Gas Prices Encouraging Thanksgiving Travel

AAA Michigan says about 1.4 million people in the state are traveling 50 miles or more for Turkey Day.

That’s down from last year by about 6%.

But the recent plunge in gas prices is convincing some who weren’t planning to go anywhere to hit the road.

Some who were already traveling are now able to go father than they expected.

A downstate native who now lives in Sands Township was typical of many we spoke with.

Jemmy Riojas says she’s excited by the drop in price, because she and her family are easily able to afford to drive downstate to visit family where they didn’t think they’d be able to.

In most of the U.P., a gallon of regular gas will cost you somewhere between $1.90 and $1.95.

That’s the lowest we’ve seen since January 2005.

The prices bode well for holiday spending, too.

Riojas says with the cost of gas this low, she’ll have much more money available to spend on Christmas presents than she thought she’d have.

In the last 4 months, gas prices have fallen by more than half.

In the Marquette area, that same gallon of gas would have cost you about $4.25 back in July.