In 1973 I took a cross-country trip and drove 11000 miles in two weeks, I think I averaged around 17 mpg with a 360 V8.
I remember paying $.25 a gallon in Amarillo Texas, and $.50 a gallon in a small town called Lee Vining Calif.
Can you imagine taking the same trip today in a car that averages 34 mpg. and finding a gas station in Texas selling fuel at the "bargain" price of $3.50 per gal. and then having to pay $7.00 a gallon in Calif?
All things being relative of course.