Thanksgiving Week Travel May be Dicey but Gas Will be Cheap

Many thousands of Iowans will be on the road this week and their Thanksgiving holiday travels could be hampered by wintery weather.

Forecasters say up to three inches of snow is likely this (Monday) afternoon into tonight for a wide section of eastern Iowa, while more snow is predicted for much of the state tomorrow (Tuesday) night into Wednesday. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says travelers will have plenty of company.

Gasoline prices in Iowa have dropped to the lowest levels in many months, falling more than 30-cents a gallon from last Thanksgiving, while the cost to fly has risen slightly.

Some people prefer to rent a car for long trips so they don’t put the miles on their personal vehicles, but White notes it’s getting pricey.

Regular unleaded gasoline is averaging two-81 a gallon in Iowa, the same as the national average. The Iowa price is down 32 cents a gallon from a year ago. White says travelers are expected to spend an average of $573 over the course of their Thanksgiving holiday travels.