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I took a trip to visit a state park in southern IL this weekend. Google maps gave me approximately 190 miles from Palatine, IL to Kickapoo State Park. I also wanted to keep the driving time down to less than 3.5 hours due to the duration of time I had for the entire trip.

With a decent road atlas, I found that there were some county roads that took a more direct route once I left the super congested areas north of Joliet, IL. After that, I jumped on the county roads and tried to hold a steady 55mph to try and keep my driving time down. While maintaining my speed and just using some anticipation of hills, I was able to maintain an average trip mpg of 39mpg (with a/c, since I REALLY needed it on the way back).

When I got back home, I started thinking about what else I could have thought about in order to get higher mpg on a trip while keeping the time I spend in the car to a reasonable amount. Any suggestions on what you all have found to work?

I would have slowed to 45 - 50mph and you probably would have been in the 40+ range, You time of arrival would have been 5 or 10 min. longer. Otherwise good FE. Hal

I took a trip to visit a state park in southern IL this weekend. Google maps gave me approximately 190 miles from Palatine, IL to Kickapoo State Park. I also wanted to keep the driving time down to less than 3.5 hours due to the duration of time I had for the entire trip.

With a decent road atlas, I found that there were some county roads that took a more direct route once I left the super congested areas north of Joliet, IL. After that, I jumped on the county roads and tried to hold a steady 55mph to try and keep my driving time down. While maintaining my speed and just using some anticipation of hills, I was able to maintain an average trip mpg of 39mpg (with a/c, since I REALLY needed it on the way back).

When I got back home, I started thinking about what else I could have thought about in order to get higher mpg on a trip while keeping the time I spend in the car to a reasonable amount. Any suggestions on what you all have found to work?

Hate to dispute where you were, but Danville is what we call central IL.:D

About 325 miles south will get you to "Southern IL" Google "Garden of the Gods" and Tunnel Hill State Trail"

Hi Bi590:

Don't listen to the old codgers... It was great to hear you pulled almost 40 mpg and did it with A/C in your non-diesel Jetta!

Great driving and it sounds fun.

Wayne - Another old codger ;)