Joshua Yeager|Visalia Times-Delta
Thanksgiving travelers will have at least one thing to be thankful for as they hit the pumps this holiday season.
Gas prices are expected to plummet between now and New Year's Day.
That's because crude oil prices experienced a single-day 7 percent drop last week, following weeks of steady decline.
Holiday commuters will now payabout $2.64 a gallondown nearly 40 cents from summer's recent record-high $2.98 a gallon, according to GasBuddy, an app that provides fuel station prices and location information.
That's great news for the estimated 54.3 million people who will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, a 13-year high, according to AAA.
Although millions of people hit the road for Thanksgiving, gas prices have been dropping just before the holiday period for several years. It just hasn't been this dramatic, AAA numbers show.
In 2016, the average price of gas for Thanksgiving road travelers was the second-cheapest it had been since 2008 — falling short only of 2015’s record lows.
In 2017, Thanksgiving gas prices rose slightly compared to the year before.
"(Last week's crude oil)sell-off will extend and accelerate the declines seen at the pump, just in time for Thanksgiving,"said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "The best tip I can suggest is to shop around for the lowest prices as some stations will pass on the savings faster than others."
Lisa Terry filled up at 4 Seasons Handy Mart in Visalia ahead of a busy week. Shewas relieved to see a 10-cent drop at the gas pumps compared to just lastweek, she said.
"I commute from Visalia to Tulare for work every day, soit really adds up," Terry said.
Since Terry is an in-home care specialist for the elderly, she says her services are especially critical this time of year.
"A lot of my clients don't have families," Terry said. "If I can't make it to them, they'llbe alone for the holidays."
Although Terry says she'll be celebratingThanksgiving at her Visalia home, her savings at the pump will help her afford pricey holiday dinners as well asfinish holiday shopping for her family.
"I get to shop extra on Black Friday this year," she said.
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Holiday fill-ups
Looking for the cheapest pumps to fuel your holiday retreat?
California may still have the highest average gas prices in the continental U.S., about $3.65 a gallon, but there are still savings to be found around Tulare County.
Those who are heading west may want to stop in Lemoore, which currently has the cheapest gas prices in all of California at $2.75 a gallon.
Here are the least expensive pumps around town according to GasBuddy as of Saturday morning.
Visalia
- $3.09per gallon: Costco, located at 1405 W. Cameron Ave.
- $3.09cash per gallon: Double D Mini Mart,locatedat1500 W Houston Ave.
- $3.09per gallon: Circle 7, located at 2020 N Dinuba Blvd.
- $3.09 cashper gallon: 4 Seasons Handy Mart, located at 443 N. Giddings St.
Tulare
- $3.03cash per gallon: 4B Gas, located at265 W Inyo Ave
- $3.07 per gallon: Super 7, located at117 W Inyo Ave
- $3.17 cash per gallon: Sinclair, located at 1275 N. Blackstone St.
- $3.19per gallon: ARCO, located at 1088 N. Mooney Blvd.
Porterville
- $3.28 cash per gallon: C&L Mini Mart, located at11 W Olive Ave.
- $3.29cash per gallon: Express Gas Mart, located at 1060 W Olive Ave.
- $3.29cash per gallon: Town & Country Market, located at 1310 W Olive Ave.
- $3.29 per gallon: Applegate Market, located at 212 N Newcomb St.
Travel tips
For those who are planning a Turkey Day trek, California Highway Patrol officer Steve Bealrecommends giving yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.
"Wednesday is the busiest travel day of the year in California," Beal said. "Give yourself lots of time for travel, leave early and expect delays."
He also warns that people who are celebrating may not be as aware or cautious.
If you're planning to indulge in some spiked cider or egg nog this year, "be sure to have a plan in place" before hitting the road home, Bealadded.
Thanksgiving week is considered a "maximum enforcement period." That means 80 percent of uniformed officers will be patrolling highways.
"We want to make sure everybody's Thanksgiving travels are memorable for the right reasons," Beal said.
USA Today reporter Nancy Trejos contributed to this report.
