Average gas cost for 1000 mile trip in 1965 (constant dollars) = $131.45.
But like I said, the biggest difference is that Americans are simply squeezing into smaller cars.
In 1965 most Baby Boomers were still living at home.
I myself turned 13 that year.
Average family size was larger than today.
And the average family car was also much larger and more spacious to accomodate the larger families.
Back then, a 1000 mile family trip on a newly constructed, uncongested Interstate could be made in comfort. (nobody had ever heard of "road rage" back then)
Nowadays, that same 1000 mile family trip on our congested highways in smaller, cramped vehicles would be a PITA.
BIG difference.
I'm not sure that's true.
While cars are on average smaller, SUVs and minivans are a huge percentage of the fleet and almost did not exist 40 years ago. Few cars were even air conditioned back then.
I would contend a 1000 mile trip in today's average vehicle is much more physically comforbable than the same trip 40 years ago.
Traffic, you probably have a point. Particularly with regard to trucks.