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Editor Pick

Rule the Road: How AAA Members Can Save Money and Road Trip Smarter

Written by

AAA Travel Editor, Katie Broome

AAA and its travel partners can help you save money (and feel safer) on your next family road trip—from the first mile to the last.

Map it Out with AAA's Online Planning Tools

Whether it’s a drive across the country or just a trip around town, getting your family from here to there is a breeze with AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner. Set map filters to find hotels, campgrounds, restaurants and attractions along your route. You can even narrow down your choices to show AAA discounts and AAA GEM attractions, which offer a Great Experience for Members.

Need general inspiration? Browse pre-planned itineraries on AAA.com/RoadTrips.

Another handy tool for road trips is the AAA Gas Cost Calculator, which estimates fuel costs for your vehicle’s make and model.

Pick up a AAA TourBook Guide, Map and Atlas

For an integrated travel planning experience, pick up a AAA TourBook guide that includes approved attractions, member discount information, calendars of events and in-depth destination overviews for more than 80 top destinations. Created and curated by AAA Travel Editors, the in-depth destination overviews feature must-do activities, top picks for kids and recommendations for nightlife, shopping and dining.

AAA members can also pick up AAA sheet maps, which offer state, regional, vicinity and city coverage including points of interest, approved AAA GEM attractions, scenic byways, rest areas and AAA office locations. The AAA Atlas covers the United States, Canada and Mexico including wildlife refuges, state parks, welcome centers, monuments and memorials.

Score Rental Car Perks with Hertz

Instead of putting extra miles on your own vehicle, consider renting an SUV with plenty of cargo space from Hertz. AAA members get all sorts of benefits when booking with Hertz, including discounts of up to 20 percent off base rates. Other perks include free child safety seats (one per rental), waived fees for young renters ages 20-24 and no charge for up to four additional drivers (as long as they’re qualified with AAA memberships). Visit AAA.com/Hertz for details and current promotions.

Find a Trusted Repair Shop

If you plan to take your own vehicle, get it road trip ready with a tune-up at a AAA Approved Auto Repair shop. All AAA Approved facilities undergo an inspection process and offer fair pricing, quality of work guarantees, highly trained staff, priority service and discounted labor. Find an approved facility near you at AAA.com/AutoRepair.

Brake for Fun—and Discounts

Every good road trip incorporates some stops for fun and play. Find fun things to do along your route—including national parks, state parks, museums and gardens—by using the AAA TripTik Travel Planner or the AAA Mobile app. The AAA Mobile app helps you locate attractions offering AAA discounts, too. For even more savings, check Discounts.AAA.com.

Fill up with Shell Fuel Rewards

AAA members who enroll in the Fuel Rewards Program can save at least 5 cents per gallon (up to 20 gallons) at participating Shell stations. And getting the discount couldn’t be easier. Once you’ve registered online (AAA.com/Shell), enter your phone number at the gas pump or in-store before filling up to automatically apply the discount.

Trust AAA Inspections at Hotels and Resorts

For road trips that require an overnight stay, look for places to stay with a AAA Diamond designation. Because AAA Diamond designations are awarded only to properties that pass a rigorous, in-person inspection process, you can trust that each AAA Diamond accommodation offers a clean and comfortable experience. To search Diamond hotels and hotel discounts, visit AAA.com/TravelGuides/Hotels or check the AAA TourBook guides.

If you prefer camping over hotel stays, AAA also maintains a list of campgrounds; visit .

Written by

AAA Travel Editor, Katie Broome

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