Gas Prices and Canceling Road Trips

Something to file under "Same stupid local news story you see again and again" is the one where they interview a bunch of folks at a gas station who say they are canceling their summer vacation this year because of the price of gas. A few examples here and here, but you know what I'm talking about.

If the polls are right, a full 1/3 of the country just says, "Screw the Grand Canyon!" if the price of gas jumps just a little bit. I suppose that means that a 1/3 of the country can't do math, which come to think of it actually seems like a low number to me.

To keep the math easy, lets say your road trip is 2000 miles, even if you get lousy mileage of 20mpg and even if gas prices have gone up $1 over the norm(whatever that is), the total extra cost of your fun family road trip which is now causing you to cancel it is a mere $100! Just skip buying those cheesy t-shirts at the Alamo and stay in a Motel 6 one night and you've broke even.

So that's the worst case scenario. Do the math yourself for your vehicle and your distance and then hopefully you will reconsider postponing your life because of a few bucks. Hope to see you out on the road!