AAA Sees Drop in Fourth of July Travel

The recent drop in gasoline prices isn’t enough to get some people traveling far from home over this Fourth of July weekend.

A projected 39 million Americans will be traveling this holiday weekend, a 2.5 percent decrease from the 40 million travelers who took a trip of 50 or more miles away from home in 2010, according to AAA. 

“AAA is projecting a slight decline in the number of Independence Day travelers mainly due to the day-to-day budgetary impact of fuel prices sustaining an average that is $1 per gallon higher than last year,” Jim Lehman, Executive Vice President of AAA East Central, said in a statement. “While travel held steady over Memorial Day, we are starting to see the ‘trickle-down’ effect of the fuel costs on families who use more of their budget just to drive to work and run errands every day,”

Approximately 32.8 million motorists plan to travel by automobile, a decline of nearly 1 million from the 33.7 million who drove last year. Automobile travel remains the dominant mode of transportation, with 84 percent of holiday travelers going by vehicle.

The national average for a gallon of gasoline is $3.55. In Pittsburgh, the average sits three cents higher at $3.58.

I took a drive around Upper St. Clair to find which gas station was selling the cheapest gasoline. 

Don't wait to get gas at a gas station near Interstate 79. The GetGo, Exxon and BP were all more expensive than the Pittsburgh average.

The full-service station across from and the St. Clair Mini Mart Sunoco were also pretty pricey; their gas was going for $3.59/gallon.

The cheapest gas drivers will find in the area is $3.49 at the GetGos on Fort Couch and Washington Roads; the BP on Washington Road; and the Sunoco on McMurray Road.

Flip through the photo slideshow above to see all the prices before you fill up.