AAA expects more people on the road this Thanksgiving holiday

Thanksgiving is just over a week away and AAA projects this year will be the eighth consecutive year of growth in travel for the holidau — crediting it to increased consumer confidence. Also, 9 out of 10 people traveling will do so by car.

In Idaho specifically, AAA predicts 255,000 people will travel at least 50 miles or more, with at least 227,000 making their trip by car.

Pocatellan Lindsey Roth is one of those drivers, heading to the Salt Lake City area for this year’s holiday. However, driving during a holiday isn’t a new thing for her. She frequently drives to Salmon, Idaho, or Utah to spend the holidays with family. For her, it’s the gas prices that help her drive so much.

“Now that it’s lower than normal I have been able to go up (to Salmon) a lot more and travel to Idaho Falls,” Roth said.

Idaho’s current average price for regular gas is $2.44. Last year, it was $2.24. Nationwide the average price is $2.16, compared to $2.17 last year.

The low gas prices have definitely helped build consumer confidence, but Idaho Department of Labor regional economist Esther Eke said there are other factors that have helped create a favorable economic situation.

Eke said the “general trajectory of higher employment levels, low unemployment rates and the resulting higher wages” definitely have helped.

For Roth, even if she’s mostly traveling locally, has another reason she’d rather drive than fly.

“Plane tickets are just too high. My cousin lives in Louisiana and I was going to go down and see her. They wanted $1,000 round trip,” she said.

AAA projects airfares to increase 21 percent for the holiday.

If you are driving for the holiday, AAA advises to be prepared for any on-road emergencies.