charging Stations

While it may be cheaper to recharge an electric vehicle, the fees still add up. However, another challenge unique to owning an EV is finding an available and compatible charging station along your route. If you’re driving an electric car over the holidays, do yourself a favor and check out Maps’ EV support features. After all, no one wants to pay for a tow truck on the way to the in-laws for Christmas dinner.

Google Maps can show you where chargers are along your track, including the specs to ensure your vehicle is compatible. If you’ve identified your EV and plug type in Settings, Google will only populate compatible charging stations on your map. That said, you can always tap on a charging location to see a preview of the most essential information, from port availability to charging speed.

If your vehicle has Google built-in, you can leverage Maps’ ability to forecast your battery level at different points in the trip. According to Google’s The Keyword, “Maps will suggest the best charging stops along the way, based on your battery’s charge level.”

We often default to the quickest option, but sometimes, taking the (slightly) longer road will serve you in the long run. In the case of Google’s fuel-efficiency features, that serving is in the form of cold hard cash. And after all the holiday gifting, a little savings is a welcome reprieve. Plus, you get to give a present to the planet, which should be the most meaningful of all.