Top 10 Ways to Save on Gas This Memorial Day

Some 35 million Americans are expected to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA Travel.

Although this is a slight decrease from the previous year, that's still millions of people driving millions of vehicles and guzzling up tons of gas.

Click here to see AAA full Memorial Day travel forecast.

Duluth Patch gathered tips for you to save on gas as you have fun with friends and family. These top 10 tips are taken from GasBuddy.com.

1. Avoid High Speeds

As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. This means you use more gas the faster you go -- a lot more gas.

2. Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard

All that stopping and starting burns more fuel. When you apply slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20 percent.

3. Keep Tires Properly Inflated

Keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1 percent.

4. Use Air Conditioner Sparingly

When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used, by about 20 percent.

5. Keep Windows Closed

Windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10 percent. (Yes, we realize that if you do No. 4 and No. 5 at the same time, you will personally overheat. Patch is not suggesting you do that.)

6. Service Vehicle Regularly

Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels.

7. Use Cruise Control

Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas. (It will also keep you from decelerating and accelerating all the time -- which also increases fuel consumption.)

8. Avoid Heavy Loads

Pack lightly for long trips. The more stuff in your car, the harder it has to work, and the more gas you use. (If you are driving around with a lot of stuff in your trunk normally, you are also depleting your gas more quickly.)

9. Avoid Long Idles

If you anticipate being stopped for more than a minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time. (Going to that drive-through window, for example, may save you time, but you're definitely not saving gas.)

10. Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle

When buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle's rated fuel efficiency. A small vehicle with a manual transmission will likely provide you with better fuel economy. (Of course, if you don't want to spend money on a new car, following all the other rules above will help you plenty.)