Making Mother’s Day Plans? You’ll Want This

Mother's Day is this weekend (if only we warned you ahead of time), and that means you'll want to celebrate Mom. However, with gas prices hovering around $4.50 per gallon nationwide, this might be the worst year ever to drive for hours to get to the mountains for that family hike or lunch at the winery.

Luckily for you, we did the grunt work of figuring out alternate plans that won't burn through gallons of pricey fuel. So allow us to present some ideas:

A Special Day — Without Leaving Your Backyard

Getting out in the garden is a great bonding activity, and sure, you'll need to use some gas driving to a store to buy what you need for this activity, but it shouldn't cost you an entire tank amid these near-record prices.

(MORE: Keep Your Pet Away From These Spring Flowers)

So what if you've never tried gardening before and don't know where to start? We're here to help you in a big way. Using our brand-new Home and Garden Index, you can enter your location and we'll tell you what to plant (and it'll tell you what to plant the other times of year, too, just in case Mom isn't super receptive to the idea of sitting in the dirt on her special day).

Ultimately, Mom Just Wants Quality Time

Even if you don't feel like trying your hand at gardening this weekend, or if the weather won't cooperate with outdoor plans near your home, there's no substitute for putting down your phones and spending some good, old-fashioned quality time with Mom. Maybe she loves movies, so how about a movie marathon day featuring plenty of popcorn and all the flicks your mother loves? That won't cost you a trip to the gas station and she'll end her special day feeling really celebrated.

... Or Maybe She Doesn't

Don't forget, fellow dads, that there are plenty of moms out there who would prefer to just have some quiet time on Mother's Day, free of the usual tasks and mental load that fill up their daily lives throughout the other 364 days every year. If that's the case, take the kids to a nearby park or plan a car wash party in the driveway.

(MORE: These Weather Hacks Will Help You Plan Your Day)

Obviously, the latter of those ideas is heavily reliant on good weather, but here's some good news: We took the guesswork out of your hands on this one. Just plug in your location on our new Car Wash Day Index, and we'll tell you if this particular idea is a good one. Kids love a good car wash, and moms love a good quiet house, so everyone wins.

What To Do If You Simply Have To Drive

If you're one of those really good planners who made reservations months in advance, before gas prices skyrocketed, or if the mom in your life will only have a good day if it's spent in the mountains or at the beach, then keep these tips from AAA in mind:

- Plan your trip ahead of time and don't make detours to extend the drive. This will lead to more gas being used. And don't leave your car idling, either.

- Take everything out of your car that you don't need for the trip. A heavier car is a car that uses more gas.

- Cruise control is your friend whenever possible.

Forgot A Gift? It Might Be The Only Year To Do This

Obviously, with our gift guide linked at the top of this article, there's not much excuse for this to happen, but if you still forgot to get Mom a gift, this might be the only year to say, "Hey, I went out this morning and filled up your car."

It'll probably be better received if you swing by a doughnut shop and grab a few of her favorite sweet treats on the way home, but think about it. We usually spend $50 to $75 on a Mother's Day gift, and isn't that what a tank of gas costs right now?

Bonus points if you can also say, "The kids and I also washed and detailed the car for you," but if the weather is lousy this weekend, at least she has a full tank of gas when she heads out the door on Monday morning.

What are your life hacks for having a wonderful weekend that doesn't burn gallon upon gallon of gas? Leave your tips and tricks in the comments below.