AAA: Thanksgiving gas prices to be highest in eight years

High gas prices are not something drivers will be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The good news is gas prices should gradually decline through the holiday.”

Florida gas prices set a new 2021 high last week as 2.6 million Floridians prepare to hit the road for Thanksgiving.

View AAA's Thanksgiving Travel Forecast for Florida

The state average price for gasoline jumped 10 cents mid-week, reaching $3.36 per gallon. That's the highest daily average price since September 2014. 

Visit AAA's Gas Price Website for Florida

Florida drivers are going to find the most expensive Thanksgiving gas prices in 8 years (2013). The average fill-up will cost $50 for a 15-gallon tank. That's $13 more than what Thanksgiving drivers paid pre-pandemic (2019).

"High gas prices are not something drivers will be thankful for this Thanksgiving," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group. "The good news is gas prices should gradually decline through the holiday. Crude oil and gasoline futures dropped last week, and that should restore some downward pressure on prices at the pump."

The U.S. price for crude oil dropped 6% last week - falling from $80.79 to $76.10 per barrel. That's the lowest daily settlement since October 1, 2021 - back when the Florida average price for gasoline was $3.05 per gallon. 

How to Combat Higher Gas Prices

While there isn't a lot people can do about higher gas prices, there are some ways drivers can get the most for their money.

• Pay in cash. Some gasoline retailers charge a few cents per gallon more for customers who pay with a credit card.
• Shop around. Oftentimes retailers with the most expensive gas prices are located near airports, attractions, and interstate on/off ramps.
• Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained. Not only can poor vehicle maintenance lead to car trouble, it also reduces fuel economy. Tire pressure, motor oil, and air filters are all things that can affect your vehicle's fuel consumption.
  • Visit AAA.com/AutoRepair to find a AAA certified mechanic
  • View AAA's Holiday Vehicle Prep news release
• Consider carpooling, combining errands, or driving the most fuel-efficient vehicle. 
• Remove excess weight. The heavier your vehicle, the harder your engine has to work.
• Drive conservatively. Speeding and heavy acceleration burn gasoline faster.
• Enroll in savings programs. AAA Members can save 5 cents per gallon if they enroll in the Fuel Rewards program and fill up at Shell. Click here for more information.

Apopka Gas Prices

Regional Prices

• Most expensive metro markets – West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($3.49), Fort Lauderdale ($3.39), Port St. Lucie ($3.39)
• Least expensive metro markets – Crestview-Fort Walton Beach ($3.26), Pensacola ($3.27), Panama City ($3.30)

Find Florida Gas Prices

• Daily gas price averages can be found at Gasprices.aaa.com 
• State and metro averages can be found here

	Sunday	Saturday	Week Ago	Month Ago	One Year Ago	Record High
National	$3.408	$3.410	$3.413	$3.369	$2.112	$4.11   (7/17/2008)
Florida	$3.355	$3.356	$3.267	$3.305	$2.031	$4.08   (7/17/2008)
Georgia	$3.240	$3.242	$3.257	$3.203	$1.953	$4.16   (9/15/2008)
Click here to view current gasoline price averages

Gas Price Survey Methodology
AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com. Every day up to 130,000 stations are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.