• Today's gas prices.
AAA Carolinas projects that 2.1 million Carolinians will journey 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, with more than 7000,000 South Carolinians and 1.4 million North Carolinians traveling. This represents 3.3 percent over 2016. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 22, to Sunday, Nov. 26.
“Despite higher gas prices this year, Carolinians are still planning to hit the roads in record-breaking numbers to spend time with family and friends this Thanksgiving,” said AAA Carolinas President and CEO Dave Parsons. “We urge everyone to practice safety behind the wheel. Don’t drink and drive, buckle up, avoid speeding and eliminate distractions.”
Typically, the busiest days for road travel are the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday following the holiday. Historically, Thanksgiving Day morning experiences the lightest traffic.
Prices are up at the pump
South Carolina’s average is $2.28 - a 44 cent increase from 2016.This is the highest average for Thanksgiving travel in South Carolina since 2014 when the average was $2.56.
North Carolina’s average gas price is $2.40 – a 32 cent increase from 2016’s Thanksgiving average. This marks the highest price for the holiday in North Carolina since 2014, when the average was $2.73.
Driving remains most popular mode of travel
Close to 90 percent of holiday travel will take place on the roads.
• 630,000 South Carolinians and 1.3 million North Carolinians are expected to travel by vehicle.
• AAA expects about 49,000 South Carolinians will travel by air and 98,000 North Carolinians to fly to their Thanksgiving holiday destinations.
• An estimated 21,000 South Carolinians and 42,000 North Carolinians and will travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses.