Gasoline prices hit all-time highs last week, topping $2 a gallon for regular.

You already knew that, but I mention it because as a personal finance writer, I'm supposed to put the numbers in perspective and point out that, adjusted for inflation, gas was actually pricier in the early 1980s (when it cost $2.70 a gallon in today's dollars). Gas cost more in the 1950s, too, which we think of as the halcyon days for American driving. And Americans are spending less of their income on energy-related costs than they have over most of the past 25 years.

But those stats don't ease the sticker shock I've been feeling lately at the gas pump. In my neighborhood in Washington, D.C., regular gas is closing in on $2.10 a gallon. If I'm filling a 15-gallon tank, that's more than $30. In Los Angeles, regular gas averaged $2.35 a gallon (prices are higher because California mandates ultra-low-emission gasoline that requires special refining). If you're filling up a Ford Excursion's 44-gallon tank in L.A., it's going to cost you more than $100.

In the recent past, gasoline price spikes have quickly cooled, and we're used to toughing them out and sticking by our gas guzzlers. But there's little reason to believe that gas prices will subside soon. Oil prices are being inflated by events in Iraq and the Middle East (the so-called war premium). And global demand, particularly from China, is propping up costs. Add to that the premium you pay during summer, when increased demand and the higher cost of refining summer blends of gas tend to boost pump prices.

According to KiplingerForecasts.com, motorists nationwide can expect to pay up to $2.25 a gallon on average at the pump by late June and nearly $3 in big cities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Boston. The average price should begin to ease slowly in July, dropping below $2 after Labor Day.

Go green?

Setting aside public policy debates and far-in-the-future alternative-fuel solutions, the best bet for owners of gas guzzlers is to trade them in for fuel efficient cars. Although many, especially more affluent, SUV owners aren't intimidated by current gas prices, there's evidence that at least some new-vehicle buyers are thinking twice about some of the biggest gas hogs.

Last month, sales of the Ford Expedition (15 miles per gallon in city driving) were off 20%, and sales of the huge Hummer H2 (10 mpg) have fallen 24% for the first four months of the year. (Ford and GM have responded by increasing incentives on many SUVs.) A poll by Harris Interactive and Kelley Blue Book shows that 17% of those in the market for a new vehicle have changed their mind about what model they plan to buy because of high fuel costs. A separate poll found the gas mileage was the third most important factor in the decision to buy, after quality/reliability and affordability.

Carmakers are doing what they can to cash in on the new fuel-consumption consciousness. While sticker prices for large SUVs declined 1.5% between March and April, the MSRP of compact cars increased 2.4%, according to Edmunds.com's Edmunds Price Index.

The list of most-fuel-efficient cars is topped by the gas-electric hybrids: the Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius (see Kiplinger's Car Finder for prices and options). More hybrids will hit the market soon, including the Ford Escape small SUV and the Lexus Hybrid, a version of the RX 330 luxury SUV.

Diesel engines are also easy on fuel. Volkswagen offers the Golf, Jetta and New Beetle in diesel models (the Jetta, for example, gets 38 mpg in city driving), and Passat and Touareg diesels are coming this fall.

Other tactics

Pay with a rebate card. It won't help the environment, but it can ease the financial pinch at the pump. The Chase PerfectCard earns a 6% rebate for 60 days, then a 3% rebate if you use it to fill up at any gas station. Other purchases get a 1% rebate. The AAA Visa credit card from MBNA earns AAA members a 5% rebate, up to $3 a day, when you swipe the card at the pump at any station. To apply, visit AAA.com and type in your zip code to get to your regional club's Web site. Also consider the BP Visa (800-278-4721), the Sunoco MasterCard (877-645-2017) and the Shell MasterCard (866-438-7435).

Find the cheapest gas. Two Web sites, GasPriceWatch.com and GasBuddy.com, help you locate cheap gas at local stations. Of course, driving an extra five miles to save 10 cents a gallon on gas might only save you enough to buy a cup of gas station coffee. Crunch the numbers to see if a detour is worthwhile with our Drive for Cheap Gas? calculator.

Stay informed. Uncle Sam helps you find and compare fuel-efficient vehicles at FuelEconomy.gov. Also at the site are the latest fuel price data and tips on how to get the best mileage from your car.