Are you ready to hit the road for the Christmas holiday? You’re not alone. In fact, more than 84.4-million travelers are expected to drive in order to make it to their Christmas destinations. That’s up 1.6 percent from this time last year.
Christina Rollyson with AAA of Charleston says a lot of that has to do with an improving economy.
“We see that people just want to spend time with their families. That’s very important to people over the holiday season,” Rollyson said..
And a recently drop in gas prices gives families a little more wiggle room with their budgets to make that trip according to Rollyson.
If you’re not planning on leaving until Saturday, be prepared for some major crowds.
“We see the holiday travel period defined as starting on December 22nd and that generally runs through New Years, or January 1st,” Rollyson said.
So what do you need to know to avoid any road woes? Rollyson says the number one thing you need to do is make sure your vehicle is road worthy.
“Check the air pressure in your tires, getting routine maintenance, the oil changed. All those kinds of things will make sure they have a safe trip”
One other tip from Rollyson is to add the AAA Mobile App to your phone. She says you can check out gas prices, even get directions. The app is free.
As for gas prices this Christmas holiday, finally some good news. Prices are dropping slowly at the pumps. But they’re at the same price they were this time last year.
According to AAA, the average cost of a gallon of gas nationwide is $3.23. Here in West Virginia it’s $3.36. But if you happen to be traveling out of state, here’s what it will cost you in surrounding states: $3.16 in Kentucky, $3.26 in Maryland, $3.11 in Ohio, $3.44 in Pennsylvania and $3.11 in Virginia.