Individuals and families planning to travel this holiday weekend should be prepared for some busy roads.
Some 50.7 million Americans are planning to travel for July 4, according to projections by American Automobile Association. That means Utah roads will likely be busier than normal.
Reasons for the high travel projections are the easing of inflation and lower gas prices than a year ago, AAA says, noting the upcoming holiday could very well set new records for both road and air travel.
“Despite limited inventory and airfare soaring 50% higher than last year, consumers are choosing not to scale back their travel plans,” Brian Ng, senior vice president of Membership and Travel Marketing for AAA Utah, said in a prepared statement. “This holiday weekend, there’s going to be a huge influx in travelers, so it’s important to take advantage of available resources to get the most out of their trips.”
While AAA expects most people will be traveling by road, the share of people flying has increased to the highest level, 8.2%, in nearly 20 years.
Julian Paredes, spokesman for AAA’s Mountain West Group, said July 4 is typically a busier travel period.
“Independence Day is the main occasion for people in Utah and the rest of the country for getting out this weekend,” he told The Herald Journal. “However, travel has generally rebounded anyway. Gas is significantly cheaper this year compared to last year, inflation is slowly easing, and there is likely pent-up demand from the pandemic. Summer is simply the primary season for travel.”
Paredes said the nationwide average for gasoline prices has remained steady, with the current price set at $3.57 a gallon for regular unleaded. Utah’s current price is averaging a bit higher, at $4.01 per gallon.
“Normally prices would rise as demand rises, but the oil market has been weak. So, it’s a bit tricky to say where prices will go,” he said. “It was safe to assume prices would increase after Memorial Day, but that didn’t happen. So it’s possible prices may actually stay level for the short term, but many things could change because of the upcoming holiday.”
In recent weeks, The Herald Journal has received at least one letter and several other comments from readers mentioning Utah’s gas prices. A writer of a letter to the editor (“Frustrating to see Utah gas prices so high,” June 15) explained that on a recent trip gas prices were noticeably lower in other states.
“In southern Georgia, we paid $2.59 per gallon,” wrote Hyde Park resident Larry Larson. “In Tennessee the cost was $2.97. A fill-up in Missouri was $3.12. We next filled up in Nebraska and paid $3.19. In Wyoming, the cost increased to $3.39. Not until we hit Utah did we see prices close to $4 a gallon.”
Paredes told The Herald Journal that “gas prices in Utah have actually decreased in the last month.”
“The 6 cent decrease is marginal, but it’s a sign that whatever regional issue that caused prices to spike a month or so ago has eased,” Paredes continued, explaining that not all of the variables are known for each state’s pricing.
He also said prices “across the west are normally higher anyway due to transportation costs and higher taxes on fuel. ... But if the oil market continues to trend in the high $60 to low $70 range, that’s good news for drivers. Gas prices in Utah were averaging $5.18 this time last year, so hopefully that gives people perspective.”
Paredes reminds people that doing regular maintenance on their vehicles will help them be more fuel efficient — “car maintenance is essential during the summer,” he said — thus saving costs at the pump.
He noted AAA is anticipating nearly 400,000 roadside assistance calls for the holiday weekend.
“So doing some checks can save a lot of trouble. Car batteries are particularly prone to failure in very hot weather. Keeping your vehicle in good shape can really help with fuel economy as well,” he said. “So if gas prices are a major concern, small things like maintenance, reducing your driving speed, properly inflating tires can add up.”
Paredes gave these additional tips:
“And while inflation is easing, things like airfare, hotels and rental cars are still expensive. So doing extra research can ensure people are getting the best deal they can.”
“Finally, this Friday will be the most congested for travel, but roads across the country will be busier than normal through July 5. To save time and fuel, try to avoid driving during the 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. hours.”
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