How to save at the pumps when you’re traveling this holiday
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - As you prepare to hit the road for the holidays, check out tips on how to save money at the pumps.
AAA says 107 million people are expected to travel this holiday season.
Bankrate analyzed data from AAA and the Federal Highway istration and found that Americans in more affordable states actually spend more on gas on average.
Record holiday travel expected in Georgia, across U.S.
Millions of Americans will take to the roads and skies starting Friday as the year-end holiday travel period begins.
“The states where drivers are spending the most on gas annually are likely states like Indiana, Wyoming, Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi. These are all states that are generally considered affordable states, places to live,” Bankrate analyst Alex Gailey pointed out. “But when it comes to gas costs, they tend to be on the higher end annually cause again, although gas prices might be lower, drivers in these states are spending a lot more time on the road.”
MORE RESOURCES
Georgia: Things for holiday travelers to know
- TSA security wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- TSA: What you can pack in your carry-on and checked baggage
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport flight delays/cancellations via FlightAware
- Gas Buddy - Cheap gas prices in Georgia
Georgia’s average price of gas was listed at $2.92 per gallon before the weekend begins. In the Augusta-Aiken area, Friday’s average was priced at $2.89.
Surrounding Georgia counties:
- Richmond: $2.88
- Columbia: $2.90
- McDuffie: $2.98
- Warren: $2.96
- Glascock: $2.79
- Jefferson: $2.93
- Burke: $2.80
Across the river, the average gas price for South Carolina was listed at $2.77 per gallon on Friday. In the Aiken-Edgefield area, the listed average price was $2.81.
Surrounding South Carolina counties:
- Aiken: $2.82
- Edgefield: $2.69
- Saluda: $2.80
- Barnwell: $2.82
- Orangeburg: $2.82
Ahead of the holidays, the national average for gas prices is going up.
It’s gone up two cents since last week to $3.04 per gallon.
Gailey shared two tips to help reduce the costs of long road trips:
Shop around for good gas prices before hitting the road
“The way to do that is to take advantage of free gas apps. There’s AAA and free GasBuddy,” she suggested. “They have all the gas stations that are near you, and you can find the gas station with the lowest prices that you need to fill up on and this is sort of a way you can shop around and compare gas prices in the area that you’re in or maybe if you are traveling across state lines.”
Take advantage of free rewards programs at gas stations
“And then you could also double dip in rewards if you have a cash back credit card that allows you to earn rewards on either gas or just generally on purchases,” she suggested. “So, you could be using your cash back credit card at a pump where you earn rewards from that rewards program, and then you’re earning double rewards for the gas that you’re filling up in your tank.”
There are also many resources online to help save money on road trips:
- AAA: How To Save Money on a Road Trip
- NerdWallet: How to Save on Road Trips
- SoFI: 25 Ways to Cut Costs on a Road Trip
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