When it comes to the All-American road trip, the word green clearly has two meanings; many drivers are trying to go green by reducing their fuel use carbon footprint, and with gas at $4 a gallon, the color of cash is also relevant to our driving habits of today. To address both issues, to have a greener road trip and save money, too, follow the basic fuel saving suggestions below.

Some Things All Drivers Can Do

There’s no single cure for the world’s energy woes, no panacea or silver bullet that will do it all, but a number of small, incremental steps by individuals can result in greater personal fuel-efficiency while easing the strain on the planet’s finite energy resources.

• First and foremost, reduce your speed. It’s a well-established fact that driving slower enhances personal safety while resulting in noticeably improved gas mileage.

• Be certain that your tires are inflated for optimal fuel-efficiency. Follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations for tire inflation pressure. Whether you’re driving an eco-friendly car or a gas-guzzling SUV, the right tire pressure can add up to long-term fuel savings.

• Be sure your car is properly tuned. Your ignition system and air filter should be checked on a regular basis for optimum fuel-efficiency.

Try to Go Green When You Rent A Car

When you combine skyrocketing fuel prices with the driving population’s  heightened awareness of our planet’s ecological fragility, more and more rental car companies are adding eco-friendly, hybrid or alternative fuel cars to their fleet. The Honda Civic and Toyota Prius are excellent examples of fuel-efficient vehicles that can now be found at many car rental outlets nationwide.

EV Rental, which has seven locations in Arizona and California, provides a greener road trip by being the ‘first in the country’ with an ‘all hybrid’ fleet of rental cars, each of which offers an average of 600 miles between fill-ups. These eco-friendly cars are also available from EV’s partner, Fox Rent A Car.

Another car rental company that has recently appeared on the green horizon is Bio-Beetle, and this company’s fleet is made up entirely of cars that burn eco-friendly Biodiesel fuel. These cars are offered at locations in Hawaii and California, and the cars are advertised to average 800 miles between fill-ups, which should give you enough range to find an outlet for this somewhat hard to find Biodiesel fuel.

Would You Like A Greener Sightseeing Drive?

We live in a different world today, and the ever increasing price of gasoline can easily bust the budget. There are hundreds of scenic routes to be driven in America, and many of these road tour highways and byways span many miles. A drive up the California coastline, for example, could easily involve a drive of 800 miles or more. Think about the greener alternative of taking in the sights of a more limited portion of an entire route; stop the car more frequently and enjoy the trip even more.

Looking For An Even Greener Travel Excursion?  Take the Train

America is extremely fortunate to have an astounding network of commuter and sightseeing rail train routes that can take you to just about every nook and cranny of the United States, and utilizing a number of interconnecting routes, much of Canada as well. Breathtaking rail excursions abound from Maine to California and from all points north to all points south. Whether you need to get to work or you would like to see the sights from one end of the country to the other, the train offers an eco-friendly way to travel. For the more frequent traveler or sightseer, Amtrak offers an outstanding 30 day rail travel pass that it partners with Canada’s VIA Rail Service—so leave the car behind, sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. Go green. Take the train.