According to AAA’s late‑February 2026 survey of U.S. adults, 39% said they plan to take more vacations in 2026 than in 2025, and 58% expect to take multiple trips this year—exactly the pattern that turns “weekend vehicle” decisions into a recurring cost. At the same time, EIA’s weekly U.S. regular gasoline series shows a sharp … Read more
According to AAA’s late-February 2026 survey of U.S. adults, 39% said they plan to take more vacations in 2026 than in 2025, and 58% expect to take multiple trips this year. TSA’s checkpoint totals show the weekend-travel crush is already real: 2,765,657 passengers were screened on March 15, 2026, with multiple mid-March days above 2.4 … Read more
According to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report, the U.S. national average for regular gasoline rose sharply in early March—AAA reported a jump to $3.25 on March 5, 2026, and later listed a national average of $3.912 on March 20, 2026 as spring travel demand increased. EIA’s weekly U.S. regular gasoline series shows the same direction: $3.015/gal … Read more
According to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, long-term problems are still piling up around infotainment, software behavior, and other technology-heavy parts of modern vehicles, while gas-powered vehicles posted the lowest problem rate among major powertrain types. At the same time, Cox Automotive says affordability is still shaping buyer behavior in 2026, even … Read more
According to AAA, gas prices kept climbing into the spring equinox, with the national average up 28 cents from the prior week as warmer weather and early road-trip demand started to build. EIA’s daily prices page listed a U.S. average of $3.88 a gallon on March 18, 2026, which helps explain why a normal weekend … Read more
According to AAA’s Your Driving Costs 2025 study, average all‑in ownership cost differs meaningfully by vehicle category—AAA lists a Small Sedan at 55.87¢/mile versus a Compact SUV at 68.53¢/mile under standardized assumptions. The IRS’s 2026 business standard mileage rate—72.5¢/mile—is another reminder that “weekend cost” is bigger than fuel alone. For two-person getaways, though, the decision … Read more
According to a 2015 study on low‑frequency road noise and driver sleepiness/performance (published in PLOS ONE and hosted on the NIH’s PubMed Central), interior road noise can contribute to driver fatigue and reduced task performance. Car and Driver also notes it has long measured interior noise at 70 mph (and is now adding “sones” to … Read more
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, a plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) typically runs on electric power until the battery is nearly depleted, then automatically switches to its gasoline engine—so the weekend still works even if charging is unavailable. The U.S. EPA adds an important nuance: some PHEVs stay mostly electric until … Read more
According to Consumer Reports’ minivan buying guidance, minivans are purpose-built for families because they prioritize access, sliding doors, and usable interior space—exactly the friction points that cause stress on weekend trips. AAA’s Your Driving Costs analysis also shows why “bigger” decisions should be priced as a system: all‑in cost-per-mile varies by category, and a larger … Read more
According to Car and Driver’s review, the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox has a comfortable ride and strong standard driver-assistance tech, but the publication also flags that the cabin is noisy at highway speeds—a fatigue factor that can build over a four-hour run. Car and Driver’s 2026 Nissan Rogue review, by contrast, describes the Rogue as a … Read more