Late summer has seen another jump in gas prices, and the usual "reasons" have surfaced to explain the increases.

A pipeline rupture in Arizona. The switchover to production of winter heating oil at refineries. Even the massive north american blackout of August is in the blame mix.

"Gas consumption is up and crude oil inventories are smaller," says Linda Casey, a spokeswoman for Marathon/Ashland petroleum.

In those situations, prices rise.

It means careful budgeting is needed, even for the shortest of trips.

There are Internet tools that will help. One is AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Enter the mileage, type of vehicle and state where most of the travel will occur. You'll get an instant calculation of fuel costs.

Another useful tool: GasBuddy.com Here, there are fairly detailed reports within the past 72 hours for retailers in mainly metropolitan areas.

It's always a good idea to practice good fuel economy. Make sure the car is in good running order before heading to unfamiliar mechanics on your trip. Make sure tires are inflated to the maximum pressure recommended. Remove any excess weight from the car before a longer trip.

Speaking of weight, that brings us to the fourth major tip for saving money on a long weekend trip: Travel lightly.

These short trips make it very unlikely you'll need much more than a few changes of clothing and some toiletries. Unlike a lengthy time away, there is no need to prepare for a variety of situations.

Overpacking is a leading cause of back problems, grumpy attitudes and even lost money on trips. Powerful packing, affords easy mobility--bad news for the hotel operator who is betting you won't look around at other places and accept his higher prices. It's good news when you want to move quickly through a large city using public transportation.

For more advice on planning a weekend getaway, consider an example from Chicago in which all phases of the planning are discussed--even economy parking! For more money-saving articles, click here.