The automotive travel industry gets a glimpse of hope with gas prices starting to decline.  The drop in prices is bittersweet for people like you and I though, as the cause for the decrease is the United States economic volatility.  As of this past week, the cost for crude oil is now as low as $85 a barrel and the average price per gallon has dropped 9 cents and is still declining. This is great news for motorists looking to travel Labor Day Weekend because prices could be as low as $3.00 a gallon.

What that means is a 25-cent-per-gallon price decrease saves the average driver about $4 per week, based on driving 20,000 miles per year in a car that gets 25 mpg. Depending on your car and driving habits savings could be even more.

MapQuest has a way to find the best savings with MapQuest Gas Prices. Just enter your address and it provides a map of your area with the current gas prices listing from lowest to highest. The results stay updated to show you where to find the best pump everyday. You can also use this site to check out the highest and lowest gas price in the U.S. or take advantage of the gas price calculator.

For more information on National Gas Trends go to AAA’s Weekend Gas Watch.

Bogged down by expensive gas prices? You can now save time and money on MapQuest by finding the cheapest gas at gas stations near you. In addition to our MapQuest Gas Prices site, gas prices are now conveniently integrated directly into www.mapquest.com. MapQuest makes it easy for you to find and see accurate fuel prices for gas stations near your home, along your commute, or on your next road trip.

MapQuest’s gas prices are:

• Highly accurate and most are updated several times per day
• Easy to find and see while you’re getting a map or driving directions on www.mapquest.com
• Available for all major fuel types including alternative fuels
• A smart way to save money wherever you plan to go

Select the "Gas" icon from the toolbar to see gas stations and prices along a route or on your current map.

To find gas prices along a route…

• Get directions from “Point A” to “Point B” such as “Denver, CO” to “Breckenridge, CO”.
• Click the “Gas Station” icon in the Toolbar above the map to see the cheapest gas stations along your route.

To find gas stations on your current MapQuest map…

• Get a map of any address or place.
• Click the “Gas Station” icon in the Toolbar above the map to see the cheapest gas stations. within your current map view. Zoom in and zoom out to change the map area and view updated gas stations and prices.

MapQuest’s gas prices are highly accurate because we update most fuel prices at gas stations nationally up to seven times per day using cost per gallon data from credit card transactions and other sources.  You can select from Regular, Mid-Grade, Premium, Diesel, E-85 and Bio-Diesel fuel-type prices in the drop-down menu to filter gas stations and prices based on your personal auto’s needs.

To select alternative fuel types, use the Fuel Type drop-down.

You can even get gas prices on the go with MapQuest’s new Android App!

Wishing you some convenient gas cost-savings and safe travels this Memorial Day weekend!

MapQuest, helps drivers find the lowest prices on gas in their hometowns, near the office or just out for errands.  According to INRIX, drivers are experiencing an average 10 percent increase in travel times*, news that comes on the heels of the U.S. Energy Department’s projection for continued increase in gas prices through the spring and summer**.  MapQuest helps drivers keep an eye on fuel costs and the lowest gas prices within a searched area with tools found at gasprices.mapquest.com.

Find the Lowest Prices on Gas
MapQuest’s gas pricing tool is quick and easy to use.  At gasprices.mapquest.com, simply select a city and state or type in a zip code to find the lowest-priced gas in that area.  Additional specifications can be made such as alternative fuel stations or different fuel grades, as well as sorting stations by distance or price.  To use the gas consumption calculator at the top of the map, drivers must enter their total trip distance, miles per gallon, and the cost per gallon.

Additional tools on MapQuest.com may help consumers plan more effectively with replacement options, including:

• Alternate Routes: This tool offers between three and five alternative route options that may provide a more efficient route or that may lead drivers by gas stations offering lower prices.
• Map Toolbar:  Perhaps a lunch-break trip to the convenience store may save the gas it would take to drive there on the way home.  The business locator, found on the map toolbar, pinpoints businesses in the searched area pertaining to a specific need or interest.
• Pedestrian Routing:  Running those errands can be even easier with simple pedestrian directions from MapQuest.  The new nationwide pedestrian mode allows walking travelers to be routed down one-way streets, pedestrian malls, through parks and along designated paths.
• Transit Routing: Additionally, a new rail transit option links the pedestrian mode with public rail transportation routing in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Boston, reaching roughly 90 percent of the nation’s rail ridership.***

*Fourth Annual INRIX National Traffic Scorecard, March 8, 2011

**U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Energy Information Administration, March 9, 2011

***American Public Transportation Association

With summer fast approaching, many families are beginning to plan their vacations. A national increase in the price of fuel has many people looking for ways to save fuel, both on vacation and in their daily commute. According to a recent Energy Information Administration report, the national average gas price this summer will hover near $3.00, approximately a $0.50 increase from last year.

Whether you are planning a family road trip this summer or just trying to save money on trips around town, here are a few fast and simple ways to improve your consumption and find the best deals on fuel.

Find the Best Deals on Gas
The MapQuest Gas Prices feature can save you money by finding the cheapest places to fill up in your area. The tool is simple. Either select a city and state or type in a zip code to find the cheapest gas prices in that area. You can find alternative fuel stations or different fuel grades and sort stations by distance and price. Our gas finder tool makes it easy to find the best deal on gas prices.

Calculate the Cost of Gas for Your Trip
MapQuest Gas Prices also features a Gas Price Calculator, a tool that calculates total cost of gas for your trip. All you have to do is enter your trip distance, miles per gallon and cost per gallon and the calculator will let you know approximately what you’ll be spending on gas for that trip.

Improve your Gas Consumption
To improve fuel consumption, the US Department of Energy suggests altering your driving habits as well as properly maintaining your vehicle. Maintaining proper tire inflation can improve gas mileage up to 3.3 percent. Try to avoid excess idling or speeding, as both dramatically decrease vehicle efficiency.

No matter if it is a long-weekend trip or a cross-country excursion you are planning this summer, check out these tools to help save on gas and find the best places to fill up.