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Dallas,
TX – November 2024 / NewsmakerAlert:
GasBuddy,
the leading fuel savings platform saving North American drivers the most
money on gas, today released the findings of its 2024 annual Thanksgiving
Travel Survey, revealing that 72% of Americans plan to take a road trip
over the holiday. This is a 75% increase from the 41% that planned to take
a trip by car in 2023, amidst gasoline prices that have fallen to multi-year
lows, including 29 states where average prices are currently below $3 per
gallon.
After
several years of pandemic-influenced travel changes, this year's data shows
a return to more traditional Thanksgiving travel plans, with 72% of respondents
indicating they will be driving to their destination - up from just 41%
in 2023, 38% in 2022, 32% in 2021 and 35% in 2020. This figure is closer
to pre-pandemic levels, when 65% drove for Thanksgiving in 2019.
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Looking
ahead to the Thanksgiving travel period, GasBuddy forecasts that the national
average gas price will be approximately $2.98 per gallon, down slightly
from the current national average of $3.02 per gallon. Most survey respondents
plan to start their Thanksgiving travel on Wednesday, 11/27, leaving in
the early morning.
“Americans
are eager to get back on the road and visit loved ones this Thanksgiving,
with the vast majority choosing the flexibility and convenience of driving,
as gas prices have fallen below $3 in over half of the nation’s states,”
said Patrick De Haan,
head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “While a few travelers feel discouraged
by current gas prices, our data shows most people are undeterred and willing
to absorb the extra costs to reunite with family over the holiday. Gas
prices have fallen nearly 70 cents from the summer high to their lowest
level since 2021, and should provide some relief for Thanksgiving travelers.
We expect prices to remain seasonally low leading up to the holidays, making
road trips a more affordable option for millions of Americans.”
Other
key findings from GasBuddy’s 2024 Thanksgiving Travel Survey include:
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Of those
not traveling by car, 10% plan to fly and 87% are not traveling at all.
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The top
reasons for not traveling include having nowhere to go (33%), high fuel
prices (16%), and travel not being in their budget (19%).
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Most (60%)
of those driving this year also drove last year, citing the flexibility
of road trips (48%) and proximity to their destination (39%) as the primary
factors.
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The majority
(60%) expect to spend 1-6 hours in the car, with two-thirds (66%) driving
more than 100 miles.
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56% will
be crossing state lines during their road trip, and 68% plan to use loyalty
or cash back programs to save on fuel, including Pay
with GasBuddy.
For more
travel insights and money-saving tips, visit www.GasBuddy.com/go/blog.
About
GasBuddy
GasBuddy
is the leading fuel savings platform providing North American drivers with
the most ways to save money on gas. GasBuddy has delivered more than $3.5
billion in cumulative savings to its users through providing real-time
gas price information at 150,000+ stations, offering cash back rewards
on purchases with brand partners, and through the Pay
with GasBuddy™ payments card that offers cents-off per gallon at virtually
all gas stations across the US. As one of the most highly-rated apps in
the history of the App Store, GasBuddy has been downloaded over 100 million
times. Acquired by PDI Technologies
in 2021, GasBuddy’s publishing and software businesses enable the world’s
leading fuel, convenience, QSR and CPG companies to shorten the distance
between the fueling public and their brands. For more information, visit
www.GasBuddy.com.
GasBuddy
Media Contact:
Nicole
Petersen
GasBuddy
617-396-7217
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