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What is the average cost of gas on 4th of July? Low gas prices, high travel in Louisville area

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Fourth of July travel in the Louisville area is going to be hectic, with 2024 tourism numbers likely to exceed the year prior.

These high travel numbers coincide with gas prices in many states at “near or even well below where they were a year ago,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, a national fuel savings platform headquartered in Dallas.

A recent study from the company Tuesday reveals Independence Day gas costs are at their lowest since 2021. Could affordable miles be contributing to holiday travel in the area? Here’s what we know.

Fourth of July Louisville Fourth of July travel is expected to be busy, exceeding 2023 numbers. What to know

AAA and Louisville authorities predict high Fourth of July travel numbers

Spokespersons for the AAA and Louisville Regional Airport Authority told The Courier Journal that travel numbers for Independence Day will likely exceed previous years, with millions of people traveling through various means in the nation’s East South Central Region, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.

“Americans are embracing the opportunity to travel over the Independence Day holiday in record-breaking numbers,” Senior vice president of AAA East Central Bevi Powell said. “Whether by car, plane, or train, we are seeing more people planning extended trips over the holiday to celebrate with family and friends.”  

Visitor estimates for Fourth of July in Louisville by transportation type

According to the AAA Independence Day Forecast, 3.2 million are expected to travel by car, 162,000 are expected to travel by plane and 169,000 are expected to travel by another method of transportation including bus, train and ship, within the East South Central Region. These numbers are a 4.7% increase from last year’s holiday.

Louisville Regional Airport Authority spokesperson Natalie Chaudoin said more than 44,500 departing seats are filled from July 4-8 on the different airlines that travel to and from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Chaudoin the busiest days will be Sunday, with more than 9,600 outbound seats scheduled, and Monday, with more than 10,100 outbound seats scheduled. The air travel expected for 2024 is an increase from last year, but only by around 170 seats.

Tourists lean into travel by car for Independence Day

While travel by plane is seeing a slight increase, a majority of travelers are choosing to drive for the Fourth of July weekend. A recent study from GasBuddy revealed motorists are seeing the lowest gas prices around the holiday since 2021, with “45% of Americans plan to head out on the road over Independence Day weekend,” according to the company’s summer survey.

Average gas costs for Fourth of July travel drop

Gas prices have seen a drop in the past few years around the Fourth of July, but there’s been an increase in Louisville travel. In 2023, Louisville set a new airport record with more than 4.6 million travelers.

The city was recently home to the 150th Kentucky Derby and PGA Championship, and upcoming events like Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life are bound to draw a crowd.

What is the average cost of gas on the Fourth of July?

The average price of gas on July 4 is expected to be $3.49 per gallon, according to the release, just a penny lower than 2023’s, but over $1.30 below the average cost in 2022.

States with the largest decline in Independence Day gas prices

See below for the ten states with the lowest gas prices for July 4th.

  • Washington (-71 cents)
  • Oregon (-60 cents)
  • Utah (-44 cents)
  • Colorado (-42 cents)
  • Alaska (-42 cents)
  • Wyoming (-41 cents)
  • Idaho (-37 cents)
  • Arizona (-31 cents)
  • Montana (-28 cents)
  • South Dakota (-27 cents)

States with the highest gas costs on July 4th, 2024

See the top five states with the highest Fourth of July gas prices.

  • Ohio (+23 cents)
  • Indiana (+22 cents)
  • Michigan (+14 cents)
  • Georgia (+14 cents)
  • Delaware (+10 cents)
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