When most people plan trips they will only use the internet for the most basic of information and not much more. You may use it to print out a map, find a hotel, check flights and not much else.

There’s much more you can do besides just plotting maps and making reservations.

1. Calculate your tolls.

Many (if not all) US states have toll calculators so you will know exactly what you’ll be spending on toll-based interstates. For example, Massachusetts has a toll and mileage calculator.

For a generic list of places where you can calculate tolls, you can perform a Google search for toll calculator. If you want to get more specific, search for "toll calculator [state name]".

2. Check for construction.

Nothing will mess up a trip faster than encountering road construction you didn’t expect. It does nothing but waste time and gas.

Most states have all their road projects (with times, delay listings and so on) listed in plain view. Florida for example has a very comprehensive listing of what goes on, when and where. It even gets more specific per state region. Tampa Bay (a very specific area of Florida) has its own web site that lists all current projects.

3. Push specific destinations to your GPS.

If you use a Garmin or Tom Tom GPS you’re in luck if you use Google Maps. For any location on that site you can click Send then GPS and push the data as a selectable Favorite directly into your GPS unit.

4. Use weather.gov (NOAA) to check weather.

There’s a good choice of weather sites to use, but the one with the most detailed forecast information is and always has been NOAA @ weather.gov. It’s most likely true that the weather site you like the best polls information directly from NOAA to begin with, so you might as well start at the source.

Weather.gov is not as fancy as other weather sites but it’s the information they give that counts the most, even if not "pretty".

5. Use GasBuddy to check fuel prices.

Strangely enough everyone checks GasBuddy for local fuel prices but rarely for places they’re traveling to. If you’re going to be driving around it is in your best interest to check the fuel prices along the way before heading out.

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Here’s what you will be able to accomplish by doing the above:

1. Accurately figure out what your toll costs will be.
2. Be aware of any construction along certain interstates in advance so there aren’t any unwanted surprises.
3. Be able to directly push data to your GPS without having to "type" it manually into the unit (good time saver).
4. Be aware of potential weather hazards.
5. Have a good idea of what to expect for fuel costs along the way and at the destination.