(NewsNation) — Millions of Americans are in the thick of a busy Thanksgiving travel season, and drivers are seeing gas prices at the lowest holiday level since 2020.
GasBuddy’s 2025 Thanksgiving Travel Survey shows 60% of Americans plan to hit the road this year — down from 72% last year. The decline comes as fuel prices remain steady, suggesting more people plan to stay closer to home this season, according to GasBuddy.
GasBuddy forecasts a national average of $3.02 per gallon over the holiday, matching last year’s price. Both 2024 and 2025 tied for the cheapest gas since 2020, when the average was $2.11 per gallon.
AAA currently has the national average at $3.04 per gallon — down from last year, when prices were $3.06 per gallon on Thanksgiving Day.
Data also highlights stark regional differences. The majority of the top 10 states with the cheapest gas are Republican-led, with Colorado and Kansas as the exceptions. Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas and Alabama make up the top 10, with the lowest price at $2.43 per gallon.
California tops the list for the most expensive gas at $4.58, according to GasBuddy data. Other high-cost states include Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Illinois.
And while 74% of respondents say gas prices won’t change their Thanksgiving plans, Matt McClain, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, noted that basic vehicle maintenance can help drivers stretch their fuel further.
“The best thing that you can do when it comes to fuel efficiency is to make sure that everything is all taken care of with your vehicle,” he said. “Treat it like you would basically treat your body, trying to get it into good shape.”
AAA suggests checking your tires, car battery and fluids, then hitting the road with a full tank of gas as early as possible to avoid traffic. Last year, AAA said it responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls during the Thanksgiving travel period to help drivers stranded by dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks.