What to expect for Thanksgiving travel

AAA Idaho says things are looking up for Thanksgiving travelers.

In a news release Tuesday, the organization said the average price for a gallon of gas in Idaho is $3.06, a decline of 26 cents in the past month and the lowest gas has been in the Gem State since February 2011. Gas is also 71 cents cheaper than it was on Labor Day.

The national average is $2.81 per gallon, the lowest since Thanksgiving 2010.

Another thing to be grateful about is the weather in the region. Although motorists should always be prepared for a chance of snow and inclement weather, especially in higher elevations, the weather should be warmer in general, making for better travel conditions.

If you are traveling to the East Coast, however, you may experience delays due to weather.

You should also be prepared to share the road. AAA expects 46.3 million Americans will hit the byways this holiday, up 4.2 percent over last year. It’s projected to be the largest number since 2007. Nearly 90 percent of travelers will go by car. That puts 41.3 million travelers on the road between Wednesday and Sunday.

About 237,000 Idahoans will travel 50 miles or more, with 204,000 going by car.

Here are some links you might want to check before you travel:

Gas prices
Forecast
Webcams of roads throughout the region
Road conditions in Idaho
Road conditions in Wyoming
Road conditions in Utah
Road conditions in Montana