Texas gas prices have dropped below $3 just in time for Thanksgiving weekend.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) reported that the Texas average gas price is now $2.98 as of November 22. This is below the national average price, which now stands at $3.63.
WFAA had previously calculated the costs for holiday road travel back in July when gas prices around the state hovered around $4.50. This average price is the highest ever seen in the state.
Now, North Texas hosts many of the lowest prices by county. Dallas County currently sits at $2.91, Tarrant County at $2.89, Collin County at $2.85, and Rockwall at $2.87. The majority of heightened prices are currently limited to West Texas.
AAA attributes the drop in prices to the market’s concern that oil demand would decrease due to growing economic worries.
“The national average has fallen sharply since the June peak of nearly $5.02,” said Andrew Gross, spokesperson for AAA. “But this Thanksgiving will be about 20 cents higher than a year ago, and a dollar more per gallon than a pre-pandemic 2019. However, we can be thankful that gas prices are moving in the right direction for now,” he continued.
Another AAA spokesperson, Daniel Armbruster, told KTBX that travelers should start either early in the morning on Wednesday or before 11 a.m. or before 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving. Drivers should also avoid returning home between 4 and 8 p.m. on November 25-27.
“We’re basically paying the same amount as we were a year ago, so you know, gas prices have been coming down very quick[ly] over the past few weeks, and we anticipate that we’ll continue to see them trickle downward. We could see some fluctuation over the holiday just because that’ll put a little dent in demand, but overall, the trend is downward and gas prices are getting cheaper,” said Armbruster.
