Even if you'll probably put more miles on your car during the summer to reach your vacation destinations, you'll likely notice that you're getting better mileage for your daily commute than you achieved during the winter.

There are several reasons why your fuel economy improves during hot weather, including many factors related to the performance of your car. As long as you aren't relying too heavily on your air conditioning, you should be able to save yourself a couple of trips to the gas station.

The Department of Energy says that fuel economy at a balmy 77 degrees is about 12 percent better on average than the miles per gallon you can achieve at 20 degrees. Short trips of three or four miles are about 22 percent more efficient in warmer weather, and the fuel economy in hybrid vehicles can be as much as one-third better at high temperatures.

Performance suffers in colder weather due in large part to the engine performance. It takes longer for the engine to reach its optimal performing temperature, and there is more friction when oil and other fluids are at lower temperatures.

Cold air inside tires contracts, lowering their pressure and making it more likely that your tire pressure will be below the optimal level. Other factors reducing fuel economy in the winter include the higher aerodynamic resistance from cold, dense air; the reduced energy in winter blend gasoline; and decreased battery performance.

In general, these problems are reversed in the summer. It won't take long to heat your engine up to its optimal performing temperature when it's already warm out, the air in your tires will not contract, and you'll meet less wind resistance from the air.

Summer blend gasoline is designed to minimize evaporation at higher temperatures, which will lead to fuel loss and pollution. The automotive organization AAA says that while summer blend gasoline is more expensive to produce, it also has 1.7 percent more energy than winter blend gasoline.

Drivers are also less likely to rely on vehicle systems that draw power during the summer. You won't need to use heated seats, defrosters, or heater fans during the summer. Antony Ingram, writing for the automotive site Green Car Reports, notes how you'll also use your headlights less due to the longer days of summer.

The air conditioner can have a particularly large effect on fuel economy during warm weather, however. The Department of Energy says that on particularly hot days, a vehicle's air conditioning system can result in a 25 percent reduction in fuel economy. The effect is more pronounced in hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles.

A few easy actions will keep your vehicle from getting too warm, reducing your reliance on the air conditioning. Park in a shaded area to prevent the sun from baking the interior of your vehicle, and keep the windows cracked to allow hot air to escape. Opening the windows will also reduce the temperature on the inside of the vehicle, allowing the air conditioner to use less energy when you turn it on.

Avoid using the air conditioning when the vehicle is idling, as it will operate more efficiently when the vehicle is in motion. Do not set the temperature cooler than what you need to be comfortable, and check the owner's manual for recommendations on the most efficient use of the air conditioner.

Opening the windows while driving will lower the temperature by letting hot air escape and allowing a cooling breeze to circulate through the vehicle. However, open windows will also increase the wind resistance your vehicle experiences once you reach higher speeds.

Open windows are the more efficient cooling option at lower speeds, such as city driving. Air conditioning is better for highway speeds, since you'll use less fuel this way than you'd lose due to increased wind resistance.