More People Traveling for the Holidays, Will Find Higher Gas Prices

If you're planning to travel in the coming week, you'll be part of 2.2 million New Jersey residents traveling, a 2.6 percent increase, according to AAA.

AAA is predicting the increase for year-end holiday travel from Thursday through Jan. 2 compared to those who traveled during the same period a year ago, according to a press release. Nationally, AAA projects 92.3 million Americans will travel, which is a 3.1 percent increase from the year before.

"It's great to see so many people taking trips this holiday season," said Rick Zeckendorf, vice president of travel services, in a press release. "(Last year) was a challenging year and the modestly improved economic environment and pent-up demand for a vacation resulted in more people traveling in 2010, and the year-end holidays are no exception."

Most people (93.2 percent) will be traveling by car, and the 2.1 million New Jersey residents traveling by car is a 2.6 percent increase.And motorists will be finding an increase in gas prices at the pumps.

The current nationwide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.98, which is $.39 more than the $2.59 average last year. Gas prices in New Jersey gas prices are below the national average at $2.94, which is $.44 more than last year ($2.50).

Year-end holiday gas prices, average per gallon, in New Jersey for the past five years, according to AAA:

2010: $2.94 (as of December 17, 2010)
2009: $2.50
2008: $1.51
2007: $2.89
2006: $2.26
2005: $2.09