CHARLESTON, W.Va. — AAA is predicting a record-breaking number of travelers nationwide this holiday weekend.
“We’re going to see 100 million people,” said Crissy Gray, supervisor at Charleston’s AAA Office. “The majority of it is going to be by car, so it’s going to be a busy, busy weekend.”
The low gas prices and unseasonably warm temperatures this time of year are just some of the main factors why more people are willing to travel, Gray said.
“It’s been since March 2009 that we have seen gas prices this low and stayed this low. I think that the consumer is really going to take advantage of it,” she said. “We’re really not battling snow right now and that’s just made a really good situation for the consumer to go out and enjoy the holiday.”
Also, Gray said they’ve seen an increase in the amount of travelers this year due to Christmas Eve falling on a Thursday and Christmas Day on a Friday.
“We’re seeing a lot of people head out on Wednesday. They’re not necessarily coming back until Monday or Tuesday, so they’re really going to enjoy this extended weekend and take advantage of it,” she said.
According to a news release, nearly one in three Americans will take a trip this holiday season, with 100.5 million expected to travel 50 miles or more from home. This represents a 1.4 percent increase from last year and the seventh consecutive year of year-end holiday travel growth.
Currently, the West Virginia gasoline price average is $1.97 compared to $2.59 exactly one year ago. The Charleston average is $1.93, which is down $0.59 from this time last year, the release said.
Gray said the holiday travel period will be from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3.