Shot of a young couple using GPS on their mobile phone during a road trip (iStock)
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A question that keeps landing in my inbox: “How can I save on gas?” I get it. Every stop at the pump is painful these days.
Sam’s Club and Costco offer a fuel discount but remember you must pay that annual membership fee. Tap or click to find out if the savings is worth it.
Or maybe you need a reliable way to find the best gas prices near you. It’s frustrating to fill up, then see gas 10 cents cheaper a mile away. Tap or click here for the best app to scout the lowest price.
Once your tank is topped off, there are ways to make it last longer. Anyone can do this with the help of a GPS app.
Algorithms are good at predictions.
If you drive to the same few places most often, you likely don’t use your mapping app to tell you how to get there. You may use it to spot traffic and road closures or find a better route.
Traffic isn’t just frustrating; it’s bad for fuel economy, too. Whenever you hit the brakes, you use more power to move the car again. These burn fuel and reduce your miles per gallon. Driving in traffic also means more idle time and wear on your brakes and engine components.
It’s easy to open your navigation app and see the current traffic, but what if you want to see the expected traffic conditions tomorrow or next week?
Whether you use Apple Maps or Google Maps, you can get a pretty accurate traffic forecast for a future date based on what the conditions usually are like on that day and time. Then you can fine-tune your departure time to find the ideal time to hit the road.
Rising gas prices have sparked a nationwide sticker reaction.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
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How to plan the most efficient route in Apple Maps
With Apple Maps, you can set a time you want to leave or an arrival time based on road and traffic conditions.
Here’s how to see traffic based on your departure time:
Open the Maps app and tap on the Search Maps field. Type your destination and select it from the results. Tap Directions, then tap Leaving Now. Tap Leave, set a date and time, and then tap Done. You can see the traffic, distance, and time for your trip. Tap Go next to your desired route.
You can also set your desired arrival time and see the best time to leave:
Open the Maps app and tap on the Search Maps field. Type your destination and select it from the results. Tap Directions and then tap Leaving Now. Tap Arrive by, set a date and time, and tap Done. You can see your trip’s traffic, distance, and time and Leave by time. Tap Go next to your desired route.
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Save time and gas using Google Maps
Google Maps works similarly. You can plan a future trip while the app analyzes predicted traffic, routes, and road conditions.
Here’s how to set a planned time and date for a trip:
Open Google Maps and tap on the Search here field. Please enter a destination and select it from the results. Tap Directions and then tap the three dots button to the right of your location field. Tap Set depart or arrive time. Select Depart and enter a date and time, then tap Done. You’ll get various route options and details such as time and distance. Select a route and tap Start.
Want to know when you should leave to arrive at a location at a specific time? Here’s how:
Open Google Maps and tap on the Search here field. Please enter a destination and select it from the results. Tap Directions and then tap the three dots button to the right of your location field. Tap Set depart or arrive time. Select Arrive by at and enter a date and time, then tap Done. You’ll get various route options, details such as distance, and a recommended time to leave. Select a route and tap Start.
Use Google Maps. There are many valuable features, from finding your car in the parking lot to sending your exact location.
Animation of rising gas prices.
(stock)
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