1.7M Michiganians expected to travel over Thanksgiving weekend, AAA says

AAA- Auto Club Group projects more than 1.7 million Michigan residents will travel 50 miles or more from home around Thanksgiving, contributing to the third-highest national travel forecast on the holiday since the group started tracking in 2000.

This makes about 43,000 more Michigan travelers, or a 2.6% jump, compared to last year and also the third highest on record, behind 2005 and 2019, according to a Monday release from AAA.

“Travel demand has been strong all year and that trend will continue with one of the busiest Thanksgivings on record,” said Debbie Haas, the vice president of travel for AAA. “With more people taking to the roads, skies, rails and sea; travelers should expect congested roads and longer lines at transportation terminals. AAA encourages travelers to develop their plan now, leave early, and be courteous to others.”

Although travel is expected to jump this year, gas price demand has declined.

Michigan drivers are seeing a 7-cent drop in gas prices since last week, according to AAA.

The decline puts Michigan pump prices at an average of$3.37per gallon for regular unleaded gas, which is 15 cents lessthan this time last month and 68 cents under this time in 2022.

Motorists are paying an average of $50 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline. According to a Monday release from AAA, "gas demand has likely remained flat or dipped, contributing to lower pump prices and falling oil prices."

"Oil prices fell last week due to a stronger dollar and reduced market concerns that the conflict in the Middle East will escalate, which could lead to a reduction in regional oil production and higher prices," the release said.

"Michigan motorists are seeing slightly lower prices at the pump across the state," said Adrienne Woodland, AAA's spokesperson. "If demand declines, alongside lower crude oil prices, drivers may see gas prices drop further."

Oil and refined products analyst Patrick De Hann tweeted Sunday that the country's gasoline demand fell and subsequently the national gas price average.

Metro Detroit’s average daily gas price is trending slightly above the state's, at $3.39 per gallon, which is about 3 cents less than last week’s average and 58 cents less than this same time last year.

AAA reports the most expensive gas prices in Jackson ($3.43), Ann Arbor ($3.43) and Marquette ($3.42).

The least expensive gas price averages are in Grand Rapids ($3.31), Benton Harbor ($3.32) and Saginaw ($3.36).

mjohnson@detroitnews.com