According to AAA, there's an expected 17.1 percent increase in travelers this year for the Fourth of July holiday.  A vast majority of the travelers will drive to reach their holiday destination-over 31 million people are expected to hit the roads.  If you plan on driving this weekend, make sure you are extra alert and careful-there will be a lot of extra traffic.  You can also do several things to keep your gas mileage high and your travel expenses low.

Improve your gas mileage by driving the speed limit.  Each vehicle hits their optimal fuel economy at different speed but fuel ecomomy generally decreases at speeds above 60 mph.  Using cruise control will help regulate you speed and save gas on longer trips.  Accelerating slowly and braking over a longer distance is much more efficient and considered one of the best ways to improve fuel economy.

Prepare for the trip ahead of time.  Make sure your tires are at the right pressure level which will help you save gas and avoid car trouble.  Try to pack light and fit your luggage into the trunk as pulling a trailer or using a roof rack can significantly decrease your gas mileage.  Bring snacks with you instead of stoping at convenient stores where prices can be much higher on most items.