Thanksgiving Gas Prices Lowest in Years: Find Cheapest Gas Here

• Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts.

By MARC TORRENCE (Patch National Staff)

If you’re joining the more than 40 million Americans traveling by car for Thanksgiving, you’re in luck.

Gas prices are projected to fall below $2 per gallon nationwide for the first time since March 2009, according to analysis from GasBuddy, and will save Thanksgiving travelers approximately $1.6 billion.

The news is even better in Michigan, where the current statewide average is $1.83 per gallon and falling. Citgo in Dearborn was selling gas for as low as $1.57 a gallon Wednesday, but it was still $3.09 at Marathon in nearby Trenton.

In Michigan, prices are down 2 cents from Tuesday’s average, 19.2 cents from a week ago, 46.6 cents from a month ago and a whopping $1.02 from last year’s average.

Nationally, Thanksgiving gas prices are the cheapest since 2008, Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy’s senior petroleum analyst, told Patch.

“Across the nation, prices are down 10 cents in the last week,” DeHaan said. “We currently stand at $2.06 a gallon. And if that continues to hold, that will lead to the national average dropping under $2 right around Thursday.”

Sixty percent of U.S. gas stations are already selling a gallon for less than two bucks, DeHaan said.

And the low prices should continue through the holidays into December and January.

It would seem to defy basic supply and demand. More people driving long distances means more demand for gas, which means higher prices, right?

Not necessarily, DeHaan said.

“Even though folks are going to be hitting the road with much more frequency this week, you’re still talking about maybe a day or two when demand is much higher,” DeHaan said. “With oil and gas, one or two days of temporary spikes in demand really doesn’t to a whole lot (to the price).

“And keep in mind, once you get to grandma’s house, you don’t drive a whole lot. Getting there is one thing, but it does even out.”

To make sure you’re getting the best gas prices on the road, be sure to download a gas-pricing app, DeHaan said.

Prices can vary greatly from state to state, depending on the state’s oil tax. So crossing a state line before filling up could cost you 50 to 70 cents a gallon, DeHaan said.

You can also use this widget below to find the current prices of gas in your area. Just type in your city or zip code to see a map with the prices around you.