Thanksgiving gas prices higher than ever: Here are the busiest times to travel
Even as gas prices on Thanksgiving weekend are expected to be the highest in the history of the holiday, more Americans are planning to hit the road.
Gas Buddy released a report Tuesday stating the national average of gas is expected to be $3.68 on Thanksgiving Day, nearly 30 cents higher than last year. At the same time, 20% more people are planning to drive over the holiday weekend compared to last year.
"Americans are proving that while we'll openly complain about high gas prices, most of us aren't deterred from taking to the highways to observe Thanksgiving with those that matter most to us, especially as precautions from the pandemic have eased," said Patrick De Haan, head of analysis at Gas Buddy.
The busiest times to drive will be Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and on Friday between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., Gas Buddy said.
Seventy-three percent of Americans won't be traveling out of state, but 23% said they'll spend more than one hour in the car.
People can save gas by using the WRAL Fuel Tracker to find the cheapest gas near them and avoiding speeding, rapid accelerating and hard braking. You can also turn off your engine if waiting for more than 60 seconds at a stoplight or drive-thru line.
It's not just gas that will be more expensive this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving dinner will cost on average about 13.5% more compared to last year.
