Coming and Going

· Book as far in advance as possible and choose a non-weekend day for your pickup.

· If you're traveling out west, reserve from a lesser-name agency, such as Fox Rent a Car ( http://www.foxrentacar.com), which serves nine airports, or its partner EV Rental Cars ( http://www.evrental.com), which serves six California airports and the one in Phoenix.

· Reserve a hybrid at a neighborhood rental car office instead of the airport, because there might be better availability. Hop in a cab or take public transport to pick it up.

ROAD READS

Gas Wars, Part 2

During Rand McNally's recent Great American Road Trip Survey, conducted April 29-May 1, 66 percent of respondents said they've changed travel plans because of rising gas prices;57 percent said they'll travel but will drive fewer miles. Overall, 75 percent said they'll probably take a road trip of about five days this summer.

Now comes the 2009 Rand McNally Road Atlas ($13.95 in stores, $9.95 plus shipping at http://www.randmcnally.com), which highlights five 200- to 250-mile trips that can be done in three to five days.

Rand McNally editorial director Laurie Borman scouted for historic sights, scenic wonders and little-known sites along the suggested routes. Near Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, she found Clyde Butcher's studio-gallery, where his giant black-and-white photographs capture landscapes. It's on the Florida's Cultural West Coast route, which stretches from Tampa to Sarasota to the Everglades.

Borman also drove the International Selkirk Loop through Idaho, Washington and British Columbia, Canada, an uncrowded route where you can hike among moose and elk and visit a cheese or broom factory.

Other trips: the Massachusetts coastline from Provincetown to Boston; the Ozark Mountains from Jefferson City to Branson, Mo.; and Hawaii's Big Island, with Hilo farmers market tips and places to go beyond well-known tourist haunts.

BARGAIN OF THE WEEK

British Airways is offering a $100 discount on any round-trip flight from Washington Dulles or BWI booked by June 30. For example, post-discount, the round-trip fare to Manchester, England in July starts at $1,024 (including taxes); other airlines are matching. Depart by Sept. 3. You must register and buy your ticket at http://www.ba.com to receive the discount.

Reporting: Cindy Loose, Elissa Leibowitz Poma, Sue Kovach Shuman.

Send travel news to: cogo@washpost.com. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.