SC roads could be jammed for July 4 weekend. Lower gas prices leading to more travelers.

Bob Montgomery, Herald-Journal
Updated ·3 min read

Filling up the gas tank will not be as expensive this year for Upstate motorists, but AAA said drivers should expect big crowds on highways during the Fourth of July holiday.

AAA predicts 43.2 million Americans will drive to their destinations for the holiday weekend, a little over a million more people than on the road last year.

Lower gas prices are encouraging more people to travel for the Fourth of July, according to AAA.

The average price for a regular gallon of gas in Spartanburg was $3.17 on Wednesday, June 28. That is a penny higher than $3.16 a month ago but more than a dollar cheaper than the average of $4.43 a year ago, AAA said in a statement.

In Greenville, AAA said the average price on Wednesday, June 28, was $3.21 a gallon for regular, up 11 cents from $3.10 a month ago but down more than a dollar from $4.33 a year ago.

Cheaper gas prices await Upstate motorists this year as a record number of July 4th holiday travelers are expected to hit the roads, according to AAA.
Cheaper gas prices await Upstate motorists this year as a record number of July 4th holiday travelers are expected to hit the roads, according to AAA.

AAA said local gas prices are consistent with the current statewide average of $3.18 a gallon, unchanged from a month ago and $1.22 cheaper than $4.40 a year ago.

"While it's still too early to know exactly what drivers will pay at the pump this Independence Day, it's likely to be well below what drivers paid during last year's holiday period," AAA Carolinas spokeswoman Tiffany Wright said in a statement.

Wright said so far this summer, the state average has remained below $3.25 a gallon, thanks to the lower cost of oil.

AAA: Record 43.2 million Americans to drive, 4.2 million to fly

And despite higher ticket prices, a record 4.2 million Americans will fly to their destinations, up 700,000 over last year, according to AAA. The previous record was in 2019 when AAA said the July 4th weekend had 3.91 million air travelers.

Airline travelers are paying 40% to 50% more for flights compared to last year, yet bookings remain strong, AAA officials said.

Traveling motorists this July 4th holiday should expect lower gas prices compared to last year, according to AAA.
Traveling motorists this July 4th holiday should expect lower gas prices compared to last year, according to AAA.

Also, this holiday weekend, another 3.4 million people will travel by bus, cruise, or train, an increase of 24% over last year, according to AAA.

Overall, AAA projects 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this July 4th weekend, nearly 2.1 million more travelers than last year's holiday and almost 1.8 million more than the previous high set in 2019.

Friday, June 30, is expected to be the busiest day on the roads during the holiday weekend. AAA said the worst times of day for travel during a holiday are generally in the afternoon and early evening.

Lowest gas prices in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson

Here is a look at some of the lowest gas prices currently in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson areas, according to the website GasBuddy.

Spartanburg: $2.87 a gallon, Cedar Springs Walmart.

Greenville: $2.82, Murphy USA, 1290 Eighteen Mile Road, Central.

.Anderson: $3.07, Sam's Club, 3812 Liberty Highway.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: SC roads to be jammed for July 4. Lower gas prices leading to travel.