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Thanksgiving gas prices projected to be highest since 2014

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO) – For most, Thanksgiving means food, family and a lot of driving.

We are quickly approaching one of the busiest travel weekends of the year and that means you are going to have to fill up sooner or later.

Gas prices have been dropping over the last month but despite the price decline this will be the highest national gas average for Thanksgiving since 2014.

Tom Asbury is like many in that if he wants to see his family for the holidays he has to drive, “it’s quite, 900 some miles. And it takes all of about two days to get there.”

His kids live in Texas, which from Terre Haute can be an expensive trip. Asbury said he isn’t complaining about current gas prices. “I don’t worry about it there, as long as it is between $2 and $3, I’m OK with it there. I have spent $4 a gallon there, so this looks pretty good.”

You can’t exactly avoid getting gas over the holidays but, if you do need to fill up, officials say it is going to be better to do it sooner than later.

“We will see Wednesday especially for Thanksgiving and we’ll see Friday,” says gas station manager Joe Mawi.

Studies show the cheapest day on average to fill up is Monday, with Friday being the most-expensive. Mawi said he does not see prices taking a big jump soon.

“I don’t know, the market dropped last week again, and it dropped today, this morning. So, it is still going to keep going down? We are not expected to go up any time soon,” Mawi said. 

Gas Buddy projects the national average gas price on Thanksgiving Day will slightly increase from current prices, at an estimated $2.57 per gallon.

“We will see more consumers able to buy more gas. Not having to stress about putting a couple bucks here, a couple bucks the next day. They can fill up and be comfortable the rest of the week,” Mawi said.

While the lower gas prices definitely make it more convenient and cheaper for drivers who have a long way to go this Thanksgiving holiday, most of them say you can’t put a price on quality family time.

“My boy, we don’t have any family here. There are all out in Texas there, so I don’t worry about the expense,” Asbury said.

As far as travel goes, Wednesday and Friday are expected be the busiest days on the roadways.