Which Direction Saves more Gas? (look inside)?

Question

1) Highway (65 mph speed limit)
distance: 12.59 miles
time: 17 minutes

2) City (stop and go traffic, 40 mph speed limit)
distance: 8.23 miles
time: 20 minutes

I drive a '89 Camry 4speed automatic.
I want to know which route saves more gas? and why? Answer if you know for sure, thanks in advance.

Answer 1

There is a simple equation. If you drive at 65 mph in your Camry in 4th gear (overdrive) then your engine speed is loafing along at just over 2000 rpm. Unless there is heavy traffic on this route, you will be saving fuel since the engine does not have to pull the weight of the car to speed at every stop. Accelerating and braking are where most gasoline is used.