OCALA, FL (352today.com) – AAA predicts a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel season, with nearly 4.5 million Floridians planning trips of 50 miles or more. Among them, over 4.1 million are expected to hit the road, facing slightly higher gas prices than last year.
“An uptick in oil prices has restored upward pressure on pump prices as a record number of Americans prepare to hit the holiday road,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA. “While higher oil prices should cause an uptick in prices at the pump, it’s unlikely to be significant enough to cause people to cancel travel plans.”
GasBuddy reported the lowest price in the Ocala area at $2.69 per gallon for regular unleaded at the Diamond Oil located at 2534 SE 17th St. as of Sunday evening.
Crude oil prices rose 6% last week, settling at $71.24 per barrel, sparking a slight increase in gas prices. Florida drivers saw prices climb from $3.01 per gallon last week to $3.12 on Sunday. While higher than last Thanksgiving’s $3.03 average, prices remain well below 2022’s $3.41 holiday mark.
With record travel expected, motorists should plan for busy roads and budget slightly more for fuel.