AAA Projections For Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

Above, camping at Lake Havasu during Thanksgiving 2021. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It's a good thing that I am staying home (or close to home) this Thanksgiving. I will likely spend the holiday with friends here in Jamestown.

However, others plan on hitting the road. The lower gasoline prices are also a factor in why so many are hitting the road. The Flying J near me has unleaded regular priced at $3.249/gallon. 

According to RV Travel:

If you plan on getting out and about on the upcoming holiday, look out! Here are the AAA projections for Thanksgiving holiday travel.

Third-highest Thanksgiving forecast in 23 years

The big motorists’ interest group says 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. For their purposes, that means the five-day period from Wednesday, November 22 to Sunday, November 26. This year’s forecast shows an increase of 2.3% over last year. It marks the third-highest Thanksgiving forecast since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000. The top two years were 2005 and 2019, respectively.

“For many Americans, Thanksgiving and travel go hand in hand, and this holiday, we expect more people on the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “Travel demand has been strong all year, and AAA’s Thanksgiving forecast reflects that continued desire to get away and spend time with loved ones.”

To read more, go here. 

Got More RV Use This Year Than Expected

Above, yours truly in Monument Valley two weeks ago.

When gasoline prices started to skyrocket this year, I didn't think I would be getting much use out of the motorhome.

But then prices started to fall during the summer and they got to the point that I could afford to go do some traveling.

First, in July, my ex-roommate Jessica and I went to Durango, Colorado and Navajo Lake in New Mexico. Both were reasonably close to home and I only needed a tank and a quarter for the whole trip.

Above, aboard the Durango train in July.

Then, a month later, I headed up to Ouray and Ridgway, Colorado for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's Grit Series 5K and Half Marathon. The amount of fuel for that was the same as the Durango trip. 

Above, yours truly with Patrick Wayne near Ridgway, Colorado August 27.

Then, I attended the Lost Dutchman Chapter, ECV's fall clampout near Ash Fork, Arizona in September. I only needed one tank of gas for that trip.

Above, The Beast at the Lost Dutchman clampout near Ash Fork. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This month, I headed up to Monument Valley for a couple of nights. That trip also only required one tank of gas. 

Currently, the gasoline price averages for New Mexico are as follows (unleaded regular, mid-grade and premium) from AAA:

New Mexico $3.619 $3.953 $4.247

As high as those prices are, they're still much better than California's. If I were to still a resident there, I definitely would not be using the motor home much, if at all. Luckily, I am at the right place and at the right time when it comes to gas prices. 

Here's California's (from AAA):

California $5.675 $5.902 $6.040

Gas Prices Will Surpass $6 Nationwide By August

Above, gas prices in Essex, California last March.

If you think gasoline prices are outrageous now, just wait until summer. You ain't seen nothin' yet!

From Fox Business:

The average national retail price for a gallon of regular gasoline is projected to surpass $6 by the of summer, according to a recent JPMorgan research note.  

On Wednesday, the national average hit another record, reaching $4.56 per gallon, according to AAA. That's already up nearly 50 cents from a month ago, and $1.52 from this time last year, according to AAA's recent data.  

According to JPMorgan, prices could surge another 37% by August, hitting a $6.20 per gallon national average. 

This is due to "expectations of strong driving demand" throughout the summer driving season, which spans from Memorial Day and lasts until Labor Day, the analysts, led by Natasha Kaneva, the head of JPMorgan's global commodities strategy team, wrote.

Gas prices are already exceeding $6.00/gallon in Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

It is said that there isn't enough refinery capacity to meet the summer demand. Yet there's a mothballed refinery in Jamestown, New Mexico that could be put to use. Some upgrading is needed first. So why isn't it happening?

To read more, go here. 

Let's Go Brandon!

California Gas Prices Hit Highest Average On Record

Above, this is cheaper than what gas prices are now in California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have to thank my lucky stars that I got the heck out of Commiefornia (California, to those who are dense) in the nick of time almost four years ago.

Average gasoline prices in the state have hit a new record high. (Cue in Rita Coolidge's "All Time High".)

KTLA reported:

California gas prices hit an average price of $4.676 Sunday, setting the highest recorded average price for regular gasoline, according to AAA.

America’s largest state by population has the highest gas prices in the country. The national average dropped slightly to $3.413 Sunday.

Pretty soon, people will have to take out a second mortgage or get a co-signer in order to buy gasoline.

To read more, go here.