Have soaring airline prices (and sub-par on-board service) put a damper on air travel? Don't fret! Instead seek adventure the old fashioned way-by automobile. Here are our tips on maximizing the road trip experience.

1. Be Environmentally-Friendly
If you're going the distance and your gas-guzzlin' SUV has been draining your bank account for far too long, consider renting an economical car like a Priius or Escort, where you'll get more bang for your buck per gallon.

2. Don't Rely Solely on GPS
While navigation devices are great to have on hand, they're not always accurate, nor do they pick up a signal everywhere. To be sure you don't end up in Kalamazoo en route to Phoenix, print out directions from a free online map service like Yahoo! or Google before you go and carry an atlas with you at all times.

3. Research Hotel Packages
A new hospitality industry trend is weekend lodging packages that reimburse you for travel. Many hotels across the nation, like the Westin and Embassy Suites, are now offering complimentary gas cards at select locations if you book a couple of nights in their quarters.

4. Camp
If you're looking to cut back on lodging costs, Mother Nature is here to help, all for the bargain price of a park permit (which isn't even required in many areas of the States). Dust off that old tent and backpack, lay claim to your own plot of dirt, and become one with the great outdoors.

5. Pack Light
Do you really need five suitcases, a cooler, and that set of dumbbells that have been weighing down your trunk for the past few months for a mere weekend away? Thought not. Minimize and empty your car-save the essentials (clean undies, a tootbrush, a good read)-before you hit the road, and you won't be stopping to refill your tank nearly as often.

6. Stay Close to Home
Aroad trip doesn't have to significantly bump up the odometer. Take this opportunity to explore close-to-home destinations (recently coined "staycations") that you've failed to frequent because they have seemed too close to home. Sometimes the coolest spots are right around the corner.

7. Leave Time for Fate
The best part of road trips is often the unexpected adventure, so keep your itinerary loose enough to leave room for the unknown and unplanned--not to mention construction, traffic, and other roadblocks may cause unforeseen itinerary changes.

8. Manage Your Time
Speaking of traffic, if you're passing through major cities, it's a good idea to plan on hitting the town during off-peak commuting hours so that you can avoid unnecessary delays. Also, avoid driving near metropolises on Friday nights, Sunday afternoons, and holidays-all times when traffic is sure to be the most congested. An on the road tip: Tune in to local radio stations for traffic updates.

9. Make New Friends
Convention and visitors bureaus and local tourism boards should become your BFFs in any new place you plan to explore. Before you go, check out your preferred city or region's official tourism website for the latest happenings, discounts, and deals. If you can't find your questions answered there, a representative is usually just a phone call away.

10. Shop Local
To save even more cash, forego filling your stomach with fast food drive-ins or overpriced snacks from gas stations. Instead, stop in a local supermarket to stock up on munchies.

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